Patent EP0317198A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0317198A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Packaging systems and packaging processes
Assignee: Omnitech Europe Ltd
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Filing: 1988-11-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-11-11
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus for providing lines of products at preselected times across the path of flow of products in a packaging system, the apparatus comprising barrier means (3) across the path of oncoming products to provide a line of products across the path, and pusher means to move lines of products past the barrier means at selected times. The barrier means comprises a stationary, elongate member, perpendicular to the direction of flow (A) to form a straight line of products and disposed sequentially between a pair of infeed conveyors (4). Also disclosed is a series of parallel endless belt conveyors (7) followed by further upstanding conveyor means (9), (9′), (9˝) disposed in the path of flow to admit thereto products from each oncoming line across the path of flow in sequence across the path of flow and to convey the products in said sequence across the path of flow such that one or more lines (L₂) of products are formed in or generally in the direction of flow (A). Another feature is computer-controlled gate and counting means (10) for dividing the one or more lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow (A) into a plurality of lines L₃, L 3′ , L₄, L 4′ , L 4˝ , L4 ‴ of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael John Barker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/30; B65G47/32; B65B; B65B23/00; B65B23/10; B65B23/12; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/50; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/681; B65G47/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for providing lines of products at preselected times across the path of flow of products in a packaging system, the apparatus comprising barrier means across the path of oncoming products to provide a line of products across the path, and means to move lines of products past the barrier means at preselected times.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for providing lines of products at preselected times across the path of flow of products in a packaging system, the apparatus comprising barrier means across the path of oncoming products to provide a line of products across the path, and means to move lines of products past the barrier means at preselected times.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the barrier means comprises a stationary, elongate member perpendicular to the direction of flow to form a straight line of products and disposed between a pair of infeed conveyors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means to move lines of products comprises a cyclical pusher.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process for providing lines of products at preselected times across the path of flow of products in a packaging system, including interposing barrier means across the path of oncoming products to provide a straight line of products across the path, and moving lines of products past the barrier means at preselected times.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process for providing lines of products at preselected times across the path of flow of products in a packaging system, including interposing barrier means across the path of oncoming products to provide a straight line of products across the path, and moving lines of products past the barrier means at preselected times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A packaging process including supplying products in lines across the path of flow, followed by producing one or more lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A packaging process including supplying products in lines across the path of flow, followed by producing one or more lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein the one or more parallel lines of products are preferably produced by admitting products, from each oncoming line across the path of flow in sequence across the path of flow, to conveyor means and conveying the products in said sequence across the path of flow such that a single line of products is formed in the direction of flow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein a line of products perpendicular to the direction of flow is acted on to impart a gradual change in product speed in the direction of flow across the line of products.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus for carrying out a process according to claims 5, 6 or 7.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a series of parallel endless belt conveyors followed by further conveyor means disposed in the path of flow to admit thereto products from each oncoming line across the path of flow in sequence across the path of flow and to convey the products in said sequence across the path of flow such that one or more lines of products are formed in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the further conveyor means comprises upstanding conveyor means for acting on the side of the products.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the upstanding conveyor means comprises a plurality of upstanding endless belts disposed in a gradual curve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A packaging process including supplying products in one or more lines in or generally in the direction of flow, and dividing the or each line into a plurality of lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A packaging process including supplying products in one or more lines in or generally in the direction of flow, and dividing the or each line into a plurality of lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 12, comprising counting preselected numbers of products and sending the counted products in certain different directions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus including means for dividing one or more lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow into a plurality of lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus including means for dividing one or more lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow into a plurality of lines of products in or generally in the direction of flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising one or more computer-controlled gate and counting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus to be disposed in a packaging system between the infeed portion of the system and the packaging station, for the regulation of supply of product batches to the packaging station, the apparatus comprising means to accommodate a plurality of infed product batches separately from one another in spatial relation to the same stretch of path of flow, and means for providing or preserving output product batches from the accommodation means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus to be disposed in a packaging system between the infeed portion of the system and the packaging station, for the regulation of supply of product batches to the packaging station, the apparatus comprising means to accommodate a plurality of infed product batches separately from one another in spatial relation to the same stretch of path of flow, and means for providing or preserving output product batches from the accommodation means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the accommodation means comprises a plurality of storage lines to allow for one line to take on an infed batch and a second line to discharge a batch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, comprising at least one other storage line which constantly allows at least one of the lines to be fully loaded and waiting for discharge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other storage line is accommodated in a housing for the accumulation and storage of product batches.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the housing has batch storing lines on an endless transport system and includes a plurality of take-on and/or take-off ports.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus comprising downwardly-inclined conveyor means for transporting downwardly products for wrapping, and means for providing or preserving products in batches of a preselected size or sizes for wrapping.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus comprising downwardly-inclined conveyor means for transporting downwardly products for wrapping, and means for providing or preserving products in batches of a preselected size or sizes for wrapping.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for providing batches and the downwardly inclined conveyor means are arranged to act on the same products during the same stretch of path of flow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, comprising a downwardly-inclined conveyor including regularly-spaced abutments.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, 22, or 23, wherein the downwardly-inclined conveyor means is non-vertical.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the angle of inclination of the downwardly-inclined conveyor means is in the range 30 - 40° to the vertical.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 25, including upwardly-inclined conveyor means immediately or almost immediately upstream of the downwardly-inclined conveyor means.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of supplying products for wrapping, comprising transporting products downwardly for wrapping, and providing or preserving products in batches of a preselected size or sizes for wrapping.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of supplying products for wrapping, comprising transporting products downwardly for wrapping, and providing or preserving products in batches of a preselected size or sizes for wrapping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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