Patent US3552537A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3552537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Container flow control conveyer system
Assignee: Barry Wehmiller Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-07-22
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system in which a plurality of conveyors are operated at predetermined speeds to move a stream of containers through a transition zone where the containers are controlled against jamming by divider means to organize the flow stream into at least two streams for purposes of feeding separate processing apparatus or for other purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Vamvakas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/71; B65G47/715
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for dividing a stream of containers into at least two separate streams comprising a pair of horizontally elongated conveyors having container-receiving and discharge ends and flat top surfaces on which containers engage in an upright position during conveyance, means supporting said conveyor flat top surfaces adjacent each other and in substantially the same planes for a portion of the conveyor travel adjacent said receiving end, other means spaced from said receiving end and operative for supporting said conveyors with said flat top surfaces pitched outwardly so as to be divergently slanted relative to the direction of movement, the divergent slant of said conveyors being substantially uniform throughout its length and causing the containers to tilt away from each other to open a space between and above the bottom ends of the upright containers, and container divider means disposed between said ends of the divergently pitched conveyor flat top surfaces in alignment with the open spaces between the containers and to be engaged by and force certain of the containers to move laterally relative to the travel of said conveyors and completely onto one of said pair of conveyors and others of the containers completely onto the other of said pair of conveyors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for dividing a stream of containers into at least two separate streams comprising a pair of horizontally elongated conveyors having container-receiving and discharge ends and flat top surfaces on which containers engage in an upright position during conveyance, means supporting said conveyor flat top surfaces adjacent each other and in substantially the same planes for a portion of the conveyor travel adjacent said receiving end, other means spaced from said receiving end and operative for supporting said conveyors with said flat top surfaces pitched outwardly so as to be divergently slanted relative to the direction of movement, the divergent slant of said conveyors being substantially uniform throughout its length and causing the containers to tilt away from each other to open a space between and above the bottom ends of the upright containers, and container divider means disposed between said ends of the divergently pitched conveyor flat top surfaces in alignment with the open spaces between the containers and to be engaged by and force certain of the containers to move laterally relative to the travel of said conveyors and completely onto one of said pair of conveyors and others of the containers completely onto the other of said pair of conveyors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 in which said pair of conveyors travel at different speeds to prevent container clustering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 2 in which a container feed conveyor is positioned to feed containers onto the slower speed one of said pair of conveyors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 in which rail means is longitudinally disposed between said pair of conveyors with a top edge surface projecting above said flat top surfaces, said top edge surface causing containers to teeter unstably thereon and seek substantially complete support limited to either one of said pair of conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 in which said pair of conveyors travel at different speeds and a container feed conveyor is positioned adjacent the slower speed conveyor of said pair of conveyors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
Conveyor apparatus operative to divide a stream of containers which are advanced in single file at a predetermined linear velocity, said apparatus including a first conveyor having a loading end receiving the containers so advanced, a second conveyor having a loading end operable along side said first conveyor, guide means adjacent said first and second conveyors to guide containers onto said conveyors and assist containers to traverse said first conveyor onto said second conveyor, means downstream of said conveyor loading ends tilting said conveyors divergently away from each other, other guide means adjacent said first and second conveyors separating the containers tilted one way from those tilted another way, and means operating said first and second conveyors at different linear velocities to suppress container clustering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
Conveyor apparatus operative to divide a stream of containers which are advanced in single file at a predetermined linear velocity, said apparatus including a first conveyor having a loading end receiving the containers so advanced, a second conveyor having a loading end operable along side said first conveyor, guide means adjacent said first and second conveyors to guide containers onto said conveyors and assist containers to traverse said first conveyor onto said second conveyor, means downstream of said conveyor loading ends tilting said conveyors divergently away from each other, other guide means adjacent said first and second conveyors separating the containers tilted one way from those tilted another way, and means operating said first and second conveyors at different linear velocities to suppress container clustering.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 6 in wHich said first and second conveyors have linear velocities different from the linear velocity of the stream of advancing containers, and said other guide means includes a plow device positioned between said first and second conveyors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 7 in which said plow device has a container-engaging projecting portion above the said conveyors, and means is connected to said plow device to adjust the position thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The conveyor apparatus of claim 6 in which said first and second conveyors are positioned side by side and have flat top surfaces movable horizontally, and rail means is positioned between said conveyors to extend above the flat top surfaces and cause the containers to move more onto one or the other of said first and second conveyors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
Container flow divider conveyor apparatus including a container conveyor feeding the containers in a random mass in a common direction, a pair of side-by-side conveyors having inlet ends adjacent said feeding conveyor and outlet ends remote therefrom, first guide means adjacent said feeding conveyor and pair of side-by-side conveyors operative to guide the containers from said feeding conveyor onto said side-by-side conveyors, motor means operatively connected to said side-by-side conveyors to drive said conveyors at different speeds, means between the inlet and outlet ends of said pair of conveyors effective to tilt the conveyors in outwardly divergent planes for tilting the containers, container divider means positioned between said pair of conveyors and formed with a leading edge engaging the tilted containers at a selected elevation above the container bottoms, other conveyor means adjacent the outlet ends of said pair of conveyors to receive the respective streams of divided containers, and second guide means adjacent said other conveyor means operative to guide the containers thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
Container flow divider conveyor apparatus including a container conveyor feeding the containers in a random mass in a common direction, a pair of side-by-side conveyors having inlet ends adjacent said feeding conveyor and outlet ends remote therefrom, first guide means adjacent said feeding conveyor and pair of side-by-side conveyors operative to guide the containers from said feeding conveyor onto said side-by-side conveyors, motor means operatively connected to said side-by-side conveyors to drive said conveyors at different speeds, means between the inlet and outlet ends of said pair of conveyors effective to tilt the conveyors in outwardly divergent planes for tilting the containers, container divider means positioned between said pair of conveyors and formed with a leading edge engaging the tilted containers at a selected elevation above the container bottoms, other conveyor means adjacent the outlet ends of said pair of conveyors to receive the respective streams of divided containers, and second guide means adjacent said other conveyor means operative to guide the containers thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2813617A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |