Article handling
Abstract
Abstract HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SPACING APART A PLURALITY OR MULTITUDE OF SIMILAR ARTICLES, SUCH AS STICKS, CANES, RODS, TUBES OR SMALL DISKS OR THE LIKE DISPOSED ADJACENT EACH OTHER ON A RELATIVELY FLAT SURFACE, THE APPARATUS INCLUDING A MAIN BODY MEMBER EMBODYING A VACUUM CHAMBER OR CAVITY HAVING AN OPEN SIDE AGAINST WHICH ONE SURFACE OF A PERFORATED PLATE IS DISPOSED. A FIRST SURFACE OF A PERFORATED SHEET OR MEMBRANE OF AN ELASTIC OR RESILIENT MATERIAL, SUCH AS RUBBER, IS DISPOSED AGAINST THE SECOND SURFACE OF SAID PLATE AND MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR STRETCHING SAID MEMBRANE OR SHEET. SAID METHOD COMPRISES POSITIONING THE SECOND SURFACE OF THE SHEET ADJACENT A MULTITUDE OF SIMILAR ONES OF SAID ARTICLES, SUPPLYING VACUUM TO SAID CAVITY OR CHAMBER TO DRAW THE ARTICLES INTO FIRM CONTACT WITH SUCH SECOND SURFACE OF THE SHEET, STRETCHING SAID SHEET TO SEPARATE OR SPACE SAID ARTICLES APART, AND TERMINATING SAID VACUUM TO DEPOSIT THE ARTICLES IN A SPACED APART ORIENTATION ON A GENERALLY FLAT SURFACE.
Inventors
- 👤 Wheeler W Meyers
Bibliographic Details
Claims Analysis
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |