US3557933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article spotting device
Assignee: General Methods Corp
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Filing: 1968-07-12
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Granted: 1971-01-26
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Expires: 1988-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A bottle-spotting device which rotates a bottle about its vertical longitudinal axis as it is conveyed along a conveyor path and engages a spot on the bottle to precisely orient that bottle. Friction rails on one side of the conveyor path cooperate with pusher elements mounted on a pair of endless chains on the opposite side of the conveyor path to impart rotation to the bottle. A bottle-spotting lug is mounted on one of the endless chains and is adapted to engage the spot on the bottle and stop rotation once the bottle has rotated to the desired position. A star wheel is used to feed the bottles into the spotting device at a metered rate. A switching circuit is provided for starting the spotting operation only when a predetermined number of bottles are ready for a spotting operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford D Sopher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/06; B65C9/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An article-spotting device for transporting articles in a forward direction along an article path and for orienting said articles by coacting with a spot on each of said articles, said device comprising, in combination: a. means for driving said articles in the forward direction along said path, said means being positioned at one side of said path, said means comprising an endless chain having a run parallel with said article path and including a plurality of spaced article-engaging means, each of said spaced articleengaging means cooperable with an article to push said article along said path; b. means for providing torque to each of said articles about an axis substantially perpendicular to the article path such that said articles rotate about said axis prior to being spotted; and c. means for sensing and engaging said spot on each of said articles, said means for sensing and engaging being attached to and moving simultaneously with said means for driving said articles, said means for driving and said means for sensing and engaging being positioned on the same side of said path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article-spotting device for transporting articles in a forward direction along an article path and for orienting said articles by coacting with a spot on each of said articles, said device comprising, in combination: a. means for driving said articles in the forward direction along said path, said means being positioned at one side of said path, said means comprising an endless chain having a run parallel with said article path and including a plurality of spaced article-engaging means, each of said spaced articleengaging means cooperable with an article to push said article along said path; b. means for providing torque to each of said articles about an axis substantially perpendicular to the article path such that said articles rotate about said axis prior to being spotted; and c. means for sensing and engaging said spot on each of said articles, said means for sensing and engaging being attached to and moving simultaneously with said means for driving said articles, said means for driving and said means for sensing and engaging being positioned on the same side of said path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 including means for metering the spacing of articles along said path prior to engagement of articles by said means for driving.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said means for metering include a star wheel assembly for spacing and feeding articles to said spotting device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said metering means and said means for driving are driven in synchronization from a common power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said metering means includes clutch means and brake means adapted to prevent said metering means from feeding articles to said spotting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said brake means comprises a brake for engaging said metering means and said clutch means includes a first plate connected with said metering means, a second plate fixed to said power source and spring-biased locking elements in one of said plates engaging receptacles in the other of said plates whenever said brake is released.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 1 including control means for starting said device whenever at least one article is positioned in said article path and for stopping said device whenever at least one article is not positioned in said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said control means include switching means actuated by passage of a bottle along said path prior to engagement of the article by said means for driving.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 7 including metering means for spacing said articles prior to engagement of articles by means for driving.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said control means provides power to said means for driving and for a predetermined period to time, said period of time being substantially equal to the time required for an article to pass through said spotting device along said path, said period of time being initiated by sensing of an article passing along said path by said control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said control means activates said metering means for a shorter period of time than said means for driving.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for driving comprises an endless upper chain and an endless lower chain, each chain having runs parallel to the path, said runs being substantially vertically disposed one above the other, and spaced article-engaging means attached to each chain to cooperatively engage and move articles along said path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 including a chain support parallel to said path for guiding and supporting each of said chains in a substantially straight run parallel to said article path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device oF claim 1 wherein said means for providing torque include at least one friction rail parallel with said path and on the side opposite said means for sensing and engaging.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 14 including first and second friction rails which are movable to engage scruff rails of an article moving along said path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 including means for adjusting and tensioning said chains.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 including means for holding said articles in a spotted position upon spotting of said articles and upon discharge from said device forward forward of said device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said means for holding said articles in a spotted position comprise an endless belt adapted to engage the tops of said articles and move in the forward direction at the same speed as said articles move along said article path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for driving said articles in a forward direction include conveyor means, said conveyor means having a speed equal to the speed equal of said means for driving said articles in a forward direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article-spotting device for transporting articles in a forward direction along an article path and for orienting said articles by coacting with a spot on each of said articles, said device comprising, in combination: a. means for driving said articles in the forward direction along said path, said means being positioned at one side of said path; b. means for providing torque to each of said articles about an axis substantially perpendicular to the article path such that said articles rotate about said axis prior to being spotted; and c. means for sensing and engaging said spot on each of said articles, said means for sensing and engaging being attached to and moving simultaneously with said means for driving said articles, said means for driving and said means for sensing and engaging being positioned on the said same side of said path, said means for sensing and engaging including lug means attached to said means for driving said articles, said lug means being biased to engage said spot whenever said means for driving positions said lug adjacent said path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article-spotting device for transporting articles in a forward direction along an article path and for orienting said articles by coacting with a spot on each of said articles, said device comprising, in combination: a. means for driving said articles in the forward direction along said path, said means being positioned at one side of said path; b. means for providing torque to each of said articles about an axis substantially perpendicular to the article path such that said articles rotate about said axis prior to being spotted; and c. means for sensing and engaging said spot on each of said articles, said means for sensing and engaging being attached to and moving simultaneously with said means for driving said articles, said means for driving and said means for sensing and engaging being positioned on the said same side of said path, said means for sensing and engaging including lug means attached to said means for driving said articles, said lug means being biased to engage said spot whenever said means for driving positions said lug adjacent said path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 20 including means for metering the spacing of articles along said path prior to engagement of articles by said means for driving.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 20 including control means for starting said device whenever at least one article is positioned in said article path and for stopping said device whenever at least one article is not positioned in said path.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said means for providing torque include at least one friction rail parallel with said path and on the side opposite said means for sensing and engaging.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 20 including means for holding said articles in a spotted position upon spotting of said article and upon discharge from said device forward of said device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said means for driving include at least one endless chain and said lug means are attached to one of said endless chains, such that said lugs are positioned to engage said spot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said lug means comprises a biased lug member having a spot engaging end and an opposite end, said opposite end being attached to said means for driving, said lug being biased about said opposite end for engagement with said spot.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 26 including a roller attached to said spot engaging end of said lug, said roller adapted to roll freely on the surface of an article and engage said spot.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 26 including a lug guide mounted substantially parallel to said path, and wherein said lug includes means for engaging said guide, said guide being adapted to bias said lug out of engagement with said spot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 28 wherein said guide is positioned to restrain engagement of said lug and spot at the rearward end of said path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |