US3565234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for unscrambling cans with ferromagnetic bottoms
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-14
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A can unscrambler for unscrambling and feeding cans which have ferromagnetic bottoms and nonmagnetic sides to a delivery station in erect condition. The unscrambler comprises a bin for holding a jumbled supply of cans and a driven endless belt conveyor with reaches running along the bottom of the bin, curving upward out of the bin, extending back over the bin to a magnetic roll, extending overhead from the latter to the delivery station, and returning to the bin. Magnets are provided adjacent the belt reaches on the side of the belt opposite from the cans for magnetically attracting the can bottoms against the belt so that they are delivered by the belt to the delivery station in erect condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Troy W Birdsong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/12; B65G47/14; B65G47/1407; B65G47/1478; B65G47/1485; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/52; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2009; B65G21/2018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for feeding cans with ferromagnetic bottoms from a jumbled supply to a delivery station with the cans in erect position at the delivery station comprising: a bin for holding a jumbled supply of the cans; an endless belt conveyor; means guiding the conveyor to have a first reach traveling along the bottom of the bin, a second reach extending upward out of the bin, a third reach extending back over the bin, a fourth reach traveling above the third reach to the delivery station, and a return reach to the first reach; means for continuously driving the conveyor; and means for effecting magnetic attraction of the bottoms of the cans to hold them against the conveyor along the path of the conveyor from the bin throughout the second and third reaches and around to the fourth reach, whereby the can bottoms are attracted to the conveyor from the bin supply so that cans are either oriented in erect position with respect to the conveyor as they leave the bin, or assume erEct position as they travel along the second or third reaches, or fall into the bin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for feeding cans with ferromagnetic bottoms from a jumbled supply to a delivery station with the cans in erect position at the delivery station comprising: a bin for holding a jumbled supply of the cans; an endless belt conveyor; means guiding the conveyor to have a first reach traveling along the bottom of the bin, a second reach extending upward out of the bin, a third reach extending back over the bin, a fourth reach traveling above the third reach to the delivery station, and a return reach to the first reach; means for continuously driving the conveyor; and means for effecting magnetic attraction of the bottoms of the cans to hold them against the conveyor along the path of the conveyor from the bin throughout the second and third reaches and around to the fourth reach, whereby the can bottoms are attracted to the conveyor from the bin supply so that cans are either oriented in erect position with respect to the conveyor as they leave the bin, or assume erEct position as they travel along the second or third reaches, or fall into the bin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bin has sidewalls inclined downward toward one another with their lower edges spaced-apart to provide an opening extending longitudinally of the bottom of the bin, the first reach of the conveyor traveling along this opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the walls of the bin are curved upward at one end of the bin constituting its forward end where the cans carried by the conveyor exit from the bin, the second reach of the conveyor traveling upward on the outside of said forward end of the bin and said opening continuing upward in said forward end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said guiding means includes guide rails for the side margins of the conveyor guiding it in said second and third reaches of the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein guide rails are laterally adjustable for varying the width of said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the guide rails also extend along the first reach of the conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for effecting magnetic attraction of bottoms of the cans comprises a series of magnets extending along the first, second and third reaches of the conveyor on the outside of these reaches and a magnetic roll around which the conveyor travels from the third to the fourth reach.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein magnets are removable from the series along the third reach to vary the spacing of cans fed by the conveyor to the delivery station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sidewalls of the bin include shaker means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the shaker means comprises shaker plates and means for oscillating the shaker plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2916133A
Cited
US2910165A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |