US3572005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic packaging apparatus
Assignee: Keyes Fibre Corp
•
Filing: 1969-06-11
•
Granted: 1971-03-23
•
Expires: 1989-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An automatic packaging apparatus for rapidly, accurately and gently packing randomly oriented objects, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, into compartmented trays.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd E Allen
- 👤 Lawrence W Mccracken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B25/00; B65B25/02; B65B25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
Packaging apparatus for rapidly, gently and accurately packaging objects which are generally symmetrical in shape into multipocket trays, comprising: a. an object conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of objects which are generally symmetrical in shape and of approximately the same size; b. a tray conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of multipocket trays beneath the discharge end of said object conveyor for receiving objects from said object conveyor as they are discharged therefrom; c. meanS for setting the speeds of said object conveyor and said tray conveyor relative to each other for continuously discharging the quantity of objects from the discharge end of said object conveyor to continuously fill substantially all of the pockets in the trays moving continuously relative thereto; d. feeding means for feeding the objects to said object conveyor; and e. means for regulating the speed of said object conveyor relative to the number of objects being fed thereto by said feeding means in a given unit of time for maintaining the discharge end of said object conveyor substantially full of the objects at all times during the filling of the trays of the tray conveyor with the objects discharged from the object conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
Packaging apparatus for rapidly, gently and accurately packaging objects which are generally symmetrical in shape into multipocket trays, comprising: a. an object conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of objects which are generally symmetrical in shape and of approximately the same size; b. a tray conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of multipocket trays beneath the discharge end of said object conveyor for receiving objects from said object conveyor as they are discharged therefrom; c. meanS for setting the speeds of said object conveyor and said tray conveyor relative to each other for continuously discharging the quantity of objects from the discharge end of said object conveyor to continuously fill substantially all of the pockets in the trays moving continuously relative thereto; d. feeding means for feeding the objects to said object conveyor; and e. means for regulating the speed of said object conveyor relative to the number of objects being fed thereto by said feeding means in a given unit of time for maintaining the discharge end of said object conveyor substantially full of the objects at all times during the filling of the trays of the tray conveyor with the objects discharged from the object conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: means for simultaneously regulating the speeds of said object conveyor and said tray conveyor with respect to the rate at which the objects are fed from said feeding means to said object conveyor for the filling of the trays on the tray conveyor with the objects discharged from the object conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
said sensor switches being in an electrical circuit with pulse generating means for generating pulses upon each closing of a sensor switch; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
said sensor switches being in an electrical circuit with pulse generating means for generating pulses upon each closing of a sensor switch; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
said silicon control rectifiers and motors being in said electrical circuit and having means therewith for triggering said rectifiers in response to a predetermined rate of pulses from the pulse generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
said silicon control rectifiers and motors being in said electrical circuit and having means therewith for triggering said rectifiers in response to a predetermined rate of pulses from the pulse generating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The structure set froth in claim 1, wherein: a. said tray conveyor is disposed below and in longitudinal alignment with said object conveyor; b. said tray conveyor includes a forward tray conveyor and a rear tray conveyor; c. said forward tray conveyor extending beneath and forwardly of said discharge end of said object conveyor; and d. means for driving said rear tray conveyor at a slightly greater speed than said forward tray conveyor to maintain trays moving thereon in abutment with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: means for adjusting the rate of feeding of the objects from said feeding means to compensate for different sizes of objects being fed to the object conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said feeding means includes: a feeding conveyor disposed substantially perpendicular to said object conveyor at an area remote from said discharge end of said object conveyor for receiving the objects at random spacing thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein; a. said feeding means includes a feeding conveyor disposed substantially perpendicularly to said object conveyor at an area remote from said discharge end of said object conveyor for receiving the objects at random spacing thereon from a sizer or the like; b. said means for setting the speeds of said object conveyor and said tray conveyor including direct current motors and silicon control rectifiers for controlling the level of the voltage to each of said motors; and c. said means for simultaneously regulating the speeds of said object conveyor and said tray conveyor with respect to the rate at which the objects are fed from said feeding conveyor includes:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set froth in claim 6, including: guide means on said feeding conveyor for guiding objects as they are moved on said feeding conveyor to said sensor switches for assuring that only one switch is actuated by each object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said tray conveyor is disposed below and in longitudinal alignment with said object conveyor; and b. said tray conveyor is inclined upwardly from the rear end to the forward end thereof to assist in maintaining the trays thereon in abutment with each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said object conveyor includes a conveyor belt having a belt pulley at its discharge end which is smaller in diameter than the objects conveyed thereon; b. the discharge end of said conveyor belt constituting the terminal end of said conveyor; and c. the space between the lower surface of said discharge end of said object conveyor and the upper surface of the trays on said tray conveyor is less than the thickness of the objects conveyed by said object to said tray conveyor.
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) | 1974-03-22 | 1974-09-21 | 1975-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-22 | 1978-09-21 | 1979-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-22 | 1982-09-21 | 1983-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |