US3576248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Feed-regulating system
Assignee: QUALITY FOOD MACHINERY Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-13
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-05-13
Abstract
Abstract For feeding confectionery items such as plain or filled wafers and the like into a wrapping machine in a predetermined orientation, a feed-regulating system is provided wherein relatively flat items are arranged in flat face contacting relation to each other on the working reach of a conveyor and wherein feeler means responsive to the angle of tilt of the items is arranged to effect a desired control operation. By this means a control operation to speed up the conveyor is effected due to the tilt of the items to be fed when the outfeed from the conveyor is in excess of the infeed thereto. Conversely an increase in the rate of input relative to the rate of output causes the items to be fed to assume positions of substantially normal or perpendicular disposition relative to the conveyor and such a condition causes the feeler means to reduce or stop the motive means driving the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell H Conley Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B23/00; B65B23/10; B65B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A feeding regulating system for flat items, said system comprising a series of flat items disposed on their edges and conveyor means having a working reach arranged to receive and convey a substantially continuous supply of said flat items, the items being disposed in a row in flat face contacting relation with each other and with the working reach of said conveyor in contact with an edge portion of each item, the items changing bodily positions relative to said conveyor means in coordination with relative changes in the rate at which items are supplied to and discharged by said conveyor means, feeler means in continuous engagement with edges of the items remote from said conveyor means and responsive to said changes in bodily position of the items relative to said conveyor means and performing a control operation, and means operable in coordination with said operation of said feeler means effecting changes in the operation of the speed of said conveyor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A feeding regulating system for flat items, said system comprising a series of flat items disposed on their edges and conveyor means having a working reach arranged to receive and convey a substantially continuous supply of said flat items, the items being disposed in a row in flat face contacting relation with each other and with the working reach of said conveyor in contact with an edge portion of each item, the items changing bodily positions relative to said conveyor means in coordination with relative changes in the rate at which items are supplied to and discharged by said conveyor means, feeler means in continuous engagement with edges of the items remote from said conveyor means and responsive to said changes in bodily position of the items relative to said conveyor means and performing a control operation, and means operable in coordination with said operation of said feeler means effecting changes in the operation of the speed of said conveyor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said feeler means is responsive to changes in the angle of tilt of the items relative to the conveyor means for performing a control operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the working reach of said conveyor means is generally horizontal and wherein the outfeed end of the working reach of the conveyor is arranged to supply items into a downwardly extending chute constituting the outfeed end of said conVeyor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein an increase in the outfeed rate relative to the infeed rate of items leaving and entering the conveyor means respectively causes the items to tilt forward bodily in the direction of feeding movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said feeler means is responsive to predetermined tilting of the items to initiate operation of said conveyor means at normal speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said feeler means is responsive to tilting of the items through an angle of tilt greater than that required to initiate normal speed of said conveyor means to cause said conveyor means to operate at abnormal speed, said feeler means being effective to cause said conveyor means to operate at normal speed upon a predetermined reduction of the angle of tilt of the items.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said feeler means responds to predetermined tilting of the items forwardly in the direction of movement thereof along the working reach of the conveyor to cause an increase in conveyor speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said feeler means is responsive to a generally normal disposition of the items relative to said conveyor means to effect a stoppage of said conveyor means.
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) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |