US3578140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure feeding apparatus
Assignee: Kerr Group Inc
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Filing: 1968-09-16
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1988-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for feeding and orienting closure caps. Caps in random arrangement on a rotary disc are centrifugally forced to the periphery thereof where they are plowed off into a single layer. Small magnets in the periphery of the disc hold the outermost row of caps which are fed into a discharge chute in single file. Selector means in the discharge chute allow passage of properly oriented caps and discharges the remainder to an orienting means attached to an opening in the chute directly below the selector means. The orienting means turns the caps and passes them to a magnetic conveyor belt which discharges them, properly oriented, onto the periphery of the rotary disc from which they are again fed into the discharge chute.
Inventors
- 👤 Caleb H Myer
- 👤 Gregory L Nicklaus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:34
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/02; B67B3/06; B67B3/064; B67B3/0645; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/12; B65G47/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An orienting device comprising a distributing means for receiving a plurality of articles to be oriented, said distribution means being adapted to place the articles along its peripheral edge due to centrifugal action and to discharge the articles in a single line fashion still in a nonoriented state, conveyor means adapted to receive said single line flow of nonoriented articles, separating means in the conveyor means for separating properly oriented articles from improperly oriented articles, said conveyor means being adapted to discharge the improperly oriented articles in a second direction, means comprising a chute having upstanding side portions and a slanted bottom portion with at least a portion of said bottom and one side extending substantially completely across the width of said receiving and conveying means for said properly oriented articles, said chute being adapted to receive the improperly oriented articles and to properly orient said articles, a magnetic belt extending from a point below and beneath said chute to a point above said distributing means and adapted to receive the last mentioned properly oriented articles and to maintain the articles in their properly oriented position and to return the articles to said distributing means, and a discharge chute positioned to receive said last mentioned articles from said magnetic belt and to convey them to an area of the distributing means separate from the main area thereof so that said articles are fed directly into the feed stream of said distributing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
An orienting device comprising a distributing means for receiving a plurality of articles to be oriented, said distribution means being adapted to place the articles along its peripheral edge due to centrifugal action and to discharge the articles in a single line fashion still in a nonoriented state, conveyor means adapted to receive said single line flow of nonoriented articles, separating means in the conveyor means for separating properly oriented articles from improperly oriented articles, said conveyor means being adapted to discharge the improperly oriented articles in a second direction, means comprising a chute having upstanding side portions and a slanted bottom portion with at least a portion of said bottom and one side extending substantially completely across the width of said receiving and conveying means for said properly oriented articles, said chute being adapted to receive the improperly oriented articles and to properly orient said articles, a magnetic belt extending from a point below and beneath said chute to a point above said distributing means and adapted to receive the last mentioned properly oriented articles and to maintain the articles in their properly oriented position and to return the articles to said distributing means, and a discharge chute positioned to receive said last mentioned articles from said magnetic belt and to convey them to an area of the distributing means separate from the main area thereof so that said articles are fed directly into the feed stream of said distributing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orienting device according to claim 1 wherein said distributing means comprises a disc adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane, said disc haVing a centrally located conical portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orienting device according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of spaced magnetic inserts are provided in the base of the peripheral portion of the disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
174 words
An orienting device for closures of circular cross section each having a sidewall of at least two different diameters axially spaced from each other, said device comprising means for advancing unoriented closures in a single line with their axes substantially parallel, discharge means for receiving said closures and for further advancing properly oriented closures, said discharge means comprising a first chute having a bottom wall, an opening larger than the largest diameter of said closures located in said bottom wall of said first chute, and separating means extending longitudinally within said first chute and spaced above said opening, said separating means including a pair of guides in said first chute spaced apart a distance less than the largest diameter of said closures and adapted to engage said sidewalls of said closures, whereby closures oriented with the largest diameter below said separating means will fall through said opening due to gravity and closures oriented with the largest diameter above said separating means will be engaged by said separating means and advanced through said first chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
An orienting device for closures of circular cross section each having a sidewall of at least two different diameters axially spaced from each other, said device comprising means for advancing unoriented closures in a single line with their axes substantially parallel, discharge means for receiving said closures and for further advancing properly oriented closures, said discharge means comprising a first chute having a bottom wall, an opening larger than the largest diameter of said closures located in said bottom wall of said first chute, and separating means extending longitudinally within said first chute and spaced above said opening, said separating means including a pair of guides in said first chute spaced apart a distance less than the largest diameter of said closures and adapted to engage said sidewalls of said closures, whereby closures oriented with the largest diameter below said separating means will fall through said opening due to gravity and closures oriented with the largest diameter above said separating means will be engaged by said separating means and advanced through said first chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
An orienting device as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a centrifugal distributing means adapted to align said unoriented closures along its periphery by centrifugal force and to introduce said closures into said advancing means, and wherein said means for advancing includes a restricted opening into said discharge means so that the closures enter said discharge means in a single line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An orienting device as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a second chute disposed below the opening in said bottom wall of said first chute and extending downwardly therefrom, said second chute being adapted to receive improperly oriented closures and to properly orient them.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An orienting device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second chute comprises three essentially vertical sidewalls and a slanted bottom wall connected to said sidewalls, said walls being adapted to contact unoriented articles as they fall through said opening in said first chute and to properly orient said closures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An orienting device as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a magnetic conveyor positioned below said second chute and adapted to return the reoriented closures to said distributing means for recycling to said discharge means in properly oriented condition.
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) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |