US3595251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container washing inverting and conveying apparatus
Assignee: ARLO IND Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-26
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1988-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Jars or containers are multiple loaded open end facing down on the upper flight of a meshlike conveyor belt which delivers the containers single-file to an inverting means. Prior to arriving at the inverting means the containers are flushed clean by water sprayed upward through the mesh conveyor and thereafter an airstream, also directed up through the conveyor, acts to dry the containers. The inverting means consists of a screw conveyor and twisted bar means which maintains the containers in operative engagement with the screw conveyor to guide each container for gradual pivoting 180* to a position wherein the mouth faces up at the time the container reaches the output end of the inverting means. In an alternate embodiment for handling straight sided containers, guide rail means is provided to hold each container as it is being moved by the screw conveyor and pivoted by the twisted rail.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Tarantola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:08
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/20; B08B9/28; B08B9/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
Container conveying, washing and inverting apparatus including inverting means having an input end and an output end, a main conveyor having an upper surface for supporting containers delivered thereto, with each container standing on end and having its open mouth facing downward, and means cooperating with said main conveyor for delivering containers standing on end with their open mouths facing downward in single file to said input end; said inverting means including a screw conveyor, means for rotating said screw conveyor, and a guide means, said screw conveyor having a thread spacing adapted to receive containers delivered to said input end, a holddown means exerting a downward force on inverted containers at said input end during initial engagement of these containers by said screw conveyor; said guide means cooperating with said screw conveyor to capture containers therebetween as rotation of said screw conveyor is effective to move such containers horizontally along said screw conveyor to issue from said output end in single file; one end of said guide means being at one side of said screw conveyor in the region of said input end and the other end of said guide means being at the other side of said screw conveyor in the region of said output end; said guide means also having an intermediate portion extending over said screw conveyor at a region intermediate the ends thereof, whereby each container being moved horizontally by said screw conveyor on said one side thereof is forced to pivot about the rotational axis of said screw conveyor to a position at said other side of said screw conveyor in which the open mouths of the containers are facing upward; said main conveyor comprising a mesh structure; washer means for delivering a washing liquid upward through said mesh structure to wash containers thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
Container conveying, washing and inverting apparatus including inverting means having an input end and an output end, a main conveyor having an upper surface for supporting containers delivered thereto, with each container standing on end and having its open mouth facing downward, and means cooperating with said main conveyor for delivering containers standing on end with their open mouths facing downward in single file to said input end; said inverting means including a screw conveyor, means for rotating said screw conveyor, and a guide means, said screw conveyor having a thread spacing adapted to receive containers delivered to said input end, a holddown means exerting a downward force on inverted containers at said input end during initial engagement of these containers by said screw conveyor; said guide means cooperating with said screw conveyor to capture containers therebetween as rotation of said screw conveyor is effective to move such containers horizontally along said screw conveyor to issue from said output end in single file; one end of said guide means being at one side of said screw conveyor in the region of said input end and the other end of said guide means being at the other side of said screw conveyor in the region of said output end; said guide means also having an intermediate portion extending over said screw conveyor at a region intermediate the ends thereof, whereby each container being moved horizontally by said screw conveyor on said one side thereof is forced to pivot about the rotational axis of said screw conveyor to a position at said other side of said screw conveyor in which the open mouths of the containers are facing upward; said main conveyor comprising a mesh structure; washer means for delivering a washing liquid upward through said mesh structure to wash containers thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the guide means includes a bar which is curved at said intermediate portion; said screw conveyor having a rotational direction that is the same as the direction of pivoting for said containers; said screw conveyor being threaded opposite to said rotational direction when said screw conveyor is viewed looking downstream from the upstream end thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the guide means also includes first and second rails, each of said rails having a horizontal section and a vertical section joined by a partially twisted transition section, said first rail being on said one side of said screw conveyor which the horizontal section of said first rail being in said region of said input end, said second rail being on said other side of said screw conveyor with the horizontal section of said second rail being in said region of said output end, said transition sections positioned in the region of said intermediate portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which end portions of said transition sections extend above said screw conveyor and overlap one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the guide means includes a bar having a reverse curve therein at said intermediate portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which both ends of said bar are below the top of said screw conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means fixedly Mounting all elements constituting said guide means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a loading conveyor for simultaneously receiving a plurality of containers with their open mouths facing downward and delivering these containers to said upper surface of said main conveyor; and driving means for operating said loading conveyor at a slower speed than said main conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a means located downstream of said washer means for directing an airstream through said mesh structure to dry containers thereon, and an output conveyor which removes containers issuing from said output end after being inverted by said inverting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the holddown means comprises a wheel freely mounted upon a horizontal axis and biased downward into engagement with containers at said input end.
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) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |