US3595413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for unloading trays of articles
Assignee: Molins Machine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-02-05
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1988-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A machine for unloading trays of cigarettes having two carriers for trays which move intermittently along a circular path in a vertical plane from a lower tray-receiving position to invert the trays over a hopper into which the cigarettes are emptied from each tray in turn and from the bottom of which they are removed on a conveyor in a continuous stream.
Inventors
- 👤 James George Edward Hillman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:05
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/35; A24C5/352; A24C5/356
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of producing a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths, comprising emptying the articles downwardly out of each in turn of a succession of containers charged with articles in parallel alignment into a hopper having sides to limit horizontal movement of the articles, constraining the articles against relative vertical movement during downward descent through the hoppEr to assist in maintaining their alignment, and continuously removing the articles from the hopper, in a direction transverse to their direction of downward movement through the hopper, to form said stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of producing a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths, comprising emptying the articles downwardly out of each in turn of a succession of containers charged with articles in parallel alignment into a hopper having sides to limit horizontal movement of the articles, constraining the articles against relative vertical movement during downward descent through the hoppEr to assist in maintaining their alignment, and continuously removing the articles from the hopper, in a direction transverse to their direction of downward movement through the hopper, to form said stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein there is produced in the hopper a mass of articles from which said stream is formed, and comprising constraining the mass to define a generally flat and horizontal upper surface thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising urging the articles downwardly through the hopper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising lowering the articles downwardly from each container in turn into the hopper and supporting the articles during their downward movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the containers have an article-supporting bottom and an open top, comprising inverting the containers in succession to empty the articles out through the open top.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the containers are inverted by moving them in succession along a circular path from a position below the hopper, where charged containers are delivered and empty containers removed, to a position above the hopper where they are emptied into the hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the articles are cigarettes and the containers are trays for the cigarettes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for forming a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths from containers charged with the articles in parallel alignment, comprising a hopper for the articles having sides to limit horizontal movement of the articles, means to deliver the charged containers in succession to the hopper, means to transfer articles downwardly into the hopper from each in turn of the containers, means to remove articles continuously from the hopper, in a direction transverse to their lengths and transverse to their direction of downward movement through the hopper, to form the continuous stream, and means to constrain the articles against relative vertical movement during downward descent through the hopper to assist in maintaining their alignment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for forming a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths from containers charged with the articles in parallel alignment, comprising a hopper for the articles having sides to limit horizontal movement of the articles, means to deliver the charged containers in succession to the hopper, means to transfer articles downwardly into the hopper from each in turn of the containers, means to remove articles continuously from the hopper, in a direction transverse to their lengths and transverse to their direction of downward movement through the hopper, to form the continuous stream, and means to constrain the articles against relative vertical movement during downward descent through the hopper to assist in maintaining their alignment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the continuous stream of articles is produced from a mass of articles in the hopper, and comprising means to constrain the mass to define a generally flat and horizontal upper surface thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means to urge the articles downwardly through the hopper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a horizontal platform which is vertically movable in the hopper to act on the upper level of articles in the hopper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means to lower the articles downwardly from each container in turn into the hopper and to support the articles during their downward movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a moving platform to lower the articles and to support them, which platform is retractable horizontally to allow supported articles to rest on articles already in the hopper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the platform is as thin as possible to reduce to a minimum the downward distance travelled by supported articles upon retraction of the platform.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the hopper has sides to limit horizontal movement of the articles transversely to their length and the platform is retractable in the direction of their lengths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the hopper is further provided with sides to limit endwise movement of the articles, one of which is vertically movable with the platform and is slotted to accommodate horizontal movement of the platform into and out of the hopper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the part of the movable side below the slot is flexible and is retracted onto or paid out from a reel as the side moves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 comprising means to position charged containers above the hopper so that Articles in a container are in vertical alignment with the hopper and means to move the platform horizontally above the hopper into a position beneath the articles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 comprising a slide movable between a first supporting position beneath articles in a container above the hopper and a second unsupporting position horizontally displaced therefrom wherein the horizontal movement of the platform above the hopper is such as to move the slide from its first to its second position and to take the weight of articles in a container from the slide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 comprising drive means to move the platform through a path which is substantially rectangular in the vertical plane and which drive means includes at least one endless conveyor moving along a similar rectangular path around pulleys disposed at the corners thereof and means to support the platform on the conveyor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 comprising means to move the platform rapidly down the hopper until it engages the upper surface of the mass of articles already in the hopper and that surface is level and then to move it at the same speed as the mass.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 including sensing means carried with the platform to detect when said upper surface is level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the sensing means comprises a sensor plate disposed beneath the platform to engage said upper surface and supported for limited free movement relative thereto and electric switch means actuated by movement of the sensor plate to indicate its disposition relative to the platform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the means to remove articles continuously from the hopper comprises a conveyor extending across the hopper to support articles therein, an aperture being provided in a sidewall of the hopper to permit egress of articles therefrom.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein a further, slower moving conveyor is provided to assist in supporting articles in the hopper and moving them across the hopper.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 for handling containers having an article-supporting bottom and an open top, comprising inversion means to invert the containers in succession to deliver articles therein through their open tops to the hopper.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the inversion means to invert the containers acts to move them in succession progressively along a circular path between a position below the hopper and a position above the hopper where they are emptied and wherein they are inverted during rotation, means being provided to close the open tops of the containers to retain the articles therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 27 comprising a conveyor to deliver charged containers to and remove empty containers from the inversion means at the position below the hopper.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the inversion means comprises a plurality of cradles each of which is formed to support one container and to receive it horizontally.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein each cradle is provided with means to tilt a container relative to the inversion means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the articles are cigarettes and the containers are trays.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of producing a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths, comprising delivering a succession of batches of articles in containers to a discharge area, emptying the containers, constraining the sides of each discharged batch by means of substantially vertical sidewalls against horizontal movement while allowing the articles to move downwards and while contacting and maintaining the upper surface of the batch of articles substantially flat and horizontal and separated from the subsequently discharged batch, the upper surface being formed of a row of rodlike articles, and continuously removing articles from the bottom of successively dIscharged batches, in a direction transverse to their lengths and transverse to their direction of downward movement between the sidewalls, to form the said continuous stream.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of producing a continuous stream of parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths, comprising delivering a succession of batches of articles in containers to a discharge area, emptying the containers, constraining the sides of each discharged batch by means of substantially vertical sidewalls against horizontal movement while allowing the articles to move downwards and while contacting and maintaining the upper surface of the batch of articles substantially flat and horizontal and separated from the subsequently discharged batch, the upper surface being formed of a row of rodlike articles, and continuously removing articles from the bottom of successively dIscharged batches, in a direction transverse to their lengths and transverse to their direction of downward movement between the sidewalls, to form the said continuous stream.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for discharging parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths from a succession of containers charged with batches of the articles in parallel alignment, comprising substantially vertical sidewall means for successively guiding downwards each batch of articles while constraining the batch against horizontal movement, means for delivering successive batches of articles into position for the discharge of each batch of articles downwards from said containers between said sidewall means, and horizontal plate means extending between said sidewall means for contacting the upper surface of each batch while it is moving downwards between said sidewall means to maintain the upper surface of the batch formed of a row of rodlike articles substantially flat and horizontal and separated from the subsequently discharged batch.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for discharging parallelly aligned rodlike articles moving transversely to their lengths from a succession of containers charged with batches of the articles in parallel alignment, comprising substantially vertical sidewall means for successively guiding downwards each batch of articles while constraining the batch against horizontal movement, means for delivering successive batches of articles into position for the discharge of each batch of articles downwards from said containers between said sidewall means, and horizontal plate means extending between said sidewall means for contacting the upper surface of each batch while it is moving downwards between said sidewall means to maintain the upper surface of the batch formed of a row of rodlike articles substantially flat and horizontal and separated from the subsequently discharged batch.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 33, in which the said removal means comprises a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged in series, the first conveyor being located upstream of the second conveyor and extending to a position adjacent the latter, and the second conveyor extending beyond the sidewall which is downstream in relation to the direction of movement of the stream, so as to carry the articles beyond the said sidewall.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 34, in which the said first conveyor is at a higher level than the said second conveyor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 34, including means for driving the first conveyor at one speed and means for driving the second conveyor at a greater speed.
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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 |