Patent US3608697A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3608697A
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Apparatus for transporting cigarette packs in packing machines
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1969-02-20
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for transporting cigarette packs to or from the cells of a rotary turret in a packing machine comprises a foraminous belt whose upper stretch transports the packs, a chamber adjacent to the underside of the upper stretch and having an open upper side which is overlapped by the belt, and a blower which circulates air through the chamber and the perforations of the belt, either in a direction to evacuate air from the chamber whereby the packs which travel with the upper stretch are drawn against the belt during travel along the open side of the chamber, or in a direction to expel air from the chamber and through the perforations of the belt so that such air forms a cushion which reduces friction between the upper stretch and the packs.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunter Wahle
- 👤 Heinz-Christen Lorenzen
- 👤 Anton Baier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/10; B65B35/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
In a machine for applying wrappers around cigarette packs or analogous articles, a combination comprising a wrapping conveyor having a plurality of receptacles wherein the articles are accommodated during application of wrappers thereto; a first transporting conveyor for supplying articles to said receptacles; a second transporting conveyor for receiving wrapped articles from said receptacles, at least one of said transporting conveyors comprising a foraminous portion movable along a predetermined path and having an article-supporting first side and a second side; a variable-pressure chamber having at least one opening adjacent to said second side of said portion so that pressure changes in said chamber influence the friction between said one side and the articles, and means for varying the pressure in said chamber in dependency on the position of said wrapping conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a machine for applying wrappers around cigarette packs or analogous articles, a combination comprising a wrapping conveyor having a plurality of receptacles wherein the articles are accommodated during application of wrappers thereto; a first transporting conveyor for supplying articles to said receptacles; a second transporting conveyor for receiving wrapped articles from said receptacles, at least one of said transporting conveyors comprising a foraminous portion movable along a predetermined path and having an article-supporting first side and a second side; a variable-pressure chamber having at least one opening adjacent to said second side of said portion so that pressure changes in said chamber influence the friction between said one side and the articles, and means for varying the pressure in said chamber in dependency on the position of said wrapping conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber is a suction chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for varying the pressure in said chamber comprises a suction generating part, an air-compressing part and regulating means for connecting said chamber with one of said parts at a time so that said chamber is a suction chamber when connected to said suction generating part and a plenum chamber when connected to said air-compressing part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for programming the operation of said means for varying the pressure in said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said one transporting conveyor has an intermediate portion and a discharge end and said chamber is adjacent to said discharge end, and further comprising monitoring means for detecting changes in the spacing between successive articles which are conveyed toward said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said monitoring means comprises a device for conveying streams of air through said intermediate portion of said one conveyor upstream of said chamber and between successive articles at said first side of said intermediate portion so that the characteristics of said air streams are influenced by the relative positions of articles at said first side, and detector means for determining the characteristics of said air streams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said device comprises an air pump.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said monitoring means further comprises a housing adjacent to said second side and having an opening adjacent to said intermediate portion, said device being arranged to convey streams of air through said housing, through said opening, through that part of said one conveyor which overlaps said opening, and through gaps between articles which are transported along said first side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein the width of said opening is a fraction of the width of said intermediate portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as definEd in claim 8, wherein said opening is an elongated slot extending lengthwise of said intermediate portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said detector means comprises a deformable container provided in said housing to undergo deformation whose extent is a function of the pressure in said housing and signal generating means operative to produce signals in response to that predetermined deformation of said container which is indicative of a predetermined distance between articles travelling along the opening of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said signal generating means comprises electric switch means whose position changes in response to said predetermined deformation of said container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for monitoring changes in relative positions of a series of articles, particularly for scanning rows of cigarette packs during transport to the wrapping conveyor of a packing machine, comprising a foraminous conveyor arranged to move along a predetermined path and having an article supporting first side and a second side; a chamber having at least one opening adjacent to said path at the second side of said foraminous conveyor; a device for conveying air streams between the atmosphere and the interior of said chamber whereby said air streams pass through said foraminous conveyor and between the articles of the series at said first side so that the characteristics of said air streams are influenced by the relative positions of articles in said series; and detector means for determining the characteristics of said air streams.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for monitoring changes in relative positions of a series of articles, particularly for scanning rows of cigarette packs during transport to the wrapping conveyor of a packing machine, comprising a foraminous conveyor arranged to move along a predetermined path and having an article supporting first side and a second side; a chamber having at least one opening adjacent to said path at the second side of said foraminous conveyor; a device for conveying air streams between the atmosphere and the interior of said chamber whereby said air streams pass through said foraminous conveyor and between the articles of the series at said first side so that the characteristics of said air streams are influenced by the relative positions of articles in said series; and detector means for determining the characteristics of said air streams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said device comprises a pump.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the width of said conveyor exceeds the width of said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said opening is a slot extending lengthwise of said conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said detector means comprises a deformable container arranged to undergo deformation whose extent is a function of the pressure in said chamber and signal generating means operative to produce signals in response to that predetermined deformation of said container which is indicative of a predetermined spacing between articles travelling along the opening of said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said container is provided in said chamber and said signal generating means comprises electric switch means whose position changes in response to said predetermined deformation of the container.
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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) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |