US3613865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveying system
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-05
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1990-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A conveying system for a hydrostatic cooker having carrier bars mounted on a processing conveyor of predetermined pitch, and having removable adapters for adapting carriers to controllably handle a wide range of container sizes, including easily deformable containers such as aluminum or plastic containers supported on their ends. The adapters are removably mounted on the carrier bars and have a curved camming surface adapted to cam containers that are supported on their ends into positions where they will not be pinched by the articulating carrier bars. The adapters may be of different sizes and/or may be mounted on only selected ones of the carrier bars so that a single-processing conveyor will be capable of simultaneously handling more than one size range of containers.
Inventors
- 👤 James L Reimers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:06
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In a cooker or the like having a processing chamber including water maintained at a high temperature comprising an endless conveyor including a pair of endless chains formed from articulating links; a plurality of spaced carrier bars connected to associated ones of said links with the space between adjacent carrier bars defining a container receiving pocket for accommodating rows of containers; each carrier bar including a radial web, a retainer flange on the radial inner edge of said web, and relatively low confining flange on the outer edge of said web; means for driving said conveyor along a zigzag path through said processing chamber and past a feed station and discharge station and for causing the carrier bars to articulate between a divergent position, a parallel position, and a convergent position for passing through the water; the improvement which comprises adapters overlying said confining flanges, each of said adapters including a concave inner camming surface for smoothly forcing the associated container portions radially inwardly when the carrier bars are articulated in their converging position thereby precluding pinching of the containers between adjacent carriers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a cooker or the like having a processing chamber including water maintained at a high temperature comprising an endless conveyor including a pair of endless chains formed from articulating links; a plurality of spaced carrier bars connected to associated ones of said links with the space between adjacent carrier bars defining a container receiving pocket for accommodating rows of containers; each carrier bar including a radial web, a retainer flange on the radial inner edge of said web, and relatively low confining flange on the outer edge of said web; means for driving said conveyor along a zigzag path through said processing chamber and past a feed station and discharge station and for causing the carrier bars to articulate between a divergent position, a parallel position, and a convergent position for passing through the water; the improvement which comprises adapters overlying said confining flanges, each of said adapters including a concave inner camming surface for smoothly forcing the associated container portions radially inwardly when the carrier bars are articulated in their converging position thereby precluding pinching of the containers between adjacent carriers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cooker of claim 1, wherein said adapters have steep can lead-in portions converging with their camming surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cooker of claim 1, wherein said adapters comprise a convex nose leading to a steeply inclined internal can lead-in portion, the latter leading to a concave internal container camming portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carrier bars are all of the same size and are spaced equal distances apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein all of the adapters are the same size and an adapter is mounted on each carrier bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the adapters define an S-shaped wall and wherein the S-shaped wall extends over at least a portion of the outer confining flange and serves to increase the effective size of said flange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said adapter is secured to the outer edge of the outer confining flange of the associated carrier bar by a plurality of capscrews for ease in installation and removal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said capscrew is locked in place by a flat washer which has one end portion bent firmly against the capscrew and another portion bent over an edge of the adapter during assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each adapter is secured to the outer edge of the outer confining flange of the associated carrier bar by a plurality of capscrews for ease in installation and removal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rows of containers are squat aluminum cans supported on their ends.
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) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |