US3625569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic conveyor
Assignee: SHELDON LITTLE CO
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Filing: 1970-02-19
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1990-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic conveyor for moving bottle caps or crowns from a large storage bin to a bottle-capping apparatus in a bottling line. An airflow stream is created from the crown storage bin to carry crowns to and fill a first accumulation chamber, the flow stream is terminated, the crowns in the first accumulation chamber are transferred to a second accumulation chamber, and the flow stream from the storage bin to the first accumulation chamber is reestablished. A continuous airstream is maintained from the second accumulation chamber to the supply hopper of a crown dispenser in a bottling line and the crowns intermittently accumulated in the second accumulation chamber are transported in the continuous airstream to the supply hopper. A major portion of the airstream is separated from the crowns as the crowns approach the supply hopper so as to decelerate the crowns as they approach the supply hopper. The intermittent operation of the airstream between the crown storage bin and the first accumulation chamber functions in response to the quantity of crowns present in the supply hopper for crown dispenser.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon Little
- 👤 Orval L Braunbeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/04; B65G53/06; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/02; B67B3/06; B67B3/064; B67B3/0645
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of conveying bottle crowns or the like from a storage container to a bottle-capping station or the like comprising flowing a stream of air from the storage container toward the bottle-capping station, introducing bottle crowns in the stream of air at the storage container, flowing the bottle crowns with the stream of air to a first accumulation chamber, holding the bottle crowns in the first accumulation chamber until a predetermined quantity of crowns has accumulated in the first accumulation chamber while the stream of air continues to flow toward the bottle-capping station, transferring the bottle crowns from the first accumulation chamber to a second accumulation chamber when the predetermined quantity of bottle crowns has been accumulated at the first accumulation chamber, introducing the bottle crowns back into the stream of air from the second accumulation chamber, flowing the bottle crowns with the stream of air from the second accumulation chamber toward the bottlecapping station, separating a major portion of the stream of air from the bottle crowns before the bottle crowns reach the bottlecapping station, and continuing the flow of bottle crowns to the bottle-capping station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of conveying bottle crowns or the like from a storage container to a bottle-capping station or the like comprising flowing a stream of air from the storage container toward the bottle-capping station, introducing bottle crowns in the stream of air at the storage container, flowing the bottle crowns with the stream of air to a first accumulation chamber, holding the bottle crowns in the first accumulation chamber until a predetermined quantity of crowns has accumulated in the first accumulation chamber while the stream of air continues to flow toward the bottle-capping station, transferring the bottle crowns from the first accumulation chamber to a second accumulation chamber when the predetermined quantity of bottle crowns has been accumulated at the first accumulation chamber, introducing the bottle crowns back into the stream of air from the second accumulation chamber, flowing the bottle crowns with the stream of air from the second accumulation chamber toward the bottlecapping station, separating a major portion of the stream of air from the bottle crowns before the bottle crowns reach the bottlecapping station, and continuing the flow of bottle crowns to the bottle-capping station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1, and further including the step of bypassing the stream of air about the storage container when a predetermined quantity of bottle crowns are accumulated at the bottle-capping station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1, and further including the step of filtering the stream of air after it emerges from the first accumulation chamber and before the bottle crowns are introduced back into the stream of air from the second accumulation chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 1, and wherein the step of introducing the bottle crowns to the stream of air from the storage container comprises moving the bottle crowns in a downward direction under the influence of gravity within the storage container and into the stream of air at the bottom of the storage container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
A flow system for conveying bottle crowns or the like to a bottle-capping station or the like comprising conduit means for communication at its entry end with a bottle crown storage container and for communication at its delivery end with a bottle-capping station, pump means connected to said conduit means intermediate its entry end and its delivery end and arranged to flow a stream of air through said conduit means from its entry end to its delivery end, a first bottle crown accumulation chamber communicating with said conduit means upstream of said pump means for accumulating bottle crowns from the portion of said conduit means upstream of said pump means, a second bottle crown accumulation chamber, first transfer means for transferring the bottle crowns from said first accumulation chamber to said second accumulation chamber, second transfer means for flowing the bottle crowns from said second accumulation chamber into the portion of said conduit means downstream from said pump means, means for exhausting air from said conduit means upstream of said delivery end of said conduit mEans and for decelerating the bottle crowns as the bottle crowns approach the bottle-capping station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
A flow system for conveying bottle crowns or the like to a bottle-capping station or the like comprising conduit means for communication at its entry end with a bottle crown storage container and for communication at its delivery end with a bottle-capping station, pump means connected to said conduit means intermediate its entry end and its delivery end and arranged to flow a stream of air through said conduit means from its entry end to its delivery end, a first bottle crown accumulation chamber communicating with said conduit means upstream of said pump means for accumulating bottle crowns from the portion of said conduit means upstream of said pump means, a second bottle crown accumulation chamber, first transfer means for transferring the bottle crowns from said first accumulation chamber to said second accumulation chamber, second transfer means for flowing the bottle crowns from said second accumulation chamber into the portion of said conduit means downstream from said pump means, means for exhausting air from said conduit means upstream of said delivery end of said conduit mEans and for decelerating the bottle crowns as the bottle crowns approach the bottle-capping station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention of claim 5, and wherein said first accumulation chamber is positioned above said second accumulation chamber, and said second accumulation chamber is positioned above the portion of said conduit means downstream from said pump means whereby the bottle crowns flow under the influence of gravity from first accumulation chamber to said second accumulation chamber and from said second accumulation chamber to the portion of said conduit downstream from said pump means, and further including control means for sequentially operating said first and second transfer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 5, and wherein a storage container is provided with a bottle crown egress opening at its lower portion, and with said storage container including bottom walls sloped downwardly toward said egress opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 5, and wherein the entry end of said conduit means includes support means constructed and arranged to support the entry end of said conduit on the surface of a mass of bottle crowns.
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) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |