US3655027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unscrambler for light bulb traying machine
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1970-04-15
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1990-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric bridge containing a plurality of photoelectric elements is placed across a plurality of channels formed between adjacent conveyor belts and carrying light bulbs which are to be loaded into apertures in a tray. There must be a light bulb in each channel at the loading end so that each aperture in the tray is filled. The photoelectric bridge detects the speed of the light bulbs in each channel and produces an electric signal whenever the light bulbs are moving at less than a predetermined speed, thereby indicating that that channel is relatively full of bulbs. Upstream of the conveyor, the signal operates a diverter or blocking means to temporarily block bulbs from being fed to that channel, thereby diverting incoming lamp bulbs to the other relatively empty channels in which the bulbs are moving relatively quickly. Improved means are also provided for properly orienting the bulbs in the channels and for removing broken bulbs.
Inventors
- 👤 George Albert Douglas
- 👤 James C Prokopec
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G2811/00; B65G2811/06; B65G2811/0673; B65G2811/0689; B65G2811/0694
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a light bulb traying machine including unscrambler means for separating a plurality of disarranged light bulbs into individual rows and discharging the bulbs onto conveying means, said conveying means including a plurality of moving belts defining channels therebetween for carrying said bulbs in a neckdown position, the bulbs moving from the input end to the output end of said conveying means, the improvement comprising: a. photoelectric sensing means between said input and output ends of said conveying means for sensing the speed of individual bulbs moving in each of said channels and for producing a bulb signal proportional to the time required for each bulb to pass said sensing means, b. blocking means including a plurality of blocking members each associated with a different one of said channels and individually operable to block bulbs from relatively slow moving channels of bulbs so that the bulbs are diverted to relatively fast moving channels of bulbs whereby all channels carry substantially the same number of bulbs, and c. first electronic control means responsive to bulb signals whose durations exceed a predetermined duration to produce a control signal to operate said blocking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a light bulb traying machine including unscrambler means for separating a plurality of disarranged light bulbs into individual rows and discharging the bulbs onto conveying means, said conveying means including a plurality of moving belts defining channels therebetween for carrying said bulbs in a neckdown position, the bulbs moving from the input end to the output end of said conveying means, the improvement comprising: a. photoelectric sensing means between said input and output ends of said conveying means for sensing the speed of individual bulbs moving in each of said channels and for producing a bulb signal proportional to the time required for each bulb to pass said sensing means, b. blocking means including a plurality of blocking members each associated with a different one of said channels and individually operable to block bulbs from relatively slow moving channels of bulbs so that the bulbs are diverted to relatively fast moving channels of bulbs whereby all channels carry substantially the same number of bulbs, and c. first electronic control means responsive to bulb signals whose durations exceed a predetermined duration to produce a control signal to operate said blocking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for continually modulating an operated blocking member between blocking and non-blocking positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 1 wherein said photoelectric sensing means comprises a plurality of photoelectric sensing devices equal in number to the number of said channels, each photoelectric device being positioned to sense the speed of the bulbs in a different one of said channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a. motor means for driving said conveyor means, and b. second electronic control means responsive to the number of operated blocking members to control the speed of said motor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 4 wherein said electronic control means comprises: a. preset counter means for counting the number of operated blocking members and containing a plurality of preset counts, and b. pulse generator means coupled between said preset counter means and said motor means for incrementally changing the speed of said conveying means in accordance with the relationship between said preset counts and the actual count of the blocking members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 5 further comprising: a. adjustable load set point means for determining a permissible range of bulb speeds which may be controlled by said preset counter means and said pulse generator means, and b. means responsive to a bulb speed at either end of said permissible range for a predetermined time to adjust said load set point means to shift said permissible range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 4 further comprising bulb hold down means mounted over said channels to prevent bulbs from being ejected upwardly out of said channels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 4 wherein said separating means includes a plurality of rotating discs, said disarranged bulbs normally being inserted between pairs of said discs and rotated therewith to be discharged onto said conveying means, said separating means further comprising a plurality of spider wheels rotating in a direction opposite to said discs for dislodging bulbs carried on the peripheries of said discs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An improved light bulb unscrambler means as defined in claim 4 further comprising a pair of spoked kicker wheels disposed over each of said channels and operating at different speeds for engaging a pair of interlocked bulbs and separating them.
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) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |