US3665577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for manufacturing artificial shrubs
Assignee: Masterpiece Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-21
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Laterally spaced endless conveyor chains carry slotted members on the individual links. Selected slots receive a varying number of shrub limbs of varying length which are in turn discharged into the nip between two stiffly flexible wires or they are removed from storage reels and intertwisted. A rotary chuck on a reciprocating carriage selectively grasps the ends of the wires and moves the same longitudinally in synchronism with the endless conveyor which discharges the limbs in between the wires. Rotating the chuck causes the wires to intertwist capturing the limbs at space locations defined by their position on the endless chain conveyors. After pulling and intertwisting the wires to a desired length up to 15 feet or more, the intertwisted wires are severed just behind the wire guide pulleys thereby producing a completely assembled shrub. Narrow webs are simultaneously fed between the intertwisted wires and captured limbs to define the simulated trunk for the shrub. Actuators carried by the endless chain conveyors contact stationery microswitches to energize solenoids for respective gravity operated chutes controlling the feed of limbs which vary both in length and number into the slots.
Inventors
- 👤 Percy Dieffenbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:21
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41G; A41G1/00; A41G1/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5142; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53039; Y10T29/53061; Y10T29/53065; Y10T29/53313; Y10T29/53348; Y10T29/53361; Y10T29/53378; Y10T29/53383; Y10T29/53387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for automatically and continuously producing artificial shrubs, comprising: endless feed conveyor means for carrying at selected locations a variable number of branches extending generally at right angles to the direction of conveyor movement, a pair of stiffly flexible wire guide pulleys disposed at the discharge end of said conveyor means with the nip area generally in line therewith, means for feeding at least two stiffly flexible, wires over and between said guide pulleys, means for introducing said branches between said stiffly flexible wires as they leave said conveyor means, means for intertwisting said wires to capture said limbs between said wires at spaced locations corresponding to the spacing of said limbs on said endless feed conveyor means, means for synchronizing movement of said intertwisted wires and said endless feed conveyor means, and means for cutting said intertwisted wires into predetermined lengths to define a completed shrub assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for automatically and continuously producing artificial shrubs, comprising: endless feed conveyor means for carrying at selected locations a variable number of branches extending generally at right angles to the direction of conveyor movement, a pair of stiffly flexible wire guide pulleys disposed at the discharge end of said conveyor means with the nip area generally in line therewith, means for feeding at least two stiffly flexible, wires over and between said guide pulleys, means for introducing said branches between said stiffly flexible wires as they leave said conveyor means, means for intertwisting said wires to capture said limbs between said wires at spaced locations corresponding to the spacing of said limbs on said endless feed conveyor means, means for synchronizing movement of said intertwisted wires and said endless feed conveyor means, and means for cutting said intertwisted wires into predetermined lengths to define a completed shrub assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
ThE apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: means for feeding at least one narrow web in-between said flexible wires prior to intertwisting the same to simulate an artificial shrub trunk and to electrically insulate the limbs from said intertwisted wires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises laterally spaced endless conveyors including means defining outwardly extending slots for supporting a variable number of limbs at said longitudinally spaced positions for movement between said stiffly flexible wires prior to intertwisting of the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said endless conveyors comprises a pair of laterally spaced endless chains positioned for movement along paths on each side of said wire guide pulleys and said slots comprise U-shaped spring wire clips coupled to the links of said chains.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bins positioned above the upper run of said moving endless conveyors, narrow chutes leading from said bins and having their discharge end lying immediately above the conveyor slots, and means for selectively controlling the discharge of limbs from each of said chutes into respective slots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of bins positioned above the upper run of said moving endless conveyors, narrow chutes leading from said bins and having their discharge end lying immediately above the conveyor slots, and means for selectively controlling the discharge of limbs from each of said chutes into respective slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of bins positioned above the upper run of said moving endless conveyors, narrow chutes leading from said bins and having their discharge end lying immediately above the conveyor slots, and means for selectively controlling the discharge of limbs from each of said chutes into respective slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of bins positioned above the upper run of said moving endless conveyors, narrow chutes leading from said bins and having their discharge end lying immediately above the conveyor slots, and means for selectively controlling the discharge of limbs from each of said chutes into respective slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for controlling discharge of limbs comprises: spaced, paired slidable stops alternatively intersecting the path of movement of the limbs through said chutes, and solenoid means for effective removal of one stop from said chute and introduction of another therein to control the number of limbs discharged into an aligned slot underlying the discharge end of the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control means further comprises: abutments carried by at least one of said chains at spaced longitudinal positions and microswitches corresponding to said bins and operatively coupled to the bin control solenoids and mounted in the path of said abutments and selectively operable by the same to control respective solenoids for said limb supplying bins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3504423A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |