US3672117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinge pan packer
Assignee: Shuttleworth LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-26
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Case packing method and apparatus wherein aerosol cans or other objects are moved from a conveyor onto a support plate hingedly mounted on a vertically movable carriage including grid guide fingers. A box conveyor positions a box under the carriage. A vacuum head is movable downwardly into engagement with the objects, whereupon the vacuum head attaches to the objects. The vacuum head continues to move downwardly until the objects are placed in the box and the vacuum is turned off. The vacuum head is then returned to its starting position. During the downward stroke of the head, the carriage is first stationary until the head attaches to the objects. Then the carriage moves with the head until the guide fingers are inserted into the box and are holding it in position. Next the support swings on the carriage out from under the objects. The carriage is then stopped and the head passes through the carriage and the guide fingers to place the objects in the box.
Inventors
- 👤 James J Shuttleworth
- 👤 Carlton S Sprague
- 👤 Howard P Shuttleworth
- 👤 Charles E Zimmerman
- 👤 John A Wiseman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/36; B65B35/38; B65B35/06; B65B35/08; B65B5/00; B65B5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
Case packer apparatus comprising a frame, a hinge pan and grid assembly mounted on said frame for vertical movement, said assembly including a downwardly projecting grid proportioned and arranged to guide objects downwardly, a vacuum head mounted on said frame for vertical movement, said assembly including a support mounted thereon which is hinged to said assembly, means for locating a box beneath said assembly, means for moving objects onto said support, means for moving said assembly downwardly to a first position wherein said grid holds said box and provides guide means for the objects into said box, and means actuated by said assembly moving into said first position for actuating said support to swing downwardly and away from said objects to permit said objects to move into said box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
Case packer apparatus comprising a frame, a hinge pan and grid assembly mounted on said frame for vertical movement, said assembly including a downwardly projecting grid proportioned and arranged to guide objects downwardly, a vacuum head mounted on said frame for vertical movement, said assembly including a support mounted thereon which is hinged to said assembly, means for locating a box beneath said assembly, means for moving objects onto said support, means for moving said assembly downwardly to a first position wherein said grid holds said box and provides guide means for the objects into said box, and means actuated by said assembly moving into said first position for actuating said support to swing downwardly and away from said objects to permit said objects to move into said box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
231 words
The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising vertical rod means fixed to said hinge pan and grid assembly, a cross bar slidably receiving said rod means, limit means attached to said rod means above said cross bar and limiting the downward movement of said hinge pan and grid assembly relative to said cross bar, a pneumatic cylinder motor including a cylinder member and a piston member with one of said members secured to said cross bar and one fixed relative to said vacuum head, said means for moving said assembly comprising a hydraulic cylinder motor coupled between said frame and said head, and a pair of limits on said frame for limiting the vertical travel of said hinge pan and grid assembly, one of said limits preventing downward movement of said assembly past said first position, the other of said limits preventing upward movement of said assembly past a second position wherein said support receives objects from said means for moving objects, said pneumatic cylinder motor being operable to yieldably maintain said cross bar upward relative to said head when said pneumatic cylinder motor is at the end of its stroke, said hydraulic cylinder being operable to force said head upwardly against the force of said pneumatic cylinder a sufficient distance to cause said head to be out of the path of objects when said assembly is in said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said head is adjusted to barely contact the top of Said objects when said pneumatic cylinder is at the end of its stroke and said assembly is in its second position, said assembly being arranged to hang by gravity on rods as said assembly moves from said second position to said first position whereby said head moves with said assembly between said second and first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for actuating said support comprises a stop assembly mounted for vertical movement on said hinge pan and grid assembly, spring and limit means yieldably holding said stop assembly in a downward position relative to said hinge pan and grid assembly, a stop on said frame arranged to block movement of said stop assembly prior to said hinge pan and grid assembly moving into said first position, and cam means connecting said stop assembly and support and arranged to hold said support up in a horizontal position when said stop assembly is in said downward position and to swing said support downwardly when said hinge pan and grid assembly moves downwardly relative to said stop assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for actuating said support comprises a stop assembly mounted for vertical movement on said hinge pan and grid assembly, spring and limit means yieldably holding said stop assembly in a downward position relative to said hinge pan and grid assembly, a stop on said frame arranged to block movement of said stop assembly prior to said hinge pan and grid assembly moving into said first position, and cam means connecting said stop assembly and support and arranged to hold said support up in a horizontal position when said stop assembly is in said downward position and to swing said support downwardly when said hinge pan and grid assembly moves downwardly relative to said stop assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
240 words
The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising a pair of vertical rods fixed to said hinge pan and grid assembly, a cross bar slidably receiving said rods, vertically adjustable limit means attached to said rod above said cross bar and limiting the downward movement of said hinge pan and grid assembly relative to said cross bar, a carriage carrying said vacuum head and providing said mounting on said frame for vertical movement, a pneumatic cylinder motor including a cylinder mounted on said carriage and a piston secured to said cross bar, said means for moving said assembly comprising a hydraulic cylinder motor including a cylinder pivoted to said frame and a piston arranged to move said carriage vertically, and a pair of limits on said frame for limiting the vertical travel of said hinge pan and grid assembly, one of said limits preventing downward movement of said assembly past said first position, the other of said limits preventing upward movement of said assembly past a second position wherein said support receives objects from said means for moving objects, said pneumatic cylinder motor having pressure therein for yieldably maintaining said piston projected and said cross bar upward relative to said head, said hydraulic cylinder being operable to force said head upwardly against the force of said pneumatic cylinder a sufficient distance to cause said head to be out of the path of objects when said assembly is in said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for actuating said support comprises a stop assembly mounted for vertical movement on said hinge pan and grid assembly, spring and limit means yieldably holding said stop assembly in a downward position relative to said hinge pan and grid assembly, a stop on said frame arranged to block movement of said stop assembly prior to said hinge pan and grid assembly moving into said first position, and cam means connecting said stop assembly and support and arranged to hold said support up in a horizontal position when said stop assembly is in said downward position and to swing said support downwardly when said hinge pan and grid assembly moves downwardly relative to said stop assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A procEss for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving the objects onto a support, attaching vacuum cups to the tops of the objects, lowering the vacuum cups and the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of the objects, and moving said support out from below said objects while simultaneously continuing to move said vacuum cups toward said case and through said grid guide fingers to place the objects in the case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A procEss for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving the objects onto a support, attaching vacuum cups to the tops of the objects, lowering the vacuum cups and the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of the objects, and moving said support out from below said objects while simultaneously continuing to move said vacuum cups toward said case and through said grid guide fingers to place the objects in the case.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving an object onto a support, lowering the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of an object, and moving said support out from below the object to permit said object to pass through said grid guide fingers to place the object in the case, and; moving a pusher element downwardly above the object simultaneously with the lowering of said support, the additional step of stopping said grid fingers after said support has been moved out from below said object, and the step of moving said pusher element through said fingers to place the object in the case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving an object onto a support, lowering the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of an object, and moving said support out from below the object to permit said object to pass through said grid guide fingers to place the object in the case, and; moving a pusher element downwardly above the object simultaneously with the lowering of said support, the additional step of stopping said grid fingers after said support has been moved out from below said object, and the step of moving said pusher element through said fingers to place the object in the case.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving an object onto a support, lowering the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of the object, moving said support out from below the object to permit said object to pass through said grid guide fingers to place the object in the case, moving a pusher element downwardly above the object simultaneously with the lowering of said support, and moving said pusher element through said fingers to place the object in the case.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for packing objects in cases which comprises the steps of moving an object onto a support, lowering the support as well as a set of grid guide fingers toward a case until the guide fingers project into the case and hold it in position for reception of the object, moving said support out from below the object to permit said object to pass through said grid guide fingers to place the object in the case, moving a pusher element downwardly above the object simultaneously with the lowering of said support, and moving said pusher element through said fingers to place the object in the case.
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) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |