US3673756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for simultaneously loading groups of articles into packing cases
Assignee: Newfrey LLC
•
Filing: 1970-12-02
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-12-02
Abstract
Abstract An infeed conveyor advances side-by-side lines of rectangular cartons, such as six pack cartons, into a grid structure from which the cartons are to be dropped, in two groups of four cartons each, into two upwardly open packing cases. The grid structure includes means for detecting the presence of eight cartons therein, and a line brake is set in response to the detecting means to hold back cartons on the infeed conveyor. The grid structure includes a fixed frame in which two shifting carriage portions are slidably mounted for movement through different displacements in the downstream direction, and each carriage portion carries one of said carton groups. After being so shifted the two carton groups are dropped downwardly through doors in these carriage portions and into the upwardly open packing cases.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Prete
- 👤 John L Raudat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:15
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B65B39/00; B65B39/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for loading groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases arranged adjacent one another, said apparatus comprising an infeed conveyor for feeding articles in line toward one end thereof, a deadplate at said end of said conveyor and across which said articles travel by line pressure, line brake means associated with said deadplate for holding back articles on said infeed conveyor, a fixed frame downstream of said infeed conveyor and located above said cases to be filled, first and second lane defining carriage portions slidably mounted in said fixed frame and arranged in line with one another and with said infeed conveyor, each of said carriage portions including bottom doors movable between open and closed positions, means associated with each carriage portion for selectively engaging the upper surface of those articles in each of said groups to clamp them against said doors for movement with said carriage portions, and means for moving said carriage portions through predetermined linear displacements to provide a predetermined space between the article group held by said line brake means and the article group on said first carriage portion as well as to provide a predetermined space between said first and second carriage portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for loading groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases arranged adjacent one another, said apparatus comprising an infeed conveyor for feeding articles in line toward one end thereof, a deadplate at said end of said conveyor and across which said articles travel by line pressure, line brake means associated with said deadplate for holding back articles on said infeed conveyor, a fixed frame downstream of said infeed conveyor and located above said cases to be filled, first and second lane defining carriage portions slidably mounted in said fixed frame and arranged in line with one another and with said infeed conveyor, each of said carriage portions including bottom doors movable between open and closed positions, means associated with each carriage portion for selectively engaging the upper surface of those articles in each of said groups to clamp them against said doors for movement with said carriage portions, and means for moving said carriage portions through predetermined linear displacements to provide a predetermined space between the article group held by said line brake means and the article group on said first carriage portion as well as to provide a predetermined space between said first and second carriage portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said first and second lane defining carriage portions comprises, a single actuator having a fixed part carried by said fixed frame and a movable part connected to one of said lane defining portions, and a lost motion mechanism between said first and second lane defining carriage portions for moving said first portion through a slightly smaller displacement then said second portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized by article detection means on said second lane defining portion for generating a first signal when first and second groups of articles have been fed into said first and second carriage portions respectively, and means for setting said line brake means and said group clamping means in response to said first signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized by means for energizing sAid actuator following a predetermined time delay to allow said line brake and clamping means to operate as aforesaid, and timed means for returning said actuator to its initial position to reposition said carriage portions for receiving a second charge of article groups from said infeed conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized by means for opening said doors when said lane defining carriage portions have been so separated, said door opening means comprising at least one actuator on one of said lane defining portions with a fixed part carried by said portion and a movable part carried by one of said doors, and said doors on both portions being connected to one another by a common rock shaft having a telescoping splined portion to permit relative sliding movement between said lane defining portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by snubber means for slowing said second carriage portion as it reaches its limit of travel in the downstream direction and for defining said limit of travel in said downstream direction, and additional snubber means for slowing said first carriage portion as it reaches its limit of travel in the return direction and for defining said limit of return travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said timed means also returns said doors to their closed positions, and control means for sensing return of said carriage portions to generate a signal for release of said line brake means and for return of said article clamping means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized by means for controlling the speed of operation of said infeed conveyor to speed-up said conveyor prior to return of said carriage portions and prior to return of said clamping means so that upon release of said line brake means articles advance at high speed across said deadplate and into said in line carriage portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for controlling the speed of operation of said infeed conveyor comprise means for slowing down said infeed conveyor just prior to generating said first signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for slowing said infeed conveyor comprises a photocell mounted on said fixed frame upstream of said article detection means on said second lane defining carriage portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for loading groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, and comprising in combination an infeed conveyor for feeding articles in a downstream direction, a deadplate adjacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor line brake means associated with said deadplate for holding back articles on said deadplate conveyor, a fixed frame downstream of said deadplate and located above the case to be filled, a lane defining carriage slidably mounted in said fixed frame for movement toward and away from said deadplate to provide a space between the articles held by said line brake means and those on said carriage, and means for controlling the speed of operation of said infeed conveyor to speed up said conveyor prior to movement of said carriage toward said deadplate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for loading groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, and comprising in combination an infeed conveyor for feeding articles in a downstream direction, a deadplate adjacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor line brake means associated with said deadplate for holding back articles on said deadplate conveyor, a fixed frame downstream of said deadplate and located above the case to be filled, a lane defining carriage slidably mounted in said fixed frame for movement toward and away from said deadplate to provide a space between the articles held by said line brake means and those on said carriage, and means for controlling the speed of operation of said infeed conveyor to speed up said conveyor prior to movement of said carriage toward said deadplate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized by article detection means on said carriage for generating a first signal when an article group has been fed into said carriage portion, and means for setting said line brake means in response to said first signal, said means for controlling the speed of operation of said infeed conveyor comprising means for slowing down said infeed conveyor just prior to generating said first signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for slowing said infeed conveyor comprises a photocell mounted on said fixed frame upstream of said article detection means on said carriage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized by bottom doors on said carriage movable between open and closed positions, and means for opening said doors in response to movement of said carriage away from said deadplate, and means for clamping the articles on said carriage agaiNst said doors prior to movement of said carriage away from said deadplate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3479791A
Cited
US3561189A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |