US3673950A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cotton bale transfer apparatus
Assignee: A J Gerrard and Co
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Filing: 1969-12-24
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1989-12-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for automatically transferring cotton bales from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert T Koehler
- 👤 Paul J Shideler
- 👤 Linus E Dohogne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B13/00; B65B13/18; B65B13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, first power means for driving said carriage means between said two stations, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to drive said carriage means such that said press unit moves from said unbanding station to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such that said press unit returns to said unbanding station, said carriage means includes a turret means to swing said fork members between a bale loading orientation and a bale unloading orientation, a third power means to rotate said turret means between said bale loading and bale unloading orientations, a fifth actuating means energizing said third power means to rotate said turret means from the bale loading orientation when said press unit is at said unbanding station and a bale of cotton is held between said fork members, and a sixth actuating means rotating said turret means in an opposite direction upon said carriage means returning to said unbanding station to move said press unit back to said bale loading orientation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, first power means for driving said carriage means between said two stations, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to drive said carriage means such that said press unit moves from said unbanding station to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such that said press unit returns to said unbanding station, said carriage means includes a turret means to swing said fork members between a bale loading orientation and a bale unloading orientation, a third power means to rotate said turret means between said bale loading and bale unloading orientations, a fifth actuating means energizing said third power means to rotate said turret means from the bale loading orientation when said press unit is at said unbanding station and a bale of cotton is held between said fork members, and a sixth actuating means rotating said turret means in an opposite direction upon said carriage means returning to said unbanding station to move said press unit back to said bale loading orientation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, first power means for driving said carriage means between said two stations, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to drive said carriage means such that said press unit moves from said unbanding station to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such tHat said press unit returns to said unbanding station, an extractor means for ejecting the cotton bale from between said fork members when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station, and a third power means for moving said extractor means, where said third actuating means energizes said third power means simultaneously with said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, first power means for driving said carriage means between said two stations, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to drive said carriage means such that said press unit moves from said unbanding station to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such tHat said press unit returns to said unbanding station, an extractor means for ejecting the cotton bale from between said fork members when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station, and a third power means for moving said extractor means, where said third actuating means energizes said third power means simultaneously with said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said two stations, and a first power means for moving said upper and lower fork members towards each other to compress a bale of cotton disposed therebetween when said carriage means is at said unbanding station and for moving said upper and lower fork members away from each other when said carriage means is at said press and rebanding station to unload said bale of cotton, said carriage means comprising a carrier frame and a turntable rotatably mounted on said carrier frame, said press unit being mounted on said turntable, track means for guiding said carrier frame between said two stations, and a second power means for rotating said turntable to move said fork members to a loading orientation when said carriage means is at said unbanding station and to move said fork members to an unloading orientation when said carriage means is at said press and rebanding station.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said two stations, and a first power means for moving said upper and lower fork members towards each other to compress a bale of cotton disposed therebetween when said carriage means is at said unbanding station and for moving said upper and lower fork members away from each other when said carriage means is at said press and rebanding station to unload said bale of cotton, said carriage means comprising a carrier frame and a turntable rotatably mounted on said carrier frame, said press unit being mounted on said turntable, track means for guiding said carrier frame between said two stations, and a second power means for rotating said turntable to move said fork members to a loading orientation when said carriage means is at said unbanding station and to move said fork members to an unloading orientation when said carriage means is at said press and rebanding station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said press unit comprises a vertical frame member mounted along one edge of said turntable, said upper and lower fork members pivotally carried by said vertical frame member and having at their forward ends, respectively, upper and lower cotton bale engaging units, and said first power means pivotally interconnecting the rearward ends of said fork members to selectively move said upper and lower cotton bale engaging members towards and away from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said upper and lower cotton bale engaging members comprise a plurality of pressure blades spaced apart a distance equal to the bands on a cotton bale and being adapted to individually pivot a limited amount to conform to the uneven contour at the opposite ends of a cotton bale.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising an ejector assembly mounted on said vertical frame member for ejecting the cotton bale into a press at said press and rebanding station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said ejector assembly includes a plurality of U-shaped elongated parallel bars spaced apart a distance equal to the separation between cotton bale bands and each having a width greater than the width of the bands on a cotton bale, a vertical frame structure supporting said U-shaped bars, a pair of tooth rack members secured perpendicularly to said vertical frame structure, a pair of intermeshing spur gears mounted on said vertical frame member of said press unit and cooperating with said rack members to move said vertical frame structure towards and away from said vertical frame member, a third power means for driving said pair of intermeshing spur gears, and bearing means carried by said vertical frame member for slidingly supporting said pair of tooth rack members.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
278 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, said carriage means including turret means to swing said fork members between a bale loading orientation and a bale unloading orientation, a first power means for rotating said turret means between said bale loading and unloading orientations and for moving said press unit between said bale unloading orienTation and said press and rebanding station, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to rotate said turret means such that said press unit turns from said bale loading orientation to said bale unloading orientation and to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such that said press unit returns to said unbanding station and said bale loading orientation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
278 words
An apparatus for transporting a bale of cotton from an unbanding station to a press and rebanding station comprising a press unit having a pair of spaced-apart fork members, carriage means for carrying said press unit between said unbanding station and said press and rebanding station, said carriage means including turret means to swing said fork members between a bale loading orientation and a bale unloading orientation, a first power means for rotating said turret means between said bale loading and unloading orientations and for moving said press unit between said bale unloading orienTation and said press and rebanding station, a second power means for moving said fork members towards and away from each other, a first actuating means energizing said second power means when said press unit is at said unbanding station to cause said fork members to move towards each other and apply a predetermined compression force to the opposite ends of a cotton bale disposed therebetween, a second actuating means energizing said first power means in a forward direction to rotate said turret means such that said press unit turns from said bale loading orientation to said bale unloading orientation and to said press and rebanding station, a third actuating means for energizing said second power means when said press unit arrives at said press and rebanding station to cause said fork members to move away from each other and unload the cotton bale, and a fourth actuating means energizing said first power means in a reverse direction upon the release of the cotton bale to drive said carriage means such that said press unit returns to said unbanding station and said bale loading orientation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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 |