Patent US3677538A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3677538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic doffer for articles adhered to a conveyor belt
Assignee: Westpoint Pepperell Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-31
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-08-31
Abstract
Abstract Method and means for automatically transferring articles from a conveyor belt when the articles are adhered thereto. The articles are shown as being flat and flexible or drapable. The adhesion between the belt and the leading edge of the article is first automatically broken and then the separated leading edge is pulled and guided away from the end of the conveyor. Special exemplary means are disclosed which include a reciprocating blade for breaking loose the leading edge and interleaved doffer belts and guide combs for pulling and guiding the articles from the belt. Pressurized gases may also be blown under the separated leading edge and onto the trailing edge for facilitating the operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M Wall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/02; B65H5/021; B41; B41F; B41F15/00; B41F15/14; B41F15/16; B41F15/18; B65H29/00; B65H29/54; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S271/00; Y10S271/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for automatically removing adhered articles from a conveyor belt, said apparatus comprising: edge lifter means for breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, doffing means for pulling and guiding the leading edge of said separated article away from the end of said belt thereby removing said article, said doffing means including belt means disposed adjacent and below the discharge end of said first-named belt and also running at a higher speed, first air blowing means for blowing pressurized gas under said separated leading edge as it passes over the end of said conveyor to help keep the leading edge separated from said belt during said pulling and guiding step, and second air blowing means for blowing pressurized gas onto the trailing edge of said article to keep the trailing edge from folding over itself as the article is removed from the conveyor belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for automatically removing adhered articles from a conveyor belt, said apparatus comprising: edge lifter means for breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, doffing means for pulling and guiding the leading edge of said separated article away from the end of said belt thereby removing said article, said doffing means including belt means disposed adjacent and below the discharge end of said first-named belt and also running at a higher speed, first air blowing means for blowing pressurized gas under said separated leading edge as it passes over the end of said conveyor to help keep the leading edge separated from said belt during said pulling and guiding step, and second air blowing means for blowing pressurized gas onto the trailing edge of said article to keep the trailing edge from folding over itself as the article is removed from the conveyor belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said edge lifter means comprises: a wedge-shaped blade, and means for moving said blade under the leading edge of said article and for retracting said blade after breaking the adhesion between said belt and said leading edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said doffing means comprises: a plurality of aligned doffer belts disposed at the end of said conveyor belt and mounted for movement to pull said article away from the end of said conveyor, and a doffer comb tooth disposed between at least some of said doffer belts for guiding said articles off said doffer belts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said doffer belts are adapted for movement at a slightly higher surface speed than said conveyor belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, including at least one transfer belt for transferring said separated articles away from said doffing means at a surface speed slightly higher than that of said doffer belts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for automatically removing adhered articles from a conveyor belt, said apparatus comprising: edge lifter means for breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, and doffing means for pulling and guiding the leading edge of said separated article away from the end of said belt thereby removing said article. said edge lifter means comprising: a wedge-shaped blade, and means for moving said blade under the leading edge of said article and for retracting said blade after breaking the adhesion between said belt and said leading edge, said doffing means comprising: a plurality of aligned doffer belts disposed at the end of said conveyor belt and mounted for movement to pull said article away from the end of said conveyor, and a doffer comb tooth disposed between at least some of said doffer belts for guiding said articles off said doffer belts, said doffer belts being adapted for movement at a slightly higher surface speed than said conveyor belt, said means for moving said blade comprising: at least one link arm attached at a first end to said blade, traversing means pivotally attached to said link arm at its other end for moving said arm, and guide means for guiding said blade into position between the leading edge of said article and said conveyor belt surface in response to said arm movements caused by said traversing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for automatically removing adhered articles from a conveyor belt, said apparatus comprising: edge lifter means for breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, and doffing means for pulling and guiding the leading edge of said separated article away from the end of said belt thereby removing said article. said edge lifter means comprising: a wedge-shaped blade, and means for moving said blade under the leading edge of said article and for retracting said blade after breaking the adhesion between said belt and said leading edge, said doffing means comprising: a plurality of aligned doffer belts disposed at the end of said conveyor belt and mounted for movement to pull said article away from the end of said conveyor, and a doffer comb tooth disposed between at least some of said doffer belts for guiding said articles off said doffer belts, said doffer belts being adapted for movement at a slightly higher surface speed than said conveyor belt, said means for moving said blade comprising: at least one link arm attached at a first end to said blade, traversing means pivotally attached to said link arm at its other end for moving said arm, and guide means for guiding said blade into position between the leading edge of said article and said conveyor belt surface in response to said arm movements caused by said traversing means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for automatically removing articles of a flat and flexible character adhered to a conveyor belt, said method comprising the steps of: breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article by moving a wedge shaped edge lifter under said leading edge, thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, pulling and guiding the separated leading edge of said article away from the end of said belt by a doffing belt means running at a faster speed than said first-named belt and disposed therebelow thereby removing said article, blowing pressurized gas under said separated leading edge as it passes over the end of said conveyor to help keep the leading edge separated from said belt during said pulling and guiding step, and also blowing pressurized gas onto the trailing edge of said article to keep the trailing edge from folding over itself as the article is removed from the conveyor belt.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for automatically removing articles of a flat and flexible character adhered to a conveyor belt, said method comprising the steps of: breaking the adhesion between said belt and a leading edge of said article by moving a wedge shaped edge lifter under said leading edge, thereby separating said leading edge from said belt, pulling and guiding the separated leading edge of said article away from the end of said belt by a doffing belt means running at a faster speed than said first-named belt and disposed therebelow thereby removing said article, blowing pressurized gas under said separated leading edge as it passes over the end of said conveyor to help keep the leading edge separated from said belt during said pulling and guiding step, and also blowing pressurized gas onto the trailing edge of said article to keep the trailing edge from folding over itself as the article is removed from the conveyor belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |