US3679040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible container for use in conveyor systems
Assignee: Organisation Ralfs KG
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Filing: 1970-07-08
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible open-top container for use in conveyor systems wherein the containers travel in an upright channel and are entrained by one or more endless belts, chains or like conveyors travelling along the lower end of the channel. The container comprises two upright side walls connected to each other by transverse links which can form an apertured bottom and/or the front and rear end walls of the container. The side walls and the links together form a parallel motion whose components are pivotable with reference to each other about vertical axes so that one of the side walls is movable parallel to itself close to and away from the other side wall. The container is provided with one or more legs which engage the conveyor or conveyors, and with at least one bumper extending beyond the front and/or rear end wall to maintain the container at a desired minimum distance from adjacent containers.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Kretzschmar
- 👤 Rolf Chlebus
- 👤 Willi Ochsner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D7/00; B65D7/12; B65D7/24; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/12; B65G1/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A collapsible container, particularly for the transport of commodities in conveyor systems wherein the containers travel in a predetermined direction in an elongated upright confining channel while receiving motion from a conveyor travelling along the lower end of such channel, comprising at least a first and a second upright side wall substantially parallel to said direction; transverse links connecting said side walls in the region of the bottom thereof, and together constituting a bottom wall serving to support the commodity being conveyed, said links being hingeably connected to said side walls permitting changes in the width and the transverse collapse of said container in a sense bringing said parallel side walls closer together; and at least one conveyor-engaging leg extending downwardly beyond said side walls and said transverse links.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A collapsible container, particularly for the transport of commodities in conveyor systems wherein the containers travel in a predetermined direction in an elongated upright confining channel while receiving motion from a conveyor travelling along the lower end of such channel, comprising at least a first and a second upright side wall substantially parallel to said direction; transverse links connecting said side walls in the region of the bottom thereof, and together constituting a bottom wall serving to support the commodity being conveyed, said links being hingeably connected to said side walls permitting changes in the width and the transverse collapse of said container in a sense bringing said parallel side walls closer together; and at least one conveyor-engaging leg extending downwardly beyond said side walls and said transverse links.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said transverse links are pivotable about respective pivot axes through substantially 90 degrees between first and second positions in which said first side wall is respectively nearest to and remotest from said second side wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising collapsing means arranged to urge said first side wall toward said second side wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said collapsing means comprises at least one resilient element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said first side wall is movable between a plurality of positions including a position at a maximum distance from said second side wall, and further comprising locking means for releasably holding said first side wall in at least one of said positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A container as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said transverse links includes an edge portion making with the adjacent portion of one of said side walls an angle of less than 180 degrees when said first side wall assumes said one position, said locking means comprising a corner bracket arranged to engage and hold said portions in said one position of said first side wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said transverse links constitutes the front end wall and another transverse link constitutes the rear end wall of the contaiNer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said leg constitutes a downward extension of one of said side walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A container as defined in claim 8, wherein said leg constitutes a downward extension of said first side wall and wherein said first side wall projects forwardly beyond said second side wall in response to movement toward said second side wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of said transverse links constitute an apertured bottom wall on which the commodities rest during transport with the container and wherein said leg is disposed intermediate said side walls beneath said bottom wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said leg extends lengthwise in said direction and includes relatively stiff portions and relatively weak flexible portions alternating with said stiff portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said leg has an uneven conveyor-engaging bottom face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container as defined in claim 12 for use in conveyor systems including a conveyor having an uneven upper face, wherein the bottom face of said leg is complementary to the upper face of the conveyor so that the latter entrains the container when said bottom face rests on said upper face.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said leg includes at least one detachable conveyor-engaging portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container as defined in claim 14, wherein said portion is an elastic shoe consisting of friction generating material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein two of said transverse links respectively constitute the front and rear end walls of the container; and further comprising at least one projection extending beyond one of said end walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A container as defined in claim 16, wherein said projection is provided with at least one notch to facilitate lifting of the container from the channel by means of a lifting mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein two of said transverse links respectively constitute the front and rear end walls of the container and wherein at least one of said side walls extends beyond at least one of said end walls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising front and rear end walls and at least one conveyor-engaging leg extending downwardly beyond said side walls, said leg further extending beyond at least one of said end walls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one guide member extending upwardly beyond said side walls.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said side walls are composed of a first material and said conveyor-engaging leg is composed of a second material, and wherein at least one of said first and second materials is flexible.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A container as defined in claim 1, wherein two of said transverse links respectively constitute the front and rear end walls of the container and define with said side walls a compartment of substantially rectangular outline at least when said first side wall is maintained at a maximum distance from said second side wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1771156A
Cited
US3527340A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |