Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
An article accumulator system for use in arranging a multiplicity of articles into a predetermined pattern coMprising, in combination: a. means supported on said system for successively feeding a series of articles along a first predetermined path; b. means supported on said system adjacent said feeding means for orienting said articles into two adjacent rows of longitudinally aligned articles, as the articles are moved along said first path, with the articles of one of said rows being longitudinally staggered in offset relationship with the articles of an adjacent row; c. means supported on said system adjacent said successive feeding means for simultaneously moving said two rows of said oriented articles along a second predetermined path; d. control means operatively associated with said simultaneous moving means for effecting operation of said moving means; e. first sensing means operatively associated with said control means for rendering said control means effective in response to sensing the location of a predetermined article of one of said rows, said first sensing means detailed in location relative to said two rows of articles for sensing a correct longitudinally offset orientation of said two adjacent rows of articles; and, f. second sensing means operatively associated with said control means for initiating a cycle of operation of said control means in response to actuation of said second sensing means, said second sensing means including a photocell detailed in angular location in such a manner as to only sense individual articles in said other row and being operable between an open and closed condition and wherein actuation of said second sensing means for initiating said cycle of operation is operable in response to said second sensing means being in said closed condition for a predetermined period of time and thus having sensed completion of sad predetermined pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
An article accumulator system for use in arranging a multiplicity of articles into a predetermined pattern coMprising, in combination: a. means supported on said system for successively feeding a series of articles along a first predetermined path; b. means supported on said system adjacent said feeding means for orienting said articles into two adjacent rows of longitudinally aligned articles, as the articles are moved along said first path, with the articles of one of said rows being longitudinally staggered in offset relationship with the articles of an adjacent row; c. means supported on said system adjacent said successive feeding means for simultaneously moving said two rows of said oriented articles along a second predetermined path; d. control means operatively associated with said simultaneous moving means for effecting operation of said moving means; e. first sensing means operatively associated with said control means for rendering said control means effective in response to sensing the location of a predetermined article of one of said rows, said first sensing means detailed in location relative to said two rows of articles for sensing a correct longitudinally offset orientation of said two adjacent rows of articles; and, f. second sensing means operatively associated with said control means for initiating a cycle of operation of said control means in response to actuation of said second sensing means, said second sensing means including a photocell detailed in angular location in such a manner as to only sense individual articles in said other row and being operable between an open and closed condition and wherein actuation of said second sensing means for initiating said cycle of operation is operable in response to said second sensing means being in said closed condition for a predetermined period of time and thus having sensed completion of sad predetermined pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said simultaneous moving means is detailed for cyclic movement a first predetermined amount corresponding in distance to the width of said rows of oriented articles and wherein a first sensing means is operatively associated with said cyclic operation of said moving means for sensing said first predetermined amount and effecting a return of said moving means to a home position in response to completion of said first predetermined amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 2, further characterized in that said simultaneous moving means is detailed for cyclic movement a second predetermined amount in response to movement of said rows of oriented articles a predetermined distance along said second predetermined path, sensing means operatively associated with movement of oriented articles along said second predetermined path for rendering said first cyclic operation sensing means inoperative, and wherein s second sensing means is operatively associated with said cyclic operation of said moving means for sensing said second predetermined amount and effecting a return of said moving means to a home position in response to completion of said second predetermined amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said successive feeding means includes a guide means adjacent each side of said feeding means for maintaining said articles in said oriented rows as they move along said first predetermined path, said guide means includes a moveable portion adjacent said simultaneous moving means mounted for movement between an extended guiding position and a retracted non-guiding position to allow oriented articles to be moved along said second predetermined path and wherein said moveable guide means includes control means operable in response to an actuation of said timed sensing means to effect movement of said moveable guide means to said retracted position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said system includes an accumulator tray located adjacent said simulTaneous moving means for receiving said oriented rows of simultaneously moved articles, and wherein said accumulator tray includes an abutment guide means for maintaining said oriented articles in correct staggered alignment in said rows.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said oriented articles are of cylindrical shape and wherein an offset article of one row is in abutting contact with two articles of an adjacent row.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said oriented articles are of cylindrical shape and wherein a common line drawn tangent to all the articles of one row will overlap and be substantially parallel to a common line drawn tangent to all the articles of an adjacent row.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said orienting means includes a pair of transversely spaced rotatable article orienting means, with one of said rotatable orienting means located adjacent each side of said article feeding means whereby an article moving along said feeding means will pass between said rotatable orienting means and wherein each of said rotatable orienting means includes a series of article receiving portions separated by article camming portions, with the article receiving portion of one rotatable means being in rotatable alignment with respect to the article camming portions of said other rotatable means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an article accumulator system as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said pair of rotatable orienting means are supported for counter-rotating movement and are detailed in spaced relationship relative to each other in such a manner that the article camming portion of one rotatable means will cam an article being fed thereto into the article receiving portion of the other rotatable means and wherein rotatable alignment means is operatively connected between said pair of rotatable orienting means for maintaining correct angular alignment between article receiving portions and article camming portions whereby successive articles being fed along said feeding means will be alternately moved to said oriented rows of articles.