US3685632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic article spreader
Assignee: Anchor Hocking LLC
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Filing: 1970-08-27
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic spreader which arranges a series of similar articles such as glass containers moving in single line arrangement into two or more ongoing lines. In preferred form, the spreader includes an air table having a multiplicity of air outlet ports in it and side guide rails that define a transfer area on the air table. The air ports are positioned in at least a left-hand apron and a right-hand apron, the outlets in the respective aprons being directed generally downstream but angularly away from those of the other apron. As the articles pass over the air table they float on a continuous air cushion and are distributed by angulated air jets issuing from the ports into the plural ongoing lines. Almost negligible article-to-article contact occurs. A plate-like cover is positioned over the transfer area closely above the tops of the articles so as to prevent them from tipping or falling over as they are transferred from and to the conveyors and move on the air cushion. One or more pegs block flow of articles past them and assist in the formation of defined lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale J Brady
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/71; B65G47/525
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A pneumatic article spreader for arranging incoming discrete articles such as glass containers which are moving in single line relation, into at least two ongoing moving lines, said spreader comprising, an air table having a multiplicity of air outlet ports in a generally horizontal transfer area thereof, conduit means for supplying pressure air to said ports, said ports in use providing an air cushion over said transfer area on which said articles float when moving thereover, said ports being angulated, with respect to vertical, toward the downstream direction, to move the articles in the downstream direction, the ports which lie to the side of the central longitudinal axis of said transfer area being angulated away from said axis to direct articles moving thereover downstream and away from the line of the incoming articles, guide raIls defining the side limits of the transfer area of said air table, at least one positioning peg above said transfer area and preventing movement of articles through its position, said peg being positioned relative to said guide rails to direct articles moving on said air table into lines on either side of the peg, a cover above and extending substantially over the entire transfer area, said cover being spaced above the tops of the articles such that upstanding articles can pass unrestrainedly between said area and cover but such that said cover prevents said articles from falling over, and means supporting said peg so that said peg depends below said cover and into the paths of travel of articles moving on said area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A pneumatic article spreader for arranging incoming discrete articles such as glass containers which are moving in single line relation, into at least two ongoing moving lines, said spreader comprising, an air table having a multiplicity of air outlet ports in a generally horizontal transfer area thereof, conduit means for supplying pressure air to said ports, said ports in use providing an air cushion over said transfer area on which said articles float when moving thereover, said ports being angulated, with respect to vertical, toward the downstream direction, to move the articles in the downstream direction, the ports which lie to the side of the central longitudinal axis of said transfer area being angulated away from said axis to direct articles moving thereover downstream and away from the line of the incoming articles, guide raIls defining the side limits of the transfer area of said air table, at least one positioning peg above said transfer area and preventing movement of articles through its position, said peg being positioned relative to said guide rails to direct articles moving on said air table into lines on either side of the peg, a cover above and extending substantially over the entire transfer area, said cover being spaced above the tops of the articles such that upstanding articles can pass unrestrainedly between said area and cover but such that said cover prevents said articles from falling over, and means supporting said peg so that said peg depends below said cover and into the paths of travel of articles moving on said area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A pneumatic spreader as set forth in claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of ports in said transfer area are arranged at least into a right-hand apron and a left-hand apron, said aprons being divided one from the other at the central axis of said transfer area, said ports in each apron being angulated downstream and outwardly away from said central axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article spreader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said peg depends from said cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article spreader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover is vertically adjustable relative to the transfer area of said air table for positioning to accommodate articles of different heights.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
247 words
A pneumatic article spreader for arranging incoming discrete articles such as glass containers which are moving in single line relation, into at least two ongoing moving lines, said spreader comprising, an air table having a multiplicity of air outlet ports in a generally horizontal transfer area thereof, conduit means for supplying pressure air to said ports, said ports in use providing an air cushion over said transfer area on which said articles float when moving thereover, said ports being angulated, with respect to vertical, toward the downstream direction, to move the articles in the downstream direction, the ports which lie to the side of the central longitudinal axis of said transfer area being angulated away from said axis to direct articles moving thereover downstream and away from the line of the incoming articles, the multiplicity of ports in said transfer area being arranged at least into a right-hand apron and a left-hand apron, said aprons being divided one from the other at the central axis of said transfer area, said ports in each apron being angulated downstream and outwardly away from said central axis, said multiplicity of ports including ports arranged into a triangular central apron, the base of said central apron being at the downstream end of said air table and the apex of said central apron pointing upstream to the center of said transfer area, the air ports in said central apron being angulated downstream but parallel to the central axis of said transfer area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
247 words
A pneumatic article spreader for arranging incoming discrete articles such as glass containers which are moving in single line relation, into at least two ongoing moving lines, said spreader comprising, an air table having a multiplicity of air outlet ports in a generally horizontal transfer area thereof, conduit means for supplying pressure air to said ports, said ports in use providing an air cushion over said transfer area on which said articles float when moving thereover, said ports being angulated, with respect to vertical, toward the downstream direction, to move the articles in the downstream direction, the ports which lie to the side of the central longitudinal axis of said transfer area being angulated away from said axis to direct articles moving thereover downstream and away from the line of the incoming articles, the multiplicity of ports in said transfer area being arranged at least into a right-hand apron and a left-hand apron, said aprons being divided one from the other at the central axis of said transfer area, said ports in each apron being angulated downstream and outwardly away from said central axis, said multiplicity of ports including ports arranged into a triangular central apron, the base of said central apron being at the downstream end of said air table and the apex of said central apron pointing upstream to the center of said transfer area, the air ports in said central apron being angulated downstream but parallel to the central axis of said transfer area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
226 words
A pneumatic spreader adapted to be positioned between an upstream single line conveyor and a downstream multiple line conveyor, said spreader functioning to receive a series of similar discrete articles such as glass containers incoming in a single line to arrange them into at least two lines and to discharge them onto the multiple line conveyor, said spreader comprising a table positioned between said conveyors over which said articles pass as they move from said single line conveyor to said multiple line conveyor, the conveying surface of said table being in substantially the same horizontal plane as the surfaces of said conveyors, a multiplicity of air outlet ports in said table angulated downstream and outwardly on either side of the center line thereof, means for supplying pressure air to said ports, guide rails defining the side limits of the conveying area of said table, a cover above the conveying surface of said table, said cover being dimensioned and positioned to overlie the conveying area, and said cover being slightly above thE tops of the articles to be conveyed so that said articles do not contact said cover unless they start to tip over, and at least one positioning peg depending from the underside of said cover, said peg being symmetrically positioned above the downstream end of said table relative to the guide rails at that end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
226 words
A pneumatic spreader adapted to be positioned between an upstream single line conveyor and a downstream multiple line conveyor, said spreader functioning to receive a series of similar discrete articles such as glass containers incoming in a single line to arrange them into at least two lines and to discharge them onto the multiple line conveyor, said spreader comprising a table positioned between said conveyors over which said articles pass as they move from said single line conveyor to said multiple line conveyor, the conveying surface of said table being in substantially the same horizontal plane as the surfaces of said conveyors, a multiplicity of air outlet ports in said table angulated downstream and outwardly on either side of the center line thereof, means for supplying pressure air to said ports, guide rails defining the side limits of the conveying area of said table, a cover above the conveying surface of said table, said cover being dimensioned and positioned to overlie the conveying area, and said cover being slightly above thE tops of the articles to be conveyed so that said articles do not contact said cover unless they start to tip over, and at least one positioning peg depending from the underside of said cover, said peg being symmetrically positioned above the downstream end of said table relative to the guide rails at that end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A pneumatic spreader as set forth in claim 6 wherein the multiplicity of ports in said table are arranged at least into a left-hand apron and a right-hand apron, said aprons being separated from one another at the center axis of said table, the air ports in each apron being angulated downstream toward said multiple line conveyor and outwardly toward the guide rail adjacent that apron.
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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) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |