US3687285A — Positive two channel can discharge

Claim 1

Independent Claim 202 words

Apparatus for sorting cans of first quality from cans of second quality comprising conveying means for continuously moving cans from a can tester; ejection means mounted on said apparatus for expelling from said conveyor means cans of first quality at a first station and cans of second quality at a second station; clamping means associated with said ejection means for positively retaining cans of second quality in said apparatus when said cans of second quality move past said first station; at least two first means for actuating said clamping means into a clamped position whereby the cans of second quality are retained in the apparatus as they are being moved past said first station and an unclamped position once said first station is passed; and at least two second means, responsive to signals from a sensing device which functions in conjunction with said can tester to determine position of cans of first quality on said can tester, for actuating said ejection means to positively expel cans of first quality from said conveying means at said first station, at least one of said first and at least one of said second actuating means being disposed on the opposite side of said conveying means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 202 words

Apparatus for sorting cans of first quality from cans of second quality comprising conveying means for continuously moving cans from a can tester; ejection means mounted on said apparatus for expelling from said conveyor means cans of first quality at a first station and cans of second quality at a second station; clamping means associated with said ejection means for positively retaining cans of second quality in said apparatus when said cans of second quality move past said first station; at least two first means for actuating said clamping means into a clamped position whereby the cans of second quality are retained in the apparatus as they are being moved past said first station and an unclamped position once said first station is passed; and at least two second means, responsive to signals from a sensing device which functions in conjunction with said can tester to determine position of cans of first quality on said can tester, for actuating said ejection means to positively expel cans of first quality from said conveying means at said first station, at least one of said first and at least one of said second actuating means being disposed on the opposite side of said conveying means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes a plurality of pockets wherein cans from said can tester are disposed; and a pair of stationary cam tracks disposed on both sides of said conveying means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ejection means includes a lever yieldably mounted on a first shaft, said lever in its inactive position being disposed below said pockets; said clamping means being freely mounted on said first shaft.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said clamping means and said ejection means are each provided with cooperating abutments which serve to maintain the angle between said clamping means and said ejection means such that a can could be clamped therebetween and to limit relative rotation of said clamping means and said ejection means on said first shaft.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said clamping means includes an elliptical opening; a bolt passing through said opening and being secured to said conveying means; and a biasing means in association with said bolt urging said clamping means away from said lever into a position whereby abutments on said clamping means and said lever are engaged.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 65 words

Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clamping and ejection means include a first gear mounted on said first shaft; and a second gear mounted on a second shaft and being in mesh with said first gear, said first gear being operatively associated with said first actuation means and said second actuation means and said first and second shafts being rotatably supported by said conveying means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus of claim 6 wherein a cam roller is rigidly affixed to said second gear and arranged to travel on one said cam tracks; and yieldable means for yieldably biasing said cam roller against one of said cam tracks.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first gear is a pinion gear and is smaller in diameter than said second gear to provide a desired gear ratio whereby a small rotation of said second gear will impart a large rotation of said first gear.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus of claim 8 wherein alternate rollers are arranged to travel on one cam track and remainder of the rollers on the other cam track.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus of claim 9 wherein alternate pairs of said first actuation means and said second actuation means are disposed on same side of said conveying means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first actuation means is an undercut in said cam track while said second actuation means includes a cam segment pivotally secured to said cam track and means for elevating and retracting said cam segment above and below or flush with the upper surface of said cam track.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cam tracks include one recess in each of their exterior sides, said cam segments residing within said recesses in their inactive positions, said recesses and undercuts on each side being arranged so that said cam segments disposed in said recesses are positioned directly below said undercuts, the upper surface of said cam segments being substantially flush with the upper surface of said undercuts.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus of claim 12 including a rotAtable discharge shaft for mounting said conveying means, said conveying means being circular and including a pair of spaced starwheel disks.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus of claim 13 including a first station for discharging said first quality cans and a second station for discharging said second quality cans, said first and second stations include rails which project between said starwheel disks to receive cans ejected from said conveying means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus of claim 14 wherein said conveying means includes a hub mounted for rotation on said discharge shaft, the pair of starwheel disks being rigidly affixed to said hub for rotation therewith, said starwheel disks being arranged so as to form said pockets.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus of claim 15 including alternately spaced depressions on sides of said hub for positioning said first and second gears and cover plates for maintaining said gears against said hub and in operative engagement, said first quality cans being leaky and said second quality cans being leak-proof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 204 words

Apparatus for sorting cans of first quality from cans of second quality comprising conveying means foe continuously moving cans from a can tester; sensing device which functions in conjunction with said can tester to determine position of cans of first quality; ejection means mounted on said apparatus for expelling from said conveyor means cans of first quality at a first station and cans of second quality at a second station; clamping means associated with said ejection means for positively retaining cans of second quality in said apparatus when said cans of second quality move past said first station; a first means for actuating said clamping means into a clamped position whereby the cans of second quality are retained in the apparatus as they are being moved past said first station and an unclamped position once said first station is passed; a second means, responsive to signals from said sensing device, for actuating said ejection means to expel cans of first quality from said conveying means at said first station; said clamping and ejection means include a first gear and a second gear in mesh with said first gear, said first gear being operatively engaged with said clamping and ejection means for positively expelling cans.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 204 words

Apparatus for sorting cans of first quality from cans of second quality comprising conveying means foe continuously moving cans from a can tester; sensing device which functions in conjunction with said can tester to determine position of cans of first quality; ejection means mounted on said apparatus for expelling from said conveyor means cans of first quality at a first station and cans of second quality at a second station; clamping means associated with said ejection means for positively retaining cans of second quality in said apparatus when said cans of second quality move past said first station; a first means for actuating said clamping means into a clamped position whereby the cans of second quality are retained in the apparatus as they are being moved past said first station and an unclamped position once said first station is passed; a second means, responsive to signals from said sensing device, for actuating said ejection means to expel cans of first quality from said conveying means at said first station; said clamping and ejection means include a first gear and a second gear in mesh with said first gear, said first gear being operatively engaged with said clamping and ejection means for positively expelling cans.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 105 words

Apparatus of claim 17 including pockets in said conveying means for accommodating the cans, a cam track on the side of said conveying means, said first actuation means is an undercut in said cam track, said second actuation means is a cam segment pivotally secured to said cam track and positioned directly below said undercut, means for elevating and retracting said cam segment above and below or flush with the upper surface of said cam track, a cam roller rigidly affixed to said second gear and arranged to travel on said cam track, and means for yieldably biasing said cam roller against said cam track.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first gear is a pinion gear and is smaller in diameter than said second gear to provide a desired gear ratio whereby a small rotation of said second gear will impart a large rotation of said first gear.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus of claim 19 including a first shaft mounted on said conveying means, said ejection means including a lever yieldably mounted on said first shaft with said lever being disposed below said pockets in its inactive position, said clamping means being freely mounted on said first shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-08-29	1976-02-28	1976-08-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-08-29	1980-02-28	1980-08-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-08-29	1984-02-28	1984-08-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Positive two channel can discharge

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