US3698423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve unit for vacuum operated palletizer lifting heads
Assignee: Rapistan Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-04
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1990-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A valve unit adapted for insertion in an air passage opening through the grid of a vacuum operated palletizer lifting head having a rectangular body with a pair of elongated faces on opposite sides thereof and a generally central aperture therethrough between the elongated faces to permit air to pass through the body. The body has in one of its elongated faces a concave valve seat surrounding the aperture. The valve unit also has a valve member and means movably supporting the same on the body adjacent the valve seat, the valve member being a thin, resilient element adapted to be flexibly shiftable between an open position spaced from the valve seat and a closed position seated against the valve seat and shaped to conform to the concavity thereof. Means are provided around the periphery of the body for forming a seal between the body and the grid of the palletizer.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernst A Dahlquist
- 👤 Stanley J Polakowski
- 👤 Teunis Vaalburg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/14; F16K15/16; F16K15/162; F16K15/1401; F16K15/144; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7504; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7838; Y10T137/7839; Y10T137/7869; Y10T137/7871; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/7887; Y10T137/7897
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A valve unit adapted for insertion in an air passage opening through the grid of a vacuum operated palletizer lifting head comprising: a rectangular body having a pair of elongated faces on opposite sides thereof and a generally central aperture therethrough between said faces to permit air to pass through the body; said body having in one of said faces thereof a concave valve seat surrounding said aperture; a valve member and means movably supporting the same on said body adjacent said valve seat, said valve member being a thin resilient element adapted to be flexibly shiftable between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position seated against said valve seat shaped to conform to the concavity thereof; and means around the periphery of said body for forming a seal between said body and said grid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A valve unit adapted for insertion in an air passage opening through the grid of a vacuum operated palletizer lifting head comprising: a rectangular body having a pair of elongated faces on opposite sides thereof and a generally central aperture therethrough between said faces to permit air to pass through the body; said body having in one of said faces thereof a concave valve seat surrounding said aperture; a valve member and means movably supporting the same on said body adjacent said valve seat, said valve member being a thin resilient element adapted to be flexibly shiftable between an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position seated against said valve seat shaped to conform to the concavity thereof; and means around the periphery of said body for forming a seal between said body and said grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A valve unit of claim 1 wherein said valve member has fulcrum crimps near each end thereof which contact said body when said valve member flexes between said open and closed positions to minimize friction between said valve member and said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve unit of claim 2 wherein said valve member is generally rectangular in configuration with openings near each end thereof, said support means passing through said openings and said openings being over-size with respect to said support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A valve unit of claim 3 wherein said valve member is made of spring steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A valve unit of claim 4 wherein said means around the periphery of said body comprises a resilient O-ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
A valve unit for automatically regulating the intake of air by the vacuum lifting head of a palletizer through one of the individual air intake passages of said head, said valve unit comprising: a body having a main portion with an upper and a lower face and a boss depending from said lower face thereof; that portion of said boss adjacent the center of said body being formed into an elongated concave valve seat; an aperture extending through said body between said upper and lower faces and generally centered with respect to said concave valve seat; said valve seat extending outwardly from said aperture in all directions; a thin flexible valve member and means at each end of said valve seat suppoRting said valve member on said body; said valve member being shiftable from an open position spaced from said valve seat to a closed position pressed to said valve seat and conforming to its concave shape; and a resilient sealing gasket surrounding said body and projecting outwardly therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A valve unit for automatically regulating the intake of air by the vacuum lifting head of a palletizer through one of the individual air intake passages of said head, said valve unit comprising: a body having a main portion with an upper and a lower face and a boss depending from said lower face thereof; that portion of said boss adjacent the center of said body being formed into an elongated concave valve seat; an aperture extending through said body between said upper and lower faces and generally centered with respect to said concave valve seat; said valve seat extending outwardly from said aperture in all directions; a thin flexible valve member and means at each end of said valve seat suppoRting said valve member on said body; said valve member being shiftable from an open position spaced from said valve seat to a closed position pressed to said valve seat and conforming to its concave shape; and a resilient sealing gasket surrounding said body and projecting outwardly therefrom.
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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) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |