US3702524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Case loader with article inverting mechanism
Assignee: Newfrey LLC
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Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1972-11-14
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract An infeed conveyor is provided for advancing upright articles in a plurality of lanes across a deadplate and into a lane defining grid as a result of line pressure from the articles advancing on the conveyor. Means is provided above each such lane for braking or holding back the articles on the deadplate so that discrete charges, or slugs of articles, can be formed in the grid. The grid is adapted to be retracted slightly, away from the deadplate, and to be rotated to an inverted position. Hinged doors on the grid are moved into contact with the upper end portions of the upright articles to hold them in the grid as it is so rotated. An empty packing case to be loaded is raised upwardly to receive the inverted articles in the grid, and the doors are then moved to their open positions causing the articles to drop downwardly onto the upwardly open packing case. Two embodiments of the invention are shown, one having a single grid, and the second having a double grid.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd D Johnson
- 👤 Kenneth E Kroeber
- 👤 John L Raudat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B21/00; B65B21/02; B65B21/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In an apparatus for depositing groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, the improvement comprising an infeed conveyor for advancing the articles in a plurality of lanes, lane defining grid means for receiving a charge of articles when in a first position adjacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor, means for rotating said grid means from said first position to a discharge position wherein the inverted charge of articles is free to fall downwardly into a packing case, means carried by said grid means for restraining said articles in Said grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said grid means, and means for moving all of said doors from closed positions wherein each engages an upper portion of the articles in its associated lane and an open position wherein the articles are free to fall inverted from the grid means when said grid means is in its discharge position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an apparatus for depositing groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, the improvement comprising an infeed conveyor for advancing the articles in a plurality of lanes, lane defining grid means for receiving a charge of articles when in a first position adjacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor, means for rotating said grid means from said first position to a discharge position wherein the inverted charge of articles is free to fall downwardly into a packing case, means carried by said grid means for restraining said articles in Said grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said grid means, and means for moving all of said doors from closed positions wherein each engages an upper portion of the articles in its associated lane and an open position wherein the articles are free to fall inverted from the grid means when said grid means is in its discharge position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination recited in claim 1 further characterized by means carried on said grid means for moving said doors between said open and closed positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination recited in claim 3 further characterized by means for sliding said grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said conveyor while said grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means from said first position to said discharge position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination recited in claim 4 further characterized by means for detecting the presence of a predetermined number of articles in the lanes of said grid means, and means responsive to said detecting means for applying said holding means to the articles on said conveyor and for closing said doors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination recited in claim 5 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its discharge position for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination recited in claim 6 further characterized by means responsive to the elevation of said case to open said doors and allow the inverted articles to free fall into said case.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination recited in claim 7 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following the opening of said doors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination recited in claim 8 further characterized by means responsive to the lowering of said filled case for rotating said grid means back to its first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination recited in claim 9 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its first position for releasing said article holding means on said conveyor so that the line pressure of the articles thereon causes another charge of articles to be fed into said lane defining grid means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by second lane defining grid means mounted to said first lane defining grid means for rotation therewith, said second lane defining grid means occupying said first position when said first grid means is in said discharge position and said second grid means occupying said discharge position when said first grid means is in said first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination recited in claim 11 further characterized by second means carried by said second grid means for restraining articles therein during rotation and for releasing articles for free fall therefrom at said discharge station, said second means for restraining articles in said second grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said second grid means, and means for moving said doors on said second grid means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
The combination recited in claim 12 further characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said first and second grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor, means for sliding said first and second grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said infeed conveyor while said first and second grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting movement being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means between said two positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination recited in claim 12 further characterized by means for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles at said discharge position, said case elevating means being carried out after rotation of said grid means between said two positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination recited in claim 14 further characterized by fixed funnel means for guiding the falling articles at said discharge station, and means responsive to the elevation of said cases to open said doors of the grid means at said discharge station to allow the inverted articles to free fall downwardly through said fixed funnel means into said upwardly open case.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination recited in claim 15 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following opening of said doors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3443355A
Cited
US3589094A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-14 | 1976-05-15 | 1976-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-14 | 1980-05-15 | 1980-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-14 | 1984-05-15 | 1984-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |