Patent US3722656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3722656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for handling and accumulating articles
Assignee: Kloeckner Bartelt Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-23
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-06-23
Abstract
Abstract The system includes demand conveyors each having buckets for receiving packages from an automatic packager, the buckets being moved by the demand conveyor as required by the output of the packager. After the buckets have been loaded with packages, control of the buckets is switched to a timing conveyor that advances the buckets at a speed and pitch which match the speed and pitch of buckets on a continuously moving accumulating conveyor operable to receive the packages and to move the packages alongside a continuously moving conveyor carrying cartons into which the packages are inserted by an automatic cartoner.
Inventors
- 👤 R Newton
- 👤 C Loomis
- 👤 J Wiles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/44; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/002; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/30; B65G47/31; B65G47/74; B65G47/84; B65G47/841; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
In a system for handling packages and for loading the packages into cartons, the combination of, first and second endless conveyors having upper runs extending through first and second horizontally spaced transfer stations with the upper run of at least said first conveyor also extending through a loading station spaced upstream of said first transfer station, mechanism for continuously advancing the upper runs of said conveyors in the same direction, a succession of package-carrying buckets, means on said buckets releasably coupling the buckets to said first conveyor for movement with the latter from said loading station to said first transfer station and from said second transfer station back to said loading station, means in said loading station for momentarily uncoupling said buckets from said first conveyor to enable the buckets to dwell while packages are loaded into the buckets at said loading station, means in said first transfer station for uncoupling the loaded buckets from said first conveyor to enable the latter to move relative to the buckets and to leave the buckets in the first transfer station, means on said second conveyor for picking up the loaded buckets left in said first transfer station by said first conveyor and for advancing such buckets in equally spaced relation to said second transfer station, mechanism located between said transfer stations and operable during advancement of the buckets between the transfer stations to shift the packages out of such buckets for insertion into cartons, and the empty buckets being recoupled to said first conveyor at said second transfer station for return to said loading station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a system for handling packages and for loading the packages into cartons, the combination of, first and second endless conveyors having upper runs extending through first and second horizontally spaced transfer stations with the upper run of at least said first conveyor also extending through a loading station spaced upstream of said first transfer station, mechanism for continuously advancing the upper runs of said conveyors in the same direction, a succession of package-carrying buckets, means on said buckets releasably coupling the buckets to said first conveyor for movement with the latter from said loading station to said first transfer station and from said second transfer station back to said loading station, means in said loading station for momentarily uncoupling said buckets from said first conveyor to enable the buckets to dwell while packages are loaded into the buckets at said loading station, means in said first transfer station for uncoupling the loaded buckets from said first conveyor to enable the latter to move relative to the buckets and to leave the buckets in the first transfer station, means on said second conveyor for picking up the loaded buckets left in said first transfer station by said first conveyor and for advancing such buckets in equally spaced relation to said second transfer station, mechanism located between said transfer stations and operable during advancement of the buckets between the transfer stations to shift the packages out of such buckets for insertion into cartons, and the empty buckets being recoupled to said first conveyor at said second transfer station for return to said loading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which the upper run of said first conveyor extends beyond the upstream and downstream ends of the upper run of said second conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 2 further including a first pair of horizontally spaced sprockets guiding said first conveyor, and a second pair of horizontally spaced sprockets guiding said second conveyor and rotatable about axes located between and above the rotational axes of said first pair of sprockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A system as defined in claim 3 in which said means on said second conveyor for picking up and advancing said buckets comprise a series of equally spaced lugs carried by said second conveyor, said lugs automatically moving into engagement with the buckets in the first transfer station as an incident to passing upwardly around the upstream one of said second pair of sprockets and automatically moving out of engagement with the buckets advanced to said second transfer station as an incident to passing downwardly around the downstream one of said second pair of sprockets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in claim 4 in which said advancing mechanism moves said first conveyor at a slower rate than said second conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which an additional pair of conveyors similar to said first pair of conveyors are disposed end-to-end with the first pair, means for advancing the second conveyor of the second pair at the same speed as the second conveyor of the first pair, an accumulating conveyor disposed alongside both of said second conveyors, package carriers spaced along said accumulating conveyor by distances correlated with the spacing between the buckets advanced by the second conveyors, and mechanism for continuously advancing said accumulating conveyor at the same rate as said second conveyors whereby said packages may be shifted into said carriers as an incident to being shifted out of said buckets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a system for handling articles, the combination of, a first endless conveyor, mechanism for continuously driving said conveyor at a predetermined rate, a succession of article carriers, means on said carriers releasably coupling the latter to said conveyor for movement with the conveyor along a predetermined path into spaced loading and transfer stations, means in said loading statioN for momentarily uncoupling said carriers from said conveyor to enable the carriers to dwell while articles are loaded into the carriers, a second endless conveyor having means movable through said transfer station for engaging the loaded carriers advanced to the transfer station and for causing the carriers to advance in equally spaced relation along a continuation of said path, and mechanism for continuously advancing said second conveyor at a different rate than said first conveyor whereby the carriers are advanced into the transfer station at one velocity and are advanced out of the transfer station at a different velocity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a system for handling articles, the combination of, a first endless conveyor, mechanism for continuously driving said conveyor at a predetermined rate, a succession of article carriers, means on said carriers releasably coupling the latter to said conveyor for movement with the conveyor along a predetermined path into spaced loading and transfer stations, means in said loading statioN for momentarily uncoupling said carriers from said conveyor to enable the carriers to dwell while articles are loaded into the carriers, a second endless conveyor having means movable through said transfer station for engaging the loaded carriers advanced to the transfer station and for causing the carriers to advance in equally spaced relation along a continuation of said path, and mechanism for continuously advancing said second conveyor at a different rate than said first conveyor whereby the carriers are advanced into the transfer station at one velocity and are advanced out of the transfer station at a different velocity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |