US3722659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for orienting and feeding bottles or like articles
Assignee: Aidlin Automation Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-07
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-10-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for orienting and feeding bottles, or like articles having necks at one end, in which the bottles are haphazardly picked up from the bin by spaced pairs of spaced alined cleats on an endless conveyor belt whose upper portion is horizontally disposed with means provided along such upper portion to engage the center of the bottle length to gradually elevate each bottle and tilt it into upright position to rest on its base to either side of the elevating means. Means are provided for translating the uprighted bottles on either side of the elevating means to a conveyor that is level with the outlet end of the bottle elevating and uprighting means.
Inventors
- 👤 S Aidlin
- 👤 D Rich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/256; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Orienting and feeding apparatus for bottles, or the like, including an endless conveyor belt, means mounting said conveyor belt for movement with a lower portion thereof in tilted position and with its upper, outlet end portion in substantially horizontal position, and a plurality of spaced pairs of spaced cleats secured on said belt in transverse relation thereto, means along each edge of the horizontally disposed portion of said conveyor belt adapted to form an abutment for the base of a bottle disposed adjacent thereto, said space between said pairs of cleats disposed substantially opposite the center of said conveyor belt, and means over the upper portion of said conveyor belt opposite said space and adapted to fit therein engaging a bottle moved by each said pair of cleats to raise and overbalance and thereby upright the same on its base unto said conveyor belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Orienting and feeding apparatus for bottles, or the like, including an endless conveyor belt, means mounting said conveyor belt for movement with a lower portion thereof in tilted position and with its upper, outlet end portion in substantially horizontal position, and a plurality of spaced pairs of spaced cleats secured on said belt in transverse relation thereto, means along each edge of the horizontally disposed portion of said conveyor belt adapted to form an abutment for the base of a bottle disposed adjacent thereto, said space between said pairs of cleats disposed substantially opposite the center of said conveyor belt, and means over the upper portion of said conveyor belt opposite said space and adapted to fit therein engaging a bottle moved by each said pair of cleats to raise and overbalance and thereby upright the same on its base unto said conveyor belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottle-engaging and overbalancing means comprises a member supported over said upper conveyor belt portion, said member having at least its inner portion sloping upwardly from a point close to said belt and adapted to clear through the space between said pairs of cleats, and having side edges diverging outwardly toward the outlet end of said conveyor belt to a point distant from each longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt equal substantially to the thickness of the base portion of a bottle, to thereby provide a lane for moving erected bottles to each side of said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, and wherein said means alongside each edge of said horizontally disposed portion of said conveyor belt comprises upright side walls supported over the marginal edge portions of said conveyor belt, to each side of said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said side wall is provided with a projecting shoulder overhanging said conveyor belt, said projecting shoulder having its inner end at a height substantially equal to the thickness of the base of a bottle and sloping gradually downwardly toward said conveyor belt in the direction of the outlet end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said side wall is formed with the edge of its inner portion sloping downwardly towards said conveyor belt into close proximity thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lead edges of the sloping portions of said side walls are offset inWardly relative to the lead edge of said bottle raising member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with a bin for bottles, said bin being of a width substantially equal to the width of said conveyor belt, the lower end of said conveyor belt extending into said bin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the end portion of said conveyor belt within said bin is horizontally disposed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2, in combination with a horizontally disposed auxilliary conveyor belt substantially level with the outlet end of said apparatus, and means overhanging said outlet end of said apparatus engaging the bottles erected thereon and translating the same in erect position to said auxilliary conveyor belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said translating means comprises a pair of rotatable endless gripper belts opposite and overhanging each said lane on said conveyor belt, each said pair of gripper belts adapted to engage an erected bottle moving on the said conveyor belt of said apparatus and depositing said bottles in erected position on said conveyor belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pairs of gripper belts converge towards one another in the direction of said conveyor belt whereby the bottles translated by them are deposited on said conveyor belt close to its longitudinal center.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the endless gripper belts of one of said pairs of gripper belts is supported in vertically offset relation relative to the other pair, and wherein the end of each said gripper belt of each said pair overhanging the outlet end of said conveyor belt is engaged over a sheave mounted on an individual, rotatable spindle, and wherein the end of the outermost of each of said pairs of gripper belts is longer than the inner one thereof and is engaged over an idler sheave mounted on an individual rod, and wherein the outer ends of the inner ones of said gripper belts are each engaged over an idler sheave mounted on a common rod.
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 |