US3722741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indexing carousel infeed unit for can ends
Assignee: Fleetwood Systems Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-22
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A carousel type infeed unit for supplying can ends to a receiving station of a can processing line, or the like. The infeed unit employs drive means including an endless conveyor element to which is attached a plurality of carrier members capable of receiving and releasably retaining a stack of can ends. The drive means further includes an indexing arrangement capable of producing controlled, incremental movement of the conveyor element, whereby the can end carrier members may be aligned with said receiving station, at which time an ejector arrangement is employed to engage and forcibly transfer a stack of can ends from the aligned carrier member to the receiving station. In addition, there is disclosed control means adapted for use with the infeed unit, which control means monitors the supply of can ends at said receiving station so as to attain automatic operation of the infeed unit as the need for additional can ends arises.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace W Mojden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B21; B21D; B21D51/00; B21D51/16; B21D51/26; B21D51/2653; B21D51/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for supplying can ends, or the like, to a receiving station, said apparatus comprising: a frame; drive means mounted to said frame and including an endless conveyor element; a plurality of carrier members mounted to said conveyor element, each said carrier member including a frame construction comprising, an elongate supporting standard attached to said conveyor element, a base plate carried by said standard for supporting a stack of can ends, and spring means including a pair of spaced elongate elements attached to said supporting standard by resilient means and disposed such that the distance therebetween is less than the maximum width of the can ends to be disposed therein, such that said elongate elements may be forcibly spread to provide for reception and ejection of a stack of can ends, while permitting said stack of ends to be moved laterally of said carrier member; said drive means further including means capable of producing controlled, incremental movement of said conveyor element whereby said carrier members may be sequentially aligned with said receiving station; ejector means for engaging a stack of can ends carried by a carrier member aligned with a receiving station and forcibly transferring said stack of can ends laterally from said aligned carrier member to said receiving station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for supplying can ends, or the like, to a receiving station, said apparatus comprising: a frame; drive means mounted to said frame and including an endless conveyor element; a plurality of carrier members mounted to said conveyor element, each said carrier member including a frame construction comprising, an elongate supporting standard attached to said conveyor element, a base plate carried by said standard for supporting a stack of can ends, and spring means including a pair of spaced elongate elements attached to said supporting standard by resilient means and disposed such that the distance therebetween is less than the maximum width of the can ends to be disposed therein, such that said elongate elements may be forcibly spread to provide for reception and ejection of a stack of can ends, while permitting said stack of ends to be moved laterally of said carrier member; said drive means further including means capable of producing controlled, incremental movement of said conveyor element whereby said carrier members may be sequentially aligned with said receiving station; ejector means for engaging a stack of can ends carried by a carrier member aligned with a receiving station and forcibly transferring said stack of can ends laterally from said aligned carrier member to said receiving station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for supplying can ends, or the like, to a receiving station, said apparatus comprising: a frame; drive means mounted to said frame and including an endless conveyor element; a plurality of carrier members mounted to said conveyor element, each said carrier member including a frame construction comprising, a base plate for supporting a stack of can ends, and spring means for releasably receiving and retaining the stack of can ends supported on said base plate, while permitting said stack of ends to be moved laterally of said carrier member; said drive means further including means capable of producing controlled, incremental movement of said conveyor element whereby said carrier members may be sequentially aligned with said receiving station; ejector means for engaging a stack of can ends supported by a carrier member aligned with said receiving station, and said ejector means, upon engagement with said stack of can ends moving said stack laterally of the carrier member past said spring means, thereby forcibly transferring said stack of can ends From said aligned carrier member to said receiving station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for supplying can ends, or the like, to a receiving station, said apparatus comprising: a frame; drive means mounted to said frame and including an endless conveyor element; a plurality of carrier members mounted to said conveyor element, each said carrier member including a frame construction comprising, a base plate for supporting a stack of can ends, and spring means for releasably receiving and retaining the stack of can ends supported on said base plate, while permitting said stack of ends to be moved laterally of said carrier member; said drive means further including means capable of producing controlled, incremental movement of said conveyor element whereby said carrier members may be sequentially aligned with said receiving station; ejector means for engaging a stack of can ends supported by a carrier member aligned with said receiving station, and said ejector means, upon engagement with said stack of can ends moving said stack laterally of the carrier member past said spring means, thereby forcibly transferring said stack of can ends From said aligned carrier member to said receiving station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier member further includes an elongate supporting standard carrying said base plate and said spring means, and being attached to said conveyor element; and said spring means include a pair of spaced elongate elements attached to said supporting standard by resilient means and disposed such that the distance therebetween is less than the maximum width of the can ends to be conveyed, such that said elongate elements may be forcibly spread to provide for reception and ejection of a stack of can ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including sensing means associated with said receiving station for monitoring the level of can ends and being operably connected with said ram means, such that when the supply of can ends at said receiving station reaches a predetermined level, said ram means will be operated to transfer an additional stack of can ends to said receiving station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including control means associated with said receiving station for monitoring the level of can ends therein, said control means being such that when said level falls below a predetermined value, said drive means is operated to index a full carrier member into position, and said ram means is energized to transfer a fresh supply of can ends to said receiving station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said control means includes photoelectric sensing means associated with said receiving means for monitoring the level of can ends therein, said photoelectric sensing means being such that when said level falls below a predetermined value, a control signal is produced which effects indexing of the carrier members and operation of said ejector means to transfer a fresh supply of ends to the receiving station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said endless drive means includes a pair of spaced, sprocket gears over which is engaged an endless sprocket chain which has the carrier members attached thereto, and indexing means operatively connected with one said sprocket gear for producing a desired degree of movement upon actuation thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including alignment means for properly positioning the carrier members with respect to the receiving station, such that transfer of said stack of can ends from said carrier members to said receiving station may be completed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said alignment means comprises retractable stop means, and means having at least one abutment surface formed thereon and being rotatable in conjunction with said drive means, with the relative angular relationship between said abutment surface and said stop means being correlated to the positioning of said carrier members with respect to said receiving station, such that upon an instance of engagement of said stop means with said abutment surface, further operation of said drive means is precluded with one said carrier member being properly aligned with said receiving station, retraction of said stop means permitting further operation of said drive means to bring an additional carrier member into proper alignment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein a plurality of abutment surfaces are provided, the circumferential spacing between adjacent surfaces being proportionally related to the spacing between adjacent carrier members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the proportional relation is of a ratio of 1-to-1.
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 |