US3724639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for arranging articles in staggered rows
Assignee: Toyo Glass Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-12-21
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for arranging articles which are continuously fed in a straight line condition on a feed conveyor into a staggered or zig-zag condition on a receiving conveyor while transferring the articles onto the receiving conveyor in a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the feed conveyor. The apparatus comprises a movable arm reciprocating in the direction of movement of the receiving conveyor, a sliding frame slidable in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the arm and having a feeding plate for pushing the articles from the feed conveyor onto the receiving conveyor, and means for driving the sliding frame to slide it with respect to the movement of the movable arm so that it cyclically feeds a predetermined number of articles from the feed conveyor onto the receiving conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 T Hara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:38
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for transferring articles from a linear arrangement to a staggered arrangement comprising: first advancing means operative to longitudinally advance in a linear array along one path of travel having a terminal end portion lying in a given plane a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart articles; second advancing means receptive of the articles advanced by said first advancing means operative to advance same along another path of travel different than said one path of travel and having a starting end portion lying in said given plane; and means disposed along said one path of travel for automatically transferring successive groups of linearly disposed articles from said terminal end portion thereof while maintaining the articles at the level of said given plane to said starting end portion of said another path of travel in successively staggered rows while arranging the transferred articles on said another path of travel in mutually spaced-apart relationship during operation of said first and second advancing means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for transferring articles from a linear arrangement to a staggered arrangement comprising: first advancing means operative to longitudinally advance in a linear array along one path of travel having a terminal end portion lying in a given plane a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart articles; second advancing means receptive of the articles advanced by said first advancing means operative to advance same along another path of travel different than said one path of travel and having a starting end portion lying in said given plane; and means disposed along said one path of travel for automatically transferring successive groups of linearly disposed articles from said terminal end portion thereof while maintaining the articles at the level of said given plane to said starting end portion of said another path of travel in successively staggered rows while arranging the transferred articles on said another path of travel in mutually spaced-apart relationship during operation of said first and second advancing means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
275 words
An apparatus for transferring articles from a linear arrangement to a staggered arrangement comprising: first advancing means for longitudinally advancing in a linear array along a path of travel having a terminal end portion lying in a given plane a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart articles; second advancing means receptive of the articles advanced by said first advancing means for advancing same along another path of travel different than said first-mentioned path of travel and having a starting end portion on which the articles are received lying in said given plane; and means disposed along said first-mentioned path of travel for automatically transferring successive groups of linearly disposed articles from said terminal end portion of said first-mentioned path of travel while maintaining the articles at the level of said given plane to said starting end portion of said another path of travel in successively staggered rows comprising a movably mounted article feeding member disposed along said first-mentioned path of travel, means mounting said article feeding member for cyclical movement along said another path of travel to effect transfer from said first advancing means of successive groups of linearly disposed articles in unit rows to said second advancing means, means mounting said article feeding member for reciprocal movement along said first-mentioned path of travel to effectively stagger the unit rows of articles during their transfer to said second advancing means, and drive means for cyclically driving said article feeding member along said another path of travel in synchronization with reciprocating same along said first-mentioned path of travel to transfer the linearly disposed articles from said first advancing means to said second advancing means in successively staggered rows.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
275 words
An apparatus for transferring articles from a linear arrangement to a staggered arrangement comprising: first advancing means for longitudinally advancing in a linear array along a path of travel having a terminal end portion lying in a given plane a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart articles; second advancing means receptive of the articles advanced by said first advancing means for advancing same along another path of travel different than said first-mentioned path of travel and having a starting end portion on which the articles are received lying in said given plane; and means disposed along said first-mentioned path of travel for automatically transferring successive groups of linearly disposed articles from said terminal end portion of said first-mentioned path of travel while maintaining the articles at the level of said given plane to said starting end portion of said another path of travel in successively staggered rows comprising a movably mounted article feeding member disposed along said first-mentioned path of travel, means mounting said article feeding member for cyclical movement along said another path of travel to effect transfer from said first advancing means of successive groups of linearly disposed articles in unit rows to said second advancing means, means mounting said article feeding member for reciprocal movement along said first-mentioned path of travel to effectively stagger the unit rows of articles during their transfer to said second advancing means, and drive means for cyclically driving said article feeding member along said another path of travel in synchronization with reciprocating same along said first-mentioned path of travel to transfer the linearly disposed articles from said first advancing means to said second advancing means in successively staggered rows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said means mounting said arTicle feeding member for reciprocal movement comprises a slidable frame member, means connecting said article feeding member to said frame member, a guide bar disposed parallel to said first-mentioned path of travel, and means mounting said frame member for sliding movement along said guide bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus according to claim 3; wherein said drive means includes electromagnetic means operative when energized to slide said frame member in one direction along said guide bar, spring means biasing said frame member in a direction opposite to said one direction for effecting sliding of said frame member in the opposite direction along said guide bar when said electromagnetic means is deenergized, and means for alternately energizing and deenergizing said electromagnetic means in synchronization with the cyclical driving of said article feeding member along said another path of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
An apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said means mounting said article feeding member for cyclical movement comprises a movable arm connected to said article feeding member; and wherein said drive means includes actuating means for cyclically reciprocating said arm along said another path of travel through a feed stroke wherein one unit row of articles is transferred from said first advancing means to said second advancing means and through a return stroke, and cam means coacting with said arm during each return stroke to raise said article feeding member above the articles being transferred by said first advancing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 5; wherein said actuating means comprises a hydraulic actuator pivotally connected to said arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 5; wherein said means mounting said article feeding member for reciprocal movement comprises a guide bar connected to said movable arm and parallel to said first-mentioned path of travel, a slidable frame member connected to said article feeding member, and means mounting said frame member for sliding movement along said guide bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |