US3724644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal carrier chain for cookers
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1971-07-13
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A short pitch conveyor chain for hydrostatic cookers has stop fingers on alternate links and back to back C-shaped carrier members that can be employed with spacer blocks to form pockets that accommodate a range of can sizes without changing the conveyor chains.
Inventors
- 👤 J Reimers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:37
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
In a conveyor system for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein a container conveyor comprises laterally spaced roller chains with links of equal pitch and with container carriers straddling the chains, said conveyor passing over upper sprockets and having bottom loops, said carriers having oppositely facing channel means cooperating to provide container pockets that are opened at one side as the chains pass over relatively small feed and discharge sprockets; the improvement wherein said carriers are mounted only on every other link of each chain, and cooperating uni-directional stop means at every other pivotal connection between the chain links for restricting articulation of the links at said connections in one direction when the links fall in a straight line, said stop means accommodating relative pivoting of said restricted articulation links in the other direction for opening the container pockets as the chains pass around said feed and discharge sprockets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a conveyor system for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein a container conveyor comprises laterally spaced roller chains with links of equal pitch and with container carriers straddling the chains, said conveyor passing over upper sprockets and having bottom loops, said carriers having oppositely facing channel means cooperating to provide container pockets that are opened at one side as the chains pass over relatively small feed and discharge sprockets; the improvement wherein said carriers are mounted only on every other link of each chain, and cooperating uni-directional stop means at every other pivotal connection between the chain links for restricting articulation of the links at said connections in one direction when the links fall in a straight line, said stop means accommodating relative pivoting of said restricted articulation links in the other direction for opening the container pockets as the chains pass around said feed and discharge sprockets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The conveyor system of claim 1, comprising brackets on the inside of said every other link of each chain said brackets having inwardly projecting flanges that extend transversely to their links for mounting said carriers, said oppositely facing channel means of each carrier being formed of individual C-shaped channel members detachably secured to said brackets at the channel midsections for straddling said chains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The conveyor system of claim 2, wherein said C-shaped channel members have equal height, freely projecting side flanges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The conveyor system of claim 1, comprising brackets on said every other link of each chain for mounting said carriers, said oppositely facing channel means of each carrier being formed of individual C-shaped members detachably secured to said brackets, and removable spacers between the C-shaped channel members and their brackets for determining the pocket size formed by adjacent channel members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The conveyor system of claim 1, comprising brackets on said every other link of each chain for mounting said carriers, said oppositely facing channel means of each carrier being formed of individual C-shaped members detachably secured to said brackets and, wherein said brackets have base flanges that are bolted to the pin links only of said carrier chains, said base flanges having apertures formed therein to fit around one of the chain pins, said channel member mounting flanges projecting laterally from the base flanges of said brackets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The conveyor system of claim 5, comprising spacer blocks removably mounted between the channel member mounting flanges of said brackets and said channel members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The conveyor system of claim 6, comprising through bolts passing through the bases of the channel members, the spacer blocks and the mounting flanges of said brackets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conveyor system of claim 7, comprising container confining plates at the ends of said carriers and mounted by said through bolts.
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 |