US3729846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laundry feeding machine
Assignee: McGraw Edison Co
•
Filing: 1971-04-30
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A laundry feeding machine having a conveyor with an upper run which moves in a forward direction, a pair of clamps above the conveyor adapted to grip the tow corners of a leading edge of an article to be fed, means for moving the clamps apart transversely and holding them apart against tension in the leading edge, and air jet means for directing, against an article so held, a forward blast of air such that on release by the clamps the leading part of the article is blown forward on to the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 H Weir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:58
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F67/00; D06F67/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a laundry feeding machine having a conveyor with an upper run which moves in a forward direction, a pair of clamps above the level of the upper run of the conveyor and adapted to grip the two corners of a leading edge of an article to be fed, and means on which the clamps are mounted for moving them apart transversely to tension the leading edge of the article, that improvement comprising air jet means between said clamps and the upper run of the conveyor and rearwardly of the clamps relative to the forward direction of movement of the upper run of the conveyor for forming a blast of air directed forwardly in the same direction as the direction of movement of the upper run of the conveyor against an article held by the clamps, whereby on release of the article by the clamps, the leading edge of the article is blown forwardly and downwardly against the upper arm of the conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a laundry feeding machine having a conveyor with an upper run which moves in a forward direction, a pair of clamps above the level of the upper run of the conveyor and adapted to grip the two corners of a leading edge of an article to be fed, and means on which the clamps are mounted for moving them apart transversely to tension the leading edge of the article, that improvement comprising air jet means between said clamps and the upper run of the conveyor and rearwardly of the clamps relative to the forward direction of movement of the upper run of the conveyor for forming a blast of air directed forwardly in the same direction as the direction of movement of the upper run of the conveyor against an article held by the clamps, whereby on release of the article by the clamps, the leading edge of the article is blown forwardly and downwardly against the upper arm of the conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said air jet means comprises a pair of air tubes extending across the machine and spaced apart at the center of the machine a distance sufficient to allow the articles to be fed between the air tubes to the clamps, each air tube having forwardly directed air vent means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for supporting the weight of the trailing part of the article as it drapes over the rear of the conveyor when the leading part of the article is blown onto the conveyor, said means being positioned adjacent the rear end of the conveyor and being movable toward and away from said articlE for engaging the trailing part of the article to at least partially support the weight thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 3 in which said means comprises a pair of members spaced across the machine adjacent the rear end of the conveyor, pivoted arms on which said members are mounted for movement toward and away from said rear end of the conveyor, and means coupled to said arms for moving said arms to move said members toward and away from said conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said members are freely rotatable rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said members are shoe plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said machine further comprises a feed roller positioned to the rear of the conveyor and coupled to and driven with the conveyor, and said improvement further comprises means coupled to said feed roller for momentarily halting the feed roller while the conveyor continues to draw the leading edge of the article forwardly, whereby a momentary drag is produced on the sheet which draws out creases in the leading edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said machine further comprises a feed roller positioned to the rear of the conveyor and coupled to and driven with the conveyor, and said improvement further comprises a member adjacent said feed roller and being movable toward and away from said feed roller for engaging said article as it moves between the member and the feed roller for momentarily halting the movement of the article over the feed roller while the conveyor continues to draw the leading edge of the article forwardly, whereby a momentary drag is produced on the sheet which draws out creases in the leading edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for imposing a drag on the trailing part of the article as it drapes over the rear of the conveyor when the leading part of the article is blown onto the conveyor, said means being a pair of opposed members positioned adjacent the rear end of the conveyor with the article running between them and being movable relatively to each other toward and away from each other, and moving means coupled to at least one of said members for moving said member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transfer feed means comprising a plurality of transfer mechanisms for transferring an article to be fed to said conveyor from a plurality of separate stations, each transfer mechanism having a pair of grips thereon for gripping the article to be fed, and each transfer means being movable from a respective feed station to the position of said clamps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |