US3739901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biscuit handling machinery
Assignee: Simon Vicars Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-10-28
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-10-28
Abstract
Abstract Lane reducing means of the kind referred to comprising an inclined chute having side walls, the width of the chute tapering from at least the width of two biscuit lanes at its upper end to approximately the width of one biscuit lane at its lower end, characterized in that a raised biscuit supporting platform is provided over part of the surface of said chute on one side thereof, said platform extending from the wider end of the chute, where it is adapted to receive biscuits entering the chute from one of the lanes, to a position part way down the chute where the width of the latter is less than the width of two biscuits in side-by-side relationship, the height of said platform at its lower end above the surface of the chute being at least as great as the thickness of a biscuit to be traversed thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 S Crispe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B23/00; B65B23/10; B65B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
Lane reducing means of the kind referred to comprising an inclined chute having a bottom surface and opposite side walls, the width of the chute tapering from at least the width of two biscuit lanes at its upper end to approximately the width of one biscuit lane at its lower end, characterized in that a raised biscuit supporting platform is provided over part of the surface of said chute on one side thereof, said platform extending from the wider end of the chute, where it is adapted to slidably receive biscuits entering the chute from one of the lanes, to a position part way down the chute where the width of the latter is less than the width of two biscuits in side-by-side relationship, said chute surface at the same time being adapted to receive biscuits from the other lane where they slide directly down the chute surface at the other side from said platform, and the height of said platform at its lower end above the surface of the chute being at least as great as the thickness of a biscuit to be traversed thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
Lane reducing means of the kind referred to comprising an inclined chute having a bottom surface and opposite side walls, the width of the chute tapering from at least the width of two biscuit lanes at its upper end to approximately the width of one biscuit lane at its lower end, characterized in that a raised biscuit supporting platform is provided over part of the surface of said chute on one side thereof, said platform extending from the wider end of the chute, where it is adapted to slidably receive biscuits entering the chute from one of the lanes, to a position part way down the chute where the width of the latter is less than the width of two biscuits in side-by-side relationship, said chute surface at the same time being adapted to receive biscuits from the other lane where they slide directly down the chute surface at the other side from said platform, and the height of said platform at its lower end above the surface of the chute being at least as great as the thickness of a biscuit to be traversed thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Lane reducing means according to claim 1, wherein said platform extends inwardly from one side wall of said chute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Lane reducing means according to claim 2, wherein said platform tapers in width from its upper end, each edge thereof being parallel with the adjacent side wall of the chute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Lane reducing means according to claim 1, wherein said platform comprises a ramp which is inclined relative to the surface of the chute, and a portion which is parallEl to the surface of said chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Lane reducing means according to claim 3, wherein said platform comprises a ramp which is inclined relative to the surface of the chute, and a portion which is parallel to the surface of said chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Biscuit handling machinery having lane reducing means according to claim 1, including a first conveyor for carrying biscuits in lanes in side-by-side relationship, toward one or more lane reducing chutes whereby the number of lanes of biscuits is reduced, and a second conveyor for carrying the biscuits in said reduced number of lanes from said lane reducing chute or chutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Biscuit handling machinery according to claim 6, in which parallel lane guides are disposed above said first conveyor, and converging lane guides are disposed above said second conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Biscuit handling machinery according to claim 7, wherein the number of lane reducing chutes is such as to reduce the total number of lanes by half.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Biscuit handling machinery according to claim 6, including an inclined dribble board disposed at the upstream end of said first conveyor and having adjustable guides thereon for directing biscuits in side-by-side relationship onto said first conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Biscuit handling machinery according to claim 6, wherein said second conveyor is, in use, driven at a greater speed than said first conveyor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2753975A
Cited
GB769710A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |