US3744213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for loading bottles into cartons
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-21
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1990-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Bottles or similar articles are placed in a pre-selected array from peripheral side surfaces of a wheel rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. The bottles are held in position on the wheel by guides that protrude outwardly from the wheel side surfaces beyond the centers of gravity of the bottles to prevent tipping of the bottles until after the guides have been rotated through a horizontal orientation. After each side surface of the wheel receives a load of articles at a loading position, the wheel is momentarily released to permit limited rotational movement of the wheel about its axis due to the unbalance of the loads resting on its side surfaces. Open cartons are sequentially fed along guides that lead to a holding position tangential and outwardly adjacent to an angular position of the wheel side surfaces offset from their loading position. A reciprocating apparatus at the holding position selectively engages each carton to insert at least a portion of the load of bottles on the adjacent wheel side surface within the carton boundaries. The carton and partially inserted bottles are held in position by additional guides during further rotational movement of the wheel and are released after being inverted beneath the wheel axis.
Inventors
- 👤 R Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B21/00; B65B21/02; B65B21/14; B65B21/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
In a carton loading apparatus for placing a pre-selected charge of articles within open cartons of the type comprising: a framework; a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multi-sided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing side surfaces arranged about said axis; indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at a loading position; an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articles upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position; carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each load of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position; the improvement in said carton placement means comprising: carton guide means on said framework for sequentially feeding individual cartons to a holding position tangential and outwardly adjacent to the location of a load of articles at said last-named angular position; and means on said framework engageable with a carton at said holding position for shifting the carton so engaged inwardly toward said wheel to thereby insert at least a portion of the load of articles at said last-named angular position into the carton boundaries.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a carton loading apparatus for placing a pre-selected charge of articles within open cartons of the type comprising: a framework; a polygonal wheel rotatably mounted on said framework about a horizontal axis, said wheel having a multi-sided periphery including a plurality of outwardly facing side surfaces arranged about said axis; indexing means on said framework operatively connected to said wheel for permitting intermittent rotational movement of said wheel about its axis and for sequentially fixing the angular position of the wheel relative to the framework with one wheel side surface at a loading position; an article delivery conveyor on said framework including means for placing a charge of articles upon each of the wheel side surfaces while the respective wheel side surface is at the loading position; carton placement means on said framework for selectively inserting each load of articles on the wheel side surfaces into an individual carton at an angular position about said axis displaced from said loading position; the improvement in said carton placement means comprising: carton guide means on said framework for sequentially feeding individual cartons to a holding position tangential and outwardly adjacent to the location of a load of articles at said last-named angular position; and means on said framework engageable with a carton at said holding position for shifting the carton so engaged inwardly toward said wheel to thereby insert at least a portion of the load of articles at said last-named angular position into the carton boundaries.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 1 further comprising: a receiving conveyor having a flight thereof extending under said wheel and leading outwardly therefrom; and a guide apparatus alongside the wheel in its direction of rotation from said loading position, including upright surfaces spaced from the wheel axis at a distance equal tO the carton radius on the wheel subsequent to shifting thereof by said last-named means, said surfaces extending downwardly from a location outward of the lower end of a wheel side surface at said last-named angular position and leading to said conveyor flight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said article delivery conveyor extends along a direction parallel to the wheel axis; conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the upper flight of the conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows; and outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position; the first of said guides along each wheel side surface in the intended direction of rotation of said wheel about said axis protruding outwardly therefrom a distance substantially equal to the projection of said articles when resting against said side surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said article delivery conveyor extends along a direction parallel to the wheel axis; conveyor guides on said framework vertically adjacent to the upper flight of the conveyor for maintaining the articles in longitudinal parallel rows; and outwardly protruding guides on each of said wheel surfaces respectively aligned with said conveyor guides when the respective side surfaces are at the loading position; the minimum projection of said guides from said wheel side surfaces being greater than the spacing between the article centers of gravity and the side surfaces when the articles are resting against the side surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US906291A
Cited
US3589094A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |