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US3745740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Packaging method and apparatus
Assignee: SCOTT MACH DEV CORP
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Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for stacking and packing frangible generally cylindrical articles such as doughnuts includes expelling successive such articles from the end of a conveyor means so that the articles fall successively into hollow, generally vertical tubes. Arms extending inside the tubes are gradually lowered as successive articles fall into the tubes so that all articles fall approximately the same distance. When a predetermined number of articles form a stack within each of the tubes, the arms are further lowered to lower the formed stacks below the tubes. The arms are lowered through openings in a plate, leaving the stacks supported on the plate. A pusher plate is then reciprocated generally horizontally to push the stacks into a container, which is then righted and conveyed away.
Inventors
- 👤 T Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of packing a plurality of generally cylindrical articles carried on a conveyor into a portable container comprising the steps of: expelling said articles in succession from said conveyor to allow said articles to fall by gravity into a hollow stack-forming guide means where said articles are successively stacked one atop of another; simultaneously lowering a platform means within said guide means so that successive ones of said articles fall substantially the same distance from said conveyor to their respective locations in the stack of articles in said guide means; further lowering said platform means with said stack of articles carried thereon until the entire stack of articles emerges below said guide means; and pushing said stack of articles generally horizontally into said container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of packing a plurality of generally cylindrical articles carried on a conveyor into a portable container comprising the steps of: expelling said articles in succession from said conveyor to allow said articles to fall by gravity into a hollow stack-forming guide means where said articles are successively stacked one atop of another; simultaneously lowering a platform means within said guide means so that successive ones of said articles fall substantially the same distance from said conveyor to their respective locations in the stack of articles in said guide means; further lowering said platform means with said stack of articles carried thereon until the entire stack of articles emerges below said guide means; and pushing said stack of articles generally horizontally into said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method according to claim 1 in which said step of further lowering said platform means involves lowering said platform means through openings in a plate means, said openings being smaller than the plan view cross-sectional area of said stack, whereby the lowering of said stack is limited by said plate means and wherein said step of pushing comprises pushing said stack of articles with the bottom article in said stack resting on said plate means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of expelling said articles comprises expelling groups of articles substantially simultaneously from said conveyor to allow each group to fall into a plurality of hollow stack-forming guides to provide a plurality of stacks of said articles; and wherein said step of pushing comprises pushing said plurality of stacks simultaneously into said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for stacking a plurality of articles carried on a conveyor means, comprising, in combination: a vertically extending tubular guide means; platform means adapted to be lowered through said tubular guide means; first means situated a predetermined distance abovE said tubular guide means for expelling successive ones of said articles to allow said articles to fall into said tubular guide means; and platform translating means for lowering said platform means within said tubular guide means, whereby the first of a group of said articles falling into said guide means falls onto said platform means and successive articles of said group fall into said guide means to form a stack of said articles, said first means including a generally horizontal plate means having an edge and means for pushing each of said articles toward said edge, said tubular guide means being located sufficiently below and beyond said edge that each of said articles may fall and land inverted as it is pushed off the edge of said plate means and falls to its respective position in said stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for stacking a plurality of articles carried on a conveyor means, comprising, in combination: a vertically extending tubular guide means; platform means adapted to be lowered through said tubular guide means; first means situated a predetermined distance abovE said tubular guide means for expelling successive ones of said articles to allow said articles to fall into said tubular guide means; and platform translating means for lowering said platform means within said tubular guide means, whereby the first of a group of said articles falling into said guide means falls onto said platform means and successive articles of said group fall into said guide means to form a stack of said articles, said first means including a generally horizontal plate means having an edge and means for pushing each of said articles toward said edge, said tubular guide means being located sufficiently below and beyond said edge that each of said articles may fall and land inverted as it is pushed off the edge of said plate means and falls to its respective position in said stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 having a generally vertical pusher plate means; second means for reciprocating said pusher plate means generally horizontally across said horizontal plate means beneath said tubular guide means, and means for synchronizing the operation of said second means with said platform translating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said platform translating means comprises an endless chain means having upward and downward courses, said apparatus including means for supporting a container in between the upward and downward courses of said endless chain means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 having means for supporting a container on said horizontal plate means at a horizontal position displaced from beneath said tubular guide means, whereby reciprocation of said pusher plate means pushes said stack of articles into said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 having means synchronized with said pusher plate means for displacing said container from said horizontal plate means and for rotating said container after said stack of articles has been pushed into said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 having conveyor means, chute means extending between said container supporting means and said conveyor, and means for pushing said container onto said chute means, said chute means sloping in two different directions along its length, whereby said container is rotated as it descends along said chute means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for supporting a container comprises trap door means mounted on said horizontal plate means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |