Indexing feeder for package handling machine

Claim 2

A package handling machine comprising a frame having side frame members and an inlet at one end adapted to receive product delivered thereto at a random rate, and means for discharging said product in timed and spaced relationship at the discharge end of the machine, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor means operationally mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said machine; b. an escapement means operationally mounted on the side frame members adapted to deliver uniformly timed and spaced product to the discharge slider bed conveyor; c. a product inlet conveyor means mounted on the side frame members at the inlet end of the machine for receiving product in random input relation and for delivering product to the product escapement means; d. a drive means mounted on the side frame members for driving the product inlet conveyor, the escapement means and the slider bed conveyor means in timed relation with each other; e. latch means mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to the escapement means for stopping release of product to the discharge slider bed conveyor means; f. product switch means mounted on said inlet conveyor means adjacent the inlet end of the machine to detect the lack of sufficient product on said inlet conveyor means to maintain the continuous discharge of product by said slider bed conveyor in timed and spaced relationship with the input requirements of a subsequent processing machine; g. latch actuating means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to the product switch means and to said latch means for disengaging said latch means from the escapement means; and h. time delay means operationally connected to said product switch means and to said latch actuating means for delaying the disengagement of said latch means from the escapement means until a predetermined build-up of said product is present on said inlet conveyor means.

Claim 3

A package handling machine as in claim 1 wherein the latch actuating means comprises: a. a two-way air cylinder trunion mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to the latch means for extending to engage and retracting to disengage said latch with the escapement means; b. a directional control air valve operationally connected to the air cylinder for extension and retraction thereof; c. an electrically operated pilot valve operationally connected to the directional control air valve for extension of said air cylinder; d. a microswitch mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to the pilot valve, to the release bars of the escapement means and to the time delay means and to the product switch means; e. a synchronizing cam mounted on the drive shaft; f. a synchronizing pilot valve operationally connected to the directional control air valve for retraction of said air cylinder and to the synchronizing cam; and g. a mechanically operated piloT valve operationally connected to the synchronizing valve and the latch means.

Claim 4

A package handling device having side frame members and adapted to receive product delivered to its inlet end at a random rate, and for discharging said product from its discharge end in timed and spaced relationship, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to said inlet end of the device and to a receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including a barrier bar adapted to be lifted to a position above the continuous conveyor flight intermediate the inlet end of the device and the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor, for lifting products off said continuous conveyor flight; d. said barrier carriage assembly having a stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight when the barrier bar is in the lifted position; e. a release carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including spaced upright release bars adapted to be raised above the continuous conveyor flight to a position in the path of the product adjacent the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor to stop said product on said continuous conveyor flight, and adapted to be lowered from said position in the path of the product for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; f. rocker arm means mounted on the side frame members operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said barrier bar and to lower said release bars in timed opposite oscillation; g. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to discharge product in said timed and spaced relationship from the device; h. cam follower means mounted on said release carriage assembly; i. drive cam means mounted on the side frame members, operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed and spaced relationship with said spaced flight means; j. latch means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; k. product switch means mounted on said continuous conveyor flight at inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device; l. synchronizing means mounted on said side frame members for effecting latch means disengagement when the cam follower means is in synchronized contact with the drive cam means; and m. latch actuating means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to said product switch means and said synchronizing means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device, and the cam follower means and the drive cam means are in synchronized contact.

Claim 5

A package handling device having side frame members and adapted to receive product delivered to its inlet end at a random rate, and for discharging said product from its discharge end in timed and spaced relationship, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to said inlet end of the device and to a receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including a barrier bar adapted to be lifted to a position above the continuous conveyor flight intermediate the inlet end of the device and the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor, for lifting products off said continuous conveyor flight; d. said barrier carriage assembly having a stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight when the barrier bar is in the lifted position; e. a release carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including spaced upright release bars adapted to be raised above the continuous conveyor flight to a position in the path of the product adjacent the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor to stop said product on said continuous conveyor flight, and adapted to be lowered from said position in the path of the product for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; f. rocker arm means mounted on the side frame members operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said barrier bar and to lower said release bars in timed opposite oscillation; g. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to discharge product in said timed and spaced relationship from the device; h. cam follower means mounted on said release carriage assembly; i. drive cam means mounted on the side frame members, operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed and spaced relationship with said spaced flight means; j. latch means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; k. product switch means mounted on said continuous conveyor flight at inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device; l. synchronizing means mounted on said side frame members for effecting latch means disengagement when the cam follower means is in synchronized contact with the drive cam means; and m. latch actuating means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to said product switch means and said synchronizing means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device, and the cam follower means and the drive cam means are in synchronized contact.

Claim 6

A package handling device in according with claim 3 including time delay means operationally connected to said product switch means to delay the operation of said latch actuating means for a period of time to allow a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device.

Claim 7

A package handling device in accordance with claim 4 in which: a. said barrier carriage assembly comprises pad means slidably mounted on said spaced pivot bar and barrier bar assembly adjustably affixed thereon for stopping tHe product on said barrier carriage assembly, said pivot bar pivotally mounted on the side frame members and adapted to lift said barrier bar and pad means above the continuous conveyor flight intermediate of the inlet end of the device and the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device to lift product off said continuous conveyor flight; b. said release carriage assembly comprises spaced upright release bars affixed to the end of spaced support bars pivotally mounted on the side frame members adapted to be operationally raised above the continuous conveyor flight adjacent the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor and adapted to be lowered from a position in the path of the product for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor.

Claim 8

A package handling device comprising a frame having side frame members and an inlet at one end adapted to receive product delivered thereto at a random rate, and for discharging said product in timed and spaced relationship at the end opposite said inlet, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to the inlet end of the device and to the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members having stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight; d. a release carriage assembly mounted on the frame adjacent the slider bed conveyor and having release means for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; e. rocker arm means mounted on the frame and operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said stop means and to lower said release means; f. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to move the product there-along and discharge product in timed and spaced relationship from the device; g. cam follower means connected with said release carriage assembly; h. drive cam means mounted on the said frame operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed relationship with the travel of said spaced flight means; i. latch means mounted on said frame operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; j. product switch means mounted adjacent said continuous conveyor flight adjacent the inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight; and k. latch actuating means mounted on said frame operationally connected to said product switch means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is present on said continuous conveyor flight.

Claim 9

A package handling device comprising a frame having side frame members and an inlet at one end adapted to receive product delivered thereto at a random rate, and for discharging said product in timed and spaced relationship at the end opposite said inlet, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to the inlet end of the device and to the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members having stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight; d. a release carriage assembly mounted on the frame adjacent the slider bed conveyor and having release means for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; e. rocker arm means mounted on the frame and operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said stop means and to lower said release means; f. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to move the product there-along and discharge product in timed and spaced relationship from the device; g. cam follower means connected with said release carriage assembly; h. drive cam means mounted on the said frame operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed relationship with the travel of said spaced flight means; i. latch means mounted on said frame operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; j. product switch means mounted adjacent said continuous conveyor flight adjacent the inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight; and k. latch actuating means mounted on said frame operationally connected to said product switch means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is present on said continuous conveyor flight.

Claim 10

A package handling device, having side frame members and adapted to receive product delivered to its inlet end at a random rate, and for discharging said product in timed and spaced relationship, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to said inlet end of the device and to the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including a barrier bar adapted to be lifted above the continuous coNveyor flight intermediate the inlet end of the device and the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor for lifting products off said continuous conveyor flight; d. said barrier carriage assembly having a stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight when the barrier bar is in the lifted position; e. a release carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including spaced upright release bars adapted to be raised above the continuous conveyor flight adjacent the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor to a position in the path of the product and to stop said product on said continuous conveyor flight, and adapted to be lowered from said position in the path of the product for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; f. rocker arm means mounted on the side frame members operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said barrier bar and to lower said release bars; g. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to discharge product in said timed and spaced relationship from the device; h. cam follower means mounted on said release carriage assembly; i. drive cam means mounted on the side frame members, operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed and spaced relationship with said spaced flight means; j. latch means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; k. product switch means mounted on said continuous conveyor flight at inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device; and l. latch actuating means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to said product switch means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device.

Claim 11

A package handling device, having side frame members and adapted to receive product delivered to its inlet end at a random rate, and for discharging said product in timed and spaced relationship, suitably indexed with respect to the infeed requirements of a subsequent processing machine, comprising: a. a slider bed conveyor mounted on the side frame members for discharging product from said device in said timed and spaced relation; b. a continuous conveyor flight mounted on the side frame members operationally connected to said inlet end of the device and to the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor at the discharge end of the device; c. a barrier carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including a barrier bar adapted to be lifted above the continuous coNveyor flight intermediate the inlet end of the device and the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor for lifting products off said continuous conveyor flight; d. said barrier carriage assembly having a stop means for stopping products on said barrier carriage assembly against movement along said continuous conveyor flight when the barrier bar is in the lifted position; e. a release carriage assembly mounted on the side frame members including spaced upright release bars adapted to be raised above the continuous conveyor flight adjacent the receiving end of the slider bed conveyor to a position in the path of the product and to stop said product on said continuous conveyor flight, and adapted to be lowered from said position in the path of the product for release of said product onto said slider bed conveyor; f. rocker arm means mounted on the side frame members operationally linked to said barrier carriage assembly and to said release carriage assembly to simultaneously lift said barrier bar and to lower said release bars; g. spaced flight means operationally connected to said slider bed conveyor to discharge product in said timed and spaced relationship from the device; h. cam follower means mounted on said release carriage assembly; i. drive cam means mounted on the side frame members, operationally connected to the cam follower means, driven in timed relationship with said spaced flight means to raise and lower said release carriage assembly in timed and spaced relationship with said spaced flight means; j. latch means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to engage said release carriage assembly in its lowered position; k. product switch means mounted on said continuous conveyor flight at inlet end of device to detect the lack of a predetermined build-up of said product on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device; and l. latch actuating means mounted on said side frame members operationally connected to said product switch means for disengaging said latch means from said release carriage assembly when a predetermined build-up of said product is on said continuous conveyor flight at the inlet end of the device.