US3764025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for orienting and stacking frustoconical articles
Assignee: Husky Manufacturing and Tool Works Ltd
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Filing: 1971-04-30
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A series of frustoconical plastic cups coming from an injectionmolding machine alight on a vibratile trough directing them onto a pair of ascending, parallel conveyor belts between which they are suspended with their smaller end down. At the output end of the conveyor the belts are twisted and spread apart to release the cups which are picked up by a vibratile chute for stacking against an end stop. The latter may be preceded by a detent retractable under the control of a photocell, disposed upstream along the chute, which detects the trailing end of a stack of cups and closes a gate to prevent the advance of further cups past the cell while a lifting fork raises the stack to the level of an adjoining table onto which the stacked cups are swept by a swingable arm. The trough may be tiltable into a reverse position to guide scrap away from the elevating conveyor at the beginning of a series of molding operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Melle H Van
- 👤 H Rees
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:44
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/12; B65G47/14; B65G47/1492
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A device for stacking hollow frustoconical articles in nested relationship, comprising: transport means forming a path including a downwardly sloping track for the conveyance of a succession of articles to be stacked; feed means for supplying said articles to said path in coaxial and codirectional positions; stop means in a terminal portion of said track for halting one of said articles with progressive nesting of oncoming further articles to form a stack, said stop means including a retractable detent and an end stop beyond said detent; detector means disposed along said track for ascertaining the growth of the stack; sweep means alongside said path responsive to said detector means for transferring a stack so formed onto an adjacent receiving surface located at least partly above said track, said detent being provided with operating means responsive to said detector means for retracting same prior to actuation of said sweep means to let said stack bodily drop along said track to a lower position into engagement with said end stop, said sweep means including an arm juxtaposed with the stack in said lower position thereof, said detent being restorable by said operating means upon completion of a stack transfer; and lifting means between said end stop and said detent controlled by said detector means for elevating the stack from said track to the level of said receiving surface prior to actuation of said sweep means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A device for stacking hollow frustoconical articles in nested relationship, comprising: transport means forming a path including a downwardly sloping track for the conveyance of a succession of articles to be stacked; feed means for supplying said articles to said path in coaxial and codirectional positions; stop means in a terminal portion of said track for halting one of said articles with progressive nesting of oncoming further articles to form a stack, said stop means including a retractable detent and an end stop beyond said detent; detector means disposed along said track for ascertaining the growth of the stack; sweep means alongside said path responsive to said detector means for transferring a stack so formed onto an adjacent receiving surface located at least partly above said track, said detent being provided with operating means responsive to said detector means for retracting same prior to actuation of said sweep means to let said stack bodily drop along said track to a lower position into engagement with said end stop, said sweep means including an arm juxtaposed with the stack in said lower position thereof, said detent being restorable by said operating means upon completion of a stack transfer; and lifting means between said end stop and said detent controlled by said detector means for elevating the stack from said track to the level of said receiving surface prior to actuation of said sweep means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said path is provided with normally open gate means in the vicinity of said detector means and with actuating means responsive to said detector means for closing said gate means substantially concurrently with the retraction of said detent for preventing subsequent articles from following the stack to said lower position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises an elongate member pivotable about a transverse axis at the end of said track.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said end stop comprises an upstanding formation rigid with said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said elongate member is bifurcate and straddles a central strip portion of said track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said track is provided with vibrating means for continuously oscillating said central strip portion in a vertical plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said sweep means comprises an arm movable across said track just above the level of said receiving surface, Further comprising backstop means on said receiving surface lying within the sweep of said arm for preventing a return of a transferred stack to said track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving surface is inclined to the horizontal at a steeper angle than said track.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |