Patent US3666750A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3766706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Case packer
Assignee: R A PEARSON CO US
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Filing: 1971-12-30
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1991-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A case packer for grouping and packing product-containing flexible bags in the form of enclosed pillows or packets into cartons used for shipping purposes. The machine includes a vertically pivotal conveyor for successively feeding and stacking the bags between paired radial jaws of a vertically oriented wheel. After receiving a set number of bags, the jaws are activated to close, gripping and compressing the grouped bags. The wheel is rotatably indexed to bring each set of loaded jaws to a carton loading station. A carton is lifted to partially enclose the bags as the jaws are relaxed, allowing the bags to fall into the box, which is then removed for further processing or shipment.
Inventors
- 👤 R Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B65B5/061; B65B63/00; B65B63/02; B65B63/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
In a case packer for articles requiring stacking, stack compression and insertion of individual stacks into a receiving case: a movable framework rotationally mounted about a fixed horizontal axis on a supporting frame; paired jaws mounted to said movable framework in opposed positions extending outward from said axis in spaced substantially radial orientation with respect to said axis, the jaws being selectively movable with respect to the framework between a spread position and a closed position; first power means on said framework operatively connected to said jaws for causing said jaws to assume their spread position or alternately causing said jaws to assume their closed position; jaw indexing means operatively connected to said movable framework for selectively locating said framework angularly about said axis for shifting said jaws between a jaw loading station and a case loading station displaced from one another, the paired jaws being downwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said case loading station; incoming conveyor means directed toward the jaw loading station for selectively placing a plurality of articles within paired jaws located at said jaw loading station, the articles being so placed in a stack with adjacent articles in side-by-side abutment with one another; first control means operatively connected to said first power means for actuating said first power means so as to cause the jaws to assume their spread position during placement of articles therein by said incoming conveyor means; second control means operatively connected to said first power means for actuating said first power means so as to cause the jaws to assume their closed position following placement of a stack of articles therein; case conveyor means for directing open cases individually to the case loading station; and means for causing a stack of articles held between the jaws to be discharged therefrom into a case at said case loading station following location of said jaws at the loading station in response to operation of said jaw indexing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
In a case packer for articles requiring stacking, stack compression and insertion of individual stacks into a receiving case: a movable framework rotationally mounted about a fixed horizontal axis on a supporting frame; paired jaws mounted to said movable framework in opposed positions extending outward from said axis in spaced substantially radial orientation with respect to said axis, the jaws being selectively movable with respect to the framework between a spread position and a closed position; first power means on said framework operatively connected to said jaws for causing said jaws to assume their spread position or alternately causing said jaws to assume their closed position; jaw indexing means operatively connected to said movable framework for selectively locating said framework angularly about said axis for shifting said jaws between a jaw loading station and a case loading station displaced from one another, the paired jaws being downwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said case loading station; incoming conveyor means directed toward the jaw loading station for selectively placing a plurality of articles within paired jaws located at said jaw loading station, the articles being so placed in a stack with adjacent articles in side-by-side abutment with one another; first control means operatively connected to said first power means for actuating said first power means so as to cause the jaws to assume their spread position during placement of articles therein by said incoming conveyor means; second control means operatively connected to said first power means for actuating said first power means so as to cause the jaws to assume their closed position following placement of a stack of articles therein; case conveyor means for directing open cases individually to the case loading station; and means for causing a stack of articles held between the jaws to be discharged therefrom into a case at said case loading station following location of said jaws at the loading station in response to operation of said jaw indexing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein the axis is horizontal; the lowermost one of said paired jaws being substantially horizontal when located at said jaw loading station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said framework mounts a plurality of said paired jaws located equiangularly about said axis; said jaw indexing means being operable to successively locate adjacent pairs of said jaws at said jaw loading station and subsequently successively locate such pairs of said jaws at said case loading station by causing the framework to be incrementally rotated about said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein the axis is horizontal; the lowermost one of said paired jaws being substantially horizontal when located at said jaw loading station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein each jaw of said paired jaws is pivotally connected at its inner end to said framework about individual axes parallel to and spaced radially outward from said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein each jaw of said paired jaws is pivotally connected at its inner end to said framework about individual axes parallel to and spaced radially outward from said axis; said first power means comprising individual powered mechanical devices mounted to the framework movably controlling the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws to orient each jaw about its respective axis relative to said framework.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases: a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual side of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse faces spaced from one another; individually operable means on said movable framework for varying the spacing between the jaws of each of said paired jaws between a first condition wherein a stack of articles can be received between them and a second condition wherein a stack of articles therebetween are compressed along the stack height to a reduced height capable of being inserted into a case; index means on said support framework operatively connected to said movable framework for imparting incremental rotational motion to said movable framework about said axis to thereby shift said paired jaws between a jaw loading station and a case loading station angularly displaced from one another about said axis, the inner transverse faces of the paired jaws being downwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said case loading station; an infeed conveyor on said support framework having a delivery run directed to said jaw loading station on said movable framework; case positioning means on said support framework for individually locating upwardly open cases beneath said movable framework downwardly adjacent to said case loading station; and means for causing a stack of articles held between the paired jaws at said case loading station to be discharged from between the paired jaws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases: a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual side of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse faces spaced from one another; individually operable means on said movable framework for varying the spacing between the jaws of each of said paired jaws between a first condition wherein a stack of articles can be received between them and a second condition wherein a stack of articles therebetween are compressed along the stack height to a reduced height capable of being inserted into a case; index means on said support framework operatively connected to said movable framework for imparting incremental rotational motion to said movable framework about said axis to thereby shift said paired jaws between a jaw loading station and a case loading station angularly displaced from one another about said axis, the inner transverse faces of the paired jaws being downwardly inclined in a direction outward from said axis when located at said case loading station; an infeed conveyor on said support framework having a delivery run directed to said jaw loading station on said movable framework; case positioning means on said support framework for individually locating upwardly open cases beneath said movable framework downwardly adjacent to said case loading station; and means for causing a stack of articles held between the paired jaws at said case loading station to be discharged from between the paired jaws.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse faces spaceD from one another; article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with said movable framework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting the rotational path of movement of said paired jaws about said axis; index means on said support framework operably connected to said movable framework for selectively locking the movable framework stationary relative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at said jaw loading station; case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectively bringing an open case into registry with a second set of said paired jaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means; and movable support means on said support framework connected to said article feed conveyor means for shifting the position of said article feed conveyor means relative to said support fraemwork in a series of successive steps whereby articles discharged thereby are stacked one on another at said jaw loading station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposed inner transverse faces spaceD from one another; article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with said movable framework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting the rotational path of movement of said paired jaws about said axis; index means on said support framework operably connected to said movable framework for selectively locking the movable framework stationary relative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at said jaw loading station; case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectively bringing an open case into registry with a second set of said paired jaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means; and movable support means on said support framework connected to said article feed conveyor means for shifting the position of said article feed conveyor means relative to said support fraemwork in a series of successive steps whereby articles discharged thereby are stacked one on another at said jaw loading station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposing inner transverse faces spaced from one another; article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with said movable framework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting the rotational path of movement of said paired jaws about said axis; index means on said support framework operably connected to said movable framework for selectively locking the movable framework stationary relative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at said jaw loading station; case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectively bringing an open case into registry with a second set of said paired jaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means; wherein said case delivery means comprises: a conveyor having an upper surface along which upwardly open cases are moved to said case loading station; a section of said conveyor located at said case loading station being radially movable with respect to said axis; and power means on said support framework operatively connected to said section for selectively moving said section radially inward toward said axis following reception of a case thereon and locking of said movable framework by said index means, the amount of such inward movement being such as to result in the partial insertion of a set of said paired jaws within the case.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a case packer for placing stacks of articles within open cases; a stationary support framework; an upright movable framework in the form of a multi-sided wheel rotatably mounted to said support framework about a central horizontal axis transverse to the wheel; a plurality of sets of paired transverse jaws movably mounted to the movable framework at the individual sides of the wheel, the paired jaws being extended outward from said axis along substantially radial projections, the respective jaws of each of said paired jaws having opposing inner transverse faces spaced from one another; article feed conveyor means longitudinally aligned with said movable framework leading to a jaw loading station intersecting the rotational path of movement of said paired jaws about said axis; index means on said support framework operably connected to said movable framework for selectively locking the movable framework stationary relative to said axis with one set of said paired jaws located at said jaw loading station; case delivery means alongside said movable framework for selectively bringing an open case into registry with a second set of said paired jaws while the movable framework is locked by said index means; wherein said case delivery means comprises: a conveyor having an upper surface along which upwardly open cases are moved to said case loading station; a section of said conveyor located at said case loading station being radially movable with respect to said axis; and power means on said support framework operatively connected to said section for selectively moving said section radially inward toward said axis following reception of a case thereon and locking of said movable framework by said index means, the amount of such inward movement being such as to result in the partial insertion of a set of said paired jaws within the case.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1464332A
Cited
US3645060A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |