US3770148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Screw conveyor system for durable press apparatus
Assignee: McGraw Edison Co
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Filing: 1972-02-18
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A durable press apparatus has an oblong treating chamber with doors at the ends and with an internal screw conveyor for receiving wire hangers for articles to be treated. The screw conveyor comprises a pipe having a spiral peripheral groove or thread thereon for progressively advancing the hangers as the conveyor is rotated. The conveyor is supported by open-sided bearings each comprising a top bearing segment and two unopposed bottom segments to allow different types of hangers to move easily through the bearings. At the ends of the chamber there are load and unload racks having screw conveyors thereon engageable with the adjacent ends of the internal conveyor when the racks are shifted towards the chamber respectively into load and unload positions. The entire conveyor system is driven from one of the racks to load the chamber from one end simultaneously as the chamber is unloaded from the other end.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hendren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G33/00; B65G33/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press comprising an elongate treating chamber having a loading door at one end and an unloading door at the other end, a screw conveyor along the length of said chamber and journal bearings for said screw conveyor supported from the ceiling of the chamber, said screw conveyor having a spiral groove to receive hanger hooks for said articles and cause the articles to be carried lengthwise of said chamber as the conveyor is rotated, each of said journal bearings comprising an upper bearing portion and two separate lower bearing portions located beyond the ends of said upper bearing portion in unopposed relation to said upper bearing portion, said bearing portions comprising bar-shaped members traversing a multiplicity of thread convolutions of said conveyor while leaving transverse spaces therethrough via the groove convolutions of the conveyor enabling said hooks to travel through said bearings, and each of said lower bearing portions being displaced against the direction of rotation of said conveyor from a position diametrically opposite said upper portion for clearing said hanger hooks received by said screw conveyor from the side away from said lower bearing portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press comprising an elongate treating chamber having a loading door at one end and an unloading door at the other end, a screw conveyor along the length of said chamber and journal bearings for said screw conveyor supported from the ceiling of the chamber, said screw conveyor having a spiral groove to receive hanger hooks for said articles and cause the articles to be carried lengthwise of said chamber as the conveyor is rotated, each of said journal bearings comprising an upper bearing portion and two separate lower bearing portions located beyond the ends of said upper bearing portion in unopposed relation to said upper bearing portion, said bearing portions comprising bar-shaped members traversing a multiplicity of thread convolutions of said conveyor while leaving transverse spaces therethrough via the groove convolutions of the conveyor enabling said hooks to travel through said bearings, and each of said lower bearing portions being displaced against the direction of rotation of said conveyor from a position diametrically opposite said upper portion for clearing said hanger hooks received by said screw conveyor from the side away from said lower bearing portion.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press comprising an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors, a screw conveyor along the length of said chamber and journal bearings for said screw conveyor supported from the ceIling of the chamber, said screw conveyor having a spiral groove to receive hanger hooks for said articles and cause the articles to be carried lengthwise of said chamber as the conveyor is rotated, each of said journal bearings comprising an upper bearing portion and a separate lower bearing portion of plastic material traversing a multiplicity of thread convolutions of said conveyor while leaving transverse spaces therethrough via the groove convolutions of the conveyor enabling said hooks to travel through said bearings, and each of said lower portions comprising two spaced parallel bearing members having end faces tangentially engaging said conveyor at points spaced circumferentially about said conveyor and comprising a steam pipe clamped between said bearing members.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press comprising an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors, a screw conveyor along the length of said chamber and journal bearings for said screw conveyor supported from the ceIling of the chamber, said screw conveyor having a spiral groove to receive hanger hooks for said articles and cause the articles to be carried lengthwise of said chamber as the conveyor is rotated, each of said journal bearings comprising an upper bearing portion and a separate lower bearing portion of plastic material traversing a multiplicity of thread convolutions of said conveyor while leaving transverse spaces therethrough via the groove convolutions of the conveyor enabling said hooks to travel through said bearings, and each of said lower portions comprising two spaced parallel bearing members having end faces tangentially engaging said conveyor at points spaced circumferentially about said conveyor and comprising a steam pipe clamped between said bearing members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said upper bearing portion is symmetrically located relative to a vertical plane through the axis of said conveyor, said lower bearing portion is shifted against the direction of rotation of said conveyor by a predetermined angle from said vertical plane, and said parallel bearing members of said lower bearing portion are displaced rectilinearly in the direction of rotation of said conveyor from a plane parallel therewith through said axis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press, comprising an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors, an internal screw conveyor in said treating chamber supported rotatably from the ceiling of the chamber, an external rack at a door of said chamber, guide rails for said rack permitting the rack to be shifted to and from said chamber to permit said door to be open and closed, said rack having a screw conveyor thereon positioned for alignment with said internal screw conveyor, coupling means engaged by shifting said rack towards said chamber to form a drive connection between said internal and external conveyors, and a latch for locking said rack in its inner engaged position.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press, comprising an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors, an internal screw conveyor in said treating chamber supported rotatably from the ceiling of the chamber, an external rack at a door of said chamber, guide rails for said rack permitting the rack to be shifted to and from said chamber to permit said door to be open and closed, said rack having a screw conveyor thereon positioned for alignment with said internal screw conveyor, coupling means engaged by shifting said rack towards said chamber to form a drive connection between said internal and external conveyors, and a latch for locking said rack in its inner engaged position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 4 including a drive motor on said rack for driving both said external and internal conveyors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said chamber has a loading door at one end and an unloading door at the opposite end, including a loading rack at said loading end and an unloading rack at said unloading end, guide rails at the ends of said chamber for said respective racks permitting the racks to be shifted towards and away from said chamber, a screw conveyor rotatably supported on each of said racks for coupling engagement with the internal conveyor in said chamber as the racks are shifted into their inner positions, a drive motor on each of said racks for the respective conveyor, and limit switches controlled by movement of the racks into and out of coupled relationship with said internal conveyor for abling and disabling said respective motors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein the drive motor on said loading rack is rendered inoperable when said loading conveyor is coupled to said internal conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein the drive motor on said unloading rack is rendered inoperable when only said unloading conveyor is coupled to said internal conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 8 including means controlled by said limit switches for enabling the drive motor on said unloading conveyor to drive the entire conveyor system when said loading conveyor is also coupled to said internal conveyor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press, comprising an elongate treating chamber provided with doors at its opposite ends and with a screw conveyor along the length thereof, loading and unloading racks at the opposite ends of said chamber each having a screw conveyor rotatably mounted thereon, means mounting said racks for shifting movement towards and away from said chamber to bring the screw conveyors thereof into and out of coupling engagement with the internal screw conveyor in said chamber, and a drive motor for said unloading rack for driving all of said conveyors in unison whereby to unload said chamber onto said unloading rack simultaneously as said chamber is loaded from said loading rack.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press, comprising an elongate treating chamber provided with doors at its opposite ends and with a screw conveyor along the length thereof, loading and unloading racks at the opposite ends of said chamber each having a screw conveyor rotatably mounted thereon, means mounting said racks for shifting movement towards and away from said chamber to bring the screw conveyors thereof into and out of coupling engagement with the internal screw conveyor in said chamber, and a drive motor for said unloading rack for driving all of said conveyors in unison whereby to unload said chamber onto said unloading rack simultaneously as said chamber is loaded from said loading rack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 10 including a drive motor also for the loading rack, and a one-way over-riding clutch between said drive motor and respective conveyor of said loading rack enabling the drive of said loading rack by the drive motor of said unloading rack via said internal conveyor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 11 including a spring loaded spline-type coupling between the drive motor and conveyor of said unloading rack to maintain tension on the drive coupling between said internal conveyor and said rack conveyors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a screw conveyor system for a durable press apparatus: the combination of a treating chamber having loading and unloading doors at the opposite ends, an internal screw conveyor rotatably supported from the top of said treating chamber and extending substantially from one of said doors to the other, said screw conveyor comprising a pipe having a helical wire secured thereon for receiving hanger hooks between wire convolutions and advancing the hangers as the conveyor is rotated, loading and unloading racks at the opposite ends of said chamber each having a screw conveyor rotatably supported thereon and positioned to enter into drive engagement with the said internal conveyor as the racks are shifted into inner positions at the ends of said chamber, a coupling means between said internal conveyor and said external conveyors of said racks adapted to form a drive engagement only when the helical wires of said conveyors have come into an even spiral registration with each other, and a drive motor on one of said racks for rotating the entire conveyor system whereby to shift said hanger hooks from said loading rack into said chamber simultaneously as the hanger hooks in said chamber are shifted onto said unloading rack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a screw conveyor system for a durable press apparatus: the combination of a treating chamber having loading and unloading doors at the opposite ends, an internal screw conveyor rotatably supported from the top of said treating chamber and extending substantially from one of said doors to the other, said screw conveyor comprising a pipe having a helical wire secured thereon for receiving hanger hooks between wire convolutions and advancing the hangers as the conveyor is rotated, loading and unloading racks at the opposite ends of said chamber each having a screw conveyor rotatably supported thereon and positioned to enter into drive engagement with the said internal conveyor as the racks are shifted into inner positions at the ends of said chamber, a coupling means between said internal conveyor and said external conveyors of said racks adapted to form a drive engagement only when the helical wires of said conveyors have come into an even spiral registration with each other, and a drive motor on one of said racks for rotating the entire conveyor system whereby to shift said hanger hooks from said loading rack into said chamber simultaneously as the hanger hooks in said chamber are shifted onto said unloading rack.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
The screw conveyor system set forth in claim 13 including a centering pin on the conveyor of each of said racks engageable internally with the conveyor in said chamber as the rack is moved into an inner latched position, a spring-loaded key in said centering pin biased radially outwardly therefrom, and a slot in the end portion of said internal conveyor for receiving said key to provide a drive connection between said conveyors when the helical wires on the conveyors are in registry with each other, wherein said slot in the end portion of said internal conveyor is open-ended to permit ready detachment of said racks from said internal conveyor when the racks are unlatched.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
193 words
In an apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press: the combination of an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors respectively at the opposite ends thereof, an internal rotatably mounted screw conveyor in said treating chamber along the length thereof adapted for receiving the hooks of hangers for said fabric articles and for conveying the hangers along said chamber in the direction from said loading door to said unloading door as said conveyor is rotated, respective loading and unloading racks at the load and unload ends of said chamber each shiftable to and from said chamber, screw conveyors on said laoding and unloading racks moved into coupled relation with said internal conveyor as said racks are shifted toward said chamber respectively into load and unload positions, a drive motor on said unloading rack coupled to the respective screw conveyor thereof, a manual operator''s switch on said loading rack, and circuit means rendered operative only when both of said rack conveyors are coupled to said internal conveyor for enabling said drive motor of the unloading rack to be started by said manual switch of the loading rack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
193 words
In an apparatus for treating fabric articles to provide the same with a durable press: the combination of an elongate treating chamber having loading and unloading doors respectively at the opposite ends thereof, an internal rotatably mounted screw conveyor in said treating chamber along the length thereof adapted for receiving the hooks of hangers for said fabric articles and for conveying the hangers along said chamber in the direction from said loading door to said unloading door as said conveyor is rotated, respective loading and unloading racks at the load and unload ends of said chamber each shiftable to and from said chamber, screw conveyors on said laoding and unloading racks moved into coupled relation with said internal conveyor as said racks are shifted toward said chamber respectively into load and unload positions, a drive motor on said unloading rack coupled to the respective screw conveyor thereof, a manual operator''s switch on said loading rack, and circuit means rendered operative only when both of said rack conveyors are coupled to said internal conveyor for enabling said drive motor of the unloading rack to be started by said manual switch of the loading rack.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 15, including a safety limit switch connected in said circuit mEans and mounted on said unloading rack at the far end of said respective conveyor for operation by a hanger on said respective conveyor to stop said drive motor when said hanger reaches the end of the conveyor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |