US3771648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chain system for the selection and separation of objects
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-30
•
Granted: 1973-11-13
•
Expires: 1992-03-30
Abstract
Abstract Objects carried in a single row on a first moving surface are arranged into two rows thereon or are selectively transferred to a second moving surface by partition means carried by thrusters. The thrusters are fixed on a movable transmission member and a cam follower carried by each thruster is diverted from a first cam run into a second cam run by switching means when it is desired to arrange the objects into two rows or to transfer selected ones from the first to the second moving surface.
Inventors
- 👤 A Revuelta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/84; B65G47/841; B65G47/845; B65G17/00; B65G17/12; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
Apparatus for selecting and separating objects, comprising: a first moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a second moving surface disposed adjacent said first moving surface; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said first moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said first and second moving surfaces and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a position over said first moving surface and a position over said second moving surface; a first cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said first moving surface; a second cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said first moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster toward said second moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first moving surface to said second moving surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
Apparatus for selecting and separating objects, comprising: a first moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a second moving surface disposed adjacent said first moving surface; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said first moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said first and second moving surfaces and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a position over said first moving surface and a position over said second moving surface; a first cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said first moving surface; a second cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said first moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster toward said second moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first moving surface to said second moving surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first and second moving surfaces are parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said transmission member comprises a chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said second moving surface is moving in the same direction as said first moving surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the motion imparted to the thrusters by the respective cam run follower is rectilinear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for selecting objects from a moving row and separating them into two rows, comprising: a moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said moving surface and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a retracted position over a first portion of said moving surface and a projected position over a second portion of said moving surface; a first fixed cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said moving surface; a second fixed cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster and its partition means toward said projected position over said second portion of the moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first portion to said second portion of the moving surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for selecting objects from a moving row and separating them into two rows, comprising: a moving surface adapted to support a row of objects; a moving endless transmission member having one reach moving in the same direction as said moving surface; a plurality of spaced-apart thrusters carried by said endless transmission member; partition means on each of said thrusters, the partition means on said one reach being spaced a short distance above the surface of said moving surface and each partition means being movable by its corresponding thruster between a retracted position over a first portion of said moving surface and a projected position over a second portion of said moving surface; a first fixed cam run having a flight thereof extending parallel to said moving surface; a second fixed cam run diverging at its entrance end from said flight of the first cam run and extending toward said moving surface, the exit end of said second cam run converging with said first cam run; a cam run follower carried by each of said thrusters and disposed in one of said cam runs; and switching means located in said flight of the first cam run at the entrance of said second cam run, said switching means being movable to direct said cam run followers into said first cam run or into said second cam run, said cam run followers when following said second cam run, moving the corresponding thruster and its partition means toward said projected position over said second portion of the moving surface and moving an object engaged by its partition means from said first portion to said second portion of the moving surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3156360A
Cited
US3437200A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |