US3773163A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keg feeding conveyors
Assignee: Burnett and Rolfe Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-07-06
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A keg processing plant having a number of processing stations positioned alongside a main keg feeding conveyor has a number of keg removing devices, one for each processing station, positioned along and beneath the conveyor and adapted to move sideways off the conveyor kegs which have an upstanding rim at one or both of its ends. Each keg removing device comprises a finger which has a rest position at one side of the conveyor at or below the level of the upper surface of the conveyor and which is movable from the rest position upwards to project beyond the upper surface of the conveyor, laterally away from the side of the conveyor, and finally back to the rest position, so that when a keg standing on a rimmed end with an edge overhanging the side of the conveyor is carried adjacent the device, upward movement of the finger engages it within the overhanging rim and outward movement pulls the keg sideways off the conveyor. The plant may be provided with mechanisms and a series of switches whereby operation of the plant is fully automatic.
Inventors
- 👤 M Ruddick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/82; B65G23/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
408 words
A keg processing plant comprising a main conveyor for feeding kegs having a projecting rim at at least one end, said main conveyor having at least one endless flexible member with two substantially parallel longitudinal edges and an upper surface on which said kegs are supported on rimmed ends with a portion of said rims extending laterally beyond at least one of said longitudinal edges, a number of keg processing stations positioned alongside said main conveyor, each station including a secondary parallel twin track conveyor extending laterally with respect to said main conveyor, and a number of keg removing devices spaced apart along said main conveyor, each keg removing device corresponding with one of said keg processing stations and comprising a finger mounted to occupy a rest position adjacent said at least one edge but below said supporting surface of said main conveyor and means for moving said finger upwardly from said rest position to a second position in which it projects above said surface between said at least one longitudinal edge and said laterally extending rim portion of a keg, and thence laterally away from said main conveyor to pull said keg off said main conveyor onto said secondary conveyor of said corresponding keg processing station, said plant also including a series of switches each associated with one of said keg removing devices and arranged for actuation to set in operation said keg removing device by a keg when said keg is carried by said main conveyor into a predetermined position adjacent said keg removing device, detector means associated with each keg processing station and said corresponding keg removing device for sensing the presence of a keg at said processing station and preventing said corresponding keg removing device from operating further until said processing station is ready to receive another keg, and means for stopping said main conveyor when a keg is carried by said main conveyor adjacent the last of said keg processing stations and said last processing station is unable to receive said keg due to the presence at said last processing station of an earlier keg, wherein said keg halted on said conveyor is removed to said last keg processing station by the last keg removing device and said main conveyor is restarted when said detector means associated with said last processing station indicates the passing on of said earlier keg and that said last processing station is ready to receive said halted keg.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
408 words
A keg processing plant comprising a main conveyor for feeding kegs having a projecting rim at at least one end, said main conveyor having at least one endless flexible member with two substantially parallel longitudinal edges and an upper surface on which said kegs are supported on rimmed ends with a portion of said rims extending laterally beyond at least one of said longitudinal edges, a number of keg processing stations positioned alongside said main conveyor, each station including a secondary parallel twin track conveyor extending laterally with respect to said main conveyor, and a number of keg removing devices spaced apart along said main conveyor, each keg removing device corresponding with one of said keg processing stations and comprising a finger mounted to occupy a rest position adjacent said at least one edge but below said supporting surface of said main conveyor and means for moving said finger upwardly from said rest position to a second position in which it projects above said surface between said at least one longitudinal edge and said laterally extending rim portion of a keg, and thence laterally away from said main conveyor to pull said keg off said main conveyor onto said secondary conveyor of said corresponding keg processing station, said plant also including a series of switches each associated with one of said keg removing devices and arranged for actuation to set in operation said keg removing device by a keg when said keg is carried by said main conveyor into a predetermined position adjacent said keg removing device, detector means associated with each keg processing station and said corresponding keg removing device for sensing the presence of a keg at said processing station and preventing said corresponding keg removing device from operating further until said processing station is ready to receive another keg, and means for stopping said main conveyor when a keg is carried by said main conveyor adjacent the last of said keg processing stations and said last processing station is unable to receive said keg due to the presence at said last processing station of an earlier keg, wherein said keg halted on said conveyor is removed to said last keg processing station by the last keg removing device and said main conveyor is restarted when said detector means associated with said last processing station indicates the passing on of said earlier keg and that said last processing station is ready to receive said halted keg.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said finger includes a pair of fluid pressure opeRated rams, means mounting one of said rams for vertical action to raise and lower said finger, and means mounting the other of said rams for horizontal action to move said finger laterally away from said conveyor and back again.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said horizontally acting ram includes a fixed support, means pivotally connecting the rear end of the cylinder of said horizontally acting ram to said fixed support, and means connecting the forward end of the cylinder of said horizontally acting ram to said vertically acting ram whereby said forward end is raised end lowered as said vertically acting ram is extended and retracted, there being means mounting said finger on the rod of said horizontally acting ram, and said finger lying in said rest position when said horizontally acting ram and said vertically acting ram are both fully retracted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said finger includes a substantially horizontally acting fluid pressure operated ram and fixed guides which are engaged by said finger and cause said finger to move upwards and downwards at the beginning and end respectively of the outward stroke of said ram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 4, including means mounting said finger to the rod of said ram, a fixed support, means pivotally mounting the cylinder of said ram to said fixed support at its rear end to accomodate the upward and downward movements of said finger as said ram is extended and retracted, and spring means biasing the forward end of the cylinder of said ram to a position wherein said finger is in said rest position with said ram fully retracted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch comprises a photoelectric transmitter and a receiver positioned on opposite sides of said conveyor and adapted to effect a light beam passing between them, said switch being actuated by interruption of said light beam by said keg when said keg reaches a position wherein said rim overhanging said one side of said conveyor is above said finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said finger includes control means which, once said device is set in operation, causes said finger automatically to rise, move laterally away from said one side of said conveyor, to drop, and to return to said one side of said conveyor, said control means including a switch which is actuated when said finger has been moved away from said conveyor by a predetermined amount to cause said finger to be lowered and returned to said one side of said conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for stopping said conveyor includes a stop switch which is positioned downstream from said switch for setting the last of said keg removing devices in operation, whereby on actuation of said stop switch by a keg said conveyor is stopped with said keg still having said overhanging rim above said finger of said last keg removing device.
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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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |