Patent US3777450A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3777450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article handling and packaging machine
Assignee: SHAZOR J DE
•
Filing: 1971-07-07
•
Granted: 1973-12-11
•
Expires: 1991-07-07
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to an article handling and packaging machine particularly adapted for use in supplying packaging clips such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,700 to pluralities of containers such as beer cans in order to assemble and connect pluralities of beer cans in unitary packaged groups such as fourpacks, six-packs or eight-packs as desired. While the said packaging machine is particularly adapted for use in applying such packaging clips to articles such as cans of beer or the like the machine may be readily adapted for use in applying caps to open containers or for applying labels or indicia on various articles. The disclosure includes endless belt structures provided with rotor engaging surfaces and opposed surfaces having pockets therein adapted to engage articles; drive means on the belts is adapted to cooperate with an applicator rotor which rotates in unison with the linear movement of the belts; said applicator rotor having peripheral portions disposed to roll in to close proximity to articles carried in said pockets of said belt so that said applicator rotor may apply connecting clips to a plurality of articles held in said pockets and moved therein whereby said articles are packaged into a unitary assembly such as a four-pack, six-pack or eight-pack of beverage cans or the like; the disclosure also includes means for coordinating the timing of the various features of the machine so that a plurality of said belts may be adjusted relative to each other so that their pocket portions are precisely aligned in opposition to each other for engaging opposite sides of articles or containers; the disclosure further including switch operating means on the applicator rotor for timing and initiating operation of a part feeder mechanism adapted to feed packaging clips or other parts from a magazine and to place the parts precisely on peripheral portions of the applicator rotor as it rotates in relation to the magazine; additionally the disclosure includes details of a variety of feed mechanisms for feeding packaging clips as well as other parts from the magazine of the machine on to the applicator rotor of the machine; further the disclosure includes novel mechanisms for driving parts longitudally in contiguous stacked relation to each other in the magazine of the machine for maintaining the parts constantly in a feed relation to the parts feed mechanism which is intermittently operable to place parts, such as packaging clips, on the peripheral portions of the applicator rotor of the machine during its rotation relative to the parts feed mechanism and the magazine.
Inventors
- 👤 Shazor J De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:44
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B17/00; B65B17/02; B65B17/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
In an article positioning and packaging machine the combination of: a frame; a first pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a first belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portions of said first rotors; said first belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; a second pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions and being rotatably mounted on said frame; a second belt having second rotor engaging surfaces engaging said peripheral portions of said second pair of rotors; said second belt having second recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to that faced by said second rotor engaging surfaces; said second pair of rotors and said second belt disposed so that said second article pocket portions thereof are opposed to and open toward said article pocket portions of said first belt; power operated means for synchronously driving one rotor of each of said first and second pairs of rotors; said power operated means having first and second synchronized shaft means coupled respectively to one rotor of each of said first and second pairs of rotors; one of said synchronized shaft means having a pair of axially aligned shafts; and a rotatably adjustable coupling interconnecting said pair of axially aligned shafts whereby said rotatably adjustable coupling allows relative rotation of said axially aligned shafts to adjust a linear position of one of said belts relative to a linear position of the other of said belts to attain a desired precise opposed alignment of said first and second article pockets of said first and second belts relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
In an article positioning and packaging machine the combination of: a frame; a first pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a first belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portions of said first rotors; said first belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; a second pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions and being rotatably mounted on said frame; a second belt having second rotor engaging surfaces engaging said peripheral portions of said second pair of rotors; said second belt having second recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to that faced by said second rotor engaging surfaces; said second pair of rotors and said second belt disposed so that said second article pocket portions thereof are opposed to and open toward said article pocket portions of said first belt; power operated means for synchronously driving one rotor of each of said first and second pairs of rotors; said power operated means having first and second synchronized shaft means coupled respectively to one rotor of each of said first and second pairs of rotors; one of said synchronized shaft means having a pair of axially aligned shafts; and a rotatably adjustable coupling interconnecting said pair of axially aligned shafts whereby said rotatably adjustable coupling allows relative rotation of said axially aligned shafts to adjust a linear position of one of said belts relative to a linear position of the other of said belts to attain a desired precise opposed alignment of said first and second article pockets of said first and second belts relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein; an applicator rotor is provided with a peripheral area and is rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to axes of said first and second pairs of said rotors; first and second driving means on said first and second belts; first and second driving means on said applicator rotor; said first and second driving means on said belts engageable with said first and second driving means on said applicator rotor to synchronize linear movement of said belts and rotary movement of said applicator rotor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein; said applicator rotor is provided with radially projecting applicator means located generally at said peripheral area thereon and adapted to carry a clip; said machine having structures comprising a station area adapted to support a plurality of adjacent moving cans close to the periphery of said applicator rotor so as to cause said plurality of cans to be clipped together by said clip as said pockets of said first and second belts and said applicator means are synchronously moved through said station area such that said clip is compressibly rolled into clipped relation with bead portions at the end of said cans, while said plurality of cans moves synchronously in said pockets of said belt and with the peripheral portion of said applicator rotor and said applicator emans thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
295 words
In an article handling and packaging machine the combination oF: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portions of said rotors; said belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposied to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of aid belt; an applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to the axes of said pair of rotors; driving means operably disposed to drive said belt and said applicator rotor and to synchronize linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor, said peripheral area of said applicator rotor having applicator means comprising radially projecting holders extending generally in a radial direction from said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts, said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts in a generally tangential disposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; a power operated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area so as t dispose one of said parts for engagement with one of said hlders on said peripheral area; cycle control means; means for driving said cycle control means in synchronism with said applicator rotor; said cycle control means coupled to said power operated intermittent part feed mechanism for synchronously operating said power operated intermittent parts feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with said part holders while said applicator rotor is rotating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
295 words
In an article handling and packaging machine the combination oF: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portions of said rotors; said belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposied to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of aid belt; an applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to the axes of said pair of rotors; driving means operably disposed to drive said belt and said applicator rotor and to synchronize linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor, said peripheral area of said applicator rotor having applicator means comprising radially projecting holders extending generally in a radial direction from said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts, said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts in a generally tangential disposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; a power operated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area so as t dispose one of said parts for engagement with one of said hlders on said peripheral area; cycle control means; means for driving said cycle control means in synchronism with said applicator rotor; said cycle control means coupled to said power operated intermittent part feed mechanism for synchronously operating said power operated intermittent parts feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with said part holders while said applicator rotor is rotating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein; said periphery of said applicator rotor is provided with said applicator means comprising parts holders projecting generally in a radial direction from said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts; said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts in generally tangential disposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; power operated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area so as to cause engagement of said parts with one of said holders on said peripheral area; switch operating mechanism; means for driving said switch operating mechanism in synchronism with said applicator rotor; an electrical switch operable by said switch operating mechanism, said electrical switch coupled to said power operated intermittent parts feed mechanism for synchronously timing operation of said power operated intermittent parts feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with said parts holders while said applicator rotor is rotating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
296 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portion of said rotors; said belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; and applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to the axes of said pair of rotors; means for synchronously operating said belt and said applicator rotor to coordinate linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor; said peripheral area of said applicator rotor having applicator means comprising part holders at said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts; said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts in generally tangential dIsposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; a power operated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area and to a position to cause engagement of said parts with one of said holders on said peripheral area; operating means; means for driving said cycle control means in synchronism with said applicator rotor; said cycle control means disposed to activate said intermittent part feed mechanism for synchronously timing operation of said power operated intermittent part feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with said part holders on said peripheral area of said applicator rotor while said applicator rotor is rotating relative to said magazine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
296 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portion of said rotors; said belt having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; and applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to the axes of said pair of rotors; means for synchronously operating said belt and said applicator rotor to coordinate linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor; said peripheral area of said applicator rotor having applicator means comprising part holders at said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts; said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts in generally tangential dIsposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; a power operated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area and to a position to cause engagement of said parts with one of said holders on said peripheral area; operating means; means for driving said cycle control means in synchronism with said applicator rotor; said cycle control means disposed to activate said intermittent part feed mechanism for synchronously timing operation of said power operated intermittent part feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with said part holders on said peripheral area of said applicator rotor while said applicator rotor is rotating relative to said magazine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein; said part feed mechanism comprises a reciprocating cam structure having cam portions adapted to engage opposite edges of parts in said magazine and to project said parts to the outlet end of said magazine and toward the peripheral area of said applicator rotor for engagement of said parts with said holders on the peripheral area of the applicator rotor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein; guide channels are disposed adjacent said cam portions for supporting said parts in substantially tangential relation to said peripheral area of said applicator rotor so as to project said parts into close proximity to said peripheral area; said guide channels extending in a substantially tangential relation relative to said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; said parts being resilient clips having openings therein and said openings being engageable by said radially projecting holders so as to slideably move said clips in said guide channels; and a stationary roller adjacent to said guide channels spaced closely relative to the periphery of said applicator rotor to cause compressive rolling application of said clips onto said peripheral area about said projecting holders as the applicator rotor passes said last mentioned roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein; said parts feed mechanism comprises a pair of slotted shafts having slots in the sides thereof; said shafts spaced apart at opposite sides of said magazine and said slots adapted to receive opposite edges of parts in said magazine; means for synchronizing rotation of said slotted shafts; an intermittently operable rotary means for rotating said shafts so as to cause opposite edges of a part, engaged in said slots, to be moved from the interior of said magazine toward the outlet thereof and toward said peripheral ara of said applicator rotor; said intermittently operable rotary means being coupled to said cycle control means and intermittently operable thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein; guide channels are disposed adjacent to said shafts having slots therein; resilient clips in said magazine; said clips being provided with opposite edges engageable in said slots in said rotary shafts; channel guides at the outlet of said magazine adjacent to wwhich said resilient clips may be moved by said rotary shafts in said slots thereof; said resilient clips being provided with openings therein adapted to be engaged by said radially projecting holders to thereby cause said holders to slide said resilient clips from said guide channels in a direction substantially tangentially relative to said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; and a stationary roller closely spaced relative to said peripheral area and adapted securely to engage a clip coupled with one of said radially projecting holders and to cause said clip to be rolled securely onto said holder as the periphery of said applicator rotor passes directly opposite last mentioned roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein; said magazine is provided wIth a plurality of resilient screw structures at opposite sides thereof; said screws having peripheral portions projected to the interior of said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts in said magazine helically advancing said parts longitudinally in said magazine and into contiguous stacked relation to each other; said screws being radially deflectable away from said opposite edges of said parts when said parts are stacked contiguously in said magazine so that said peripheral portions of said screws may slide over respective edges of said parts and may continue to rotate after said magazine has been stacked to full capacity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein; said magazine is provided with a plurality of resiliently mounted helical feed screws having peripheral portions projecting into opposite areas of said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts therein for helically advancing said parts into contiguous stacked relationship in said magazine; said resiliently mounted screws being adapted to deflect laterally relative to their axes and slip over opposite edges of said parts when said parts are in contiguous relation with each other and when said magazine is stacked full of said parts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
252 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on aid frame; a belt having rotor engaging surfaces engaging said peripheral portions of said rotors; said belts having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; an applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to those of said pair of rotors; means for driving said belt and applicator rotor synchronously to synchronize linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor; part holder means on said applicator rotor; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; parts feed mechanism for transferring parts from said outlet toward said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; and a plurality of resiliently mounted free screws on said magazine and having peripheral portions projecting into said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts therein, said feed screws adapted to helically move said parts in said magazine into a contiguous stacked relationship therein adjacent said outlet; the resilient mounting of said feed screws adapted to permit peripheries of said screws to slip over opposite edges of said parts in said magazine while said feed screws rotate constantly and when said parts are in contiguous relationship with each other and when said magazine is stacked full of said parts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
252 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on aid frame; a belt having rotor engaging surfaces engaging said peripheral portions of said rotors; said belts having recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; an applicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to those of said pair of rotors; means for driving said belt and applicator rotor synchronously to synchronize linear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor; part holder means on said applicator rotor; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; parts feed mechanism for transferring parts from said outlet toward said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; and a plurality of resiliently mounted free screws on said magazine and having peripheral portions projecting into said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts therein, said feed screws adapted to helically move said parts in said magazine into a contiguous stacked relationship therein adjacent said outlet; the resilient mounting of said feed screws adapted to permit peripheries of said screws to slip over opposite edges of said parts in said magazine while said feed screws rotate constantly and when said parts are in contiguous relationship with each other and when said magazine is stacked full of said parts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein; intermittent means is adapted to feed parts from said outlet in said magazine toward said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; and timing means is operated in synchronism with said applicator rotor and adapted intermittently to energize said intermittent parts feed mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein; said parts feed mechanism comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart shafts having slotted ortions disposed longitudinally in the side portions thereof; intermittent mechanism for concurrently rotating said last mentioned shafts in synchronism with each other such that said slotted portions engage opposite edges of parts in said magazine and move said parts from a stacked position therein towards said outlet of said magazine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein; guide channels are disposed adjacent said outlet in said magazine, said guide channels adapted to receive said parts from said slotted portions of said shafts, said channels being disposed in substantially tangential relation to the peripheral area of said applicator rotor whereby said radially projecting holders may engage one of sAid parts in said guide channels and slide said part outwardly therefrom in a substantially tangential relationship relative to the periphery of the applicator rotor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; a compression roller is disposed adjacent said magazine and said peripheral area of said applicator rotor whereby parts projected from said magazine on said holders on the peripheral area of said applicator rotor are passed between the periphery of said applicator rotor and said compression roller so that the parts are firmly pressed on the holders on the peripheral area of said applicator rotor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
152 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; a compression roller is disposed adjacent said magazine and said peripheral area of said applicator rotor whereby parts projected from said magazine on said holders on the peripheral area of said applicator rotor are passed between the periphery of said applicator rotor and said compression roller so that the parts are firmly pressed on the holders on the peripheral area of said applicator rotor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
109 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of sad applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; elec-trical switch means is operated in synchronism with said applica-tor rotor, said part feed mechanism being energized by said switch means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
109 words
In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of sad applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; elec-trical switch means is operated in synchronism with said applica-tor rotor, said part feed mechanism being energized by said switch means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
213 words
In an article handling and packaging machine, the combination of: an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold part therein adjacent to said outlets; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; electrical switch means is operated in synchronism with said applicator rotor, said part feed mechanism being energized by said switch means; operating mechanism switch means comprising a plurality of concentric rows of cams; said swich means being operable in engagement with the cams of anyone of said rows; means for mounting said switch means to move radially relative to said rows of cams for alignment with anyone of said rows of cams; whereby said parts may be placed on said holders of said applicator rotor as various positions; said parts being packaging clips and thereby adapted to be placed on said peripheral area of said applicator rotor and said holders in positions to package pluralities of containers wherein different packages contain different numbers of containers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
213 words
In an article handling and packaging machine, the combination of: an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold part therein adjacent to said outlets; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; electrical switch means is operated in synchronism with said applicator rotor, said part feed mechanism being energized by said switch means; operating mechanism switch means comprising a plurality of concentric rows of cams; said swich means being operable in engagement with the cams of anyone of said rows; means for mounting said switch means to move radially relative to said rows of cams for alignment with anyone of said rows of cams; whereby said parts may be placed on said holders of said applicator rotor as various positions; said parts being packaging clips and thereby adapted to be placed on said peripheral area of said applicator rotor and said holders in positions to package pluralities of containers wherein different packages contain different numbers of containers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as defined in Claim 6 wherein; said magazine and part feed mechanism are moveably mounted on said frame to move toward and away from said applicator rotor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
212 words
In an article handling and packaging machine, a combination of: an applicator rotor: said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine towards said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; said magazine is provided with a plurality of helicAl feed screws having shaft portions; bearings resiliently mounting said shaft portions on opposite sides of said magazine so that said screws may deflect laterally relative to said magazine; peripheral portions of said screws projecting through said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts in said magazine; and means for rotatably driving said screws in synchronized relation with each other so that they may advance parts in said magazine to a contiguous stacked relationship therein whereupon said screws and resilient mountings of said bearings permits the screws to move laterally relative to opposite edges of said parts and to slip thereover when the parts are contiguous to each other and the magazine is filled therewith.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
212 words
In an article handling and packaging machine, a combination of: an applicator rotor: said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazine towards said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon; said magazine is provided with a plurality of helicAl feed screws having shaft portions; bearings resiliently mounting said shaft portions on opposite sides of said magazine so that said screws may deflect laterally relative to said magazine; peripheral portions of said screws projecting through said magazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts in said magazine; and means for rotatably driving said screws in synchronized relation with each other so that they may advance parts in said magazine to a contiguous stacked relationship therein whereupon said screws and resilient mountings of said bearings permits the screws to move laterally relative to opposite edges of said parts and to slip thereover when the parts are contiguous to each other and the magazine is filled therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3393490A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |