US3780849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for arranging flat articles on a trough conveyor
Assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A funnel arrangement for delivering a uniform flow of flat articles to a trough conveyor, the funnel being arranged over the trough conveyor and two of the side walls of the funnel being parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor, one side wall being constituted by an upwardly moving reach of a conveyor belt and at least part of the other side wall being formed by a conveying means opposite the lower part of the conveyor belt, the conveying means and the conveyor belt cooperating to form a slit-shaped outlet opening in the bottom of the funnel through which the flat articles are directed downwardly by the conveying means onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner.
Inventors
- 👤 B Hoehl
- 👤 K Kummerer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C1/02; B07C1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of an upright trough conveyor with articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to the trough conveyor, which conveyor supports the articles on edge, comprising, in combination, guide means arranged over the trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening for guiding the flat articles, the funnel having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers and disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, second conveyor belt means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor, said second conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers with the lower guide roller arranged opposite to the lower guide roller of said first conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said second conveyor belt means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner, and a plate member arranged to cover at least the upper portion of said second conveyor belt means from a point adjacent its lower guide roller so as to form a portion of the other parallel wall of said wedge-shaped funnel in cooperation with said second conveyor belt means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of an upright trough conveyor with articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to the trough conveyor, which conveyor supports the articles on edge, comprising, in combination, guide means arranged over the trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening for guiding the flat articles, the funnel having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers and disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, second conveyor belt means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor, said second conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers with the lower guide roller arranged opposite to the lower guide roller of said first conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said second conveyor belt means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner, and a plate member arranged to cover at least the upper portion of said second conveyor belt means from a point adjacent its lower guide roller so as to form a portion of the other parallel wall of said wedge-shaped funnel in cooperation with said second conveyor belt means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate member is mounted for pivotal movement between two end positions, and further including signal generator means which is actuated by said pivotal plate member when said pivotal plate member is pivoted by said flat articles upon said articles reaching a predetermined level in said guide means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
248 words
A system of transporting flat articles, comprising, in combination: a. an upright trough conveyor; and b. apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of said upright trough conveyor with flat articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to said trough conveyor, said apparatus comprising, guide means arranged over said trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening located directly above said trough conveyor for guiding the flat articles, the funnel being substantially vertical and having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of said trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers And disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, and conveying means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of said trough conveyor and arranged at least partially opposite to the lower guide roller of said conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said conveying means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and directly onto said trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner so as to be carried away directly upon reaching said trough conveyor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
248 words
A system of transporting flat articles, comprising, in combination: a. an upright trough conveyor; and b. apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of said upright trough conveyor with flat articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to said trough conveyor, said apparatus comprising, guide means arranged over said trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening located directly above said trough conveyor for guiding the flat articles, the funnel being substantially vertical and having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of said trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers And disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, and conveying means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of said trough conveyor and arranged at least partially opposite to the lower guide roller of said conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said conveying means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and directly onto said trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner so as to be carried away directly upon reaching said trough conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of an upright trough conveyor with flat articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to the trough conveyor, which conveyor supports the articles on edge, comprising, in combination, guide means arranged over the trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening arranged to be directly above the trough conveyor for guiding the flat articles, the funnel being substantially vertical and having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers and disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, and conveying means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor and arranged at least partially opposite to the lower guide roller of said conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said conveying means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and directly onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner so as to be carried away directly upon reaching the trough conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the approximately uniform loading of an upright trough conveyor with flat articles furnished in irregular quantities for delivery to the trough conveyor, which conveyor supports the articles on edge, comprising, in combination, guide means arranged over the trough conveyor and defining a wedge-shaped funnel with a slit-shaped outlet opening arranged to be directly above the trough conveyor for guiding the flat articles, the funnel being substantially vertical and having two side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor sloping downwardly toward one another, said guide means being composed of first conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers and disposed for causing one reach of said belt means to form one of said side walls of said wedge-shaped funnel, means for driving said belt means for causing said one reach to move upwardly for storing the accumulated flat articles, and conveying means for forming at least a portion of said other of said side walls parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor and arranged at least partially opposite to the lower guide roller of said conveyor belt means for defining therewith the slit-shaped outlet opening of said guide means, said conveying means producing a movement in the downward direction to direct the flat articles downwardly through said opening and directly onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner so as to be carried away directly upon reaching the trough conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said conveying means is a conveyor roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including a belt conveyor having a discharge end portion means arranged above said guide means for discharging irregular accumulations of flat articles into said guide means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said conveying means is a second conveyor belt means having upper and lower guide rollers, the lower guide roller of which is arranged opposite to the lower guide roller of said first conveyor belt means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said second conveyor belt means forms the entire side wall of said wedge-shaped funnel adjacent said other of said side portions parallel to the direction of movement of the trough conveyor.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for regularizing a delivery of irregular quantities of flat articles which are to be delivered to a trough conveyor at substantially uniform intervals, comprising the steps of: a. feeding the irregular quantities of said flat articles into a substantially vertical wedge-shaped funnel having at its bottom a slit-shaped outlet opening located directly above the trough conveyor; b. storing accumulated flat articles in the funnel by means of the upwardly moving reach of a conveyor belt arranged in the funnel; and c. feeding the flat articles out of the funnel and directly onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner downwardly through the slit-shaped outlet opening in the bottom of the funnel by means of a downwardly moving conveyor means whereupon the articles are carried away directly upon reaching the trough conveyor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for regularizing a delivery of irregular quantities of flat articles which are to be delivered to a trough conveyor at substantially uniform intervals, comprising the steps of: a. feeding the irregular quantities of said flat articles into a substantially vertical wedge-shaped funnel having at its bottom a slit-shaped outlet opening located directly above the trough conveyor; b. storing accumulated flat articles in the funnel by means of the upwardly moving reach of a conveyor belt arranged in the funnel; and c. feeding the flat articles out of the funnel and directly onto the trough conveyor in a substantially uniform manner downwardly through the slit-shaped outlet opening in the bottom of the funnel by means of a downwardly moving conveyor means whereupon the articles are carried away directly upon reaching the trough conveyor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |