US3795346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dispensing articles from a stack thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-09
•
Granted: 1974-03-05
•
Expires: 1992-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A feeding mechanism for containers in a stack which includes means to alternately grip and release first and second containers in the stack and to forcibly eject the lower container therefrom. The means to eject the container comprises arms movable in a vertical arc and having movable container engaging pressure shoes thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 D Snelling
- 👤 T Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/16; B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/10; B65G59/101; B65G59/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A container feeding mechanism comprising a base having an aperture for the disposition and passage of a nested stack of containers, upstanding supports on said base one on each side of the stack, a pair of vertically spaced container gripping plates mounted on each of said supports, the lower plate of each pair normally engaging the bottom container in the stack, means to reposition said plates so as to disengage the lower plate of each pair from the bottom container and to carry the upper plate of each pair into engagement with the next succeeding container in the stack, and separate means including operably connected pivotally mounted arms located on opposite sides of the stack, and pressure shoes resiliently mounted on said arms, means moving said arms to yieldingly exert a downward force by said shoes against the bottom container when the lower plates are disengaged from said container so as to eject the bottom container from the stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A container feeding mechanism comprising a base having an aperture for the disposition and passage of a nested stack of containers, upstanding supports on said base one on each side of the stack, a pair of vertically spaced container gripping plates mounted on each of said supports, the lower plate of each pair normally engaging the bottom container in the stack, means to reposition said plates so as to disengage the lower plate of each pair from the bottom container and to carry the upper plate of each pair into engagement with the next succeeding container in the stack, and separate means including operably connected pivotally mounted arms located on opposite sides of the stack, and pressure shoes resiliently mounted on said arms, means moving said arms to yieldingly exert a downward force by said shoes against the bottom container when the lower plates are disengaged from said container so as to eject the bottom container from the stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, in which the gripping plates are horizontally slideable in the supports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein each pair of gripping plates is mounted on an oscillatably rotatable block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the means to reposition the plates comprises a solenoid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein linkage operably connects the pairs of plates for operation in unison.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein an eccentric and follower is provided to actuate the means to exert downward pressure on the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the spacing of the gripping plates from the stack of containers may be adjusted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the pairs of gripping plates are horizontally slideable in the supports, and common means is provided to cause their repositioning in unison, said common means comprising connecting linkage and means to actuate said linkage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the gripping plates in each pair of plates are selectively moveable into and out of engagement with the containers in the stack, and said pairs of plates are operably connected for moVement in unison.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the separate means comprises a parallelogram carrying a plurality of pressure shoes and operating to insure straight-down pressure on the container to be ejected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1, wherein the arms carry spring elements to which the pressure shoes are attached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mechanism recited in claim 1 wherein the arms are moveable through a vertical arc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2445958A
Cited
US3601282A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |