US3820301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Egg handling apparatus
Assignee: Seymour Foods Inc
•
Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-06-28
•
Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for packing eggs in pocketed containers, such as, cartons or filler flats, which apparatus includes a lower conveyor with a generally horizontal run disposed so as to receive in upwardly opening position successive empty containers, a dispensing mechanism at one end of the conveyor for supplying successive containers and an overhead mechanism to which eggs are fed from a cross conveyor on which the eggs are in random arrangement and from which the eggs are diverted onto a roller or spool conveyor so as to fill rows of pockets on the conveyor, the roller conveyor advancing the eggs to an orientor where the eggs are arranged with their long axes vertical and the small ends down on an associated cross bar conveyor, the latter conveyor having co-operating lane forming members which guide the eggs in properly spaced row arrangement as they are advanced to a container filling position at the end of the cross bar conveyor where mechanism guides the successive rows of eggs down over the end of the conveyor and into the pockets of a container which has been advanced on the lower conveyor to the filling position.
Inventors
- 👤 C Willsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B23/00; B65B23/02; B65B23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for packing eggs in containers having egg receiving pockets in row arrangement which apparatus comprises a lower conveyor assembly having means for advancing containers to a packing station, means at one end of said lower conveyor assembly for positioning successive empty containers thereon with the pockets in upwardly opening position and the rows thereof extending transversely of the path of advance, an upper conveyor assembly extending above said lower conveyor assembly with an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the entrance end of said upper conveyor assembly for supplying eggs in random arrangement, means co-operating with said upper conveyor assembly for aligning the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto the top run of an entrance section of said upper conveyor assembly where they are arranged with the long axes extending transversely and advanced in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism adjacent the end of said conveyor entrance section, said orienting mechanism co-operating with a further conveyor section in arranging the eggs on the top run thereof and with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means associated with said further conveyor section for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lines and in spacing the eggs in the rows so as to match the spacing of the pockets in the container which is advanced to the packing station, and means adjacent the end of said further conveyor section for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end of said conveyor section and for depositing the eggs in the container pockets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for packing eggs in containers having egg receiving pockets in row arrangement which apparatus comprises a lower conveyor assembly having means for advancing containers to a packing station, means at one end of said lower conveyor assembly for positioning successive empty containers thereon with the pockets in upwardly opening position and the rows thereof extending transversely of the path of advance, an upper conveyor assembly extending above said lower conveyor assembly with an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the entrance end of said upper conveyor assembly for supplying eggs in random arrangement, means co-operating with said upper conveyor assembly for aligning the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto the top run of an entrance section of said upper conveyor assembly where they are arranged with the long axes extending transversely and advanced in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism adjacent the end of said conveyor entrance section, said orienting mechanism co-operating with a further conveyor section in arranging the eggs on the top run thereof and with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means associated with said further conveyor section for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lines and in spacing the eggs in the rows so as to match the spacing of the pockets in the container which is advanced to the packing station, and means adjacent the end of said further conveyor section for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end of said conveyor section and for depositing the eggs in the container pockets.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for packIng eggs in containers which have egg receiving pockets in row arrangement and which containers are advanced to a packing station, said apparatus comprising a conveyor assembly having an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the opposite end of said conveyor assembly for supplying eggs in random arrangement, means for aligning the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto a top run of an entrance portion of said conveyor assembly where they are arranged with the long axes extending transversely and in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism co-operating with said conveyor in arranging the eggs with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means associated with a discharge portion of said conveyor assembly for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lanes and in spaced relation in the rows corresponding to the transverse spacing of the pockets in a container at the packing station, and means at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end thereof and into the container pockets.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for packIng eggs in containers which have egg receiving pockets in row arrangement and which containers are advanced to a packing station, said apparatus comprising a conveyor assembly having an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the opposite end of said conveyor assembly for supplying eggs in random arrangement, means for aligning the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto a top run of an entrance portion of said conveyor assembly where they are arranged with the long axes extending transversely and in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism co-operating with said conveyor in arranging the eggs with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means associated with a discharge portion of said conveyor assembly for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lanes and in spaced relation in the rows corresponding to the transverse spacing of the pockets in a container at the packing station, and means at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end thereof and into the container pockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means supplying eggs comprises an accumulator conveyor mechanism adapted to receive eggs from a supply source and advance the eggs to an area where they may accumulate in sufficient numbers to provide a constant supply for a multi-lane forming mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg aligning and feeding means comprises a continuously traveling belt type conveyor and a mechanism for guiding eggs advanced on said belt conveyor into a plurality of transversely spaced lanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg aligning and feeding means comprises a series of transversely spaced plate members and means to advance the eggs between pairs of said plate members so as to form the eggs into lanes for advance onto the entrance portion of said conveyor assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg aligning and feeding means comprises a series of transversely spaced plate members mounted above the entrance end of said conveyor assembly with said plate members spaced apart a distance sufficient for a single egg to pass between the same so as to guide the eggs into a plurality of lanes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg aligning and feeding means comprises a series of transversely spaced, paddle forming plate members mounted above the entrance end of said conveyor assembly which plate members are spaced apart a distance sufficient for a single egg to pass between the same and means is provided to oscillate said paddle forming plate members in planes extending in the direction of advance of the eggs so as to guide the eggs into a plurality of lanes, and wherein said conveyor assembly is adapted to receive successive rows of eggs which have been guided into lanes by said paddle forming plate members and to advance successive rows while maintaining the eggs in lane and row alignment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said entrance portion of said conveyor assembly is adapted to receive a plurality of eggs in transversely aligned row formation and to advance the eggs while maintaining row alignment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said entrance portion of said conveyor assembly comprises an endless traveling conveyor having a plurality of transversely extending, longitudinally spaced roller members shaped to provide a plurality of transversely aligned egg receiving pockets between each pair of adjacent roller members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said conveyor assembly is constructed so as to support eggs in transversely extending rows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
AN apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 10 wherein said conveyor assembly comprises an endless entrance conveyor which provides for supporting eggs in longitudinally extending lanes and transverse row forming alignment and a further endless conveyor which provides for supporting eggs so that they may be pivoted about an axis extending lengthwise of the path of advance thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 11 wherein said orienting mechanism is disposed for co-operation with said further endless conveyor in arranging the eggs with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom and means for guiding the eggs into predetermined transversely spaced relation as they are advanced by said further conveyor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg guide means at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly comprises means for retarding the forward movement of top portions of the eggs as they reach the end of the conveyor assembly so as to discharge the eggs over the end of the conveyor assembly in uniform inclined position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 13 wherein said movement retarding means comprises a plurality of pad forming members pivotally mounted on a support means and depending in the path of the eggs at the end of said means for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lanes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 13 wherein said movement retarding means comprises a plurality of pad forming members pivotally mounted on a cross frame member above the discharge end of said conveyor assembly which depend in the path of the top portions of the eggs and which are adjustably counterbalanced so as to exert sufficient force on the eggs on the conveyor to tilt them in a longitudinal plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg guiding means at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly comprises downwardly inclined chute forming means spaced across the end of said conveyor assembly for guiding the individual eggs in each row thereof in a downwardly inclined path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 16 wherein a plurality of pairs of radially extending fingers are mounted on a cross shaft above said chute forming means with each pair of fingers aligned with a lane in which the eggs are advanced so as to support the eggs in row alignment as they are delivered onto the chute forming means for gravity discharge into the container pockets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 17 wherein a plurality of rows of said fingers are mounted in spaced relation about the circumference of said cross shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for packaging eggs in containers as set forth in claim 2 wherein said egg guiding means at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly comprises downwardly inclined chute forming means at the end of said conveyor assembly, means at the end of said conveyor assembly for supporting the bottom ends of the eggs as they reach the end of said conveyor assembly so as to insure that all the eggs in a row will be discharged over the end of the conveyor assembly simultaneously.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an apparatus for packing eggs in rows of pockets in containers, means for positioning a container at a packing station, conveyor means for supporting and advancing the eggs, means co-operating with said conveyor means for arranging the eggs in transverse row alignment with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom and for advancing the eggs in lanes to said packing station, said conveyor means having a top run on which the eggs are supported with a discharge end disposed above said packing station and co-operating means for guiding the eggs in successive rows down over the discharge end of said conveyor means for deposit in row formation in The container at said packing station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an apparatus for packing eggs in rows of pockets in containers, means for positioning a container at a packing station, conveyor means for supporting and advancing the eggs, means co-operating with said conveyor means for arranging the eggs in transverse row alignment with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom and for advancing the eggs in lanes to said packing station, said conveyor means having a top run on which the eggs are supported with a discharge end disposed above said packing station and co-operating means for guiding the eggs in successive rows down over the discharge end of said conveyor means for deposit in row formation in The container at said packing station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for guiding the eggs over the discharge end of said conveyor means comprises pad forming means at the discharge end of said conveyor means which is positioned to engage the bottom portions of the eggs so that the bottom end of all the eggs in a row are at the same elevation and will discharge simultaneously over the end of the conveyor assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for guiding the eggs over the discharge end of said conveyor means comprises chute forming members disposed in downwardly inclined relation at the end of said conveyor assembly and means co-operating with said chute forming members for supporting the eggs while they are in the chute forming members and allowing the eggs to slide down the chute forming members in row formation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for guiding the eggs over the discharge end of said conveyor means comprises means for tilting the eggs as they reach the discharge end of the conveyor means so that the eggs will be maintained with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends down as the eggs are freed at the end of the conveyor assembly for deposit by gravity in the container.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for arranging the eggs comprises lane forming guide members which guide the eggs as they advance so that the transverse spacing in each row corresponds to the transverse spacing of the pockets in the container at the packing station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for arranging the eggs comprises orienting means co-operating with said conveyor means to pivot the eggs about the shorter axes so as to bring the eggs into uniform arrangement with the smaller ends on the bottom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for guiding the eggs over the discharge end of said conveyor comprises a plurality of pad members mounted on pivotally supported arms depending from a cross frame and extending into the paths of top portions of the eggs so as to engage the eggs and tilt them into proper position for uniform discharge over the end of the conveyor means whereby the eggs will drop by gravity into the pockets of the container with each egg in the same relative position it occupied while on the conveyor means.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for packing eggs in containers which have egg receiving pockets in row arrangement which apparatus comprises a lower conveyor assembly for advancing containers to a packing station and having means at one end for positioning successive empty containers thereon with the pockets in upwardly opening position, an upper conveyor assembly extending above said lower conveyor and having an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the opposite end of said upper conveyor assembly for supplying eggs thereto, means for alining the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto the top run of said conveyor assembly in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism for arranging the eggs with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lines and in spaced relation in the rows corresponding to the spacing of the pockets in the container which is advanced to the packing station, means at the end of said conveyor assembly for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end of the conveyor section for deposit in the container pockets, means for driving the conveyor assemblies, and control means for operating the drive means so as to deposit successive rows of eggs in the rows of container pockets when the containers are advanced to the packing station and in position to receive the rows of eggs.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for packing eggs in containers which have egg receiving pockets in row arrangement which apparatus comprises a lower conveyor assembly for advancing containers to a packing station and having means at one end for positioning successive empty containers thereon with the pockets in upwardly opening position, an upper conveyor assembly extending above said lower conveyor and having an egg discharge end at said packing station, means at the opposite end of said upper conveyor assembly for supplying eggs thereto, means for alining the eggs in successive transverse rows and feeding them onto the top run of said conveyor assembly in transverse row alignment, an orienting mechanism for arranging the eggs with the long axes vertical and the smaller ends on the bottom, means for guiding the eggs in longitudinal lines and in spaced relation in the rows corresponding to the spacing of the pockets in the container which is advanced to the packing station, means at the end of said conveyor assembly for guiding successive rows of eggs down around the end of the conveyor section for deposit in the container pockets, means for driving the conveyor assemblies, and control means for operating the drive means so as to deposit successive rows of eggs in the rows of container pockets when the containers are advanced to the packing station and in position to receive the rows of eggs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said control means for operating the conveyor drive means includes a series of sensors at the entrance to the upper conveyor asSembly which are operative to actuate the conveyor drive means when a full row of eggs is present for delivery to the conveyor assembly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said control means includes manually settable indexing means for operating the conveyor assemblies to provide for depositing rows of eggs in containers having different row arrangements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |