US3835979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article handling machine
Assignee: Mead Corp
•
Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An article handling machine receives a plurality of rows of articles moving at a given velocity and effects a reorientation of the rows of articles into a lesser number of rows in a controlled and orderly fashion. Metering means receives the articles from a plurality of conveyor means and regulates the movement thereof in sequence in a predetermined manner and accelerating means engages the articles and substantially increases the velocity of movement thereof thereby increasing the space between the articles. Converger means then engages the articles and imparts transverse movement thereto relative to the direction of movement imparted by the accelerating means so as to cause the articles to accummulate in sequence on an outfeed conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 R Calvert
- 👤 A Fishback
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An artiCle handling machine comprising a plurality of infeed conveyor means for a plurality of rows of articles respectively, metering means for engaging articles from said infeed conveyor means and for regulating the movement thereof in sequence in a predetermined manner, accelerating means for sequentially engaging articles from said metering means and for imparting substantially increased velocity of movement thereto thereby to increase the spacing therebetween, article positioning means disposed generally below said accelerating means and arranged to elevate the trailing edge of the articles in sequence in a plurality of rows, converger means sequentially engageable with articles from said accelerating means for imparting movement thereto in a direction which is different from the direction of movement of the articles when initially engaged by said converger means, and outfeed conveyor means arranged to receive the articles from said converger means in sequence and to convey the articles in a single row.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An artiCle handling machine comprising a plurality of infeed conveyor means for a plurality of rows of articles respectively, metering means for engaging articles from said infeed conveyor means and for regulating the movement thereof in sequence in a predetermined manner, accelerating means for sequentially engaging articles from said metering means and for imparting substantially increased velocity of movement thereto thereby to increase the spacing therebetween, article positioning means disposed generally below said accelerating means and arranged to elevate the trailing edge of the articles in sequence in a plurality of rows, converger means sequentially engageable with articles from said accelerating means for imparting movement thereto in a direction which is different from the direction of movement of the articles when initially engaged by said converger means, and outfeed conveyor means arranged to receive the articles from said converger means in sequence and to convey the articles in a single row.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said article positioning means comprises a rotatable element having staggered radial projections, the projections on one side of said element being disposed to engage the articles in one row and the projections on the opposite side thereof being disposed to engage the articles in an adjacent row.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein the projections on said rotatable element are arranged to engage the articles in each row in sequence and wherein engagement with an article in one row is subsequent to engagement with an adjacent article in the other row whereby said positioning means is synchronized with said metering means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article handling machine comprising a plurality of infeed conveyor means for a plurality of rows of articles respectively, each of said infeed conveyor means for each row of articles comprising a pair of conveyors whose working reaches are disposed in side-by-side substantially parallel relationship and the outfeed end of one of each pair of conveyors being disposed downstream relative to the outfeed end of the other of each pair of conveyors, metering means for engaging articles from said infeed conveyor means and for regulating the movement thereof in sequence in a predetermined manner, accelerating means for sequentially engaging articles from said metering means and for imparting substantially increased velocity of movement thereto thereby to increase the spacing therebetween, movable converger means sequentially engageable with articles from said accelerating means for imparting movement thereto in a direction which is different from the direction of movement of the articles when initially engaged by said converger means, and outfeed conveyor means arranged to receive the articles from said converger means in sequence and to convey the articles in a single row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article handling machine comprising a plurality of infeed conveyor means for a plurality of rows of articles respectively, each of said infeed conveyor means for each row of articles comprising a pair of conveyors whose working reaches are disposed in side-by-side substantially parallel relationship and the outfeed end of one of each pair of conveyors being disposed downstream relative to the outfeed end of the other of each pair of conveyors, metering means for engaging articles from said infeed conveyor means and for regulating the movement thereof in sequence in a predetermined manner, accelerating means for sequentially engaging articles from said metering means and for imparting substantially increased velocity of movement thereto thereby to increase the spacing therebetween, movable converger means sequentially engageable with articles from said accelerating means for imparting movement thereto in a direction which is different from the direction of movement of the articles when initially engaged by said converger means, and outfeed conveyor means arranged to receive the articles from said converger means in sequence and to convey the articles in a single row.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 4 wherein article support means is disposed downstream from the outfeed end of each of said other conveyors and arranged to aid in supporting the articles fed therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine according to claim 4 wherein said metering means is disposed downstream from the outfeed end of each of said other conveyors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine according to claim 6 wherein article positioning means is disposed adjacent said accelerating means and wherein said positioning means and said metering means are movable in synchronism.
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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) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |