US3840150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separating and dispensing means for nested containers
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1973-06-22
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-06-22
Abstract
Abstract Individual frustoconical containers having a rolled rim and an outwardly projecting annular stacking shoulder located a slight distance below the rim are separated from a nested stack of such containers by a plurality of cylindrical worm gears mounted in a circular array. Each worm gear has a spiral groove to simultaneously receive the rim of the lowermost container in the stack. The top cylindrical portion of each worm gear which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the next to the lowermost container has a larger horizontal diameter than the cylindrical portion which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the lowermost container.
Inventors
- 👤 A Kinney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/10; B65G59/107; B65G59/108; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a dispensing mechanism for dispensing frustoconical containers from a stack thereof, each of said containers having a rolled rim and an outwardly directed stacking shoulder formed in the sidewall of the containers a slight distance below the rim thereof, comprising a plurality of feed cylinders, each of said feed cylinders having a groove in the cylindrical surface thereof extending in a generally spiral form from the top of said cylindrical surface to the bottom of said cylindrical surface, means for positioning said plurality of feed cylinders in a circular array which is coaxial with said stack of containers with the cylindrical axes of said feed cylinders being parallel to the elongated axis of said stack of containers, with each of said plurality of feed cylinders being positioned to simultaneously receive in the groove thereof the rim of a container in said stack, and means for simultaneously rotating said feed cylinders to dispense a rimmed container from said stack, the improvement comprising the cylindrical surface of each of said feed cylinders having a top cylindrical section which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the next to the lowermost container in said stack and a bottom cylindrical section which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the lowermost container in said stack, the diameter of said top cylindrical section being greater than the diameter of said bottom cylindrical section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a dispensing mechanism for dispensing frustoconical containers from a stack thereof, each of said containers having a rolled rim and an outwardly directed stacking shoulder formed in the sidewall of the containers a slight distance below the rim thereof, comprising a plurality of feed cylinders, each of said feed cylinders having a groove in the cylindrical surface thereof extending in a generally spiral form from the top of said cylindrical surface to the bottom of said cylindrical surface, means for positioning said plurality of feed cylinders in a circular array which is coaxial with said stack of containers with the cylindrical axes of said feed cylinders being parallel to the elongated axis of said stack of containers, with each of said plurality of feed cylinders being positioned to simultaneously receive in the groove thereof the rim of a container in said stack, and means for simultaneously rotating said feed cylinders to dispense a rimmed container from said stack, the improvement comprising the cylindrical surface of each of said feed cylinders having a top cylindrical section which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the next to the lowermost container in said stack and a bottom cylindrical section which is horizontally adjacent the stacking shoulder of the lowermost container in said stack, the diameter of said top cylindrical section being greater than the diameter of said bottom cylindrical section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diameter of the smaller circle which is coaxial with said circular array and is tangent to the cylindrical surface of the top cylindrical section of each of said feed cylinders is smaller than the maximum outside diameter of said stacking shoulder by a first amount which permits the stacking shoulder to be cammed into the smaller diameter but which also permits the container to be firmly held in the proper vertical alignment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the diameter of the smaller circle which is coaxial with said circular array and is tangent to the cylindrical surface of the bottom cylindrical section of each of said feed cylinders is larger than the maximum outside diameter of said stacking shoulder by a second amount but less than the diameter of the lowermost portion of said rolled rim.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first amount is in the range of about 1 to about 40 mils and wherein said second amount is in the range of about 1 to about 40 mils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top cylindrical sections apply pressure against the stacking shoulder of the next to the lowermost container in said stack and said bottom cylindrical sections do not apply pressure against the stacking shoulder of the lowermost container in said stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the groove of each feed cylinder is provided with an initial portion having a substantially horizontal land to receivE the next to the lowermost container as it becomes the lowermost container, and wherein the top cylindrical section and said bottom cylindrical section of each of said feed cylinders are separated by a vertical line extending downwardly from the leading edge of said initial portion of said groove to the next lower flight of said groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2946481A
Cited
US3000408A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |