US3845852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carton loader
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-22
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1993-03-22
Abstract
Abstract In a carton loading machine wherein a plurality of modular units, such as a load of bottles, are fed in continuous row into the carton loading machine, the improvement of a spacer mechanism for separating modular units which are to be loaded into one carton from the remaining modular units in a row which is being fed into the carton loading machine. The spacer mechanism includes modular units engaging means for engaging the leading modular unit in a manner suitable for moving it relative to the following modular units, and drive means for initially moving the modular unit engaging means into engagement with the leading modular unit while moving at the same speed as the leading modular unit and subsequently accelerating the engaging means to move the leading modular unit in the direction of a predetermined path away from the following modular unit, and thereafter to move the modular unit engaging means out of engagement with the leading modular unit while continuing to travel at the same velocity as the leading modular unit in the direction of the predetermined path of travel.
Inventors
- 👤 M Langen
- 👤 J Langen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B21/00; B65B21/02; B65B21/04; B65B21/06; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/04; B65G47/06; B65G47/08; B65G47/084; B65G47/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A spacer device for use in arranging containers which are continually travelling in a predetermined path through a spacer station into space apart groups of containers comprising a. guide track means having a first forwardly inclined extent which continues in a second longitudinal extent which in turn continues in a third inclined extent which projects from the longitudinal extent on the same side of the plane of the longitudinal extent as said first inclined portion, b. fence means mounted at spaced intervals on said guide track means for movement along said guide track means, said fence means projecting in a plane which is substantially normal to the plane of the longitudinal extent when travelling along said first, second and third extents of said guide track, c. drive means for driving said fence means along said track at a uniform speed relative to said track whereby the fences are moved towards the plane of the longitudinal extent in travelling along said first angularly inclined portion into engagement with containers at linear speed in a direction of the longitudinal plane equal to the speed of travel of the containers, said fences being accelerated linearly as said fences pass onto the longitudinal extent of said track so as to move the containers engaged thereby forwardly of the preceding containers to space the containers on the longitudinal extent and thereafter moving said fence means along said third extent part of the path of travel of said containers to withdraw said fences from engagement with said container, and d. discharge means for engaging containers which have been spaced forwardly by said fences prior to withdrawal of said fences to discharge said container at a longitudinal speed sufficient to maintain a required space between the container being discharged and the next following containers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A spacer device for use in arranging containers which are continually travelling in a predetermined path through a spacer station into space apart groups of containers comprising a. guide track means having a first forwardly inclined extent which continues in a second longitudinal extent which in turn continues in a third inclined extent which projects from the longitudinal extent on the same side of the plane of the longitudinal extent as said first inclined portion, b. fence means mounted at spaced intervals on said guide track means for movement along said guide track means, said fence means projecting in a plane which is substantially normal to the plane of the longitudinal extent when travelling along said first, second and third extents of said guide track, c. drive means for driving said fence means along said track at a uniform speed relative to said track whereby the fences are moved towards the plane of the longitudinal extent in travelling along said first angularly inclined portion into engagement with containers at linear speed in a direction of the longitudinal plane equal to the speed of travel of the containers, said fences being accelerated linearly as said fences pass onto the longitudinal extent of said track so as to move the containers engaged thereby forwardly of the preceding containers to space the containers on the longitudinal extent and thereafter moving said fence means along said third extent part of the path of travel of said containers to withdraw said fences from engagement with said container, and d. discharge means for engaging containers which have been spaced forwardly by said fences prior to withdrawal of said fences to discharge said container at a longitudinal speed sufficient to maintain a required space between the container being discharged and the next following containers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide track means includes a pair of spaced parallel guide rails arranged one on either side of the path of travel of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fence means is mounted on a pair of continuous chains, one of which extends around each guide rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said fence means includes a support shaft extending between said chains and a plurality of fingers projecting upwardly from each of said shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 4 including cam track means for maintaining said fingers in the vertical plane while transversing said first, second and third extents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 5 including sprocket means aligned with said guide rail means for driving the engaging said chains.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A carton loading machine as claimed in claim 1 including cam track means extending adjacent said guide track means for controlling the angular position of said fence means relative to said predetermined path of said containers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle of inclination, length and disposition of said first and second extents of said guide track are such as to cause said fence means to be elevated to a position in which they project a substantial height above the lower ends of the containers passing through said station, said height being sufficient to prevent rearward tipping of the containers during passage through said station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
A spacer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said containers pass through said station in a plurality of longitudinally extending side-by-side rows, said fence means comprising a support shaft means extending transversely of said longitudinally extending rows and a plurality of fingers projecting as a set from each of said shafts to provide a pair of fingers arranged one on either side of each of said rows, the outermost fingers on said set of fingers having a leading face and a trailing face, each formed to the curvature of the circular section of the container so as to fit within a nip recess formed between adjacent containers of each row of containers, each of the other fingers of said set having a pair of leading faces and a pair of trailing faces each formed to the curvature of the circular section of the container so as to fit within a nip gap between adjacent containers of each row and of adjacent rows.
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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) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |