Patent US3850289A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3850289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Conveyor system for cylindrical objects
Assignee: DowBrands Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-28
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-04-28
Abstract
Abstract In a conveyor system for cylindrical objects, a gravity feed surface means is employed together with moving side rails or their equivalent, to organize such objects in a uniform manner as they proceed down the surface means. The system further contemplates such a surface means as a temporary, in-line storage section where the objects are permitted to back up, while being continuously biased forward by gravity; and in combination therewith, means for releasably retaining the objects against such bias to create a flow or stop condition as demanded by need; and most optimally, a sensing means for determining the amount of such back up for controlling the input of such objects to the surface means, and means for indicating the absence of objects in a critical area of the system, the operation of the retaining means between the flow and stop conditions being subject to such indicating means. Also disclosed in the combination, is an elevator means for lifting and transferring the objects between a series of two or more of such surface means.
Inventors
- 👤 R Behr
- 👤 H Hearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/244; B65G2207/00; B65G2207/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In apparatus for imparting alignment to a stream of uniformly sized objects of cylindrical shape, the combination comprising, a sloped surface means designed for gravity induced roll of such objects downwardly thereon, a pair of opposed, movable side rail means extending generally in the direction of slope of said surface means and defining therebetween a lane on the surface means through which said objects pass, said lane being wider than the axial length of said objects, means for delivering a stream of such objects to said surface means for roll of the same downwardly thereon and through said lane, said surface means being substantially level in the direction transverse to the direction of slope, whereby those objects properly centered on said lane, and which have an initial axial orientation normal to the direction of slope, may roll in a generally true and straight manner down said surface means without engaging either such side rail means, and further whereby those objects that have a skewed orientation, will by virtue of such orientation, select one or the other of said side rail means, and make contact therewith as the same pass through said lane, and means to move said side rail means in a manner whereby responsive to said skewed object making contact with that rail means as it has selected, its trailing end is displaced angularly forward thereby inducing an automatic straightening effect on such object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In apparatus for imparting alignment to a stream of uniformly sized objects of cylindrical shape, the combination comprising, a sloped surface means designed for gravity induced roll of such objects downwardly thereon, a pair of opposed, movable side rail means extending generally in the direction of slope of said surface means and defining therebetween a lane on the surface means through which said objects pass, said lane being wider than the axial length of said objects, means for delivering a stream of such objects to said surface means for roll of the same downwardly thereon and through said lane, said surface means being substantially level in the direction transverse to the direction of slope, whereby those objects properly centered on said lane, and which have an initial axial orientation normal to the direction of slope, may roll in a generally true and straight manner down said surface means without engaging either such side rail means, and further whereby those objects that have a skewed orientation, will by virtue of such orientation, select one or the other of said side rail means, and make contact therewith as the same pass through said lane, and means to move said side rail means in a manner whereby responsive to said skewed object making contact with that rail means as it has selected, its trailing end is displaced angularly forward thereby inducing an automatic straightening effect on such object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including an opening in such surface means for automatically selecting out objects too badly disorientated for straightening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side rail means are rigid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side rails comprise continuous belt means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including an elevator means located adjAcent the lower extent of such surface means for lifting such objects upwardly therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a second such surface means, and an elevator means to assist transfer of such objects from adjacent the lower part of the first surface means to the upper part of said second surface means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface means comprises an inclined plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of such surface means is of steeper slope than a portion thereof located upwardly of such lower portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including means adapted to intermittently vibrate said surface means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said surface means comprises first and second inclined planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means adjacent the lower portion of the surface means for releasably retaining the objects thereon against the forward gravity bias imparted thereto by the surface means, to permit back-up of such objects on such surface means, and to permit flow of the objects from the surface means responsive to a need basis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 11 including means for sensing the accumulation of such objects on the surface means, such sensing means controlling such delivery means responsive to the amount of back-up of objects on such surface means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 12 including means to indicate a degree of presence or non-presence of objects on a lower portion of such surface means, the operation of such retaining means being subject to said indicating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises a rotatable star wheel means adapted to convey such objects from said surface means in response to rotation, and to retain and accumulate such objects on such surface means in response to nonrotation thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a method of imparting generally uniform orientation to a stream of like sized cylindrical objects, the steps of: rolling said objects down a sloped surface means in a manner whereby the direction of roll of any certain such object will be determined according to the orientation of the object on such surface means, causing such rolling objects to pass through a lane of wider width than the axial length of such objects, said lane extending generally in the direction of slope and being defined by opposed side rail means, whereby those objects which are skewed so as not to roll substantially in a true downward direction will automatically select and roll against one or the other of said side rail means, and moving said side rail means in a direction and at a speed to cause the trailing end of the said skewed object to be displaced angularly forward upon contact with said rail means, thereby imparting an inherent straightening effect to said objects as they pass through said lane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a method of imparting generally uniform orientation to a stream of like sized cylindrical objects, the steps of: rolling said objects down a sloped surface means in a manner whereby the direction of roll of any certain such object will be determined according to the orientation of the object on such surface means, causing such rolling objects to pass through a lane of wider width than the axial length of such objects, said lane extending generally in the direction of slope and being defined by opposed side rail means, whereby those objects which are skewed so as not to roll substantially in a true downward direction will automatically select and roll against one or the other of said side rail means, and moving said side rail means in a direction and at a speed to cause the trailing end of the said skewed object to be displaced angularly forward upon contact with said rail means, thereby imparting an inherent straightening effect to said objects as they pass through said lane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 including the further step of restraining such objects adjacent the lower portion of the sloped surface means, to permit such objects to collect, and releasing and restoring such restraint to flow or stop the flow of such objects, as demanded by need.
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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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |