US3852938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article packing apparatus and method
Assignee: ALLIANCE IND CORP
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Filing: 1973-05-18
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are described for packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station. The apparatus comprises a plurality of suction cups mounted on vacuum manifolds suspended between two flexible endless transporting chains which are laterally spaced from one another. Containers are deposited on the vacuum cups and a vacuum is applied to the manifolds. The transporting chains are then driven to invert the suction cups and gripped containers. The vacuum is then disabled and the containers are left in cartons located below the transporting chains. Once a vacuum is applied to the manifolds, the transporting chains are driven in response to a drop in pressure in the manifolds so that as soon as all containers are gripped by the suction cups, the pressure drops and the chains are driven. A product retainer which controls the flow of containers to the packing station comprises solenoid-actuated clamping surfaces on both sides of a dead plate and flexible portions of lane dividers separating lanes of conveyed articles. To stop the flow of containers in all lanes, the clamping surfaces press inwardly on containers in outside lanes, and this inward pressure is transmitted across all the lanes via the flexible lane-divider portions.
Inventors
- 👤 W Graff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/56; B65B35/58; B65B21/00; B65B21/02; B65B21/14; B65B21/18; B65B21/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to an upside down position and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between two wheels; a plurality of suction cups mounted on said flexible endless transporting means; depositing means at said packing station for depositing said upturned containers on said suction cups; vacuum applying means for applying a vacuum to said suction cups and thereby causing said suction cups to grip the bottoms of said upturned containers; and, drive means coupled to one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said suction cups and gripped containers to downturned positions; and, releasing means for releasing said containers after said suction cups and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to an upside down position and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between two wheels; a plurality of suction cups mounted on said flexible endless transporting means; depositing means at said packing station for depositing said upturned containers on said suction cups; vacuum applying means for applying a vacuum to said suction cups and thereby causing said suction cups to grip the bottoms of said upturned containers; and, drive means coupled to one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said suction cups and gripped containers to downturned positions; and, releasing means for releasing said containers after said suction cups and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to an upside down position and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between two wheels; a plurality of suction cups mounted on said flexible endless transporting means; depositing means at said packing station for depositing said upturned containers on said suction cups; vacuum applying means for applying a vacuum to said suction cups and thereby causing said suction cups to grip the bottoms of said upturned containers; and, drive means coupled to one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said suction cups and gripped containers to downturned positions; and, releasing means for releasing said containers after said suction cups and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to an upside down position and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between two wheels; a plurality of suction cups mounted on said flexible endless transporting means; depositing means at said packing station for depositing said upturned containers on said suction cups; vacuum applying means for applying a vacuum to said suction cups and thereby causing said suction cups to grip the bottoms of said upturned containers; and, drive means coupled to one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said suction cups and gripped containers to downturned positions; and, releasing means for releasing said containers after said suction cups and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for automatically packing containers as in claim 1 wherein said flexible endless transporting means comprises two flexible endless members, laterally spaced from one another, each being mounted on, and meshing with two gears; and wherein said suction cups are mounted on a plurality of manifold means which extend between said two flexible endless transporting members for distributing pressure applied to said manifold means to said suction cups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers as claimed in claim 2 wherein is further included a dampener device for dampening the swinging movement of said containers as they are transported around said gears by said flexible endless transporting members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers as claimed in claim 2 wherein is further included a means for controlling flow of containers to said packing station along a plurality of adjacent parallel lanes, said control means comprising: pressure plates positioned adjacent the outside lanes; actuating means for causing at least one of said pressure plates to press inwardly against a container in one of said outside lanes toward the other pressure plate; and flexible lane dividers aligned between said pressure plates for transmitting forces created by said pressure plates between containers in said plurality of lanes; whereby, when said at least one pressure plate is urged inwardly, said containers in said plurality of lanes are clamped between said pressure plates and container flow is cut off.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to upside down positions and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between at least two wheels; a plurality of rigid supporting surface members, each defining a separate supporting surface for receiving a row of said containers, mounted on said flexible endless transporting means, there being freedom of movement between said supporting surface members; a gripping means mounted on each of said supporting surfaces members for gripping said containers; a first actuating means for actuating said griping means to grip said container and hold said containers to said respective supporting surface members; a drive means coupled to at least one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said supporting surface members and said gripped containers to downturned positions; and, a second actuating means for actuating said gripping means to release said containers after said supporting surface members and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers in a case at a packing station, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a continuous supply of containers in an upturned position in a given direction to said packing station; a loading mechanism for inverting said containers conveyed to said station to upside down positions and leaving said upside down containers in cartons positioned below said loading mechanism said loading mechanism including: a flexible endless transporting means extending between at least two wheels; a plurality of rigid supporting surface members, each defining a separate supporting surface for receiving a row of said containers, mounted on said flexible endless transporting means, there being freedom of movement between said supporting surface members; a gripping means mounted on each of said supporting surfaces members for gripping said containers; a first actuating means for actuating said griping means to grip said container and hold said containers to said respective supporting surface members; a drive means coupled to at least one of said wheels for driving said flexible endless transporting means to invert said supporting surface members and said gripped containers to downturned positions; and, a second actuating means for actuating said gripping means to release said containers after said supporting surface members and said gripped containers are inverted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus for automatically packing containers as in claim 6 wherein said flexible endless transporting means comprises two flexible endless members, laterally spaced from one another, each being mounted on, and meshing with two gears; and wherein said surface support members extend between said two flexible endless transporting members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers as claimed in claim 7 wherein is further included a dampener device for dampening the swinging movement of said containers as they are transported around said gears by said flexible endless transporting members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for automatically packing a plurality of containers as claimed in claim 6 wherein said depositing means comprises: a plurality of stationary parallel ride bars, each for supporting a column of containers received from said conveyor means above said flexible endless transporting means; a plurality of parallel lane defining grids positioned beside said columns of containers for laterally maintaining said containers supported by said stationary ride bars; and a grid actuating means for moving said parallel lane defining grids laterally to thereby move said columns of containers laterally off of said stationary ride bars whereby said containers fall on said plurality of supporting surface members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3160259A
Cited
US3694993A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |