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US3854569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system for manufactured articles, particularly confections
Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
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Filing: 1972-11-21
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1992-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system for aligning objects includes three sequentially arranged conveyor belts. The first belt has a velocity v1 and delivers the objects to the second belt. The second belt runs intermittently, having a mean velocity at least equal to v1 and delivers the objects to the third belt. The third belt runs continuously at a velocity greater than v1. An alignment rail over the third belt is lowered to align the objects, and is periodically raised to let them pass. A periodically acting thrusting device over the third belt may be provided for urging rows of the objects closer together. A vertically movable product holder may be provided at the end of the second belt to inhibit passage of objects to the third belt except during determined intervals. A further alignment rail may be provided on the third belt after the thrusting device for realigning the objects if necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 G Steinhart
- 👤 H Bock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/28; B65G47/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improVement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative rake means, means for positioning said rake means above said third belt following said rail means, means for periodically operating said rake means for urging objects transversely on said third belt, and frame means for movably supporting said rake means, said rake means comprising first and second rakes spaced apart, in the direction transverse to the direction of movement of said third belt, by a distance substantially equal to one half the width of said third belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improVement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative rake means, means for positioning said rake means above said third belt following said rail means, means for periodically operating said rake means for urging objects transversely on said third belt, and frame means for movably supporting said rake means, said rake means comprising first and second rakes spaced apart, in the direction transverse to the direction of movement of said third belt, by a distance substantially equal to one half the width of said third belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative rake means, means for positioning said rake means above said third belt following said rail means, means for periodically operating said rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, frame means for movable supporting said rake means, and means for moving said rake means, said means for moving said rake means comprising first force cylinder means on said frame for moving said rake means parallel to the plane of said third belt, and second force cylinder means on said frame for moving said rake means normal to the plane of said third belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative rake means, means for positioning said rake means above said third belt following said rail means, means for periodically operating said rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, frame means for movable supporting said rake means, and means for moving said rake means, said means for moving said rake means comprising first force cylinder means on said frame for moving said rake means parallel to the plane of said third belt, and second force cylinder means on said frame for moving said rake means normal to the plane of said third belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising guide means on said frame means for horizontally guiding said rake means and said second force cylinder means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative thrusting means, means for positioning said thrusting means above said third belt following said rail means, and means for periodically operating said thrusting means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, said thrusting means comprising first and second thrusting devices positioned at opposite angles with respect to the direction of movement of said third belt, said first and second thrusting devices being operative to urge objects in opposite directions transversely on said third belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first conveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects, the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, laterally operative thrusting means, means for positioning said thrusting means above said third belt following said rail means, and means for periodically operating said thrusting means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, said thrusting means comprising first and second thrusting devices positioned at opposite angles with respect to the direction of movement of said third belt, said first and second thrusting devices being operative to urge objects in opposite directions transversely on said third belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
284 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first coNveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects; the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt at a frequency T v1/a, wherein v1 is the velocity of the first belt, and ''''a'''' is the longitudinal spacing between the leading edges of two successive objects, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, said frequency T v1/a assuring that said alignment rail will be positioned between successive objects, laterally operative thrusting means, means for positioning said thrusting means above said third belt following said rail means, said thrusting means comprising rake means for urging said objects transversely on said third belt, means for periodically operating rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, and frame means for movably supporting said rake means for movement in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of said third belt, said means for periodically operating said rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt comprising means for moving said rake means in a direction of movement of said third belt with a velocity that matches the velocity of said third belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
284 words
In a conveyor system of the type having a first coNveyor belt movable at a velocity v1 and adapted to transport irregularly spaced objects; the improvement comprising means for aligning said objects, said means comprising a second conveyor belt positioned to receive said objects from said first belt, means for intermittently operating said second belt at a frequency T v1/a, wherein v1 is the velocity of the first belt, and ''''a'''' is the longitudinal spacing between the leading edges of two successive objects, a continuously running third belt having a velocity greater than v1 and positioned to receive said objects from said second belt, alignment rail means positioned above said third belt, means for periodically moving said rail means to a first position to inhibit movement of said objects on said third belt and moving said rail means to a second position to permit movement of said objects on said third conveyor belt, said frequency T v1/a assuring that said alignment rail will be positioned between successive objects, laterally operative thrusting means, means for positioning said thrusting means above said third belt following said rail means, said thrusting means comprising rake means for urging said objects transversely on said third belt, means for periodically operating rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt, and frame means for movably supporting said rake means for movement in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of said third belt, said means for periodically operating said rake means to urge objects transversely on said third belt comprising means for moving said rake means in a direction of movement of said third belt with a velocity that matches the velocity of said third belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |