Patent US3859773A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3859773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for applying an article carrier to a plurality of articles
Assignee: Mead Corp
•
Filing: 1973-11-09
•
Granted: 1975-01-14
•
Expires: 1993-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An article carrier having a plurality of apertures therein is applied to a plurality of articles in such manner that a part of each article is enveloped within one of the apertures by a machine which includes conveyor means for moving a group of articles arranged in side by side relationship into a loading station, a vertically reciprocable plunger disposed above the loading station, a carrier holder normally supported by said plunger and having at least one cavity therein for receiving and holding a carrier in substantially fixed relation relative to the holder, and article positioning means movable with said holder for engaging the articles at the loading station so as to align each article with an aperture in the carrier so that subsequent downward movement of said plunger drives the carrier out of said cavity downwardly to cause each article to be enveloped within one aperture in the holder.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney K Calvert
- 👤 Alton J Fishback
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B17/00; B65B17/02; B65B17/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A machine for applying an article carrier having a plurality of apertures therein to a plurality of articles so that a part of each article is enveloped by one aperture, said machine comprising conveyor means for moving a group of articles arranged in side by side relationship into a loading station, a vertically reciprocable plunger disposed above said loading station, a carrier holder supported by said plunger by a lost motion relationship and movable between a carrier receiving position above the tops of the articles to a carrier applying position in proximity to the tops of the articles and having at least one carrier cavity therein for receiving a carrier and for holding said carrier in substantially fixed position relative to said holder, and article positioning means movable downwardly with said carrier holder and engageable with the upper portions of a group of articles to determine its lower limit of travel and so as to align the articles with the apertures in the carrier in coordination with downward movement of said plunger toward the group of articles, said plunger being engageable with the carrier and being effective to drive the carrier out of its cavity in said holder and to cause the apertures therein to envelope parts of the articles respectively following alignment of the articles with the apertures respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A machine for applying an article carrier having a plurality of apertures therein to a plurality of articles so that a part of each article is enveloped by one aperture, said machine comprising conveyor means for moving a group of articles arranged in side by side relationship into a loading station, a vertically reciprocable plunger disposed above said loading station, a carrier holder supported by said plunger by a lost motion relationship and movable between a carrier receiving position above the tops of the articles to a carrier applying position in proximity to the tops of the articles and having at least one carrier cavity therein for receiving a carrier and for holding said carrier in substantially fixed position relative to said holder, and article positioning means movable downwardly with said carrier holder and engageable with the upper portions of a group of articles to determine its lower limit of travel and so as to align the articles with the apertures in the carrier in coordination with downward movement of said plunger toward the group of articles, said plunger being engageable with the carrier and being effective to drive the carrier out of its cavity in said holder and to cause the apertures therein to envelope parts of the articles respectively following alignment of the articles with the apertures respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the carrier is inserted into said holder by a horizontally reciprocable feeder element which engages and moves the carrier into said cavity and wherein such moVement is limited by stop means in said cavity which engages the carrier at the limit of its horizontal travel and wherein a yieldable stop element is disposed in the path of horizontal movement of the carrier and is moved out of such path upon engagement with a leading part of the carrier but which moves behind a trailing part of the carrier upon engagement of the carrier with said stop means thereby to prevent reverse movement of the carrier relative to said holder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein the cavity in said holder includes side walls engageable with side portions of the carrier in snug relationship thereby to prevent relative transverse movement between the carrier and said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein the carrier is inserted into said holder by said feeder element when said holder and plunger are disposed at approximately the upper limit of their travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said cavity is defined in part by side ledges which are engageable by yieldable side portions of the carrier and wherein a discharge opening is formed in a bottom portion of said holder intermediate said side ledges through which the carrier is driven by said plunger into cooperative engagement with the articles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said article positioning means comprises a plurality of spaced bars and wherein said plunger comprises a plurality of plunger bars arranged to move downwardly between said spaced bars to effect a carrier loading operation, said plunger bars having recesses to accommodate the tops of the articles when said plunger is in its lowered position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the articles are disposed within an open top container having bottom, side and end walls and wherein downwardly extending fingers are mounted on said carrier holder and adapted to engage the outer sides of said container when said carrier holder is in its carrier applying position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1131792A
Cited
US2929181A
Cited
US2936558A
Cited
US3302364A
Cited
US3492778A
Cited
US3680279A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |