US3859898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for stacking flexible articles
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-26
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A packing method, and apparatus for effecting the method, wherein a stack of flexible articles such as film bags are positioned over a support having a narrow aperture extending from one edge of the stack to the opposed edge so that the central portion of the stack is unsupported. An open top carton is positioned beneath the aperture, and an overhead plunger with line contact on the top of the stack pushes downward in alignment with the aperture to buckle the stack of bags and force them through the aperture into the carton. While one stack of bags is being packed, some of the first bags of the next stack are diverted from the conveying path, and are followed by subsequent bags. This diverting operation thus allows time for the packaging operation without interruption of the continuous output of the machine supplying the bags.
Inventors
- 👤 Orrin H Besserdich
- 👤 Donald C Crawford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B65B; B65B25/00; B65B25/14; B65B25/141; B65H29/001; B65H43/00; B65H45/00; B65H45/12; B65H45/18; B31B2160/00; B31B2160/10; B31B70/74; B31B70/92; B31B70/94; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/34; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/20; B65H2404/26; B65H2404/261; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/17; B65H2701/176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of accumulating a group of articles from a lane of uniformly interspaced articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of diverting a number of incoming articles along a curcuitous path, directing the remaining articles at a predetermined first spaced distance apart along an adjacent path, and combining the diverted articles with the remaining articles by placing certain ones of the articles in one path between predetermined ones of the articles in the other path for delivery to an accumulating zone, the resulting order of articles being different than the initial order, and the delivery rate to said accumulating zone being zero during the diverting step and increased relative to said predetermined rate during the combining step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of accumulating a group of articles from a lane of uniformly interspaced articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of diverting a number of incoming articles along a curcuitous path, directing the remaining articles at a predetermined first spaced distance apart along an adjacent path, and combining the diverted articles with the remaining articles by placing certain ones of the articles in one path between predetermined ones of the articles in the other path for delivery to an accumulating zone, the resulting order of articles being different than the initial order, and the delivery rate to said accumulating zone being zero during the diverting step and increased relative to said predetermined rate during the combining step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of directing further articles along said adjacent path after the previous steps so that said article delivery rate equals said predetermined infeed rate after the zero and increased delivery rates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the delivery rate during the combining step is double that of said predetermined infeed rate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for accumulating a group of articles from a lane of articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of folding the articles in half to double the spacing between the articles, diverting a number of incoming articles along a circuitous path at said double spacing, directing the remaining articles at said double spacing along an adjacent path, and combining the remaining articles with the diverted articles by placing certain of the remaining articles in said adjacent path between predetermined ones of said diverted articles for delivery to an accumulating zone, the delivery rate to said accumulating zone being zero during the diverting step and being twice that of said predetermined infeed rate during the combIning step.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for accumulating a group of articles from a lane of articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of folding the articles in half to double the spacing between the articles, diverting a number of incoming articles along a circuitous path at said double spacing, directing the remaining articles at said double spacing along an adjacent path, and combining the remaining articles with the diverted articles by placing certain of the remaining articles in said adjacent path between predetermined ones of said diverted articles for delivery to an accumulating zone, the delivery rate to said accumulating zone being zero during the diverting step and being twice that of said predetermined infeed rate during the combIning step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 4 including the additional steps of directing other diverted articles at said double spacing onto said adjacent path prior to said combining step, and directing further articles along said adjacent path after said combining step so that the average article delivery rate equals said predetermined infeed rate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for accumulating articles in groups of predetermined numbers from a continuously moving supply of articles comprising, main conveyor means for moving the incoming articles along a first path at a predetermined rate, diverting conveyor means for moving diverted articles received from said main conveyor means along a second path, discharge conveyor means driven in timed relation to said diverting conveyor means for moving articles received from both said main conveyor means and said diverting conveyor means along a third path and for discharging the articles in groups of said predetermined number at a discharge station, diverting means for selectively diverting a predetermined number of articles in each group onto said diverting conveyor means and for directing the remaining articles in each group directly onto said discharge conveying means, and control means for actuating said diverting means for causing a consecutive series of articles in each group of articles to be diverted onto said diverting conveyor means for subsequent conveyance and recombining onto said discharge conveying means at spaced intervals a sufficient distance apart to receive therebetween other articles directly from said main conveyor means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for accumulating articles in groups of predetermined numbers from a continuously moving supply of articles comprising, main conveyor means for moving the incoming articles along a first path at a predetermined rate, diverting conveyor means for moving diverted articles received from said main conveyor means along a second path, discharge conveyor means driven in timed relation to said diverting conveyor means for moving articles received from both said main conveyor means and said diverting conveyor means along a third path and for discharging the articles in groups of said predetermined number at a discharge station, diverting means for selectively diverting a predetermined number of articles in each group onto said diverting conveyor means and for directing the remaining articles in each group directly onto said discharge conveying means, and control means for actuating said diverting means for causing a consecutive series of articles in each group of articles to be diverted onto said diverting conveyor means for subsequent conveyance and recombining onto said discharge conveying means at spaced intervals a sufficient distance apart to receive therebetween other articles directly from said main conveyor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said articles are foldable articles, and additionally comprising means for folding said articles in half as said articles are moving off said main conveyor means and are being diverted by said diverting means for spacing the diverted articles a sufficient distance apart when transferred onto said discharge conveying means to receive therebetween other articles directly from said main conveying means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said consecutive series of articles of each group diverted onto said diverting conveyor means are the foremost articles of each group, thereby minimizing article accumulating time and gaining time for removing each accumulated group of articles from the discharge station.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of accumulating a group of articles from a lane of uniformly interspaced articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of diverting a number of incoming articles along a circuitous path, directing the remaining articles along an adjacent path, and combining the diverted articles with the remaining articles by alternately combining certain ones of the articles in one path with predetermined ones of the articles in the other path prior to delivery to an accumulating and stacking zone, the resulting order of articles being different than the initial order, and the delivery rate to said accumulating and stacking zone being zero during the diverting step and being increased relative to said predetermined rate during the combining step.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of accumulating a group of articles from a lane of uniformly interspaced articles moving at a predetermined infeed rate comprising the steps of diverting a number of incoming articles along a circuitous path, directing the remaining articles along an adjacent path, and combining the diverted articles with the remaining articles by alternately combining certain ones of the articles in one path with predetermined ones of the articles in the other path prior to delivery to an accumulating and stacking zone, the resulting order of articles being different than the initial order, and the delivery rate to said accumulating and stacking zone being zero during the diverting step and being increased relative to said predetermined rate during the combining step.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for accumulating articles in groups of predetermined numbers from a continuously moving supply of articles comprising, main conveyor means for moving the incoming articles along a first path at a predetermined rate, diverting conveyor means for moving diverted articles received from said main conveyor means along a second path, discharge conveyor means driven in timed relation to said diverting conveyor means for moving articles received from both said main conveyor means and said diverting conveyor means along a third path and for discharging the articles in groups of said predetermined number at a discharge station, diverting means for selectively diverting a predetermined number of articles in each group onto said diverting conveyor means and for directing the remaining articles in each group directly onto said discharge conveying means, control means for actuating said diverting means for causing a consecutive series of articles in each group of articles to be diverted onto said diverting conveyor means for subsequent conveyance and alternate recombining of certain ones of the articles in one path with predetermined ones of the articles in another path onto said driven discharge conveying means, and stacking means for receiving the articles from said discharge conveying means after they have been recombined on said discharge conveying means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for accumulating articles in groups of predetermined numbers from a continuously moving supply of articles comprising, main conveyor means for moving the incoming articles along a first path at a predetermined rate, diverting conveyor means for moving diverted articles received from said main conveyor means along a second path, discharge conveyor means driven in timed relation to said diverting conveyor means for moving articles received from both said main conveyor means and said diverting conveyor means along a third path and for discharging the articles in groups of said predetermined number at a discharge station, diverting means for selectively diverting a predetermined number of articles in each group onto said diverting conveyor means and for directing the remaining articles in each group directly onto said discharge conveying means, control means for actuating said diverting means for causing a consecutive series of articles in each group of articles to be diverted onto said diverting conveyor means for subsequent conveyance and alternate recombining of certain ones of the articles in one path with predetermined ones of the articles in another path onto said driven discharge conveying means, and stacking means for receiving the articles from said discharge conveying means after they have been recombined on said discharge conveying means.
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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) | 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 |