US3860091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and methods for merchandise tallying and automatic bagging
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-03
•
Granted: 1975-01-14
•
Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for automatic merchandise tallying and bagging including an automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising means for conveying merchandise to a tallying station, a transportable cassette loading station contiguous to the tallying station, the cassette adapted to receive merchandise stacked according to density, conveyor means extending from the cassette loading station to a bag loading station, the cassette loading station and conveyor means extending from there to the bag loading station being inclined from the vertical, a reciprocating bag loading assembly adapted to receive cassettes from the cassette conveyor means, means for feeding an opened bag immediately beneath the bag loading assembly, means for reciprocating the bag loading assembly and cassette positioned therewithin into the opened bag positioned therebeneath retractable support means on the bag loading assembly beneath the cassette, said means supporting merchandise therein as the bag loading assembly descends into the bag means for retracting the said support from beneath the merchandise proximal to the bottom of the bag, means for reciprocating the bag loading assembly together with the empty cassette thereafter upwardly from within the bag to its top-most position and cassette recirculating means operatively connected to and communicating between the bag loading assembly and the cassette loading station.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Chesnut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:24
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B67/00; B65B67/02; B65B67/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising: a. a counter; b. a cassette-loading station contiguous to the counter; c. a rear support wall on the cassette-loading station inclined at an angle from the vertical; d. conveyor means extending along the rear support wall; e. a cassette in the cassette loading station, the cassette having a rear wall and a pair of opposed, spaced-apart side walls the cassette being open at the front and bottom and adapted to receive merchandise, the rear wall of the cassette being supported by said inclined support wall and the said conveyor means, f. a reciprocating bag loading assembly at the end of the conveyor means opposite the bag loading station, g. means for moving cassettes from the conveyor means into the bag loading assembly, h. retractable support means on the bag loading assembly beneath the cassette as it enters the bag loading assembly, i. means for reciprocating the bag loading apparatus downwardly into an open bag therebeneath and upwardly from said bag, j. means for retracting the said support means from beneath the merchandise in the cassette when the bag loading assembly is proximal to the bottom of the bag and returning the said retractable support means to a position beneath the next ensuing cassette to enter the bag loading assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising: a. a counter; b. a cassette-loading station contiguous to the counter; c. a rear support wall on the cassette-loading station inclined at an angle from the vertical; d. conveyor means extending along the rear support wall; e. a cassette in the cassette loading station, the cassette having a rear wall and a pair of opposed, spaced-apart side walls the cassette being open at the front and bottom and adapted to receive merchandise, the rear wall of the cassette being supported by said inclined support wall and the said conveyor means, f. a reciprocating bag loading assembly at the end of the conveyor means opposite the bag loading station, g. means for moving cassettes from the conveyor means into the bag loading assembly, h. retractable support means on the bag loading assembly beneath the cassette as it enters the bag loading assembly, i. means for reciprocating the bag loading apparatus downwardly into an open bag therebeneath and upwardly from said bag, j. means for retracting the said support means from beneath the merchandise in the cassette when the bag loading assembly is proximal to the bottom of the bag and returning the said retractable support means to a position beneath the next ensuing cassette to enter the bag loading assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 and b. means for cycling cassettes from the bag loading assembly to the cassette loading station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising: a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 and, b. generally horizontal merchandise conveyor means extending generally from the cassette loading station in a direction opposite from the bag loading assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which, b. the counter extends generally at right angles to the direction of movement of the said conveyor means extending along the rear support wall and c. register means on the said counter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which, b. the opposed side walls of the cassette are each provided with a slot, the slots being in opposed registration with each other, and c. a shelf removably seated in said slots extending across the cassette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 and b. means for opening a bag and positioning it beneath the bag loading assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 6 and b. means for cycling cassettes from the bag loading assembly to the cassette loading station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 7 and b. generally horizontal merchandise conveyor means eXtending generally from the cassette loading station in a direction opposite from the bag loading assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 8 in which, b. the counter extends generally at right angles to the direction of movement of the said conveyor means extending along the rear support wall and c. register means on the said counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which, b. the bag loading assembly reciprocates in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the said rear support wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which, b. the said rear support wall is inclined at an angle of approximately 30* to 60* to the vertical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
243 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which, b. the bag loading assembly consists of a rear support wall lying generally in the plane of the cassette-supporting course of the conveyor means extending along the said rear support wall continuous to the end thereof, c. engagable and disengagable cooperative means on each cassette and the bag loading assembly to secure the cassette and bag-loading assembly against movement with respect to each other in the direction of reciprocation of the bag loading assembly, d. a floor at the bottom of the bag loading assembly, the floor adapted to engage the bottom of a cassette as it moves into the bag loading assembly e. means for reciprocating the floor to and from beneath the bag loading assembly in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the bag loading assembly. f. a flexible curtain detachably engaged to the rear support wall of the bag loading assembly extending beneath the curtain extending across the bottom of the cassette in the bag loading assembly and supporting merchandise therein when the floor is reciprocated from beneath the bag loading assembly the curtain defining the retractable support means, g. means for retaining the curtain from said rear support wall in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the bag loading assembly, h. means for attaching the said curtain to the said rear support wall in timed relationship of the bag loading assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 12 and b. means for retracting the curtain away from the said rear support wall of the bag loading assembly when released therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 13 in which, b. the curtain is detached from the said rear support wall generally at the lowermost point of reciprocation of the bag loading assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 14 in which, b. the said means for retracting the curtain is a torsionally loaded roller to which the curtain is attached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 15 in which b. the said torsionally loaded roller is mounted on the bag loading assembly, and c. at least one stationary roller d. at least one roller mounted beneath the said floor for movement therewith, e. the curtain extending from the torsionally loaded roller, around the stationary roller and between the bottom of the floor and the roller mounted therebeneath.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 16 and b. a rigid end plate on the end of the curtain attachable to the said rear support wall, the width of the plate being greater than the minimum dIstance between the bottom of the floor and the roller mounted therebeneath, c. fastener means on said end plate cooperatively engageable to fastener means on the rear support wall of the bag loading assembly, d. the torsionally loaded roller retracting the curtain until the said end plate is trapped between the bottom of the floor and the roller therebeneath, the end plate thereby assuming a position generally perpendicular to the said rear wall, e. the said end plate on the curtain moving toward the said rear support wall until the said cooperative fasteners engage as the floor reciprocates to a position beneath the bag loading assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 12 and b. a plate pivotally mounted to the bag loading assembly at the top thereof spaced away from but generally parallel to the rear support wall thereof, the plate extending downwardly in front of a cassette in the bag loading assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
102 words
An automatic merchandise tally and bagging apparatus comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. the said conveyor means extending along the rear support wall are driven, c. means for energizing the said conveyor means for a predetermined period of time, d. stop means engagable and disengagable with cassettes carried by the conveyor means into the loading station, said stop means holding each cassette in turn at the loading station irrespective of continued movement of the conveyor means, e. the said stop means disengaging the cassette at the loading station each time the said conveyor means are energized.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for tallying and automatically bagging merchandise comprising: a. stacking articles in container means open at the front and bottom in generally vertical tiers, the heavier articles lying beneath the lighter articles, the rear wall of the container means being inclined from the vertical, b. moving the said tiers of articles latitudinally while at said inclined angle to a bag loading station; c. reciprocating the contained merchandise generally downwardly into an open bag while simultaneously supporting the merchandise from beneath, and d. removing the said support from the merchandise proximal to the bottom of the bag and withdrawing the empty container upwardly from the bag.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for tallying and automatically bagging merchandise comprising: a. stacking articles in container means open at the front and bottom in generally vertical tiers, the heavier articles lying beneath the lighter articles, the rear wall of the container means being inclined from the vertical, b. moving the said tiers of articles latitudinally while at said inclined angle to a bag loading station; c. reciprocating the contained merchandise generally downwardly into an open bag while simultaneously supporting the merchandise from beneath, and d. removing the said support from the merchandise proximal to the bottom of the bag and withdrawing the empty container upwardly from the bag.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for tallying and automatically bagging merchandise comprising, a. the procedure in accordance with claim 20 and b. cycling empty containers from the bag loading station to container loading station.
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) | 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 |