US3868010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Handling apparatus for a hollow glass article
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for handling a hollow glass article and forming a finish thereon in a production line. Glass articles, such as containers, having an integrally formed moil portion on the upper end of the container body portion are loaded in sequence in an upright position into uniformly spaced chucks on the upper run of a continuously moving endless conveyor. The conveyor carries the container around a vertical end turn to enable the moil to drop freely upon severance by a burner assembly extending along the lower run of the conveyor. The conveyor is of the endless chain type with container chucks mounted upon transversely extending link pins of the chain, the chain being guided throughout its path by stationary track assemblies upon which chain carried rollers are supported. A main drive sprocket is drivingly engaged with both the upper and lower runs of the chain at a location between the end turns, while a second or slave drive sprocket engages the lower run of the chain only. Tension in that portion of the lower run of the chain between the points at which it is engaged by the main and slave sprockets is regulated by adjusting the speed of the slave drive sprocket motor relative to the main sprocket drive motor, this particular section of chain traversing the burner assembly through which a relatively high degree of chain tension is desired. Longitudinally adjustable end turn track sections, combined with the three point engagement between the sprockets and chain enable the tension in various sections of the chain to be regulated or adjusted independently of one another. Parabolic merging sections of the chain track are provided between the horizontal upper and lower runs and the curved end turn sections to minimize centripetal acceleration imparted to chucks carried by the chain as the chucks pass from the straight upper and lower runs to the curved end turn sections.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Banyas
- 👤 Edward A Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:17
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B35/00; C03B35/04; C03B35/06; C03B35/12; C03B35/125; B; B23; B23B; B23B31/00; B23B31/02; B23B31/10; B23B31/12; B23B31/18; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G21/00; B65G21/16; B65G21/20; B65G21/22; B65G23/00; B65G23/32; B65G23/36; B65G45/00; B65G45/02; B65G45/08; C03B23/00; C03B23/0006; C03B29/00; C03B29/04; C03B29/06; C03B33/00; C03B33/06; C03B33/08; C03B33/085; C03B9/00; C03B9/30; C03B9/40; C03B9/44; C03B9/46; F; F23; F23C; F23C3/00; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
Container handling apparatus comprising a frame, horizontally extending upper and lower track means mounted on said frame in vertical alignment with each other, first curved track means mounted on said frame to connect one end of said upper track means to one end of said lower track means, second curved track means mounted on said frame connecting the respective other ends of said upper and lower track means to each other, an endless conveyor chain having a plurality of uniformly spaced transversely eXtending link pin means, roller means on said link pin means engaged with said track means to support and guide said chain along an endless path established by the interconnected track means, drive means for driving said chain in movement along said endless path, a plurality of container chuck assemblies mounted in uniformly spaced relationship upon said link pin means for movement with said chain along said endless path, and means for minimizing the centripetal acceleration imparted to said chuck assemblies as the chuck assemblies move to and from said curved track means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
Container handling apparatus comprising a frame, horizontally extending upper and lower track means mounted on said frame in vertical alignment with each other, first curved track means mounted on said frame to connect one end of said upper track means to one end of said lower track means, second curved track means mounted on said frame connecting the respective other ends of said upper and lower track means to each other, an endless conveyor chain having a plurality of uniformly spaced transversely eXtending link pin means, roller means on said link pin means engaged with said track means to support and guide said chain along an endless path established by the interconnected track means, drive means for driving said chain in movement along said endless path, a plurality of container chuck assemblies mounted in uniformly spaced relationship upon said link pin means for movement with said chain along said endless path, and means for minimizing the centripetal acceleration imparted to said chuck assemblies as the chuck assemblies move to and from said curved track means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for minimizing acceleration comprises a parabolic track section on each of said curved track means having a large radius section connected to the adjacent upper or lower track means and a small radius section merging with a constant radius portion of the curved track means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
In an article handling apparatus having a plurality of article supporting chucks linked together into an endless chain, a frame, and drive means for driving said chain of chucks upon said frame along an endless path, each of said chucks having a chuck sprocket mounted thereon for rotation about an axis normal to said path for rotating an article supported upon the chuck as the chuck is driven along a selected portion of said path; a spin cycle mechanism comprising an endless sprocket chain operatively trained about a pair of end sprockets and having one run extending between said end sprockets parallel to the path of movement of said chuck sprockets for meshing engagement therewith along said selected portion of said path, tensioning means supporting one of said end sprockets on said frame for movement parallel to said path, spring means biasing said one of said end sprockets away from the other of said end sprockets to thereby resiliently apply tension to said sprocket chain, and one-way ratchet means including a toothed member on said tensioning means and a pawl mounted upon said frame for locking said one of said end sprockets against movement toward the other of said end sprockets while accommodating movement of said one end of said end sprockets away from the other of said end sprockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
220 words
In an article handling apparatus having a plurality of article supporting chucks linked together into an endless chain, a frame, and drive means for driving said chain of chucks upon said frame along an endless path, each of said chucks having a chuck sprocket mounted thereon for rotation about an axis normal to said path for rotating an article supported upon the chuck as the chuck is driven along a selected portion of said path; a spin cycle mechanism comprising an endless sprocket chain operatively trained about a pair of end sprockets and having one run extending between said end sprockets parallel to the path of movement of said chuck sprockets for meshing engagement therewith along said selected portion of said path, tensioning means supporting one of said end sprockets on said frame for movement parallel to said path, spring means biasing said one of said end sprockets away from the other of said end sprockets to thereby resiliently apply tension to said sprocket chain, and one-way ratchet means including a toothed member on said tensioning means and a pawl mounted upon said frame for locking said one of said end sprockets against movement toward the other of said end sprockets while accommodating movement of said one end of said end sprockets away from the other of said end sprockets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 3 further comprising release means operable to withdraw and maintain said pawl out of engagement with said toothed member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said release means comprises a first actuating member coupled to said pawl and operable when actuated to shift said pawl out of engagement with said toothed member, and second actuating means operable when said pawl is in a retracted position out of engagement with said toothed member to positively lock said pawl in said retracted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said second actuating means comprises a first shaft constituting an extension of said pawl, a cross shaft mounted on said extension at right angles thereto, a plate slidably mounted in said frame for movement in a direction mutually perpendicular to said extension and said cross shaft, means defining a T-shaped slot in said plate having a leg extending parallel to the direction of movement of said plate adapted to receive said extension and arm portions adapted to receive said cross shaft when said arm portions are aligned therewith, said cross shaft being received in said arm portions of said slot when said pawl is engaged with said toothed member and being projected clear of said plate when said pawl is in said retracted position, and third spring means resiliently biasing said plate in a direction urging the leg portion of said slot toward said cross shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
284 words
In an article handling conveyor having an endless chain of pivotally interconnected links, track means for supporting and guiding said chain in movement along an endless path having a horizontal upper run, a horizontal lower run, and curved end turn sections interconnecting the ends of said upper and lower runs to each other, an arTicle carrying chuck means mounted at uniformly spaced locations on said chain for movement therewith, and drive means for driving said chain in movement along said endless path; the improvement wherein said drive means comprises a first drive sprocket meshed with said chain at vertically aligned first and second points respectively located on said upper and lower runs intermediate the ends of said runs, a second drive sprocket meshed with said chain at a third point located on said lower run between said second point and one of said end turns, first and second drive means for respectively driving said sprockets to advance said chain successively past said first, second and third points, work station means extending along said lower run between said second and third points for working on articles conveyed therealong by said chuck means, means in said drive means for maintaining a relatively high tension in said chain between said second and third points and for maintaining a lower tension in said chain between said third and first points, and means for adjusting the tension in said chain between said first and second points independently of said means in said drive means to thereby maintain a relatively firm tension in that section of said chain opposite said work station means while maintaining a lower tension in said chain where said chain passes around that end turn section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
284 words
In an article handling conveyor having an endless chain of pivotally interconnected links, track means for supporting and guiding said chain in movement along an endless path having a horizontal upper run, a horizontal lower run, and curved end turn sections interconnecting the ends of said upper and lower runs to each other, an arTicle carrying chuck means mounted at uniformly spaced locations on said chain for movement therewith, and drive means for driving said chain in movement along said endless path; the improvement wherein said drive means comprises a first drive sprocket meshed with said chain at vertically aligned first and second points respectively located on said upper and lower runs intermediate the ends of said runs, a second drive sprocket meshed with said chain at a third point located on said lower run between said second point and one of said end turns, first and second drive means for respectively driving said sprockets to advance said chain successively past said first, second and third points, work station means extending along said lower run between said second and third points for working on articles conveyed therealong by said chuck means, means in said drive means for maintaining a relatively high tension in said chain between said second and third points and for maintaining a lower tension in said chain between said third and first points, and means for adjusting the tension in said chain between said first and second points independently of said means in said drive means to thereby maintain a relatively firm tension in that section of said chain opposite said work station means while maintaining a lower tension in said chain where said chain passes around that end turn section.
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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) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |