Patent US1337427A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3881356A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3881356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time interval sampling mechanism
Assignee: AMPAK Inc A CORP OF DE
•
Filing: 1974-05-13
•
Granted: 1975-05-06
•
Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A motor driven suction pick-up means lifts small objects such as pharmaceutical tablets from a production stream at regular time intervals and delivers them to a collection point where representative samples of the product are accumulated. One, and only one, object per cycle of operation is seized and transported by the pick-up means.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald K Palm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/04; G01N33/00; G01N33/0077; G01N1/10; G01N1/14; G01N2001/1418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A sampling mechanism for small objects moving in a production stream comprising a body portion adapted for attachment to a discharge tray on which said production stream of small objects are moving, a transport arm for individual samples of small objects taken from said production stream mounted for oscillatory movement on said body portion and adapted to move between a down position close to and above said stream to an elevated sample object release position, power means to produce continuous oscillation of said transport arm between said positions at a substantially constant speed including means to cause the arm to dwell at both the down and elevated positions, a suction pickup unit carried by the transport arm including a resilient valve means which is normally positioned on the pick-up unit to activate suction for seizing one and only one small object from said production stream when said arm is in said down position, and means engageable with said resilient valve means when said arm is in the elevated object release position and moving the valve means sufficiently to disable the suction and thereby release the transported small object from the suction pick-up unit at a sample collection point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A sampling mechanism for small objects moving in a production stream comprising a body portion adapted for attachment to a discharge tray on which said production stream of small objects are moving, a transport arm for individual samples of small objects taken from said production stream mounted for oscillatory movement on said body portion and adapted to move between a down position close to and above said stream to an elevated sample object release position, power means to produce continuous oscillation of said transport arm between said positions at a substantially constant speed including means to cause the arm to dwell at both the down and elevated positions, a suction pickup unit carried by the transport arm including a resilient valve means which is normally positioned on the pick-up unit to activate suction for seizing one and only one small object from said production stream when said arm is in said down position, and means engageable with said resilient valve means when said arm is in the elevated object release position and moving the valve means sufficiently to disable the suction and thereby release the transported small object from the suction pick-up unit at a sample collection point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 1, and said power means comprising a rotational motor means coupled with said transport arm, and said means to cause the arm to dwell comprising a cam driven by the motor means and operatively connected to said transport arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 2, and said transport arm having a crank extension carrying a cam follower element, and a spring connected with said arm and urging said follower element into engagement with a profile face of said cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 1, wherein said suction pick-up unit includes a sleeve attached to the transport arm and connected with a flexible conduit leading to a source of suction, said sleeve carrying a suction nozzle element at its lower end, said resilient valve means comprising an apertured spring element attached to said suction pick-up unit and the aperture of the spring element adapted to register with the bore of said sleeve and nozzle element when the spring element is relaxed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 4, and said means engageable with said resilient valve means comprising a rigid element secured to said body portion substantially above said production stream to cause yielding of said valve means when said arm is in the elevated object release position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 5, and said rigid element comprising a pin element adapted to contact the spring element and to deform the same for shifting the aperture of the sPring element out of registration with the bore of said sleeve and nozzle element, and means to support the pin element and adjust the same axially forwardly or rearwardly and to lock the pin element in a selected adjusted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 4, and said spring element being a generally L-shaped element having an arm spaced from and generally parallel to said sleeve and a transverse extension extending across the lower face of said suction nozzle element, the aperture of the spring element being formed through said transverse extension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 1, and a sample object collection funnel means positioned near and below said last-named means to receive the sample objects released by the suction pick-up unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sampling mechanism as defined by claim 8, and conveyor means for sample objects connected with said funnel means and leading to a collection receptacle for sample objects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A time interval small object sampling mechanism comprising an oscillatory transport arm for movement between a down sample pick-up position and an elevated sample release position relative to a moving stream of small objects to be sampled at regular intervals, means to drive the oscillatory arm at a substantially constant velocity and to cause the arm to dwell at said down and elevated positions, a suction pick-up device carried by said arm and movable therewith and adapted to capture a single sample object from the production stream when the arm is in said down position, and means engaging a movable component of the pick-up device when the arm is in said elevated position and causing the pick-up device to release the captured object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A time interval small object sampling mechanism comprising an oscillatory transport arm for movement between a down sample pick-up position and an elevated sample release position relative to a moving stream of small objects to be sampled at regular intervals, means to drive the oscillatory arm at a substantially constant velocity and to cause the arm to dwell at said down and elevated positions, a suction pick-up device carried by said arm and movable therewith and adapted to capture a single sample object from the production stream when the arm is in said down position, and means engaging a movable component of the pick-up device when the arm is in said elevated position and causing the pick-up device to release the captured object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A structure as defined by claim 10, wherein the suction pick-up includes a suction nozzle having a port, and said movable component of the pick-up device comprising a resilient valve element having a port adapted to register with the port of the suction nozzle when said arm is in said down position and said resilient valve element is relaxed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure as defined by claim 11, and said means engaging a movable component comprising a fixed rigid element in the path of movement of the resilient valve element.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |