US3884343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer apparatus
Assignee: Cadbury UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-03-12
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-03-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention applies to apparatus for transferring transversely arranged spaced rows of units from a continuously moving main conveyor, in single file to a second conveyor extending transversely of the main conveyor. The apparatus includes a stop which is arranged to extend transversely across the main conveyor in a position to arrest rows of units a pusher transversely movable relative to the main conveyor for transferring a row of units bearing against the stop to the second conveyor, and an aligning member extending parallel to and in advance of the stop, the aligning member being arranged to arrest rows of units until individual units of a row are aligned transversely of the main conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Derek James Stephens
- 👤 Eseni Gogo Macfarlane
- 👤 Owen James Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/28; B65G47/29; B65G47/74; B65G47/84; B65G47/841
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for transferring transversely arranged rows of units from a continuously moving substantially horizontal main conveyor in a single file to a second conveyor, said second conveyor extending transversely of the main conveyor and at the same height said apparatus comprising a mobile frame movable to a position adjacent the main conveyor, a beam pivotally mounted on said frame and movable so as to extend transversely across and above the main conveyor in cantilever fashion, a stop mounted on said beam and extending transversely across the main conveyor in a position to arrest a row of units on the main conveyor, a pusher mounted on said beam and transversely movable relative to the main conveyor for transferring rows of units bearing against the stop from the main conveyor to the second conveyor, an aligning member extending parallel to, and in advance of the stop, said aligning member being arranged to arrest a row of units until individual units of a row are aligned transversely of the main conveyor and means for moving the aligning member to an inoperative position in which units can pass thereunder to the stop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for transferring transversely arranged rows of units from a continuously moving substantially horizontal main conveyor in a single file to a second conveyor, said second conveyor extending transversely of the main conveyor and at the same height said apparatus comprising a mobile frame movable to a position adjacent the main conveyor, a beam pivotally mounted on said frame and movable so as to extend transversely across and above the main conveyor in cantilever fashion, a stop mounted on said beam and extending transversely across the main conveyor in a position to arrest a row of units on the main conveyor, a pusher mounted on said beam and transversely movable relative to the main conveyor for transferring rows of units bearing against the stop from the main conveyor to the second conveyor, an aligning member extending parallel to, and in advance of the stop, said aligning member being arranged to arrest a row of units until individual units of a row are aligned transversely of the main conveyor and means for moving the aligning member to an inoperative position in which units can pass thereunder to the stop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including first sensing means operable to cause movement of the aligning member to its operative position when the first unit of a row passes the first sensing means and to cause movement of the aligning member to its inoperative position when the last unit of the row passes the first sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means operable to maintain said aligning member in the operative position if a further row of units is disposed against the stop and has not been displaced by said pusher.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including means operable to move said stop to a rejecting position in which units can pass there-under in the event that a further row of units is moving along the conveyor towards the aligning member, the aligning member also being moved to the inoperative position to permit a row of units retained thereby to move towards the stop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including second and third spaced sensing means disposed upstream of the main conveyor from said first sensing means, said second and third sensing means both providing signals during the passage of a row of units, the presence of signals from the second and third sensing means at the same time providing an indication that the units of the row are misaligned by more than a predetermined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including means operable to move said stop to a rejecting position in which units can pass thereunder, said means being responsive to the presence of signals at the same time from said second and third sensing means and acting to cause said stop to reject the row of units which were misaligned by more than said predetermined amount in the event of a further row of units following closely behind said row and by a distance which would not enable the pusher to transfer said row of units to the second conveyor without risk of jamming.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including timing means energized by the presence of signals at the same time from said second and third sensing means said timing means acting as a delay to prevent said stop moving to the rejecting position until the conveyor has moved said row of units to a position adjacent said stop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said sensing means comprises photo electric cells, the passAge of light to which is interrupted by the units as they pass along the conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a further sensing device associated with the second conveyor, said further sensing device being ooperative to sense an accumulation of units on said second conveyor and to provide a signal indicative that the stop should be moved to the rejecting position in the event that a row of units is released by the aligning bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 including switch means associated with a machine supplied by said second conveyor, said switch means when the machine is inoperative providing a signal as that provided by the further sensing device when an accumulation of articles is sensed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including sensing means disposed upstream of the aligning member for sensing the passage of rows of artiicles towards the aligning member, said sensing means comprising three spaced sensing devices, the nearer one of which to the aligning member causes movement of the aligning member between its operative and inoperative positions and vice versa, the other two sensing devices acting to check the alignment of a row of units, and electrical means for processing the signals produced by said devices for ensuring that so far as possible rows of units are fed in turn to the second conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including a further sensing device associated with said second conveyor, said further sensing device providing a signal to said electrical means to prevent the supply of a row of units to said second conveyor in the event of an accumulation of units on said second conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including switch means associated with said pusher for providing a signal to said electrical means when a row of units has been transferred to said second conveyor thereby to stop the pusher.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a beam pivotally mounted on a support structure so as to be positioned transversely of the main conveyor said beam carrying said pusher, and said stop.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said pusher is carried on an endless belt and motor means for moving said belt.
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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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |