US3887060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and methods for forming rows of selectively spaced articles
Assignee: C Keller GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract Articles closely spaced to one another are assembled in a row on a fixed support and lifted onto a carrier that is movable forwardly longitudinally of the row. A movable stop lies in the path of movement of the row of articles. Stopping the movement of the stop while continuing movement of the carrier interrupts movement of the articles and causes one or more articles at the rear end of the row to be discharged from the carrier. Continued conjoint movement of the carrier and the stop in the same direction establishes a space between the foremost discharged article and the rearmost article on the carrier, whereupon stopping the movement of the stop enables such rearmost article to be discharged from the carrier at a selected distance from the previously discharged article.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Kamhues
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; F; F27; F27D; F27D3/00; F27D3/12; F27D2003/0001; F27D2003/0002; F27D2003/0034; F27D2003/0046; F27D3/04; F27M; F27M2001/00; F27M2001/15; F27M2001/1504; F27M2001/1508; F27M2001/1521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said method comprising assembling said articles on a support and closely adjacent one another in at least one row; lifting a selected number of said articles off said support and onto a movable carrier; conjointly moving said carrier and the articles carried thereby at the same speed and in the direction of one end of said row; and periodically interrupting the movement of articles carried by said carrier for selected time periods while continuing the movement of said carrier, whereby a selected number of articles periodically are discharged from said carrier in a row, the number of articles discharged from said carrier during any one period of interruption of movement of the articles carried by said carrier being dependent on the duration of such interruption, and the spacing between articles successively discharged from said carrier being dependent on the time between successive interruptions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said method comprising assembling said articles on a support and closely adjacent one another in at least one row; lifting a selected number of said articles off said support and onto a movable carrier; conjointly moving said carrier and the articles carried thereby at the same speed and in the direction of one end of said row; and periodically interrupting the movement of articles carried by said carrier for selected time periods while continuing the movement of said carrier, whereby a selected number of articles periodically are discharged from said carrier in a row, the number of articles discharged from said carrier during any one period of interruption of movement of the articles carried by said carrier being dependent on the duration of such interruption, and the spacing between articles successively discharged from said carrier being dependent on the time between successive interruptions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a quantity of said articles are assembled on said support in a plurality of adjacent, parallel rows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein selected articles in all of said rows are lifted off said support onto said carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the movement of said carrier is uniform during each period of interruption.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the movement of said carrier is variable in each period of interruption.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said apparatus comprising a support; means for assembling a plurality of articles on said support closely adjacent one another in a longitudinally extending row; carrier means for lifting a selected number of said articles off said support; means mounting said carrier means and the articles carried thereby for movement along a path extending in a direction longitudinally of said row; stop means occupying a position in the path of movement of the articles carried by said carrier means; and means mounting said stop means for conjoint movement with and at the same speed of said carrier means in said direction and for movement relative to said carrier means for selected periods of time in the opposite direction for interrupting movement of the articles carried by said carrier means, the interruption of movement of articles carried by said carrier means effecting discharge of a selected number of said articles from said carrier means in a row and the time intervals between successive periods of such interruption establishing a selected spacing between successive articles discharged from said carrier means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said apparatus comprising a support; means for assembling a plurality of articles on said support closely adjacent one another in a longitudinally extending row; carrier means for lifting a selected number of said articles off said support; means mounting said carrier means and the articles carried thereby for movement along a path extending in a direction longitudinally of said row; stop means occupying a position in the path of movement of the articles carried by said carrier means; and means mounting said stop means for conjoint movement with and at the same speed of said carrier means in said direction and for movement relative to said carrier means for selected periods of time in the opposite direction for interrupting movement of the articles carried by said carrier means, the interruption of movement of articles carried by said carrier means effecting discharge of a selected number of said articles from said carrier means in a row and the time intervals between successive periods of such interruption establishing a selected spacing between successive articles discharged from said carrier means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said apparatus comprising a support; means for assembling a plurality of articles on said support closely adjacent one another in a longitudinally extending row; carrier means for lifting a selected number of said articles off said support; means mounting said carrier means and the articles carried thereby for movement along a path extending in a direction longitudinally of said row; stop means occupying a position in the path of movement of the articles carried by said carrier means; and means mounting said stop means for conjoint movement with and at the same speed of said carrier means in said direction and for movement relative to said carrier means for selected periods of time in the opposite direction for interrupting movement of the articles carried by said carrier means, the interruption of movement of articles carried by said carrier means effecting discharge of a selected number of said articles from said carrier means in a row and the time intervals between successive periods of such interruption establishing a selected spacing between successive articles discharged from said carrier means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for forming at least one row of articles wherein selected articles are selectively spaced from one another, said apparatus comprising a support; means for assembling a plurality of articles on said support closely adjacent one another in a longitudinally extending row; carrier means for lifting a selected number of said articles off said support; means mounting said carrier means and the articles carried thereby for movement along a path extending in a direction longitudinally of said row; stop means occupying a position in the path of movement of the articles carried by said carrier means; and means mounting said stop means for conjoint movement with and at the same speed of said carrier means in said direction and for movement relative to said carrier means for selected periods of time in the opposite direction for interrupting movement of the articles carried by said carrier means, the interruption of movement of articles carried by said carrier means effecting discharge of a selected number of said articles from said carrier means in a row and the time intervals between successive periods of such interruption establishing a selected spacing between successive articles discharged from said carrier means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said carrier means comprises a frame supporTing a plurality of spaced apart tine-like members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said support comprises a plurality of spaced apart roller members journaled at their opposite ends in tracks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said carrier means comprises a frame supporting a plurality of spaced apart, tine-like members, said tine-like members being alternately spaced with said roller members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said support is of such width as to accommodate a plurality of rows of said articles thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said carrier means is of such width as to accommodate said plurality of rows of articles thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the carrier means mounting means comprises parallel, spaced apart rails and wheels carried by said carrier means in engagement with said rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said stop means comprises a bar-like member overlying said carrier means and extending transversely of the path of movement thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the stop means mounting means comprises frame members supporting said bar-like member at opposite ends of the latter and spaced apart rails for supporting said frame members.
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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |