US3893282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article packer apparatus
Assignee: Toby Enterprises
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Filing: 1974-07-26
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An article packer apparatus for arranging groups of articles in series including a conveyor for moving articles to a packing station, a locator for successively segregating the articles and simultaneously transferring the articles to the packing station, a conveyor at the packing station for conveying receivers such as cans, boxes and the like into article receiving position, means for retaining the receivers in preselected patterns at the packing station in position for receiving the articles, transfer means for transferring the articles successively to the receivers at the station and means for moving the locator means at a speed faster than that of the article conveyor to clear the conveyor successively of articles adjacent to the packing station and thereby provide space for the next group of articles.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin L Armbruster
- 👤 Anthony O Campanale
- 👤 Robert L Schultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/08; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/40; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An aRticle packer apparatus, comprising: a continuously operating article conveyor for moving said articles to a packing station; locator means for successively segregating said moving articles and simultaneously transferring said segregated articles to said packing station; receiver conveying means at said station for moving article receivers into article receiving position; means for retaining said receivers stationary in preselected patterns at said station for receiving said articles; transfer means for transferring said segregated articles successively to said receivers at said station; and means for moving said locator means at a rate of speed faster than that of said conveyor to clear the conveyor successively of articles adjacent to said packing station and provide space for the next said articles during said packing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An aRticle packer apparatus, comprising: a continuously operating article conveyor for moving said articles to a packing station; locator means for successively segregating said moving articles and simultaneously transferring said segregated articles to said packing station; receiver conveying means at said station for moving article receivers into article receiving position; means for retaining said receivers stationary in preselected patterns at said station for receiving said articles; transfer means for transferring said segregated articles successively to said receivers at said station; and means for moving said locator means at a rate of speed faster than that of said conveyor to clear the conveyor successively of articles adjacent to said packing station and provide space for the next said articles during said packing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locator means successively segregates said articles in preselected groupings corresponding to said articles patterns and maintains said groupings at said packing station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said locator means provides four successive motions, a first of which moves the locator means into position for said segregating, another of which moves said segregated articles to said packing station, a third of which moves said locator means away from said segregated articles and a fourth of which returns said locator means to an initial position preparatory to segregating the next articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said locator means is normally positioned above said article conveyor and the articles thereon prior to said first motion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver conveying means operates continuously in contact with said stationary receivers at said packing station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are provided stop means for stopping the movement of said receivers at said packing station and locking means for locking each said receiver in a preselected position corresponding to the position of said segregated articles at the packing station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said locking means comprises a movable clamp member and means for operating said clamp member intermittently to lock said receivers in position during said transfer of articles to said receivers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are provided at said packing station a movable trap door means on which said segregated articles are retained during the moving of said article receivers into receiving position and means for opening said trap door means to transfer the articles into said receivers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said trap door means comprises a fixed plate having article passing openings and a movable plate having article receiving openings out of register with said openings in the first plate and said moving means moves the openings in both said plates into coinciding cooperation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retaining means retain said receivers at said packing station beneath the corresponding segregated articles and said transfer means comprises force operated members for forcing said articles into said receiver at the packing station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver conveying means and said means for retaining said receivers in preselected pattern are located beneath said segregated articles at the packing station and said transfer means operates in conjunction with gravity to transfer said articles downwardly to the receivers at the packing station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2909016A
Cited
US3846959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |