US3895477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for advancing and positioning articles
Assignee: Seikosha KK
•
Filing: 1973-03-21
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for advancing articles along a path of travel and for selectively positioning the articles at various positions along the path comprises a vertical guideway for guiding a stack of articles and a set of claws disposed around the guideway releasably engage with the articles to successively position them in an initial starting position. A collapsible linkage extends into engagement with the article while in the initial position and the linkage collapses to effect advancement of the article to a working position. The linkage is alternately extended and collapsed by a reciprocatory motor. During the advancement of each article from the initial position to the working position, the article engages with the preceding article and pushes same to another position along the path of travel. A lifting device successively lifts the articles from the other position and raises them along another vertical guideway. A set of pawls disposed around this guideway releasably engage with the lifted articles to hold them in a final terminal position.
Inventors
- 👤 Kameshiro Yamashita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G60/00; B30; B30B; B30B15/00; B30B15/32; B65G59/00; B65G59/06; B65G59/061; B65G59/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
Apparatus for advancing articles along a path and selectively positioning the articles at various positions along the path comprising: first means receptive of a plurality of articles during use of the apparatus for successively positioning the articles in an initial starting position, said first means comprising means defining a vertical guideway aligned with said initial starting position and receiving therein during use of the apparatus a vertical stack of articles for guiding the articles vertically downward, a set of claws disposed around the periphery of said guideway and jointly engageable with an article in said guideway to support said article as well as all the remaining articles stacked thereupon, means mounting said sete of claws for pivotal movement together in synchronism to disengage from said article and engage the article stacked thereon thereby allowing the disengaged article to drop along said guidway into said initial starting position, and means for effecting synchronous pivotal movement of said set of claws; second means coacting with said first means for successively advancing the articles one-by-one from said initial starting position aloNg a path to a working position and then after a given time delay successively advancing the articles one-by-one from said working position along the path to another position, said second means comprising extendable and collapsible engaging means for releasably engaging with an article located in said initial position, means mounting said engaging means for movement along said path from said initial starting position to said working position, and actuating means for intermittently extending and collapsing said engaging means to effect successive advancement of the articles from said initial starting position to said working position and to push each article located in said working position into said other position by a succedding article being advanced into said working position; and third means for successively advancing the articles from said other position to a final position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
Apparatus for advancing articles along a path and selectively positioning the articles at various positions along the path comprising: first means receptive of a plurality of articles during use of the apparatus for successively positioning the articles in an initial starting position, said first means comprising means defining a vertical guideway aligned with said initial starting position and receiving therein during use of the apparatus a vertical stack of articles for guiding the articles vertically downward, a set of claws disposed around the periphery of said guideway and jointly engageable with an article in said guideway to support said article as well as all the remaining articles stacked thereupon, means mounting said sete of claws for pivotal movement together in synchronism to disengage from said article and engage the article stacked thereon thereby allowing the disengaged article to drop along said guidway into said initial starting position, and means for effecting synchronous pivotal movement of said set of claws; second means coacting with said first means for successively advancing the articles one-by-one from said initial starting position aloNg a path to a working position and then after a given time delay successively advancing the articles one-by-one from said working position along the path to another position, said second means comprising extendable and collapsible engaging means for releasably engaging with an article located in said initial position, means mounting said engaging means for movement along said path from said initial starting position to said working position, and actuating means for intermittently extending and collapsing said engaging means to effect successive advancement of the articles from said initial starting position to said working position and to push each article located in said working position into said other position by a succedding article being advanced into said working position; and third means for successively advancing the articles from said other position to a final position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said engaging means comprises lazy-tong linkage means extensible to an open position for engaging with an article in said initial position and collapsible to a closed position for positioning the engaged article in said working position, and wherein said actuating means comprises means for alternately extending and collapsing said linkage means to effect successive advancement of articles and preparation for renewed advancement of articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said actuating means comprises a fluid reciprocatory motor connected to said linkage means to alternately extend and collapse said linkage means in response to the reciprocal output motion of said motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said third means comprises means defining another vertical guideway aligned with said other position and receptive of the articles advanced to said other position for guiding the articles vertically upward, a set of pawls disposed around the periphery of said other vertical guideway and jointly engageable with an article disposed in said other vertical guideway to support said article in said final position, means mounting said set of pawls for pivotal movement together in synchronism to engage with an article in said other vertical guideway to thereby support said article in said final position, and lift means for successively lifting the articles advanced to said other position along said other vertical guideway to said final position.
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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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |