US3895574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for feeding, printing and stacking articles
Assignee: Maran Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-17
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-08-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for conveying articles for imprinting indicia thereon, such as egg cartons, bags, paperboard, etc., which includes electrically controlled pneumatically actuated structure for delivering such articles one at a time onto conveyor means which advances the articles into position to be printed and then delivers them to an electrically controlled pneumatically actuated stacker that functions to stack the articles from the bottom.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph A Nyborg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:39
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/24; B41F17/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, drive means for said conveyor to advance said articles toward and past said printing apparatus, and means to receive printed articles discharged from the conveyor, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom article in a stack of articles to hold the stack elevated above the conveyor, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to said first movable means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and advancing the second movable means into position between the first and second articles in the stack, third movable means carried by the second movable means engageable between the first and second articles in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means carried by the second movable means operable to urge the third movable means downwardly to release the bottom article from the stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, drive means for said conveyor to advance said articles toward and past said printing apparatus, and means to receive printed articles discharged from the conveyor, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom article in a stack of articles to hold the stack elevated above the conveyor, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to said first movable means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and advancing the second movable means into position between the first and second articles in the stack, third movable means carried by the second movable means engageable between the first and second articles in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means carried by the second movable means operable to urge the third movable means downwardly to release the bottom article from the stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the means to hold and discharge articles onto the conveyor comprises a plurality of fingers selectively operable to support, release and positively discharge one article at a time from a stack of articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus comprises a back up quadrant engageable beneath the article and a printing roller above said article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, and drive means for said conveyor to advance said article toward and past said printing apparatus, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom of the stack to hold it elevated, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to the first movable means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and advancing the second movable means beneath the next succeeding article in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means operable to urge the released bottom article downwardly onto said conveyor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, and drive means for said conveyor to advance said article toward and past said printing apparatus, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom of the stack to hold it elevated, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to the first movable means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and advancing the second movable means beneath the next succeeding article in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means operable to urge the released bottom article downwardly onto said conveyor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein spring means is provided to return the first and second movable means to their initial position when the pneumatic cylinder is relieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, drive means for said conveyor to advance said articles toward and past said printing apparatus, and means to receive and stack printed articles discharged from the conveyor, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom article in a stack of articles to hold the stack elevated above the conveyor, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to said first means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and for advancing the second movable means into position between the first and second articles in the stack, third movable means carried by the second movable means engageable between the first and second articles in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means carried by the second movable means operable to urge the third movable means downwardly to release the bottom article from the stack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for imprinting indicia on articles comprising, in combination, conveyor means, means to deliver articles one at a time onto said conveyor, printing apparatus associated with said conveyor, drive means for said conveyor to advance said articles toward and past said printing apparatus, and means to receive and stack printed articles discharged from the conveyor, wherein the means to deliver articles onto the conveyor comprises first movable means normally engaging beneath the bottom article in a stack of articles to hold the stack elevated above the conveyor, second movable means normally disengaged from the stack, a pneumatic cylinder carried by the second movable means and a piston rod operable in said cylinder and connected to said first means for withdrawing the first movable means out from beneath the stack and for advancing the second movable means into position between the first and second articles in the stack, third movable means carried by the second movable means engageable between the first and second articles in the stack, and pneumatically actuated means carried by the second movable means operable to urge the third movable means downwardly to release the bottom article from the stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein the means to receive and stack the printed articles comprises means actuated by pressurized air to locate a newly discharged article on the bottom of the stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein the means to receive and stack the printed articles comprises means to support the stack above a said article and means to raise said article into contact with the bottom of the stack.
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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 |