US3911647A — Positioning arm for case loader

Claim 1

Independent Claim 229 words

A positioning arm for use in a grid set on an article loading machine, wherein articles such as bottles are loaded from aligned rows carried above said grid set into a case carried below said grid set, said grid set including a plurality of elongated spaced members being spaced apart sufficiently for allowing said articles to pass therebetween, a plurality of said positioning arms being supported on said elongated spaced members for defining passages through which said articles pass for loading into said case, each of said positioning arms being carried in a respective corner of a passage, resilient means engaging said positioning arms for pivoting a lower end of said positioning arms towards the center of said passages, said positioning arm comprising: an elongated member having an upper portion, a main body intermediate portion and a lower portion, said main body portion having an elongated arcuate inner surface for engaging said surface of said articles as said articles pass through said passages for loading into said case, and a rear side of said upper portion of said elongated member opposite said arcuate inner surface being inclined inwardly defining a pivot point at the junction of said main body portion and said upper portion, whereby said lower end of said positioning arm can be pivoted towards and away from said center of said passage for guiding said articles therethrough.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 229 words

A positioning arm for use in a grid set on an article loading machine, wherein articles such as bottles are loaded from aligned rows carried above said grid set into a case carried below said grid set, said grid set including a plurality of elongated spaced members being spaced apart sufficiently for allowing said articles to pass therebetween, a plurality of said positioning arms being supported on said elongated spaced members for defining passages through which said articles pass for loading into said case, each of said positioning arms being carried in a respective corner of a passage, resilient means engaging said positioning arms for pivoting a lower end of said positioning arms towards the center of said passages, said positioning arm comprising: an elongated member having an upper portion, a main body intermediate portion and a lower portion, said main body portion having an elongated arcuate inner surface for engaging said surface of said articles as said articles pass through said passages for loading into said case, and a rear side of said upper portion of said elongated member opposite said arcuate inner surface being inclined inwardly defining a pivot point at the junction of said main body portion and said upper portion, whereby said lower end of said positioning arm can be pivoted towards and away from said center of said passage for guiding said articles therethrough.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The positioning arm as set forth in claim 1 wherein a rear side of said elongated member opposite said arcuate surface has a right angle shape so as to permit said elongated member to be forced into a corner of said passage by said article passing through said passage.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The positioning arm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said elongated member is inclined rearwardly from said intermediate position so as not to engage a surface of said article when said article bounces in said case during loading.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

The positioning arm as set forth in claim 2 wherein said right angle shaped rear side has an apex which is rounded so as to ride over any rough surface in said case when being forced into a corner of said passage by said article passing through said passage during loading into said case.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 187 words

A grid set for use on a bottle loading machine having means for positioning bottles in aligned rows above said grid set and means for positioning empty cases below said grid set, the improvement comprising: a plurality of elongated spaced members being spaced apart sufficiently for allowing said bottles to pass therebetween, guide members spaced along said elongated members defining passages through which said bottles pass for loading into said cases, said guide members including elongated downwardly extending arms carried adjacent the corners of said passages, resilient means for biasing lower ends of said arms inwardly towards the center of said passages for engaging said bottles as said bottles are dropped from said aligned rows through said passages into said case, said arms having an elongated arcuate inner surface for engaging a surface of said bottles as said bottles pass through said passages, and means for pivotally supporting said elongated arms in corners of said passages; whereby the movement of said bottles passing through said passages is retarded as said arms are pivoted into said corners when said bottles engage said arms while being loaded into cases.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 187 words

A grid set for use on a bottle loading machine having means for positioning bottles in aligned rows above said grid set and means for positioning empty cases below said grid set, the improvement comprising: a plurality of elongated spaced members being spaced apart sufficiently for allowing said bottles to pass therebetween, guide members spaced along said elongated members defining passages through which said bottles pass for loading into said cases, said guide members including elongated downwardly extending arms carried adjacent the corners of said passages, resilient means for biasing lower ends of said arms inwardly towards the center of said passages for engaging said bottles as said bottles are dropped from said aligned rows through said passages into said case, said arms having an elongated arcuate inner surface for engaging a surface of said bottles as said bottles pass through said passages, and means for pivotally supporting said elongated arms in corners of said passages; whereby the movement of said bottles passing through said passages is retarded as said arms are pivoted into said corners when said bottles engage said arms while being loaded into cases.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The grid set as set forth in claim 5 further comprising: a deflector means carried above said elongated arms at said corners of said passages for directing said bottles into said passages.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The grid set as set forth in claim 6 wherein said deflector means in a cone-shaped member with a small diameter end extending upwardly directly above said corner of a passage.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-13	1979-04-14	1979-10-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-13	1983-04-14	1983-10-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-13	1987-04-14	1987-10-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Positioning arm for case loader

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