US3927508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article loading machine
Assignee: QUALITY FOOD MACHINERY Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-10
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1995-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A predetermined number of vertically stacked articles such as oatmeal cookies, for example, are manipulated into a horizontal disposition and deposited into a receptacle by means of a movable endless element having a feeder lug pivotally mounted thereon and held in normal relation thereto for engaging the vertically stacked articles while supported on a support means having a horizontal article supporting portion and a downwardly projecting article manipulating portion adjacent which a yieldably and adjustably mounted guide is disposed in spaced relation so that the stack of articles is pushed along the supporting surface and through the space between the downwardly projecting manipulating portion of the support means and the guide so as to deposit the articles in a receptacle disposed below the discharge end of the downwardly projecting portion of the support means, the feeder lug being swung about its pivot in a direction away from the loaded articles and their receptacle following completion of a loading operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Iii William A Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/44; B65B23/00; B65B23/10; B65B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A machine for manipulating a vertical stack of articles into horizontal disposition said machine comprising support means having a generally horizontal article supporting portion and a downwardly projecting article manipulating portion, a flexible endless element arranged to move along a path a part of which is generally parallel to and adjacent said article manipulating portion of said support means, a feeder lug pivotally mounted on said endless element, a cam follower mounted on said feeder lug, a cam having a cam surface adjacent said endless element and generally parallel to the article manipulating portion of said support means, said cam surface being engageable by said cam follower so as to hold said feeder lug approximately normal to said article manipulating portion of said support means for engaging and moving the articles therealong, said cam being configured to allow said feeder lug to swing about its pivotal mounting from its normal disposition relative to said manipulating portion of said support means to a position approximately tangent thereto and means yieldably mounting said cam so as to accomodate predetermined swinging movement of said lug about its pivotal mounting which is in a direction generally opposite to article feeding movement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A machine for manipulating a vertical stack of articles into horizontal disposition said machine comprising support means having a generally horizontal article supporting portion and a downwardly projecting article manipulating portion, a flexible endless element arranged to move along a path a part of which is generally parallel to and adjacent said article manipulating portion of said support means, a feeder lug pivotally mounted on said endless element, a cam follower mounted on said feeder lug, a cam having a cam surface adjacent said endless element and generally parallel to the article manipulating portion of said support means, said cam surface being engageable by said cam follower so as to hold said feeder lug approximately normal to said article manipulating portion of said support means for engaging and moving the articles therealong, said cam being configured to allow said feeder lug to swing about its pivotal mounting from its normal disposition relative to said manipulating portion of said support means to a position approximately tangent thereto and means yieldably mounting said cam so as to accomodate predetermined swinging movement of said lug about its pivotal mounting which is in a direction generally opposite to article feeding movement thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said feeder lug is disposed in a substantially horizontal position when swinging movement of said feeder lug about its pivotal mounting is initiated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein swinging movement of said feeder lug about its pivotal mounting causes the part of said lug which engages and moves the articles to move in a direction generally opposite to the general direction of movement of the adjacent part of said endless element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the initially engaged part of said cam surface closely parallels said downwardly projecting portion of said article manipulating portion of said support means and wherein the subsequently engaged part of said cam surface diverges therefrom in a direction toward the articles to impart article following swinging movement to said lug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein said cam is biased toward engagement with a fixed stop which fixes the initially engaged part of said cam surface in approximately parallel relation to the initially engaged part of said article manipulating portion of said support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein a guide is disposed in spaced relation to said article manipulating portion of said support means and generally parallel thereto for defining a manipulative path of movement of the articles therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine according to claim 6 wherein said guide is yieldably mounted and biased toward engagement with the articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 7 wherein the magnitude of bias imparted to said guide and the position of said guide relative to said article manipulating portion of said support means are adjustable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine according to claim 8 wherein adjustment of the bias imparted to said guide and of the position thereof are effected by a common adjustment means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein an outfeed conveyor is disposed below the article manipulating portion of said support means for transporting the row of articles away from said machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine according to claim 10 wherein a receptacle is disposed on said outfeed cOnveyor and immediately below said manipulating portion of said support means for receiving a row of articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A machine according to claim 11 wherein said outfeed conveyor comprises a pair of transversely spaced endless elements on which a plurality of transverse longitudinally spaced support rods are mounted and wherein said receptacle comprises yieldable outwardly tapered side walls opposite ones of which are engageable with adjacent support rods intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof so as to provide a resilient support for said receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein a cam having a cam surface is arranged with its cam surface adjacent and generally parallel to the horizontal article supporting portion of said support for cooperation with said cam follower.
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) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |