US3939984A — Package inspection and handling system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 71 words

An accumulator for use on an inter-connecting conveyor between a packaging machine and a cartoning machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a magazine mounted for movement on said frame for receiving and storing packages from said conveyor, said conveyor passing through said magazine; and c. means for varying the position of said magazine with respect to said conveyor so that packages can be selectively removed from and deposited on said conveyor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 71 words

An accumulator for use on an inter-connecting conveyor between a packaging machine and a cartoning machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a magazine mounted for movement on said frame for receiving and storing packages from said conveyor, said conveyor passing through said magazine; and c. means for varying the position of said magazine with respect to said conveyor so that packages can be selectively removed from and deposited on said conveyor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 100 words

The accumulator of claim 1, wherein said magazine includes: a. spaced, parallel, first and second side plates; b. spaced, parallel, top and bottom plates disposed between said side plates, said side, top and bottom plates forming an enclosure having its ends open so that said conveyor can pass therethrough; and c. a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from each side plate, said protrusions on one side plate corresponding with protrusions on the other side plate to form flights, the end of the protrusions on the side plates being spaced from one another forming a gap through which said conveyor passes.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The accumulator of claim 2, wherein said means for varying the position of said magazine includes: a. drive means for moving said magazine perpendicular to said conveyor; and b. means for controlling the operation of said drive means of said magazine.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The accumulator of claim 3, wherein said drive means for said magazine include: a. a threaded shaft secured to said frame and suitably journaled therein; b. a threaded collar secured to said magazine and threaded into said threaded shaft; and c. means for rotating said threaded shaft in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, whereby said magazine will move perpendicular to said conveyor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

The accumulator of claim 4, wherein said means for rotating said threaded shaft include: a. a first bevel gear secured to one end of said threaded shaft; b. a gear shaft journaled in said frame perpendicular to said threaded shaft; c. second and third bevel gears carried on said gear shaft meshing with said first bevel gear; d. first and second clutch means associated with said second and third bevel gears, respectively, and carried on said gear shaft; and e. motor means for driving said gear shaft, said first and second clutch means being energized selectively to cause said second and third bevel gears to rotate said first bevel gear in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The accumulator of claim 1, wherein said means for varying the position of said magazine includes: a. drive means for moving said magazine perpendicular to said conveyor; and b. means for controlling the operation of said drive means for said magazine.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

The accumulator of claim 6, wherein said drive means for moving said magazine includes: a. a threaded shaft secured to said frame and suitably journaled therein; b. a threaded collar secured to said magazine and threaded into said threaded shaft; and c. means for rotating said threaded shaft in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction whereby said magazine will move perpendicular to said conveyor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The accumulator of claim 7, further including: a. at least one guide shaft secured to said frame; and b. a guide bracket secured to said magazine, said guide bracket carrying a guide collar through which said guide shaft extends.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The accumulator of claim 6, wherein said means for controlling the operation of said drive means includes: a. means for detecting the full/empty status of the flights of said conveyor aligned with said conveyor and energizing said magazine drive means; b. means for selectively activating and de-activating the flight status detecting means; and c. means for de-energizing said magazine drive means at each flight.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 125 words

The accumulator of claim 9, wherein said flight status detecting means includes: a. first and second photocell means secured to said frame at the level of said conveyor, said first photocell being located at the entrance end of said magazine and said second photocell being located at the exit end of said magazine, each photocell means detecting the presence of a package when the status of the conveyor flight is full; and b. a third photocell maintaining its light source and receiver unit secured to said frame at opposite ends of said magazine, whereby the line of sight of said third photocell is diagonally through the magazine along the conveyor to detect the absence of packages when the status of the conveyor flight is empty.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 136 words

The accumulator of claim 10, wherein said means for selectively activating and de-activating the flight status detecting means includes: a. means for detecting the operating status of said packaging and cartoning machines; b. exit stop means on said conveyor near the exit end of said magazine for blocking said conveyor when said cartoning machine becomes inoperative and activating said first and second photocells of said flight status detecting means to initiate an accumulator load sequence; c. entrance stop means on said conveyor near the entrance end of said magazine for blocking said accumulator when said packaging machine becomes inoperative and activating said third photocell means of said flight status detecting means to initiate an accumulator unload cycle, and d. means for de-energizing said flight status detecting means in response to the machine operating status detecting means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 140 words

The accumulator of claim 11, wherein said means for de-energizing said magazine drive means includes: a. flight level photocell means having its light source and receiver units secured to said frame, said flight level photocell means being located so that the line of sight between the light source and the receiver unit corresponds to the level of said conveyor; and b. a flight level member secured to the side of said magazine and extending perpendicular to the line of sight of said flight level photocell means, said flight level member having a plurality of apertures, each aperture corresponding to a flight in said magazine, each flight level member passing between the light source and receiver unit of said flight level photocell, thereby selectively blocking and permitting the receiver of said flight level photocell to be energized by said light source.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 125 words

A package inspection and handling system for use with a packaging machine inter-connected to a cartoning machine by a conveyor comprising: a. means for detecting an imperfectly formed package and producing an output signal if such imperfectly formed package exists; b. means associated with said detecting means for receiving said output signal and rejecting said imperfectly formed package; and c. an accumulator means associated with said conveyor, said accumulator means having a frame, a magazine mounted for movement on said frame for receiving and storing packages from said conveyor, said conveyor passing through said magazine; and means for varying the position of said magazine with respect to said conveyor at selected times so that the packages can be removed from and deposited on said conveyor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 125 words

A package inspection and handling system for use with a packaging machine inter-connected to a cartoning machine by a conveyor comprising: a. means for detecting an imperfectly formed package and producing an output signal if such imperfectly formed package exists; b. means associated with said detecting means for receiving said output signal and rejecting said imperfectly formed package; and c. an accumulator means associated with said conveyor, said accumulator means having a frame, a magazine mounted for movement on said frame for receiving and storing packages from said conveyor, said conveyor passing through said magazine; and means for varying the position of said magazine with respect to said conveyor at selected times so that the packages can be removed from and deposited on said conveyor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 101 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said magazine includes: a. spaced, parallel first and second side plates; b. spaced, parallel top and bottom plates disposed between said side plates, said side, top and bottom plates forming an enclosure having its ends open so that said conveyor can pass therethrough; and c. a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly from each side plate, said protrusions on one side plate corresponding with the protrusions on the other side plate to form flights, the ends of the protrusions on the side plates being spaced from one another, forming a gap through which said conveyor passes.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 41 words

The system of claima 14, wherein said means for varying the position of said magazine includes: a. drive means for moving said magazine perpendicular to said conveyor; and b. means for controlling the operation of said drive means for said magazine.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said drive means for moving said magazine includes: a. a threaded shaft secured to said frame and suitably journaled therein; b. a threaded collar secured to said magazine and threaded onto said threaded shaft; and c. means for rotating said threaded shaft in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, whereby said magazine will move perpendicular to said conveyor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 117 words

The system of claim 16, wherein said means for rotating said threaded shaft includes: a. a first bevel gear secured to one end of said threaded shaft; b. a gear shaft journaled in said frame perpendicular to said threaded shaft; c. second and third bevel gears carried on said gear shaft and meshing with said first bevel gear; d. first and second clutch means associated with said second and third bevel gears, respectively and carried on said gear shaft; and e. motor means for driving said gear shaft, said first and second clutch means being energized selectively to cause said second and third bevel gears to rotate said first bevel gear in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 13, wherein said means for varying the position of said magazine includes: a. drive means for moving said magazine perpendicular to said conveyor; and b. means for controlling the operation of said drive means for said magazine.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said drive means for moving said magazine includes: a. a threaded shaft secured to said frame and suitably journaled therein; b. a threaded collar secured to said magazine and threaded onto said threaded shaft; and c. means for rotating said threaded shaft in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction whereby said magazine will move perpendicular to said conveyor.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 19, further including: a. at least one guide shaft secured to said frame; and b. a guide bracket secured to said magazine, said guide bracket carrying a guide collar through which said guide shaft extends.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said means for controlling the operation of said drive means includes: a. means for detecting the full/empty status of the flight of said magazine aligned with said conveyor and energizing said magazine drive means; b. means for selectively activating and de-activating the flight status detecting means; and c. means for de-energizing said magazine drive means at each flight.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 126 words

The system of claim 21, wherein said flight status detecting means includes: a. first and second photocell means secured to said frame at the level of said conveyor, said first photocell being located at the entrance end of said magazine and said second photocell being located at the exit end of said magazine, each photocell means detecting the presence of a package when the status of the conveyor flight is full; and b. a third photocell means having its light source and receiver unit secured to the frame at opposite ends of said magazine, whereby the line of sight of said third photocell is diagonally through the magazine along the conveyor to detect the absence of packages, when the status of the conveyor flight is empty.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 137 words

The system of claim 22, wherein said means for selectively activating and de-activating the flight status detecting means includes: a. means for detecting the operating status of said packaging and cartoning machines; b. exit stop means on said conveyor near the exit end of said magazine for blocking said conveyor when said cartoning machine becomes inoperative and activating said first and second photocell means of said flight status detecting means to initial an accumulator load sequence; c. entrance stop means on said conveyor near the entrance end of said magazine for blocking said conveyor when said packaging machine becomes inoperative and activating said third photocell means of said flight status detecting means to initiate an accumulator unload cycle; and d. means for de-energizing said flight status detecting means in response to the machine operating status detecting means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 138 words

The system of claim 23, wherein said means for de-energizing said magazine drive means includes: a. flight level photocell means having its light source and receiver unit secured to said frame, said flight level photocell means being located so that the line of sight between the light source and the receiver unit corresponds to the level of said conveyor; and b. flight level member secured to the side of said magazine and extending perpendicular to the line of sight of said flight level photocell means, said level member having a plurality of apertures, each aperture corresponding to a flight in said magazine, said flight level member passing between the light source and receiver unit of said flight level photocell, thereby selectively blocking and permitting the receiver of said flight level photocell to be energized by said light source.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 124 words

A package inspection and handling system for use with two packaging machines connected by a first and second conveyor to a single cartoning machine comprising: a. a means for detecting an imperfectly formed package and producing an output signal if such imperfectly formed package exists; b. means associated with the said detecting means for receiving said output signal and rejecting said imperfectly formed package; and c. accumulator means associated with said conveyors for removing and depositing packages from said conveyors at selected times; and d. a distribution table located between said packing machines and said cartoning machine for maintaining the cartoning machine in operation when one of the packing machines becomes inoperative by dividing the packages from the remaining packing machine still in operation.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 124 words

A package inspection and handling system for use with two packaging machines connected by a first and second conveyor to a single cartoning machine comprising: a. a means for detecting an imperfectly formed package and producing an output signal if such imperfectly formed package exists; b. means associated with the said detecting means for receiving said output signal and rejecting said imperfectly formed package; and c. accumulator means associated with said conveyors for removing and depositing packages from said conveyors at selected times; and d. a distribution table located between said packing machines and said cartoning machine for maintaining the cartoning machine in operation when one of the packing machines becomes inoperative by dividing the packages from the remaining packing machine still in operation.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 95 words

The system of claim 25, wherein said distribution table includes: a. a frame; b. a table conveyor carried in said frame and having first and second lanes corresponding to said first and second conveyors from said packaging machine; c. a first and second alignment conveyor means located adjacent said first and second lanes for diverting packages from said first lane to said second lane or vice versa; d. means for selectively operating said first and second alignment conveyor means; and e. drive means for said table conveyor and said first and second alignment conveyor means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 123 words

A distribution table for use in a package handling system in which a first and second packaging machine supply a single cartoning machine along first and second conveyors, said distribution table being located between said first and second packaging machines and said cartoning machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a table conveyor carried in said frame having first and second lanes corresponding to said first and second conveyors; c. first and second alignment conveyors located adjacent said first and second lanes for diverting packages from said first lane to said second lane or vice versa; d. means for selectively operating said first and second alignment conveyor means; and e. drive means for said table conveyor and said first and second alignment conveyor means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 123 words

A distribution table for use in a package handling system in which a first and second packaging machine supply a single cartoning machine along first and second conveyors, said distribution table being located between said first and second packaging machines and said cartoning machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a table conveyor carried in said frame having first and second lanes corresponding to said first and second conveyors; c. first and second alignment conveyors located adjacent said first and second lanes for diverting packages from said first lane to said second lane or vice versa; d. means for selectively operating said first and second alignment conveyor means; and e. drive means for said table conveyor and said first and second alignment conveyor means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 27, further including at least one means for detecting a backlog on one of the conveyors between said distribution table and cartoning machine and energizing said distribution table to divert the packages from the backlog conveyor to the other conveyor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-02-23	1979-08-25	1980-02-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-02-23	1983-08-25	1984-02-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-02-23	1987-08-25	1988-02-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Package inspection and handling system

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