Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for banding bundles of produce, comprising: an enclosure having an opening formed therein adapted to receive said bundles of produce; platform means disposed across said opening within said enclosure; urging means connected between said enclosure and said platform means for urging said platform means towards said opening of said enclosure; stop means mounted on said platform means for limiting the progression thereof towards said enclosure; a plurality of pins mounted on said platform means and extending to the exterior of said enclosure at selected points proximate the periphery of said opening when said stop means is at its limiting position; and band dispensing means mounted on said enclosure and engaging selected ones of said pins thereat for storing a supply of elastic bands thereon and aligning said bands relative to said pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for banding bundles of produce, comprising: an enclosure having an opening formed therein adapted to receive said bundles of produce; platform means disposed across said opening within said enclosure; urging means connected between said enclosure and said platform means for urging said platform means towards said opening of said enclosure; stop means mounted on said platform means for limiting the progression thereof towards said enclosure; a plurality of pins mounted on said platform means and extending to the exterior of said enclosure at selected points proximate the periphery of said opening when said stop means is at its limiting position; and band dispensing means mounted on said enclosure and engaging selected ones of said pins thereat for storing a supply of elastic bands thereon and aligning said bands relative to said pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said platform means includes a first planar member disposed below said opening and a second planar member adjustably secured between said first planar member and said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: said urging means includes a plurality of springs connected between said first planar member and said enclosure; and said stop means includes guide tabs extending from said first planar member to slidably project through said enclosure proximate said opening therein, said guide tabs including stop elements formed thereon for engaging said enclosure at a predetermined point of projection thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: said bands are rubber bands; and said band dispensing means is a yoke formed in the manner of a Y-shaped planar member having the center leg thereof engaged to said enclosure and the branch legs thereof disposed to engage said selected pins on the exterior of said enclosure, whereby said rubber bands are disposed on said center leg and are aligned along said selected pins upon manual dispensing thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for banding bundles of articles, comprising: an enclosure having an opening formed therein for limiting the size of the bundle received on the interior thereof; a platform disposed within said enclosure across said opening; a plurality of springs connecting said platform to said enclosure at selected points proximate said opening; guide tabs connected to said platform and vertically extending therefrom to slidably project to the exterior of said enclosure; stop elements formed on said guide tabs for limiting the progression thereof through said enclosure; and a plurality of pins mounted on said platform to project through said enclosure along the periphery of said opening for engaging a rubber band thereabout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for banding bundles of articles, comprising: an enclosure having an opening formed therein for limiting the size of the bundle received on the interior thereof; a platform disposed within said enclosure across said opening; a plurality of springs connecting said platform to said enclosure at selected points proximate said opening; guide tabs connected to said platform and vertically extending therefrom to slidably project to the exterior of said enclosure; stop elements formed on said guide tabs for limiting the progression thereof through said enclosure; and a plurality of pins mounted on said platform to project through said enclosure along the periphery of said opening for engaging a rubber band thereabout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a sleeve disposed along the periphery of said opening and projecting towards said platform, the projecting dimension of said sleeve being less than the dimension separating said platform from said enclosure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: a bottom planar member adjustably secured to said platform at a selected position between said platform and said sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: band dispensing means including a york formed in the manner of a Y-shaped planar member having the center leg thereof engaged to said enclosure and the branch legs thereof disposed to engage said selected pins on the exterior of said enclosure, whereby said rubber bands are disposed on said center leg and are aligned along said selected pins upon manual dispensing thereof.