US3986597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carton feeding system
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1976-10-19
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract Empty cartons are automatically fed by a conveying system to a plurality of packing machines in accordance with the carton demand of each machine. The packing machines operate to fill the cartons with a product such as bulk fruit for example. An accumulation conveyor receives open-topped empty cartons which have been formed either by hand or by a carton set-up machine. The cartons can accumulate upon the conveyor in a single file series and are fed in order to a singulator. The singulator discharges an empty carton only upon demand by one of the packing machines. Such a carton is carried by a feed conveyor along a path to a plurality of feed units one of which will be programmed to stop the movement of the carton along the feed conveyor path and shift it laterally toward the appropriate packing machine. Control means sense the need for cartons at each packing machine and direct the singulator and feed units to feed a single empty carton to the packing machine which requires it. The entire carton feeding system can be located on one floor level, or, in a modified form of the invention, the singulator can operate to lower cartons from an upper floor level to a lower floor level before discharging the cartons for delivery to the packing machines.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Valentino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:09
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G37/00; B65G37/02; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/52; B65B57/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A system for automatically feeding empty cartons to a plurality of packing machines that fill the cartons with a product, said system comprising: an accumulation conveyor disposed at one level for moving a series of empty cartons arranged in single file, a singulator disposed at a lower level for receiving empty cartons from said accumulation conveyor, said singulator having a movable conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty cartons received from said accumulation conveyor, means for receiving a demand signal from one of said packing machines and means for causing said conveyor to advance said plurality of empty cartons a predetermined distance, corresponding to the space occupied by one of said cartons on said conveyor, in response to each of said demand signals to thereby feed a single carton from said singulator in response to each of said demand signals, and simultaneously to allow a replacement carton to be received onto said singulator from said accumulation conveyor, a feed conveyor for receiving empty cartons from the singulator and feeding the empty cartons along a path, a plurality of feed units located at spaced positions along the feed conveyor, each feed unit including means for selectively stopping empty cartons moving along the path in response to said demand signals and shifting the empty cartons laterally therefrom toward a packing machine, and control means responsive to the carton demand of each packing machine for providing said demand signals, said control means being connected to said singulator and said feed units for directing the singulator and the feed units to feed a single empty carton towards any packing machine that needs a carton, said control means further including means for preventing the operation of said singulator until after a carton released therefrom has been shifted by one of said feed units from said path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
301 words
A system for automatically feeding empty cartons to a plurality of packing machines that fill the cartons with a product, said system comprising: an accumulation conveyor disposed at one level for moving a series of empty cartons arranged in single file, a singulator disposed at a lower level for receiving empty cartons from said accumulation conveyor, said singulator having a movable conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty cartons received from said accumulation conveyor, means for receiving a demand signal from one of said packing machines and means for causing said conveyor to advance said plurality of empty cartons a predetermined distance, corresponding to the space occupied by one of said cartons on said conveyor, in response to each of said demand signals to thereby feed a single carton from said singulator in response to each of said demand signals, and simultaneously to allow a replacement carton to be received onto said singulator from said accumulation conveyor, a feed conveyor for receiving empty cartons from the singulator and feeding the empty cartons along a path, a plurality of feed units located at spaced positions along the feed conveyor, each feed unit including means for selectively stopping empty cartons moving along the path in response to said demand signals and shifting the empty cartons laterally therefrom toward a packing machine, and control means responsive to the carton demand of each packing machine for providing said demand signals, said control means being connected to said singulator and said feed units for directing the singulator and the feed units to feed a single empty carton towards any packing machine that needs a carton, said control means further including means for preventing the operation of said singulator until after a carton released therefrom has been shifted by one of said feed units from said path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system described in claim 1 wherein said accumulation conveyor is located at an upper level and said feed conveyor and feed units are located at a lower level, said singulator extends substantially vertically between the upper level and the lower level for receiving empty cartons from the accumulation conveyor and feeding the empty cartons to the lower level, and said plurality of empty cartons in said singulator are supported in a substantially vertical stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system described in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a plurality of switches with each switch being positioned between one of the packing machines and one of the feed units for sensing the absence of a carton in such position and for generating said demand signal, said demand signal activating the control means to direct a carton thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system described in claim 1 wherein said singulator includes, a plurality of pushers mounted at spaced intervals on said conveyor chain to permit a single carton to be positioned between adjacent pushers, and means for incrementally moving said conveyor chain through a distance corresponding to the spacing between said pushers to feed a single carton to said feed conveyor in response to said demand signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system described in claim 3 wherein said control means includes a timer connected so as to successively enable each carton sensing switch for a brief time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system described in claim 3 wherein said control means includes a relay associated with each of said switches and disabling contacts controlled by each relay which disabling contacts are connected in series with each of the other relays.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system described in claim 1 wherein each of said feed units includes a movable stop for blocking the passage of cartons moving therethrough along the feed conveyor, said control means including means for moving each of the stops between a carton blocking position and a position permitting a carton to pass along said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system described in claim 7 wherein said control means further includes means for sensing the presence of a carton in a blocked position behind one of said stops, and means operatively associated with said last named means for shifting a blocked carton laterally out of said path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system described in claim 8 wherein said carton shifting means comprises a push arm associated with each feed unit, and means mounting each of said pusher arms for pivotal movement about an axis spaced above said path of the cartons on the feed conveyor.
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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) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |