US4151788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Partition positioner
Assignee: Simplimatic Engineering Co
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Filing: 1977-12-02
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Granted: 1979-05-01
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Expires: 1997-12-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprises a support plate and a plurality of straightening heads extending from the support plate in a given direction. Each of the heads is adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defines an intersecting pair of open bottom slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection. Means are also provided for moving the support plate between a first position wherein the heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein the heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions. Because the straightening heads operate on the intersections of the partitions rather than in the center of the compartments, the apparatus is capable of straightening more deformed partitions, fewer straightening heads are required, and the same straightening head may be used to straighten compartments of different sizes.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Wiseman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:30
CPC Classifications
B; B31; B31B; B31B50/00; B31B50/74; B31B50/81; B31B2105/00; B31B2120/00; B31B2120/20; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/20; B65B61/207; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/901; Y10S493/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, said legs being configured and dimensioned to enable insertion of a plurality of said legs into a given compartment; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, said legs being configured and dimensioned to enable insertion of a plurality of said legs into a given compartment; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said intersecting pair of slots in each head divide said head into four legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means is removably secured to said moving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said slots has a width intermediate the width of a partition and the width of a partition plus 0.06 inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, each of said legs comprising a body of generally rectangular cross-section secured to said support means and a beveled tip extending from said body in said given direction, said tip sloping upwardly and outwardly toward each of the two adjacent legs of the same head; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, each of said legs comprising a body of generally rectangular cross-section secured to said support means and a beveled tip extending from said body in said given direction, said tip sloping upwardly and outwardly toward each of the two adjacent legs of the same head; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said tip slopes upwardly toward each of the two adjacent legs of the same head at an angle of 35-45 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, said plurality of heads being equal to the number of partition intersections in the container each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, said plurality of heads being equal to the number of partition intersections in the container each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, said plurality of heads comprising a first group of heads and a second group of heads, said heads of said first group normally extending further in said given direction than said heads of said second group, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, said plurality of heads comprising a first group of heads and a second group of heads, said heads of said first group normally extending further in said given direction than said heads of said second group, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first group of heads extends along a central longitudinal axis of the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second group of heads substantially surrounds said first group of heads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said intersecting pair of slots in each head divide said head into four legs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said slots has a width intermediate the width of a partition and the width of a partition plus 0.06 inch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of said legs extends further in said given direction than another of said legs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein one adjacent pair of said legs extends further in said given direction than the other adjacent pair of said legs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of said legs extends further in said given direction than another of said legs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein one adjacent pair of said legs extends further in said given direction than the other adjacent pair of said legs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said legs comprises a body of generally rectangular cross-section secured to said support means and a beveled tip extending from said body in said given direction, said tip sloping upwardly and outwardly toward each of the two adjacent legs of the same head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said legs comprises a body of generally rectangular cross-section secured to said support means and a beveled tip extending from said body in said given direction, said tip sloping upwardly and outwardly toward each of the two adjacent legs of the same head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for postitioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, at least one of said legs extending further in said given direction than another of said legs; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for postitioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection, said intersecting pair of slots in each head dividing said head into a plurality of legs, at least one of said legs extending further in said given direction than another of said legs; and C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein one adjacent pair of said legs extends further in said given direction than the other adjacent pair of said legs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced form the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions; and D. means to vibrate the container during movement of said support means from said first position into said second position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprising: A. support means; B. a plurality of straightening heads extending from said support means in a given direction, each of said heads being adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defining an intersecting pair of open-bottomed slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection; C. means for moving said support means between a first position wherein said heads are spaced form the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein said heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions; and D. means to vibrate the container during movement of said support means from said first position into said second position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of said slots has a width intermediate the width of a partition and the width of a partition plus 0.06 inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2024201A
Cited
US4034656A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-30 | 1982-10-30 | 1983-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-30 | 1986-10-30 | 1987-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-30 | 1990-10-30 | 1991-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |