Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for turning over a procession of articles of generally rectangular shape and having opposite longer and shorter sides, comprising a dead plate devoid of discontinuities, a continuously travelling feed conveyer including pushers which engage successive articles in the procession to advance them in an upright condition supported by their shorter undersurfaces along the dead plate, movable platform means, movable at a position aligned with the end of the dead plate to support said shorter undersurfaces of the articles as they leave the dead plate and continue to be advanced by the pushers, means for imparting to the platform means movement relative to the pushers which is effective to cause the articles to topple forwardly in succession under gravity alone from the platform means as the articles continue to be advanced by the pushers, and a support positioned to receive in a lying condition and supported by their longer undersurfaces the articles toppling forwardly from the supporting means at a level permitting further conveyance along it of said articles by said pushers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for turning over a procession of articles of generally rectangular shape and having opposite longer and shorter sides, comprising a dead plate devoid of discontinuities, a continuously travelling feed conveyer including pushers which engage successive articles in the procession to advance them in an upright condition supported by their shorter undersurfaces along the dead plate, movable platform means, movable at a position aligned with the end of the dead plate to support said shorter undersurfaces of the articles as they leave the dead plate and continue to be advanced by the pushers, means for imparting to the platform means movement relative to the pushers which is effective to cause the articles to topple forwardly in succession under gravity alone from the platform means as the articles continue to be advanced by the pushers, and a support positioned to receive in a lying condition and supported by their longer undersurfaces the articles toppling forwardly from the supporting means at a level permitting further conveyance along it of said articles by said pushers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform means comprises a chain conveyor, a plurality of spaced platforms carried by the chain conveyor, the chain conveyor being disposed below the feed conveyor and being driven at a slower speed than the fed conveyor, said platforms individually supporting successive articles leaving the dead plate, and the support being disposed beyond the end of the chain conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each said platform is constituted by a pair of bars spaced in the direction of travel of the articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the chain conveyor carries bars, disposed between the platforms, for supporting in an inclined position articles which have toppled forwardly under their own momentum as the result of stoppage of the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform means comprises a single reciprocating platform which supports in succession each of the articles leaving the dead plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a ramp inclined upwardly in the direction of advance of the articles.