Patent US4355936A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4355936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Egg transfer apparatus
Assignee: Diamond Automations Inc
•
Filing: 1980-08-28
•
Granted: 1982-10-26
•
Expires: 2000-08-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for transferring individual trays of eggs from the top of adjacently spaced stacks onto a conveyor member. A lifting head is provided for each stack of egg trays and includes thereon vacuum cups which are engagable with each of the individual eggs in the uppermost tray. A vacuum actuated gripper is further provided with each lifting head assembly for engaging and lifting the uppermost tray away from the remainder of the stack. Each lifting head assembly is associated with a rotatable drive to effect rotation during transfer while also moving adjacently spaced lifting head assemblies with respect to one another in order to avoid contact during simultaneous rotation of adjacent lifting head assemblies. Relative movement between each head assembly and the respective support platform is also provided to accommodate variations in height between adjacent stacks to insure proper engagement with the uppermost tray to be transferred.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie P. Thomas
- 👤 George N. Bliss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B23/00; B65B23/02; B65B23/06; B65B23/08; A; A01; A01K; A01K43/00; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/91; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0202; B65G2201/0208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station including a plurality of apertures therein; (b) a rotatably driven member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said horizontal carrier means at the approximate center thereof; (c) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (d) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, and including egg and tray engaging means thereof for engaging each individual egg and the tray of eggs in said transfer position; (e) a coupling member extending upwardly from each of said lifting heads and disposed in one of said carrier means apertures, said coupling member having the upper portion thereof extending through said carrier means aperture and being of a length sufficient to facilitate vertical movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means; and (f) a stop member mounted to said upper portion of each coupling member adapted to engage said carrier means so as to limit the downward movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station including a plurality of apertures therein; (b) a rotatably driven member having one end thereof pivotally connected to said horizontal carrier means at the approximate center thereof; (c) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (d) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, and including egg and tray engaging means thereof for engaging each individual egg and the tray of eggs in said transfer position; (e) a coupling member extending upwardly from each of said lifting heads and disposed in one of said carrier means apertures, said coupling member having the upper portion thereof extending through said carrier means aperture and being of a length sufficient to facilitate vertical movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means; and (f) a stop member mounted to said upper portion of each coupling member adapted to engage said carrier means so as to limit the downward movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes resilient means disposed on said coupling member between said carrier means and said lifting head so as to downwardly urge said lifting head into engagement with said eggs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a compression spring disposed on said shaft between said carrier means and said lifting head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling member is an elongated shaft and said stop member comprises a collar disposed about the upper portion thereof so as to limit downward movement of said shaft within said carrier means aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said egg engaging means comprises a vacuum operated cup adapted to engage and hold said egg in position when a vacuum is applied thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tray engaging means comprises a latch member disposed at each end of said lifting head adapted to grip and hold the uppermost tray of the respective stack as said carrier means is moved from one position to another.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from adjacently spaced stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a plurality of adjacently spaced lifting heads, one for each of said adjacently spaced stacks, mounted to said carrier means and including thereon an engaging means for lifting the eggs in the transfer position; (c) at least one platform disposed below said lifting heads for supporting said stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (d) means for varying the spacing between each of said lifting heads and the respective support platform independent of that of the adjacent head so as to accommodate variations in height between adjacently spaced stacks of trays; and (e) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from adjacently spaced stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a plurality of adjacently spaced lifting heads, one for each of said adjacently spaced stacks, mounted to said carrier means and including thereon an engaging means for lifting the eggs in the transfer position; (c) at least one platform disposed below said lifting heads for supporting said stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (d) means for varying the spacing between each of said lifting heads and the respective support platform independent of that of the adjacent head so as to accommodate variations in height between adjacently spaced stacks of trays; and (e) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said carrier means includes a plurality of apertures therein and said varying means comprises (a) a coupling member extending upwardly from each of said lifting heads and disposed in one of said carrier means apertures, said coupling member having the upper portion thereof extending through said carrier means aperture and being of a length sufficient to facilitate vertical movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means; and (b) a stop member mounted to said upper portion of each coupling member adapted to engage said carrier means so as to limit the downward movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said coupling member is an elongated shaft and said stop member comprises a collar disposed about the upper portion thereof so as to limit downward movement of said shaft within said carrier means aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 which further includes resilient means disposed on said coupling member between said carrier means and said lifting head so as to downwardly urge said lifting head into engagement with said eggs.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from closely spaced multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (c) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, including engaging means thereon for lifting the eggs in said transfer position, each of said lifting heads being coupled to said carrier means and adapted to be moved in conjunction therewith from the pick-up station to another station; and (d) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from closely spaced multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (c) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, including engaging means thereon for lifting the eggs in said transfer position, each of said lifting heads being coupled to said carrier means and adapted to be moved in conjunction therewith from the pick-up station to another station; and (d) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rotatable means includes a drive means, a rotatably mounted arm coupled to said drive means, and a linkage member having one end thereof pivotally mounted to said arm and the other end thereof pivotally mounted to said lifting head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said drive means comprises a rack and pinion drive, said pinion member being mounted to a shaft coupled to a drive member, said shaft having mounted thereon said rotatable arm operatively coupled to each of said adjacently spaced lifting heads.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from closely spaced multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (c) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, including engaging means thereon for lifting the eggs in said transfer position, each of said lifting heads being coupled to said carrier means and adapted to be moved in conjunction therewith from the pick-up station to another station; (d) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof; and (e) means for varying the spacing between each of said lifting heads and the respective support platform independent of that of an adjacently spaced head so as to accommodate variations in height between adjacently spaced stacks of trays.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for transferring egg trays from closely spaced multiple stacks of trays disposed at a pick-up station to another station which comprises (a) a horizontal carrier means adapted to be moved from the pick-up station to another station; (b) a platform for supporting each of said multiple stack of egg trays and adapted for upwardly indexing the movement of each tray of eggs into a transfer position; (c) a plurality of lifting heads, one for each stack of trays, including engaging means thereon for lifting the eggs in said transfer position, each of said lifting heads being coupled to said carrier means and adapted to be moved in conjunction therewith from the pick-up station to another station; (d) rotatable means coupled to each of said lifting heads adapted to rotate said lifting head approximately 90° during transfer from said pick-up station to another station to accommodate different orientations of alternate trays of eggs in each respective stack of trays; said rotatable means further being adapted to move adjacently spaced lifting heads with respect to one another during transfer from said pick-up station to another station in order to avoid contact of adjacently spaced heads during rotation thereof; and (e) means for varying the spacing between each of said lifting heads and the respective support platform independent of that of an adjacently spaced head so as to accommodate variations in height between adjacently spaced stacks of trays.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said carrier means includes a plurality of apertures therein and said varying means comprises (a) a coupling member extending upwardly from each of said lifting heads and disposed in one of said carrier means apertures, said coupling member having the upper portion thereof extending through said carrier means aperture and being of a length sufficient to facilitate vertical movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means; and (b) a stop member mounted to said upper portion of each coupling member adapted to engage said carrier means so as to limit the downward movement of said lifting head with respect to said carrier means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said rotatable means includes a drive means, a rotatably mounted arm coupled to said drive means, and a linkage member having one end thereof pivotally mounted to said arm and the other end thereof pivotally mounted to said lifting head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3102751A
Cited
GB1039795A
Cited
US3327450A
Cited
GB1229785A
Cited
GB1303565A
Cited
US3805943A
Cited
US3776393A
Cited
US3792784A
Cited
US3717336A
Cited
US3939993A
Cited
US4045073A
Cited
GB1536487A
Cited
US4079845A
Cited
US4164296A
Cited
US4221517A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-10-25 | 1986-04-26 | 1986-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-25 | 1990-04-26 | 1990-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-25 | 1994-04-26 | 1994-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |