US4570419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring and transfer system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-11-10
•
Granted: 1986-02-18
•
Expires: 2003-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A movable carriage or receptacle receives lemons or other products from a conveyor or the like, and as a quantity sufficient to fill a box or container is accumulated, the receptacle or carriage moves down to the box, with the fragile product being gently layered into the carriage or receptacle; and then the lower door of the carriage or receptacle opens slowly to completely fill the box or other container, with the product again being layered gently into the box with no dropping so that the boxes are packed full without damage to the product. An alternate arrangement uses a pivotal support member and an associated product feeding member to accomplish the same functions. Through the use of a triangular receptacle or carriage, with the final measurement taking place near the apex of the triangular space, very accurate measurement may be accomplished.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Tinsley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B25/00; B65B25/02; B65B25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for measuring and loading product into containers comprising: means for movably mounting boxes or other containers to be filled at a loading position; support means for receiving a predetermined quantity of fruit or other products in a volume which equals the capacity of said containers; means for moving said support means downward toward the container to be filled; means for feeding the product from said support means into said containers including a product feeding member extending into said containers to control the feeding of said products into said containers, said product feeding member being secured to a lower portion of said support means; means for raising said support means and said product feeding means to a product receiving location; means for removing the filled container and for bringing an empty container into the loading position; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said fruit or other products substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for measuring and loading product into containers comprising: means for movably mounting boxes or other containers to be filled at a loading position; support means for receiving a predetermined quantity of fruit or other products in a volume which equals the capacity of said containers; means for moving said support means downward toward the container to be filled; means for feeding the product from said support means into said containers including a product feeding member extending into said containers to control the feeding of said products into said containers, said product feeding member being secured to a lower portion of said support means; means for raising said support means and said product feeding means to a product receiving location; means for removing the filled container and for bringing an empty container into the loading position; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said fruit or other products substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for supplying products to said support means, and means for blocking the supply of said products to said support means following a predetermined downward movement of said support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is a carriage which is generally triangular shaped in cross-section, and wherein said product feeding member is a movable door on the bottom of said carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system for measuring and loading as defined in claim 3 wherein said system includes means for feeding product to said carriage near the top of said carriage at a zone of diminished cross-section of said carriage as loading is being completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 3 wherein said system includes means for moving said carriage from an upper initial product receiving position to a lower position at the top of said containers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a housing and a pivotted support member for holding product between the walls of said housing and the support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 6 including means for directing fragile product first to one side of said support and then to the other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 6 wherein said feeding means is an additional member pivotally mounted to the lower end of said support means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 1 wherein additional means are provided for adding a measured quantity of another type of material to said products.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 9 wherein said additional means includes a second support member, and means for gradually lowering said second support member to dispense the other type of material for combination with the product.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A packing apparatus for measuring and packing products into containers comprising: means for supplying products in bulk; carriage means for receiving said products from said supplying means; said carriage means having a movable lower door forming the bottom of said carriage; means for supporting a container to be filled below said carriage; means for slowly moving said carriage means down toward said container to be filled, with said carriage continuing to receive products from said supplying means; means for blocking the flow of products from said supplying means to said carriage when said carriage is in proximity to said container; means for opening said lower door and permitting it to extend into said container to feed said products smoothly into said container; means for moving said carriage back tp its upper loading position, and for concurrently closing said lower door; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said products substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A packing apparatus for measuring and packing products into containers comprising: means for supplying products in bulk; carriage means for receiving said products from said supplying means; said carriage means having a movable lower door forming the bottom of said carriage; means for supporting a container to be filled below said carriage; means for slowly moving said carriage means down toward said container to be filled, with said carriage continuing to receive products from said supplying means; means for blocking the flow of products from said supplying means to said carriage when said carriage is in proximity to said container; means for opening said lower door and permitting it to extend into said container to feed said products smoothly into said container; means for moving said carriage back tp its upper loading position, and for concurrently closing said lower door; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said products substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A measuring and packing apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said apparatus includes means for mounting said carriage for movement toward and away from said container at an angle in the order of thirty degrees to forty-five degrees from the perpendicular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A packing apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said carriage is generally triangular in cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A packing apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said containers are compartmented, and wherein said carriage is correspondingly compartmented, and includes a plurality of movable lower doors at the bottom of the carriage compartments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A packing apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said product supplying means is a conveyor belt.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A packing apparatus as defined in claim 11 including conveyor means for bringing containers to and taking containers from a position under said carriage for packing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 11 including means for pneumatically moving said carriage and for operating said movable lower door.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for loading product into containers comprising: movably mounting boxes or other containers to be filled in a loading location; loading a support means with a predetermined quantity of fruit or other product in a volume which equals the capacity of said containers; moving said support means downward toward said container; feeding said product from said support means into said containers with a feeding member extending into said containers to smoothly feed said product into said containers; raising said support means and said product feeding means to a product receiving location; removing the filled container and bringing an empty container into the loading location; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said fruit or other product substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for loading product into containers comprising: movably mounting boxes or other containers to be filled in a loading location; loading a support means with a predetermined quantity of fruit or other product in a volume which equals the capacity of said containers; moving said support means downward toward said container; feeding said product from said support means into said containers with a feeding member extending into said containers to smoothly feed said product into said containers; raising said support means and said product feeding means to a product receiving location; removing the filled container and bringing an empty container into the loading location; and means including said support means for defining a substantially closed triangular volume having an apex near the top thereof, for receiving said fruit or other product substantially at said apex of said triangular volume as said triangular volume is being filled; whereby an accurate and consistent filling of said container is achieved.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 18 further including the step of continuing to load product onto the support means while the support means is moving down until a predetermined point is reached, and then cutting off further loading of the support means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 18 wherein said support means is a carriage, and including the step of raising said carriage to a product receiving position and lowering said carriage to pack product into said container.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 18 including the step of shaking said containers after they have been packed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 18 including the step of packing additional material into said containers with said fragile products.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for the measuring and transferring of product comprising: support means for receiving a predetermined measured quantity of product; means for receiving said product from said support means, means for moving said support means downward toward said receiving means while product is being supplied thereto; means associated with said support means for defining a substantially closed product receiving volume which diminishes significantly in cross-section toward the top thereof; means for feeding said product into the upper end of said product receiving volume where the cross-section thereof is significantly reduced as said volume is being filled; and means for shutting off the feeding of additional product at the upper end of the product receiving volume; whereby the reduction in cross-section at the upper end of said volume permits very accurate control of the total product included in said product receiving volume; and means for dispensing said product from said support means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for the measuring and transferring of product comprising: support means for receiving a predetermined measured quantity of product; means for receiving said product from said support means, means for moving said support means downward toward said receiving means while product is being supplied thereto; means associated with said support means for defining a substantially closed product receiving volume which diminishes significantly in cross-section toward the top thereof; means for feeding said product into the upper end of said product receiving volume where the cross-section thereof is significantly reduced as said volume is being filled; and means for shutting off the feeding of additional product at the upper end of the product receiving volume; whereby the reduction in cross-section at the upper end of said volume permits very accurate control of the total product included in said product receiving volume; and means for dispensing said product from said support means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 23 wherein said support means is a carriage which is generally triangular shaped in cross-section, and wherein said product feeding member is a movable door on the bottom of said carriage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
A measuring and loading system as defined in claim 23 wherein said support means includes a housing and a pivoted support member for holding product between the walls of said housing and the support member.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for measuring product in increments comprising: means including a support member for defining a predetermined substantially closed volume which diminishes significantly in cross-section toward the top of said volume; means for supplying product to be measured to substantially fill said volume, and to complete the filling thereof at the top of said volume; means for stopping the movement of product into said volume as the volume is substantially filled; means for moving said support member to unload said support member and said volume; and means for shifting said support member back to its initial loading position.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for measuring product in increments comprising: means including a support member for defining a predetermined substantially closed volume which diminishes significantly in cross-section toward the top of said volume; means for supplying product to be measured to substantially fill said volume, and to complete the filling thereof at the top of said volume; means for stopping the movement of product into said volume as the volume is substantially filled; means for moving said support member to unload said support member and said volume; and means for shifting said support member back to its initial loading position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE943039C
Cited
US2933872A
Cited
US2896384A
Cited
US3021656A
Cited
US3322289A
Cited
US3478484A
Cited
US3864893A
Cited
US4250690A
Cited
SU783132A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |