US4596545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orbital feeder
Assignee: RA Jones and Co Inc
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Filing: 1985-02-07
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Granted: 1986-06-24
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Expires: 2005-02-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons from a stationary magazine to a continuously moving conveyor. The magazine has a choke at its discharge end formed from parallel guides which are spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the two folded edges of the cartons. A rotary carrier is located adjacent the magazine and the conveyor. A plurality of planetary members with attached suction cups are rotatably mounted on the carrier. A fixed cam cooperates with cam followers mounted on the planetary members to cause the planetary members to rotate on their own axes as the carrier rotates to pick up cartons from the magazine, open them and deposit them gently between transport lugs on the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D. Greenwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/42; B31; B31B; B31B2100/00; B31B2120/00; B31B2120/30; B31B50/00; B31B50/02; B31B50/04; B31B50/06; B31B50/062; B31B50/74; B31B50/76; B31B50/80; B31B50/804; B65H2403/00; B65H2403/50; B65H2403/54; B65H2403/543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons comprising, a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of cartons, a transport conveyor adjacent said magazine, said transport conveyor having leading and trailing transport lugs creating receptacles between said lugs into which said cartons are to be deposited, drive means connected to said transport conveyor for continuously moving said conveyor past said magazine, a rotary transfer mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine and conveyor, said transfer mechanism comprising, a support rotatably mounted on said frame, at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said support, at least one suction cup projecting laterally from said shaft for movement past said magazine and said conveyor, circumferential cam means mounted adjacent said support, cam followers fixed to said shaft and engageable with said cam means, said cam means including means to cause said suction cups to rotate in a generally hypocycloidal path to engage said cartons and deposit them between transport lugs on said conveyor, said cam means creating a U-shaped path of movement of said suction cup as it deposits cartons in said receptacles, said U-shaped path of said suction cups and the timing of movement of said receptacles causing said cartons carried thereby to engage said trailing transport lugs, thereby opening said last mentioned engaged cartons to tubes of rectangular cross section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons comprising, a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of cartons, a transport conveyor adjacent said magazine, said transport conveyor having leading and trailing transport lugs creating receptacles between said lugs into which said cartons are to be deposited, drive means connected to said transport conveyor for continuously moving said conveyor past said magazine, a rotary transfer mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine and conveyor, said transfer mechanism comprising, a support rotatably mounted on said frame, at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said support, at least one suction cup projecting laterally from said shaft for movement past said magazine and said conveyor, circumferential cam means mounted adjacent said support, cam followers fixed to said shaft and engageable with said cam means, said cam means including means to cause said suction cups to rotate in a generally hypocycloidal path to engage said cartons and deposit them between transport lugs on said conveyor, said cam means creating a U-shaped path of movement of said suction cup as it deposits cartons in said receptacles, said U-shaped path of said suction cups and the timing of movement of said receptacles causing said cartons carried thereby to engage said trailing transport lugs, thereby opening said last mentioned engaged cartons to tubes of rectangular cross section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
242 words
Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons comprising, a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of cartons, a transport conveyor adjacent said magazine, said transport conveyor having leading and trailing transport lugs creating receptacles between said lugs into which said cartons are to be deposited, drive means connected to said transport conveyor for continuously moving said conveyor past said magazine, a rotary transfer mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine and conveyor, said transfer mechanism comprising, a support rotatably mounted on said frame, at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said support, at least one suction cup projecting laterally from said shaft for movement past said magazine and said conveyor, circumferential cam means mounted adjacent said support, cam followers fixed to said shaft and engageable with said cam means, said cam means including means to cause said suction cups to rotate in a generally hypocycloidal path to engage said cartons and deposit them between transport lugs on said conveyor, said cam means creating a U-shaped path of movement of said suction cup as it deposits cartons in said receptacles, said U-shaped path of said suction cups and the timing of movement of said receptacles causing said cartons carried thereby to engage said trailing transport lugs during the gradual insertion of said cartons into said receptacles as said cartons travel in time with said lugs of said receptacles, thereby opening said last mentioned engaged cartons to tubes of rectangular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
242 words
Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons comprising, a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of cartons, a transport conveyor adjacent said magazine, said transport conveyor having leading and trailing transport lugs creating receptacles between said lugs into which said cartons are to be deposited, drive means connected to said transport conveyor for continuously moving said conveyor past said magazine, a rotary transfer mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine and conveyor, said transfer mechanism comprising, a support rotatably mounted on said frame, at least one shaft rotatably mounted on said support, at least one suction cup projecting laterally from said shaft for movement past said magazine and said conveyor, circumferential cam means mounted adjacent said support, cam followers fixed to said shaft and engageable with said cam means, said cam means including means to cause said suction cups to rotate in a generally hypocycloidal path to engage said cartons and deposit them between transport lugs on said conveyor, said cam means creating a U-shaped path of movement of said suction cup as it deposits cartons in said receptacles, said U-shaped path of said suction cups and the timing of movement of said receptacles causing said cartons carried thereby to engage said trailing transport lugs during the gradual insertion of said cartons into said receptacles as said cartons travel in time with said lugs of said receptacles, thereby opening said last mentioned engaged cartons to tubes of rectangular cross section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-23 | 1989-12-23 | 1990-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-23 | 1993-12-23 | 1994-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-23 | 1997-12-23 | 1998-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |