US4607743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus to rotate moving overlapping stacked boxes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-05-14
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Granted: 1986-08-26
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Expires: 2004-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for rotating a moving, overlapping stack of flattened boxes on a conveyor belt comprising a motor, a driven pulley driven by the motor, a freely rotating pulley, and an endless belt rotating around both of the pullies, wherein the device is positioned slightly above the conveyor belt at an obtuse angle to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. The stack of flattened boxes are positioned on the endless belt wherein the rotation of the endless belt causes the flattened boxes to rotate on the conveyor belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Ormand K. Elam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of rotating the paper of a stream of moving overlapping stacked paper from one position to another on a conveyor belt comprising: positioning a rotator having a continuous article contacting surface substantially over said conveyor belt at an obtuse angle with respect to the direction of travel of said conveyor belt; driving said conveyor belt and said rotator; initially placing a portion of said stream of overlapping stacked paper on top of said continuous, article contacting surface; and advancing said stream of overlapping stacked paper on said conveyor belt so that the paper of said stream is progressively rotated by said continuous, article contacting surface from its original position to a second rotated position which is out of contact with the rotator causing the paper to fall back onto the conveyor belt.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of rotating the paper of a stream of moving overlapping stacked paper from one position to another on a conveyor belt comprising: positioning a rotator having a continuous article contacting surface substantially over said conveyor belt at an obtuse angle with respect to the direction of travel of said conveyor belt; driving said conveyor belt and said rotator; initially placing a portion of said stream of overlapping stacked paper on top of said continuous, article contacting surface; and advancing said stream of overlapping stacked paper on said conveyor belt so that the paper of said stream is progressively rotated by said continuous, article contacting surface from its original position to a second rotated position which is out of contact with the rotator causing the paper to fall back onto the conveyor belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said stream of overlapping stacked paper is rotated from one side of said conveyor belt to the other side thereby forming a rotated stream of overlapping stacked paper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said stream of overlapping stacked paper is linearally offset with respect to the direction of the conveyor belt to said rotated stream of overlapping stacked paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said stream of overlapping stacked paper is rotated by said article contacting surface until it contacts one or more stops.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for rotating a stream of moving, overlapping stacked paper comprising: a moving conveyor belt for linearally moving said overlapped stacked paper, a rotator positioned substantially over said conveyor belt at an obtuse angle with respect to the direction of travel of said conveyor belt, said rotator contacting a portion of said stream of overlapping stacked paper by engaging the raised ends of the overlapped paper as it is advanced by said conveyor belt, said rotator having a continuous, article contacting surface onto which the stream of moving overlapping stacked paper is engaged, said rotator causing the paper of the stream to assume a second rotated position when said continuous article contacting surface is driven, at which point the paper is out of contact with said rotator and falls back onto said conveyor belt.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for rotating a stream of moving, overlapping stacked paper comprising: a moving conveyor belt for linearally moving said overlapped stacked paper, a rotator positioned substantially over said conveyor belt at an obtuse angle with respect to the direction of travel of said conveyor belt, said rotator contacting a portion of said stream of overlapping stacked paper by engaging the raised ends of the overlapped paper as it is advanced by said conveyor belt, said rotator having a continuous, article contacting surface onto which the stream of moving overlapping stacked paper is engaged, said rotator causing the paper of the stream to assume a second rotated position when said continuous article contacting surface is driven, at which point the paper is out of contact with said rotator and falls back onto said conveyor belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rotator includes one or more stops positioned vertically above said conveyor belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rotator includes a pair of spaced-apart pulleys around which said article contacting surface rotates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein one of said pulleys is driven while the other of said pulleys is freely rotating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said driven pulley is driven by a shaft of a motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said motor and said pair of spaced-apart pulleys are rigidly fastened to a support plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-25 | 1990-02-24 | 1990-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-25 | 1994-02-24 | 1994-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-02-24 | 1998-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |