Patent US990385A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3428872A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4953684A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Stopper elevator conveyor

Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-07
•
Granted: 1990-09-04
•
Expires: 2008-11-07
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and caps including a frame movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of the objects and an angularly displaced conveyor on the frame having a discharge chute at the predetermined location for discharge of objects thereto. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain defining a path from a transfer path to the discharge chute. The chain has bucket flights for conveying the objects along the path. A delivery chute is also on the frame for transferring the objects to the transfer point. The delivery chute includes a first tray inclined with the horizontal and having an open terminal end adjacent the transfer point positioned to feed the objects to the conveyor chain. The delivery chute further includes a second tray located within the first tray at the same or greater angle with the horizontal and positioned to receive the objects. The second tray has an open lower terminal end for feeding the objects to the first tray. The delivery chute further includes a vibrator mechanism for oscillating both trays to impart movement of the objects toward the lower terminal ends of the tray. Finally, a hopper is provided, which is removably mounted on said frame for holding a quantity of the objects. The hopper includes a hopper chute for gravity feed of the objects to the delivery chute.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frank Beswick
  • 👤 Robert W. Winship

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 20:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/02; B65G47/16; B65G47/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 296 words
The device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and caps comprising: a frame having locking castors and movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of said objects; an angularly displaced conveyor on said frame and having a discharge chute at a predetermined location for discharging objects thereof, said conveyor including a conveyor chain means defining a path from a transfer point to said discharge chute, said chain having bucket flight means including holes in said flights to convey said objects along said path while subjecting said objects to an ambient drying condition; a delivery chute on said frame for transferring said objects to said transfer point, said delivery chute including a first tray inclined with respect to the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent said transfer point, which end is positioned to feed said objects to said conveyor chain, said end including terminal plate means hinged to be deflected upon contact with objects carried by said conveyor, said delivery chute further including a second tray located within said first tray at the same or greater angle with respect to the incline of the first tray and positioned to receive said objects, said second tray having an open lower terminal end for feeding said objects to said first tray, said first tray being mounted to said frame on a plurality of leaf spring means, and said delivery chute further including vibrating means for oscillating said trays to impart linear movement of said objects toward the lower terminal ends of said trays; and hopper means removably mounted on said frame for holding a quantity of said objects, said hopper being mounted on a detachable mobile frame and including a hopper chute for gravity feed of said objects to said delivery chute.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 296 words
The device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and caps comprising: a frame having locking castors and movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of said objects; an angularly displaced conveyor on said frame and having a discharge chute at a predetermined location for discharging objects thereof, said conveyor including a conveyor chain means defining a path from a transfer point to said discharge chute, said chain having bucket flight means including holes in said flights to convey said objects along said path while subjecting said objects to an ambient drying condition; a delivery chute on said frame for transferring said objects to said transfer point, said delivery chute including a first tray inclined with respect to the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent said transfer point, which end is positioned to feed said objects to said conveyor chain, said end including terminal plate means hinged to be deflected upon contact with objects carried by said conveyor, said delivery chute further including a second tray located within said first tray at the same or greater angle with respect to the incline of the first tray and positioned to receive said objects, said second tray having an open lower terminal end for feeding said objects to said first tray, said first tray being mounted to said frame on a plurality of leaf spring means, and said delivery chute further including vibrating means for oscillating said trays to impart linear movement of said objects toward the lower terminal ends of said trays; and hopper means removably mounted on said frame for holding a quantity of said objects, said hopper being mounted on a detachable mobile frame and including a hopper chute for gravity feed of said objects to said delivery chute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said detachable mobile mounting for said hopper includes alignment means for positioning said hopper with respect to said delivery chute including a guide means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 242 words
A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and caps, comprising: a frame movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of said objects; an angularly displaced conveyor on said frame and having a discharge chute at said predetermined location for discharging objects thereto, said conveyor including a conveyor chain means defining a path from a transfer point to said discharge chute, said chain having bucket flight means for conveying said objects along said path; a delivery chute on said frame for transferring said objects to said transfer point, said delivery chute including a first tray inclined with respect to the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent said transfer point which is positioned to feed said objects to said conveyor chain, said delivery chute further including a second tray located within said first tray at the same or greater angle with respect to the incline of the first tray and positioned to receive said objects, said second tray having an open lower terminal end for feeding said objects to said first tray, said delivery chute further including vibrating means for oscillating said trays to impart movement of said objects toward the lower terminal ends of said trays; and hopper means removably mounted on said frame for holding a quantity of said objects, said hopper being mounted on a detachable mobile frame and including a hopper chute for gravity feed of said objects to said delivery chute.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 242 words
A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and caps, comprising: a frame movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of said objects; an angularly displaced conveyor on said frame and having a discharge chute at said predetermined location for discharging objects thereto, said conveyor including a conveyor chain means defining a path from a transfer point to said discharge chute, said chain having bucket flight means for conveying said objects along said path; a delivery chute on said frame for transferring said objects to said transfer point, said delivery chute including a first tray inclined with respect to the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent said transfer point which is positioned to feed said objects to said conveyor chain, said delivery chute further including a second tray located within said first tray at the same or greater angle with respect to the incline of the first tray and positioned to receive said objects, said second tray having an open lower terminal end for feeding said objects to said first tray, said delivery chute further including vibrating means for oscillating said trays to impart movement of said objects toward the lower terminal ends of said trays; and hopper means removably mounted on said frame for holding a quantity of said objects, said hopper being mounted on a detachable mobile frame and including a hopper chute for gravity feed of said objects to said delivery chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said detachable mobile mounting for said hopper includes alignment means for positioning said hopper with respect to said delivery chute including a guide means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3338385A Cited
US3305067A Cited
US3391472A Cited
US3499519A Cited
US3578094A Cited
US3724656A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-09-03 1994-03-05 1994-09-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-09-03 1998-03-05 1998-09-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-09-03 2002-03-05 2002-09-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag