Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for packing slide fasteners as they arrive in a longitudinal transport direction one after the other at a predetermined travel speed from a production facility, the apparatus comprising: a speedup conveyor receiving the arriving slide fasteners and operating at a speed substantially higher than the travel speed thereof; a separating conveyor running transversely of the speedup conveyor and having an upstream end receiving the fasteners from the speedup conveyor and a downstream end transversely offset therefrom; a collection trough having a floor inclined to the horizontal, upper and lower ends, and a plate blocking the lower end, the collection trough being positioned underneath the separating conveyor to receive the fasteners therefrom; a downstream trough aligned longitudinally with and having an upstream end separated by a space from the collection trough, a floor formed with a throughgoing aperture, and a downstream end; a collection vessel underneath the downstream end of the downstream trough; transport means having an upstream arm engageable in the collection trough at the lower end thereof and a downstream arm engageable in the space and downstream trough for displacing both of these arms between upstream and downstream positions for pushing respective bundles of the fasteners downstream; packing means in the space between the troughs for applying a wrapping to the bundles thereat; and labeling means underneath the aperture for labeling the wrappings as same pass the aperture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for packing slide fasteners as they arrive in a longitudinal transport direction one after the other at a predetermined travel speed from a production facility, the apparatus comprising: a speedup conveyor receiving the arriving slide fasteners and operating at a speed substantially higher than the travel speed thereof; a separating conveyor running transversely of the speedup conveyor and having an upstream end receiving the fasteners from the speedup conveyor and a downstream end transversely offset therefrom; a collection trough having a floor inclined to the horizontal, upper and lower ends, and a plate blocking the lower end, the collection trough being positioned underneath the separating conveyor to receive the fasteners therefrom; a downstream trough aligned longitudinally with and having an upstream end separated by a space from the collection trough, a floor formed with a throughgoing aperture, and a downstream end; a collection vessel underneath the downstream end of the downstream trough; transport means having an upstream arm engageable in the collection trough at the lower end thereof and a downstream arm engageable in the space and downstream trough for displacing both of these arms between upstream and downstream positions for pushing respective bundles of the fasteners downstream; packing means in the space between the troughs for applying a wrapping to the bundles thereat; and labeling means underneath the aperture for labeling the wrappings as same pass the aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the labeling means includes an ink-jet printer head aligned with the aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the plate at the lower end of the collection trough is vertically displaceable synchronously with the upstream arm to provide access for same to the collection trough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the downstream trough includes a conveyor trough formed with the aperture and a movable output trough overlapping the conveyor trough and emptying into the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the packing means wraps a tape around the bundle in the space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the downstream transport arm is provided with a suction lifter engageable with the wrapping of the bundle in the downstream trough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising control means connected to the conveyors and other means for synchronously operating same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the control means includes a counter between the ends of the separating conveyor.