US3770104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gated carrier for hydrostatic cooker
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-23
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-11-23
Abstract
Abstract In a hydrostatic cooker, the carriers on the conveyor chain are in the form of pockets, mounted on one set of links which can be closed by gates mounted on adjacent links with abutments to prevent opening of the pockets in one direction of chain articulation and to accommodate opening of the pockets in the other direction of flexure for feed and discharge. Several embodiments are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Reimers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:18
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J27/00; A47J27/14; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
A processing conveyor for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein the conveyor comprises laterally spaced endless chains connected by transverse container carrier members; said conveyor having upper sprocket loops, relatively large and small radius lower loop, vertical reaches connecting these loops, and a small radius feed and discharge sprocket loop in an outside vertical reach; the improvement wherein said container carrier members each comprises a container pocket member, each pocket member comprising at least one substantially flat sidewall and a single bottom wall wide enough to completely support a container, means mounTing the ends of said pocket members on spaced pocket member mounting chain links, said latter links being connected by intermediate chain links, all of said pocket members being mounted on said pocket member mounting chain links; the bottoms of said pocket members facing out at said feed and discharge loop, said bottoms facing up at said upper sprocket and smaller radius lower loops, said bottoms facing down at said larger radius lower loop; closure gate means for each pocket member, means mounting said gate means on said intermediate links between said pocket member mounting links so that articulation of said links in one direction opens the gates and articulation in the other direction closes the gates, and abutment means independent of said pocket members for holding these links against further articulation in the pocket closing direction after the gates have closed their pockets, as at the bend in the conveyor that approaches said feed and discharge sprocket loop when the pocket bottoms are up, as well as around said smaller radius lower loops when the bottoms are down, said abutment means accommodating full gate opening articulation of these links around said feed and discharge sprocket loops as well as accommodating partial gate opening around said relatively large radius lower loops when bottoms are up, the latter loop having a radius large enough so that gate opening articulation of these links does not open the gates sufficiently to drop out containers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
A processing conveyor for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein the conveyor comprises laterally spaced endless chains connected by transverse container carrier members; said conveyor having upper sprocket loops, relatively large and small radius lower loop, vertical reaches connecting these loops, and a small radius feed and discharge sprocket loop in an outside vertical reach; the improvement wherein said container carrier members each comprises a container pocket member, each pocket member comprising at least one substantially flat sidewall and a single bottom wall wide enough to completely support a container, means mounTing the ends of said pocket members on spaced pocket member mounting chain links, said latter links being connected by intermediate chain links, all of said pocket members being mounted on said pocket member mounting chain links; the bottoms of said pocket members facing out at said feed and discharge loop, said bottoms facing up at said upper sprocket and smaller radius lower loops, said bottoms facing down at said larger radius lower loop; closure gate means for each pocket member, means mounting said gate means on said intermediate links between said pocket member mounting links so that articulation of said links in one direction opens the gates and articulation in the other direction closes the gates, and abutment means independent of said pocket members for holding these links against further articulation in the pocket closing direction after the gates have closed their pockets, as at the bend in the conveyor that approaches said feed and discharge sprocket loop when the pocket bottoms are up, as well as around said smaller radius lower loops when the bottoms are down, said abutment means accommodating full gate opening articulation of these links around said feed and discharge sprocket loops as well as accommodating partial gate opening around said relatively large radius lower loops when bottoms are up, the latter loop having a radius large enough so that gate opening articulation of these links does not open the gates sufficiently to drop out containers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The processing conveyor of claim 1, wherein said pocket members each comprises a generally U-shaped cup having substantially flat sidewalls and a bottom wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved conveyor of claim 2, wherein the closure gate means for each cup member comprises oppositely projecting half-gates mounted on the links at each side of those mounting the cup members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved conveyor of claim 3, wherein there are two links between each cup mounting link, said abutment means serving to lock up a cup mounting link with each adjacent half-gate mounting link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved conveyor of claim 3, wherein said abutment means comprises stop arms mounted on one of the links for engagement with the adjacent link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
326 words
A processing conveyor for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein the conveyor comprises laterally spaced endless chains connected by transverse container carrier members, said conveyor having upper sprocket loops, relatively large and small radius lower loops, vertical reaches connecting these loops, and a small radius feed and discharge sprocket loop in an outside vertical reach; the improvement wherein said container carrier member each comprises a generally U-shaped cup member having substantially flat sidewalls and a bottom wall, means mounting the ends of said cup members on spaced chain links; the bottoms of said cup members facing out at said feed and discharge loop, said bottoms facing up at said upper sprocket and smaller radius loops, said bottoms facing down at said larger radius lower loop; closure gate means for each cup member, means mounting said gate means on links between said cup member mounting links so that articulation of said links in one direction opens the gates and articulation in the other direction closes the gates, and abutment means for holding these links against further articulation in the cup closing direction after the gates have closed their cups, as at the bend in the conveyor that approaches said feed and discharge sprocket loop when the pocket bottoms are up as well as around said smaller radius lower loops when the bottoms are down, said abutment means accommodating full gate opening articulation of these links around said feed and discharge sprocket loop as well as accommodating partial gate opening around said relatively large radius lower loop when bottoms are up, the latter loop having a radius large enough so that gate opening articulation of these links does not open the gates sufficiently to drop out containers, said cup members being moUnted on alternate links, the closure gate means for each cup member comprising a single gate mounted on links between the cup member mounting links, each gate closing the majority of a cup member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
326 words
A processing conveyor for hydrostatic cookers or the like of the type wherein the conveyor comprises laterally spaced endless chains connected by transverse container carrier members, said conveyor having upper sprocket loops, relatively large and small radius lower loops, vertical reaches connecting these loops, and a small radius feed and discharge sprocket loop in an outside vertical reach; the improvement wherein said container carrier member each comprises a generally U-shaped cup member having substantially flat sidewalls and a bottom wall, means mounting the ends of said cup members on spaced chain links; the bottoms of said cup members facing out at said feed and discharge loop, said bottoms facing up at said upper sprocket and smaller radius loops, said bottoms facing down at said larger radius lower loop; closure gate means for each cup member, means mounting said gate means on links between said cup member mounting links so that articulation of said links in one direction opens the gates and articulation in the other direction closes the gates, and abutment means for holding these links against further articulation in the cup closing direction after the gates have closed their cups, as at the bend in the conveyor that approaches said feed and discharge sprocket loop when the pocket bottoms are up as well as around said smaller radius lower loops when the bottoms are down, said abutment means accommodating full gate opening articulation of these links around said feed and discharge sprocket loop as well as accommodating partial gate opening around said relatively large radius lower loop when bottoms are up, the latter loop having a radius large enough so that gate opening articulation of these links does not open the gates sufficiently to drop out containers, said cup members being moUnted on alternate links, the closure gate means for each cup member comprising a single gate mounted on links between the cup member mounting links, each gate closing the majority of a cup member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved conveyor of claim 6, wherein said abutment means comprises stop arms mounted on one of the links for engagement with the adjacent link.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improved conveyor of claim 7, wherein said stop arms are on the gate mounting links and also serve to mount the gates.
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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |