US3774778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Case packing machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-09
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A manipulating machine for removing a plurality of bags of loosely particulate material from a conveyor and placing them in a carton, using vacuum pickup heads which seize most of the top area of the relatively flat bags on the conveyor. The mechanism moves the pickup heads toward and away from the top surfaces of the bags on the conveyor, and transports the picked-up bags transversely to the conveyor to a waiting carton. A quick-dumping valve relieves the vacuum to drop the bags. An adjustable spacing mechanism spaces the bags apart by moving the heads apart after the bags are picked up, so that the bags may clear the separators in the carton. A cycle timer controls the pneumatic actuators which move the parts of the machine. Stop members in the pickup heads limit excursion of the bag into the head, and the contour of the head is curved to approximate the contour of the top of the bag. A modified form is shown in which the bags are released onto a receiving platform and shoved sideways in a stack by a transfer mechanism into the carton.
Inventors
- 👤 R Flaig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/91; B65G47/918; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/36; B65B35/38; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0238
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A manipulator for removing bags of material from a longitudinal conveyor and placing them in a desired array, comprising a plurality of vacuum pickup heads adapted to contact the top surfaces of separate bags on the conveyor and wherein at least two of said heads are arrayed one after the other longitudinally of said conveyor, reciprocation means for moving said pickup heads toward and away from the conveyor for effecting said contact with the top surfaces of the bag and lifting the bags from the conveyor, translation means for moving said pickup heads transversely of a conveyor from a first position above said conveyor to a second position alongside said conveyor, vacuum means operative to create a vacuum in said pickup heads and to relieve the vacuum in said pickup heads at said second position for releasing the bags thereat, each of said heads being attached to said reciprocation and said translation means, spacing means operative to alter the spacing between said heads during the travel thereof whereby the relative spacing between said bags while on the conveyor will be changed as they are removed from the conveyor , said spacing means comprising a guide member disposed generally transversely of said conveyor and associated with one of said heads to guide motion of said heads generally transverse to said conveyor, and adjusting means for adjusting the angle of said guide member with respect to a line perpendicular to said conveyor in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A manipulator for removing bags of material from a longitudinal conveyor and placing them in a desired array, comprising a plurality of vacuum pickup heads adapted to contact the top surfaces of separate bags on the conveyor and wherein at least two of said heads are arrayed one after the other longitudinally of said conveyor, reciprocation means for moving said pickup heads toward and away from the conveyor for effecting said contact with the top surfaces of the bag and lifting the bags from the conveyor, translation means for moving said pickup heads transversely of a conveyor from a first position above said conveyor to a second position alongside said conveyor, vacuum means operative to create a vacuum in said pickup heads and to relieve the vacuum in said pickup heads at said second position for releasing the bags thereat, each of said heads being attached to said reciprocation and said translation means, spacing means operative to alter the spacing between said heads during the travel thereof whereby the relative spacing between said bags while on the conveyor will be changed as they are removed from the conveyor , said spacing means comprising a guide member disposed generally transversely of said conveyor and associated with one of said heads to guide motion of said heads generally transverse to said conveyor, and adjusting means for adjusting the angle of said guide member with respect to a line perpendicular to said conveyor in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 1 and wherein said spacing means further comprises a longitudinal track member oriented generally longitudinally of said conveyor, attached to said reciprocation means, and bearing one of said heads thereon, said one of said heads heing journalled on said track member for longitudinal motion therealong with respect to another of said heads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 2 and wherein said guide member comprises a trackway having a guide surface extending longitudinally thereof, and said spacing means further comprises a follower pin attached to said head and engaged with said guide surface for guidance of said head thereby along a path generally transverse to said conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 3 and wherein said spacing means comprises a plurality of said trackways and a plurality of said pins attached one to each of a plurality of said heads, each pin engaging one guide surface on one trackway, and said adjusting means adjusts the angle of said trackways with respect to each other in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 4 and wherein said manipulator further comprises a stationary chassis and said trackways are attached to said chassis on one side of said conveyor with freedom for pivotal motion in a horizontal plane, and extend transversely across said conveyor, said adjusting means further comprising a rod attached to said chassis on the side opposite said first-named attachment and oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of said conveyor, said rod being engaged with the distal ends of said trackways for adjustable motion of said distal ends along said rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 5 and wherein said manipulator further comprises a second adjusting means for adjusting the spacing between said trackways in a horizontal plane for that portion of said trackways lying directly above said conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A manipulator for bags as described in claim 6 and wherein said second adjusting means comprises a rod attached to said chassis on the side of said conveyor opposite said second position and oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of said conveyor, said second-named rod being engaged with the pivotal ends of said trackways for adjustable motion of said pivotal ends along said rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A manipulator as described in claim 1 and wherein said vacuum pickup head comprises a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, and a top, defining an open-sided chamber, said end walls being arcuate in elevation with the concave side down, said open side of said chamber being the lower side, whereby the pickup head will approximate the contour of a mounded bag on said conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A manipulator as described in claim 8 and wherein a stop member is disposed approximately in the plane of the bottom of said pickup head and extends from one of said walls to another of said walls for limiting excursion of the bag into said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A manipulator as described in claim 9 and wherein said stop member extends between one of said side walls and the side wall opposite and is parallel with said end walls, said stop member being bowed in an arc approximating the arc of said ends members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A manipulator as described in claim 9 and wherein a plurality of said stop members extend from one of said walls to the wall opposite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A manipulator as described in claim 9 and wherein said stop member extends between said end walls and is parallel with said side walls.
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) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |