Patent US4003465A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4003465A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for distributing articles conveyed in a row among a plurality of paths of travel

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-22
•
Granted: 1977-01-18
•
Expires: 1994-11-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A guiding device is defined by lateral guides which are pivotally movable about a vertical axis disposed in the entrance portion of the guiding device. A star-shaped stepping wheel is connected to one of the guides to meter the articles passing therethrough. The stepping wheel has a crank arm eccentrically connected thereto which in turn is pivotally connected to the stationary frame. As the articles rotate the stepping wheel, the crank incrementally oscillates the guides such that they are essentially aligned with each of the two paths for one-half revolution of the wheel. A tongue member is pivotally mounted adjacent the entrance of the two paths and connected to the guides by a linkage which causes the tongue to pivot in a direction opposite that of the guides.

Inventors

  • 👤 Everhard Bauer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/71

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 192 words
Apparatus for distributing articles conveyed in a single row at a receiving station into a plurality of juxtaposed rows at a downstream delivery station, comprising means defining at said delivery station a plurality of juxtaposed delivery tracks for said articles with mouths facing said receiving station, gate means defining a passageway for said articles with an inlet adjacent said receiving station and an outlet pointing in the downstream direction, said gate means being mounted for pivotal motion about an axis at said inlet whereby said outlet can be oscillated, and drive means operable by said articles passing through said passageway for effecting pivotal motion of said gate means, said drive means comprising a wheel mounted on said gate means for pivotal motion in unison therewith and for independent rotation, teeth on the periphery of said wheel projecting into said passageway for engagement by said articles whereby said wheel is rotated by said articles, and a lever eccentrically pivoted to said wheel by one end pivoted to a fixed frame by the other end whereby said wheel and gate means are pivoted once to and fro during each complete turn of said wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 192 words
Apparatus for distributing articles conveyed in a single row at a receiving station into a plurality of juxtaposed rows at a downstream delivery station, comprising means defining at said delivery station a plurality of juxtaposed delivery tracks for said articles with mouths facing said receiving station, gate means defining a passageway for said articles with an inlet adjacent said receiving station and an outlet pointing in the downstream direction, said gate means being mounted for pivotal motion about an axis at said inlet whereby said outlet can be oscillated, and drive means operable by said articles passing through said passageway for effecting pivotal motion of said gate means, said drive means comprising a wheel mounted on said gate means for pivotal motion in unison therewith and for independent rotation, teeth on the periphery of said wheel projecting into said passageway for engagement by said articles whereby said wheel is rotated by said articles, and a lever eccentrically pivoted to said wheel by one end pivoted to a fixed frame by the other end whereby said wheel and gate means are pivoted once to and fro during each complete turn of said wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including adjustable brake means acting on said wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including a deflector tongue having a tip pointing in the upstream direction, said tongue being disposed between said gate means and said delivery tracks and being mounted for pivotal motion about an axis at a downstream end thereof whereby said tip can be oscillated substantially parallel to said conveying plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, including link means coupling said gate means and said deflector tongue for pivotal motion in unison but in opposite senses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including conveyor means for leading said article toward said receiving station along a conveying plane, said gate means being oscillated substantially parallel to said conveying plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mouths of the delivery tracks flare outwardly.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1923753A Cited
US2219827A Cited
US2455741A Cited
US2528196A Cited
US2627334A Cited
US2710089A Cited
US2847107A Cited
US2987251A Cited
US3193078A Cited
US3326349A Cited
US3822006A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-01-18 1980-07-19 1981-01-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-01-18 1984-07-19 1985-01-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-01-18 1988-07-19 1989-01-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag