USRE28535E
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging machine and method
Assignee: —
•
Filing: 1974-08-22
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1994-08-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates method and apparatus for the rapid and efficient packaging of clusters of articles, such as beverage containers, with a wrapping such as shrinkable plastic film or sheet. The containers are received at one end of a production line in random succession, are converted into groups or clusters appropriate for packaging, with the maximum dimension of the cluster transverse to the direction of conveyor movement. The clusters are then, in the course of their continuous movement along the conveyor, enveloped with sheet material which is paid out in the longitudinal direction of conveyor movement. In final passage of the conveyor through an oven, the sheet material is adhered to bind the envelopment and is shrunk into tensed limited conformance with the cluster profile.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B49/00; B65B49/14; B65B11/00; B65B11/06; B65B11/08; B65B11/10; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/44; B65B53/00; B65B53/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Means for continuously packaging like generally rectangularly prismatically arrayed clusters of articles, comprising elonated conveyor means for supporting and transporting a continuous succession of clusters in equally spaced relation, an elongated supply of flexible envelope sheet material of width exceeding the cluster width transverse to the direction of conveyor transport, sheet-engaging means applying sheet material in vertical register with said clusters and in longitudinal conformance with the direction of cluster transport along said conveyor means, means holding a part of said sheet material engaged to a part of one cluster during cluster passage through a limited region along said conveyor means, movable loop-forming means including a bar spanning the width of said sheet material, bar-positioning means synchronIzed with conveyor transport of said clusters and determining a path of bar movement in which said bar intercepts said sheet material and then pulls a loop of sheet material over a vertical displacement between said one cluster and the nextsucceeding cluster and to the extent of at least the vertical cluster dimension, said bar-positioning means being thereafter operative to horizontally displace said bar along a substantial fraction of the longitudinal extent of a vertical end of said one cluster, cut-off means synchronized with conveyor transport of said clusters and coacting with sheet material to transversely sever the same adjacent said bar when in said horizontally displaced relation to said one cluster, thereby defining from the severed halves of the loop a back panel in part enveloping said one cluster and a front panel in part enveloping the nextsucceeding cluster.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Means for continuously packaging like generally rectangularly prismatically arrayed clusters of articles, comprising elonated conveyor means for supporting and transporting a continuous succession of clusters in equally spaced relation, an elongated supply of flexible envelope sheet material of width exceeding the cluster width transverse to the direction of conveyor transport, sheet-engaging means applying sheet material in vertical register with said clusters and in longitudinal conformance with the direction of cluster transport along said conveyor means, means holding a part of said sheet material engaged to a part of one cluster during cluster passage through a limited region along said conveyor means, movable loop-forming means including a bar spanning the width of said sheet material, bar-positioning means synchronIzed with conveyor transport of said clusters and determining a path of bar movement in which said bar intercepts said sheet material and then pulls a loop of sheet material over a vertical displacement between said one cluster and the nextsucceeding cluster and to the extent of at least the vertical cluster dimension, said bar-positioning means being thereafter operative to horizontally displace said bar along a substantial fraction of the longitudinal extent of a vertical end of said one cluster, cut-off means synchronized with conveyor transport of said clusters and coacting with sheet material to transversely sever the same adjacent said bar when in said horizontally displaced relation to said one cluster, thereby defining from the severed halves of the loop a back panel in part enveloping said one cluster and a front panel in part enveloping the nextsucceeding cluster.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said bar has a local groove in its outer surface, said groove facing said cut-off means and said bar holding sheet material across the groove at the synchronized instant of cut-off coaction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
276 words
The method of continuously automatically grouping into like clusters and along a production conveyor a supply of like upstanding individual containers having cylindrical body parts, said method comprising confining the lateral limits within which containers pass along the conveyor, said limits successively defining a converted zone contiguous to a diverging zone, said converged zone being of effective lateral extent that is greater than twice but less than three times the effective container body diameter, whereby at said converged zone groups of three laterally adjacent containers tend naturally to be confined by each other and by the limits of the converged zone into a pattern of a center container symmetrically contacting each of two outer containers in longitudinally offset relation to the outer containers, said groups being longitudinally nested into contact relation with each other, said diverging zone expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, accelerating the longitudinal feed of the center containers with respect to movement of the outer containers as said container progress through said expanding zone, thereby causing the outer containers to laterally displace as the center containers overtake and become transversely aligned with the outer containers, and thereafter feeding in unison successive groups of transversely, aligned containers, said last feeding step being at a rate faster than that of container movement at the achievement of transverse alignment, whereby each successively fed group of transversely aligned containers is caused to establish a longitudinally spaced relation to the next succeeding group, and packaging the longitudinally spaced groups of containers by introducing enveloping material into the longitudinal spacing between container groups.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
276 words
The method of continuously automatically grouping into like clusters and along a production conveyor a supply of like upstanding individual containers having cylindrical body parts, said method comprising confining the lateral limits within which containers pass along the conveyor, said limits successively defining a converted zone contiguous to a diverging zone, said converged zone being of effective lateral extent that is greater than twice but less than three times the effective container body diameter, whereby at said converged zone groups of three laterally adjacent containers tend naturally to be confined by each other and by the limits of the converged zone into a pattern of a center container symmetrically contacting each of two outer containers in longitudinally offset relation to the outer containers, said groups being longitudinally nested into contact relation with each other, said diverging zone expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, accelerating the longitudinal feed of the center containers with respect to movement of the outer containers as said container progress through said expanding zone, thereby causing the outer containers to laterally displace as the center containers overtake and become transversely aligned with the outer containers, and thereafter feeding in unison successive groups of transversely, aligned containers, said last feeding step being at a rate faster than that of container movement at the achievement of transverse alignment, whereby each successively fed group of transversely aligned containers is caused to establish a longitudinally spaced relation to the next succeeding group, and packaging the longitudinally spaced groups of containers by introducing enveloping material into the longitudinal spacing between container groups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 3, in which the enveloping material is supplied as a sheet elongated in the direction of container movement, the material introduced into the longitudinal spacing being a double loop from said sheet and extent exceeding container height, and severing said material at the end of the loop, whereby for each doubled loop introduced into one of said spacings separate back and front panels will have been applied to the back of one aligned group and to the adjacent front of the next aligned group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4, comprising the further step of interconnecting the cut-off front and back ends of the sheet material contiguous to the front and back panels of one aligned group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 2, in which said cut-off means comprises a cut-off element supported for rotation about a fixed transversely extending axis and so synchronized with said bar-positioning means as to intercept sheet material for cut-off in the region within angular limIts of said groove.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
286 words
The method of continuously automatically grouping into like clusters and along a production conveyor a supply of like upstanding individual containers having cylindrical body parts, said method comprising confining the lateral limits within which containers pass along the conveyor, said limits successively defining a converged zone contiguous to a diverging zone, said converged zone being of effective lateral extent that is greater than twice but less than three times the effective container body diameter, whereby at said converged zone groups of three laterally adjacent containers tend naturally to be confined by each other and by the limits of the converged zone into a pattern of a center container symmetrically contacting each of two outer containers in longitudinally offset relation to the outer containers, said groups being longitudinally nested into contact relation with each other, said diverging zone expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, accelerating the longitudinal feed of the center containers with respect to movement of the outer containers as said containers progress through said expanding zone, thereby causing the outer containers to laterally displace as the center containers overtake and become transversely aligned with the outer containers, and thereafter feeding in unison successive groups of transversely aligned containers, said last feeding step being operative on aligned groups at alternate alignments thereof and at a rate faster than that of container movement of the achievement of transverse alignment, whereby each successively fed group comprises a two-by-three cluster of six containers which is caused to establish a longitudinally spaced relation to the next succeeding cluster, and packaging said clusters of containers by introducing enveloping material into the longitudinal spacing between clusters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
286 words
The method of continuously automatically grouping into like clusters and along a production conveyor a supply of like upstanding individual containers having cylindrical body parts, said method comprising confining the lateral limits within which containers pass along the conveyor, said limits successively defining a converged zone contiguous to a diverging zone, said converged zone being of effective lateral extent that is greater than twice but less than three times the effective container body diameter, whereby at said converged zone groups of three laterally adjacent containers tend naturally to be confined by each other and by the limits of the converged zone into a pattern of a center container symmetrically contacting each of two outer containers in longitudinally offset relation to the outer containers, said groups being longitudinally nested into contact relation with each other, said diverging zone expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, accelerating the longitudinal feed of the center containers with respect to movement of the outer containers as said containers progress through said expanding zone, thereby causing the outer containers to laterally displace as the center containers overtake and become transversely aligned with the outer containers, and thereafter feeding in unison successive groups of transversely aligned containers, said last feeding step being operative on aligned groups at alternate alignments thereof and at a rate faster than that of container movement of the achievement of transverse alignment, whereby each successively fed group comprises a two-by-three cluster of six containers which is caused to establish a longitudinally spaced relation to the next succeeding cluster, and packaging said clusters of containers by introducing enveloping material into the longitudinal spacing between clusters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said sheet material is a heat-sensitive plastic and in which cut-off means includes heated means having transient local engagement with said sheet material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 6, in which said cut-off means further includes a transversely extending tensioning bar in such phase-offset relation to said cut-off element as to have engaged and locally elevated the tension of sheet material across said groove at the time of cut-off.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said substantial fraction is at least substantially one-half said longitudinal extent, whereby severance by said cut-off means is operative to define end flaps of length adequate to overlap said vertical end of each successive cluster, and flap-folding means synchronized with cluster transport and operative after cut-off to apply the front and rear flaps of each cluster into overlapping relation along the said vertical end thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 10, and including means synchronized with cluster transport and securing said overlapped flaps to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 11, in which said sheet material includes a surface with thermally sensitive adherent properties, and in which said securing means includes means transiently supplying heat to at least a part of the overlapped flaps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 12, in which said sheet material is heat-shrinkable and in which said securing means comprises an oven served by said conveyor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said sheet material supply comprises a reel supported for rotation about an axis transverse to and vertically offset from the path of cluster transport along said conveyor means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 10, in which said flap-folding means includes compressed-air jet means positioned to lay the back flap along the said vertical end of each sUccessively passing cluster.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 10, in which shoe means carried by said machine at a location forward of operation of said air-jet means is poised to intercept and fold the front flap along said vertical end of each successively passing cluster, in reaction to transported movement of each cluster past said shoe means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said sheet material supply is above the path of cluster movement along said conveyor means, and in which said bar engages said sheet material from above to thereby pull the loop downwardly between clusters and in forwardly overtaking relation along the bottom of said one cluster.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 17, in which said conveyor includes a continuously driven endless loop synchronized with cluster transport and having a span beneath the path of cluster movement and forward of the cutoff location, said endless loop including cluster-supporting elements positioned to engage and contribute to the support of clusters entering and passing said span, said elements including means positioned to hold the cut-off end of the back panel against the bottom of each cluster.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 17, in which said conveyor includes a continuously driven endless loop synchronized with cluster transport and having a span beneath the path of cluster movement and embracing at least substantially (a) the location of bar displacement below the bottom plane of cluster support and (b) the location of cut-off, said endless loop including cluster-supporting elements positioned to engage and contribute to the support of clusters entering and passing said span, said cluster-supporting elements being spaced and positioned along said endless looop to avoid interference with said bar.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 19, in which said bar-positioning means is further operative after cut-off to retard its forward movement with respect to said one cluster until in vertical register with the space between said one cluster and the next succeeding cluster, and to thereafter retract vertically upwardly in said space and into clearance relation with the path of cluster movement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said bar-positioning means includes an endless loop of linked bar-supporting elements, and in which said bar is one of a plurality, spaced along said endless loop in accordance with bar-coaction requirements at successive spaces between successive clusters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 21, in which said bar-positioning means includes for each bar a bar-offsetting arm pivotally connected to a part of said loop, the pivot axes being transverse to the conveyor transport direction, and cam-and-follower elements reacting between said arms and fixed references to said machine in the course of endless-loop movement, whereby said bars are positioned in variably offset relation to the path of endless-loop movement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 22, in which a cluster-spacing bar is carried on each pivot axis in parallel offset relation to said loop-forming bars.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 23, in which said bar-positioning means includes for each bar-offsetting arm an auxiliary arm which is the means of pivotally connecting said offsetting arm to a part of said loop, said offsetting arm being pivotally connected to said auxiliary arm and said auxiliary arm being pivotally connected to a part of said loop, and cam-and-follower elements reacting between said auxiliary arms and fixed references to said machine in the course of endless-loop movement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 21, in which said conveyor means includes an upper endless loop driven in synchronized relation with cluster transport and including a span above and overlapping the cluster-wrapping region, said upper endless loop includinG container-stabilizing elements spaced in accordance with the spacing of corresponding parts of passing clusters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 25, in which said container-stabilizing elements include cluster-spacing bars in longitudinally spaced interlaced relation with container hold-down elements.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
274 words
The method of packaging successive like clusters of articles in the course of transport in longitudinally spaced relation along a continuously moving path of cluster transport, which comprises supporting an elongated stretch of flexible envelope sheet material over a plurality of adjacent clusters, pulling a first loop of the sheet material down into through and beyond a first space between a first cluster and a next succeeding second cluster, holding part of the (lead end) first loop of said material fast relative to (a) the first cluster, pulling a (first) second loop of sheet material down into through and beyond (the) a second space between said (first) second cluster and the next-succeeding (second) third cluster, the extent of the first loop pull-through past said first space being at least one half the longitudinal extent of a cluster, severing the first loop to define similar but separate cluster-side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster, whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of (the) a newly formed lead end of said material, holding part of said newly formed lead end of said material fast to said second cluster, pulling a (second) third loop of sheet material down into through and beyond (the) a third space between said (second) third cluster and (the) a next-succeeding (third) fourth cluster, to the extent of pull-through of said first loop, severing said second loop in the manner of severing said first loop and securing to each other (the) severed ends of said first and second loops at the front and back of said second cluster.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
274 words
The method of packaging successive like clusters of articles in the course of transport in longitudinally spaced relation along a continuously moving path of cluster transport, which comprises supporting an elongated stretch of flexible envelope sheet material over a plurality of adjacent clusters, pulling a first loop of the sheet material down into through and beyond a first space between a first cluster and a next succeeding second cluster, holding part of the (lead end) first loop of said material fast relative to (a) the first cluster, pulling a (first) second loop of sheet material down into through and beyond (the) a second space between said (first) second cluster and the next-succeeding (second) third cluster, the extent of the first loop pull-through past said first space being at least one half the longitudinal extent of a cluster, severing the first loop to define similar but separate cluster-side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster, whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of (the) a newly formed lead end of said material, holding part of said newly formed lead end of said material fast to said second cluster, pulling a (second) third loop of sheet material down into through and beyond (the) a third space between said (second) third cluster and (the) a next-succeeding (third) fourth cluster, to the extent of pull-through of said first loop, severing said second loop in the manner of severing said first loop and securing to each other (the) severed ends of said first and second loops at the front and back of said second cluster.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 27, in which said secured ends are secured after first overlapping the same at the bottom of said second cluster.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 28, in which said overlapped ends are arranged with the end of the front panel outside of and overlapping the end of the rear panel of said second cluster.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 28, in which said sheet material is of heat-shrinkable plastic, and in which the wrapped cluster is transiently exposed to a heated environment after overlapping said ends.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 30, in which the width of said plastic sheet exceeds the overall cluster width and is positioned over the path of cluster movement so as to project excess sheet material substantially symmetrically beyond both lateral limits of said clusters, whereby upon shrinking said projecting ends reduce to inwardly retain the cluster contents.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30, in which spaced localized punctures are applied to the sheet material at the top end of said cluster after end-overlap and prior to heated-environment exposure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 32, in which said clusters are two-by-three groupings of like cylindrical containers, thereby defining a first totally enclosed space column between a first outer two containers and the central two containers, and also defining a second similar space column between the other outer two containers and the central two containers, said punctures being respectively located within the intercepts of said space columns with the enveloping sheet material.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
347 words
The method of packaging successive clusters of articles in the course of transport in longitudinally spaced relation along a continuously moving path of cluster transport, said clusters being of like extent in the longitudinal direction of cluster transport, which comprises supporting a stretch of flexible envelope sheet material above the path of cluster movement, pulling a first loop of sheet material down into through and beyond the space between a first cluster and the next-succeeding second cluster, the extent of loop pull-through past said space being at least one-half the longitudinal extent of a cluster and in the direction of cluster transport and immediately adjacent the bottom of said first cluster(,) whereby sheet material is applied first to the bottom of the trailing half of said first cluster, (severing the loop to define similar but separate cluster-side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster, whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of a newly formed lead end of said material,) holding part of said (newly formed lead end) sheet material fast relative to said second cluster, pulling a second loop of sheet material down into through and beyond the space between said second cluster and (the) a next-succeeding third cluster(,) to the previously stated extent of said first loop pull-through to apply sheet material to the bottom of the trailing half of said second cluster, severing the first loop to define similar but separate cluster side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of a newly formed lead end of said material , severing said second loop in the manner of severing said first loop to form a further lead end , and lapping said first-mentioned lead end over the forward half of the bottom of said second cluster and in overlapped relation with the material applied to the bottom of the second cluster trailing half (lapped) by said second loop pull-through.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
347 words
The method of packaging successive clusters of articles in the course of transport in longitudinally spaced relation along a continuously moving path of cluster transport, said clusters being of like extent in the longitudinal direction of cluster transport, which comprises supporting a stretch of flexible envelope sheet material above the path of cluster movement, pulling a first loop of sheet material down into through and beyond the space between a first cluster and the next-succeeding second cluster, the extent of loop pull-through past said space being at least one-half the longitudinal extent of a cluster and in the direction of cluster transport and immediately adjacent the bottom of said first cluster(,) whereby sheet material is applied first to the bottom of the trailing half of said first cluster, (severing the loop to define similar but separate cluster-side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster, whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of a newly formed lead end of said material,) holding part of said (newly formed lead end) sheet material fast relative to said second cluster, pulling a second loop of sheet material down into through and beyond the space between said second cluster and (the) a next-succeeding third cluster(,) to the previously stated extent of said first loop pull-through to apply sheet material to the bottom of the trailing half of said second cluster, severing the first loop to define similar but separate cluster side panels respectively adjacent the rear vertical side of said first cluster and the front vertical side of said second cluster whereby said front vertical side panel becomes part of a newly formed lead end of said material , severing said second loop in the manner of severing said first loop to form a further lead end , and lapping said first-mentioned lead end over the forward half of the bottom of said second cluster and in overlapped relation with the material applied to the bottom of the second cluster trailing half (lapped) by said second loop pull-through.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 34, in which a flow of pressurized air is directed on the severed end of material pulled through and immediately adjacent the cluster bottoms at least at the instant prior to said step of lapping said first-mentioned lead end.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
122 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which the path of conveyor transport is generally horizontal and said sheet material supply is above the path of cluster transport, said bar being downwardly displaced and forwardly displaced along and in local bottom-supporting relation with clustered containers in the course of loop pull-out, said conveyor means including a second bar extending transverse to the conveyor transport direction and positioned in local supporting relation with clustered containers, and drive means determining a path of forward movement of said second bar at a rate faster than the speed of cluster transport and phased ahead of and adjacent the forward-advancing movement of said loop pull-out bar, whereby said bars share in the transient support of container clusters.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 36, in which said second bar is positioned to engage and locally support clustered containers prior to completion of passage of said loop pull-out bar through the space between clusters.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 37, in which said second bar is one of a plurality of similar spaced bars carried by an endless conveyor system synchronized with drive of said bar-positioning means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
261 words
The method of claim 27, in which said clusters are longitudinally spaced two-by-three groupings of like cylindrical containers, aligNed as two adjacent rows of three, and extending transverse to the path of cluster transport; said clusters being formed from a continuous supply of the containers by passing the containers through a confining converged zone contiguous to a diverging zone, said converged zone being of effective lateral extent that is greater than twice but less than three times the effective container body diameter, whereby at said converged zone groups of three laterally adjacent containers tend naturally to be confined to each other and by the limits of the converged zone into a pattern of a center container symmetrically contacting each of two outer containers in longitudinally offset relation to the outer containers, said groups being longitudinally nested into contact relation with each other, said diverging zone expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, and transiently accelerating the longitudinal feed of every other center container with respect to movement of the outer containers as said containers progress through said expanding zone, thereby causing the outer containers to laterally displace as the center containers overtake and become transversely aligned with the outer containers, and thereby also causing each cluster of six containers to longitudinally separate from the next-adjacent such cluster, the first and second loops of flexible sheet material being respectively pulled through the longitudinal separations between first and second adjacent clusters and between second and third adjacent clusters.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
242 words
Continuous-packaging means according to claim 1, in which said articles are like upstanding cylindrical containers and in which said conveyor means include side-rail means defining spaced lateral limits of said conveyor means along a portion of the length thereof in advance of the region of said loop-pulling vertical displacement of said bar, said rail means being laterally spaced in a converged region of effective width between two and three times the effective container-body diameter, said rail means including a diverging region issuing from said converged region and expanding in the direction of container movement to a lateral extent which is at least three times the effective container body diameter, first feed means operative to feed containers through said converged region in a continuous regular pattern in which centrally aligned containers are longitudinally offset from and symmetrically contact adjacent outer containers in spaced longitudinal alignments of outer containers, second feed means operative throughout said diverging region to feed center containers at a rate so differing from the rate of feed of corresponding adjacent outer containers that, at that point in the diverging region where the lateral extent becomes substantially three times the effective container diameter, the center containers become substantially transversely aligned in a cluster with corresponding adjacent outer containers, and third feed means operative to feed successive clusters in unison and in longitudinally spaced relation to and through the region in which said bar is vertically entered in the space between clusters.
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) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |