Perforation Tensile Separation of Packages
OwnerLeslie A. Voss, Edward R. Kernickinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are package separators and methods for using package separators to separate package strips or arrays. An example package separator includes a chassis and a sled that includes a plurality of package seats, where the plurality of package seats is configured to accept a package strip, and where the sled is configured to slide into the chassis.
Claims32
A package separator for separating a package strip, comprising:
- a plurality of pin slots;
- and
- a plurality of arms, each comprising:
- an arm pin configured to slide along a pin slot of the plurality of pin slots;
- and
- a package seat configured to accept a package of the package strip,
- wherein the package separator is configured to apply lateral tension across the package strip in a direction orthogonal to a perforation line of the package strip.
The package separator of any preceding claim, wherein when the arm pin slides along the pin slot, the arm pin shifts towards a central longitudinal axis of the package separator.
A package separator, comprising:
- a chassis;
- and
- a sled comprising:
- a first package seat on a first arm;
- a second package seat on a second arm;
- and
- a third package seat disposed between the first package seat and the second package seat.
A package separator for separating a package strip into a plurality of packages, comprising:
- a nest guide rail;
- a plurality of package nests configured to accept the package strip, comprising:
- a first package nest;
- and
- a last package nest slidably affixed to the nest guide rail;
- a piston, comprising:
- a piston body affixed to the first package nest;
- and
- a piston rod affixed to the last package nest.
A method for separating a package strip, comprising:
- inserting the package strip into a plurality of package seats;
- causing a plurality of arm pins affixed to the package seats to slide through a plurality of pin slots disposed along a central longitudinal axis;
- and
- separating the plurality of package seats in a direction substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis.
A method for separating a package strip into a plurality of packages, comprising:
- inserting the package strip into a sled of a package separator;
- and
- sliding the sled into a chassis of the package separator, wherein sliding the sled into the chassis causes the package strip to separate into the plurality of packages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.