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US 3,938,645 AGranted
Gable-top carton transfer apparatus and method
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorSilvio T. Farfaglia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Gable-top cartons are transferred from a first station to a second station by means of a transfer mechanism employing a clamp having opposing jaws which grip the sealed top of a container, holding the container while it is being moved from the first station to the second station, and releasing the container when it has arrived at its desired location in the second station.
Claims16
Transfer means for moving a container from a first station to a second station, said transfer means comprising:
- clamp means comprising first and second jaw means rotationally and longitudinally movable on respective first and second supporting shafts, each said jaw means having a cam follower means operably attached thereto,
- means for moving said clamp means between said first and second stations,
- an actuating shaft means having a smaller diameter first segment and a larger diameter second segment,
- means for closing said clamp means at said first station to grasp the top of a container, said means for closing comprising means for forcing longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing each of said cam follower means in contact with one of said first and second segments of said actuating shaft means, and
- means for opening said clamp means at said second station to release said container, said means for opening comprising means for forcing longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing each of said cam follower means in contact with the other of said first and second segments of said actuating shaft means.
2 more elements
Apparatus for transporting a gable-top container, said apparatus comprising:
- an intermittently actuated conveyor for forwarding a container to a first station located thereon:
- a continuously actuated conveyor having a second station located thereon;
- and
- transfer means for moving a container from said first station to said second station, said transfer means comprising:
- clamp means comprising first and second jaw means rotationally and longitudinally movable on respective first and second supporting shafts, each said jaw means having a cam follower rigidly attached thereto;
- means for moving said clamp means between said first and second stations;
- an actuating shaft having a smaller diameter segment and a larger diameter segment;
- means for closing said clamp means at said first station to grasp the top of a container, said means for closing comprising a first stop means located adjacent said first station, said first stop means being adapted to contact said first and second jaw means to force longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing said cam followers in contact with said larger diameter segment of said actuating shaft;
- and
- means for opening said clamp means at said second station to release said container, said means for opening comprising a second stop means located adjacent said second station, said second stop means being adapted to contact said first and second jaw means to force longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing said cam followers in contact with said smaller diameter segment of said actuating shaft.
7 more elements
A method of conveying a filled and closed gable-top container, said method comprising:
- moving said filled container to a first station,
- positioning a clamp means having two opposing jaw means so that the top of said container is between opposing portions of said jaw means,
- moving each of said jaw means longitudinally with respect to a respective jaw means supporting shaft to a first longitudinal position at which a closure means associated with each said jaw means is in contact with a first segment of an actuating means thereby rotating each said jaw means about its respective supporting shaft to grasp the top of said container,
- removing said clamp means grasping said container to a second station,
- moving each of said jaw means longitudinally with respect to said respective supporting shafts to a second longitudinal position at which said closure means associated with each said jaw means contacts a second segment of said actuating means thereby rotating each said jaw means about its respective supporting shaft to release said container, and
- transporting said filled container from said second station.
3 more elements
Apparatus for transferring a gable-top container from a first station to a second station, said apparatus comprising:
- clamp means comprising first and second jaw means rotationally and longitudinally movable on respective first and second supporting shafts, each said jaw means having a cam follower rigidly attached thereto;
- means for moving said clamp means between said first and second stations;
- an actuating shaft having a smaller diameter segment and a larger diameter segment;
- means for closing said clamp means at said first station to grasp the top of a container, said means for closing comprising a first stop means located adjacent said first station, said first stop means being adapted to contact said first and second jaw means to force longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing said cam followers in contact with said larger diameter segment of said actuating shaft;
- and
- means for opening said clamp means at said second station to release said container, said means for opening comprising a second stop means located adjacent said second station, said second stop means being adapted to contact said first and second jaw means to force longitudinal movement of said first and second jaw means along said first and second supporting shafts thereby bringing said cam followers in contact with said smaller diameter segment of said actuating shaft.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.