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US 3,990,209 AGranted
Machine and method for transferring predetermined numbers of items
AssigneeSolbern Inc.
InventorBernard C. Eisenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer type of product filling machine includes means for delivering items of substantially uniform size to an intermediate receptacle for subsequent transfer to an ultimate container. The intermediate receptacle is subdivided into separate product receiving volumes, each receiving volume being sized to hold a predetermined small number of the items. The total capacity of the receptacle is exactly equal to the number of items to be delivered to the ultimate container.
Claims12
A method for transferring a predetermined number of items from a filling station to each of a plurality of containers at a discharge station, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying a line of intermediate receptacles past the filling station to the discharge station, each receptacle having at least one open-bottomed pocket, the cross-sectional dimensions and depth of said pocket accommodating exactly a preselected fraction of the predetermined number of items to be transferred to each container stacked directly on top of each other, the preselected fraction being equal to the reciprocal of a preselected integer;
- placing the bottom of each receptacle in sliding contact with a stationary dead plate that extends from the start of the filling station along the path of the receptacles and terminates at the discharge station;
- delivering a reserve supply of the items to the bottom of a rotating drum that surrounds the filling station with its axis extending generally in the path of movement of the receptacles past the filling station;
- raising the items as the drum rotates to a location above the filling station;
- delivering the items by gravity from the drum at said location along a broad inclined path transverse to a substantially straight line of the receptacles at the filling location, the items being distributed approximately uniformly across the width of the path and being delivered at a rate sufficient to assure filling all the pockets of the receptacles as they pass the filling station;
- removing from the tops of the receptacles any items in excess of the predetermined number of items required to fill the pockets;
- conveying the filled intermediate receptacles to the discharge station;
- conveying a plurality of open containers in synchronism with the movement of the intermediate receptacles to a location at the discharge station relative to the intermediate receptacles for receiving the items;
- moving each receptacle in sequence past the end of the dead plate;
- and
- discharging the predetermined number of items from a number of the intermediate receptacles equal to said preselected integer into each of the plurality of containers.
8 more elements
A machine for transferring a predetermined number of items of substantially uniform size from a filling station to each of a plurality of containers at a discharge station comprising:
- a plurality of intermediate receptacles for receiving the items to be transferred, each receptacle having at least one open-bottomed, vertically-sided pocket, the cross-sectional dimensions and the depth of each pocket being selected to accommodate exactly a preselected small number of the items stacked directly on top of each other, said small number being equal to a reciprocal preselected integer fraction of the predetermined number of items to be transferred to each container;
- an endless conveyor arranged for travelling in a continuous circuit from the filling station to the discharge station;
- means for fastening the plurality of receptacles to the conveyor for transport in a line along the continuous circuit;
- an inclined chute having a substantially straight lower edge extending alongside the path of the receptacles at the filling station adjacent the pockets in the receptacles;
- an open-ended drum surrounding the filling station with the axis of the drum extending generally in the direction of the path of movement of the receptacles past the filling station;
- means supporting the drum for rotation about its axis;
- means for delivering a reserve supply of the items to the bottom of the drum;
- means spaced circumferentially around the interior of the drum for raising portions of the items in the bottom of the drum and for delivering them to the chute as the drum rotates;
- means for rotating the drum at a speed sufficient to deliver items to the chute at a rate that assures filling the pockets of the receptacles as they pass the filling station;
- means for laterally shaking the receptacles during at least the latter portion of their travel past the filling station to assist in placing the exact small number of items in each pocket and to shake off any excess items from the tops of the receptacles;
- a stationary dead plate positioned for sliding contact with the bottoms of the receptacles through the portion of the conveyor circuit from the start of the filling station to the discharge station, the dead plate terminating at the discharge station for allowing the transferred items to drop through the open bottoms of the receptacle pockets;
- and
- means synchronized with the movement of the receptacles past the discharge station for positioning each one of the plurality of containers for receiving the total predetermined number of items discharged from a number of the pockets in said receptacles equal to said preselected integer.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.