US 4,069,960 AGranted

Apparatus for inserting sticks into articles

OwnerThomas F. Lowranceinventor

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Abstract

For inserting sticks into wieners or other articles, the apparatus includes: a wiener holder having an array of side-by-side wiener chambers; a stick box including an array of side-by-side feed grooves aligned with the wiener chambers; a push rod assembly including an array of side-by-side push rods for pushing the sticks from the feed grooves into the wiener chambers; and a power mechanism for reciprocating the push rod assembly. The stick box includes means for supporting and guiding respective stacks of sticks for each feed groove. The feed grooves are T-shaped in cross-section having a bar portion for accommodating flat sticks in free sliding relation; and the grooves accommodating push rods having a corresponding T-shaped cross-section for free sliding, reciprocating movement in the feed grooves. The push rods are held in a push bar with a clearance fit for self-guidance through these grooves. The push bar is reciprocated by double acting air cylinders on guide shafts, and includes coacting linear ball bearings. The longitudinal axes of the wiener chambers, the feed grooves, the push rods, and push bar guide shafts are carefully aligned in a common plane. The apparatus will handle round sticks also.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticks into articles comprising

an article holder having a plurality of chambers, each dimensioned to receive a single article;
said chambers being disposed in side-by-side relation;
a stick box including means defining a plurality of feed grooves at the base thereof, disposed in parallel side-by-side relation and in longitudinal alignment with respective article chambers, and means for supporting stacked sticks overlying each feed groove;
a push rod assembly comprising a push bar and a plurality of elongated push rods, said push rods being supported by said push bar in parallel side-by-side relation and in alignment with respective feed grooves;
means for reciprocating said push rod assembly to reciprocate said push rods in said feed grooves;
said feed grooves each having a T-shaped cross-section including a bar portion and a stem portion;
said push rods each having a T-shaped cross-section including a bar portion and a stem portion, said push rods being dimensionsed to be received in said feed grooves with a free sliding clearance fit;
said push bar comprising the assembly of an elongated holder bar and clamp bar having contiguous faces;
parallel holder grooves formed in at least one of said bars opening to its contiguous face;
each holder groove having T-shaped cross-section, including a bar portion and a stem portion, and being dimensioned to fully receive a push rod with a clearance fit;
said clamp bar being secured to said holder bar in overlying relation to enclose said holder grooves;
said push bar having bearing means for engagement with the proximal ends of said push rods, and retaining means for retaining said push rods within said holder grooves.

9 more elements

Apparatus for inserting elongated sticks into articles comprising

an article holder having a plurality of chambers, each dimensioned to receive a single article;
said chambers being disposed in side-by-side relation;
a stick box including means defining a plurality of feed grooves at the base thereof, disposed in parallel side-by-side relation and in longitudinal alignment with respective article chambers, and means for supporting stacked sticks overlying each feed groove;
a push rod assembly comprising a push bar and a plurality of elongated push rods, said push rods being supported by said push bar in parallel side-by-side relation and in alignment with respective feed grooves;
means for reciprocating said push rod assembly to reciprocate said push rods in said feed grooves;
said feed grooves each having a T-shaped cross-section including a bar portion and a stem portion;
said push rods each having a T-shaped cross-section including a bar portion and a stem portion, said push rods being dimensioned to be received in said feed grooves with a free sliding clearance fit;
including parallel guide shafts for supporting said push bar, said guide shafts being disposed in parallel relation to said push rods;
and said push bar including linear ball bearings coacting with said guide shafts for guiding the reciprocating movement of said push rod assembly.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.