Article feeder
AssigneeComputron, Inc.
InventorsRaymond W. MacFarland, Orvin M. Benson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for conveying similarly shaped articles in a single file is disclosed comprising drive and return conveyors with said drive conveyor having a loading portion and a discharge portion. A plurality of similarly shaped articles are loaded at the loading portion of the drive conveyor. A separator separates the articles in a single file on the drive conveyor and ejects articles from the drive conveyor which vary from the single file. The return conveyor forms an angle relative to the drive conveyor for receiving the ejected articles from the drive conveyor to return the ejected articles on the return conveyor to the drive conveyor.
Claims22
A machine for receiving similarly shaped articles from a loading station and discharging the articles in a single file, comprising in combination:
- conveyance means having a drive and a return conveyor means with said drive conveyor means having a loading portion and a discharge portion;
- motor means for moving said conveyance means for enabling conveyance of the articles from said loading portion to said discharge portion of said drive conveyor means and discharging the articles therefrom;
- first means mounting said drive conveyor means for receiving the similarly shaped articles from the loading station at said loading portion of said drive conveyor means;
- separator means including said conveyance means for separating the articles in a single file on said drive conveyor means and for ejecting the articles from said drive conveyor means which vary from a single file;
- said return conveyor means having a first longitudinal side,
- said drive conveyor means having a second longitudinal side,
- second means for mounting said return conveyor means with said first longitudinal side thereof in a first vertical plane closely adjacent a second vertical plane containing said second longitudinal side of said drive conveyor means,
- said first and second mounting means relatively mounting said drive and return conveyor means so that the longitudinal dimensions thereof are at an angle relative to each other and crossing at an intermediate point enabling said ejected articles to fall by action of gravity from said drive conveyor means to said return conveyor means and conveyed thereby to a higher elevation than said drive conveyor means to fall by action of gravity to return to said loading portion of said drive conveyor means,
- said drive conveyor means having a V-shape in transverse cross-section at said loading portion to aid in containing the articles,
- said return conveyor means including a first and a second return conveyor mounted adjacent a first and said second side of said drive conveyor means, respectively,
- and said return and drive conveyor means together are substantially V-shaped in transverse cross-section at the intermediate crossing point of said return and drive conveyor means.
A machine for receiving similarly shaped articles from a loading station and discharging the articles in a single file, comprising in combination:
- conveyance means having a drive and a return conveyor means with said drive conveyor means having a loading portion and a discharge portion;
- motor means for moving said conveyance means for enabling conveyance of the articles from said loading portion to said discharge portion of said drive conveyor means and discharging the articles therefrom;
- first means mounting said drive conveyor means for receiving the similarly shaped articles from the loading station at said loading portion of said drive conveyor means;
- separator means including said conveyance means for separating the articles in a single file on said drive conveyor means and for ejecting the articles from said drive conveyor means which vary from a single file;
- said return conveyor means having a first longitudinal side,
- said drive conveyor means having a second longitudinal side,
- second means for mounting said return conveyor means with said first longitudinal side thereof in a first vertical plane closely adjacent a second vertical plane containing said second longitudinal side of said drive conveyor means,
- said first and second mounting means relatively mounting said drive and return conveyor means so that the longitudinal dimensions thereof are at an angle relative to each other and crossing at an intermediate point enabling said ejected articles to fall by action of gravity from said drive conveyor means to said return conveyor means and conveyed thereby to a higher elevation than said drive conveyor means to fall by action of gravity to return to said loading portion of said drive conveyor means,
- said drive conveyor means having a V-shape in transverse cross-section at said loading portion to aid in containing the articles,
- said return conveyor means including a first and a second return conveyor mounted adjacent a first and said second side of said drive conveyor means, respectively,
- and said return and drive conveyor means together have a substantially V-shaped transverse cross-section at said loading portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.