Drop pocket system and method for reorienting flat articles
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsEdward Engarto, Robert J. Felice, Patrick J. Fitzgibbons, Drew D. Havholm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drop pocket system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by horizontally receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles, sensing reception of each flat article, engaging each sensed flat article, accelerating each engaged flat article into substantially downward movement, and conveying each flat article with the downward movement into a substantially horizontal orientation and movement.
Claims9
A drop pocket system for reorienting flat articles in a serial input stream, comprising:
- a drop pocket located to receive a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented, flat articles;
- a drive mechanism adapted to controllably accelerate flat articles located within said drop pocket in a substantially downward direction;
- and
- an effective curved path channel located to receive flat articles moved in a substantially downward direction from said drive mechanism and shaped to convey such received flat articles toward a substantially horizontal orientation,
- wherein said drop pocket includes an inclined element located to impart rotational movement to each flat article entering said drop pocket using the horizontal movement thereof, and further wherein said drop pocket includes an inclined member located to receive each flat article and stop rotational movement thereof.
A drop pocket system for reorienting flat articles in a serial input stream, comprising:
- a drop pocket located to receive a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented, flat articles;
- a drive mechanism adapted to controllably accelerate flat articles located in said drop pocket substantially downwardly;
- and
- an effective curved path channel including a driven conveyor located to receive flat articles moved substantially downwardly from said drive mechanism and shaped to convey such received flat articles toward a substantially horizontal orientation,
- said driven conveyor including:
- a lower, flexible belt conveyor located to support flat articles along an entire length of said effective curved path channel;
- and
- an upper, flexible belt conveyor including a supported driven axle, at least one free axle, and at least one flexible belt engaged by said driven axle and said at least one free axle,
- wherein said at least one free axle is supported from and kept parallel to said driven axle and has a location which is angularly movable relative to said driven axle, and
- further wherein said at least one free axle is adapted to place force on said lower, flexible belt conveyor and any flat articles located between said lower, flexible belt conveyor and said at least one free axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.