Back to results
US 9,540,183 B2Granted
Nestable transport members and a corresponding track
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsClifford Theodore Papsdorf, Hilde Cloostermans-Huwaert, Andre De Saert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for advancing articles or tooling includes a frame having a first portion and a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion. The first and second portions each comprise an outer track and an inner track that extend parallel with the outer track. The outer and inner tracks define a machine direction. The apparatus includes a first transport member and as second transport member. The first and second transport members are defined by a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion separating the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions of the first and second transport members are at least partially nestable.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame comprising a first portion and a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion, wherein the first and second portions each comprise an outer track and an inner track that extend parallel with the outer track, wherein the outer and inner tracks define a machine direction;
- a transport member defined by a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion separating the first and second end portions, wherein the transport member is configured to advance in the machine direction about a closed travel path, wherein the transport member comprises:
- first and second outer translation rollers operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the first portion of the frame;
- first and second inner translation rollers operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the first portion of the frame, wherein the first outer translation roller, the second outer translation roller, the first inner translation roller, and the second inner translation roller are spaced apart in the machine direction;
- third and fourth outer translation rollers operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the second portion of the frame;
- third and fourth inner translation rollers operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the second portion of the frame, wherein the third outer translation roller, the fourth outer translation roller, the third inner translation roller, and the fourth inner translation roller are spaced apart in the machine direction.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame comprising a first portion and a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion, wherein the first and second portions each comprise an outer track and an inner track that extends parallel with the outer track, wherein the outer and inner tracks define a machine direction;
- a first transport member;
- a second transport member, wherein each of the first and second transport members are defined by a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion separating the first and second end portions, wherein each of the first and second transport members are configured to advance in the machine direction about a closed travel path, wherein the first and second transport members each comprise:
- a first outer translation roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the first portion of the frame;
- a first inner translation roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the first portion of the frame;
- a second outer translation roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the second portion of the frame;
- and
- a second inner translation roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the second portion of the frame,
- wherein the first and second transport members are selectively positionable in first and second configurations, wherein in the first configuration the first and second outer translation rollers of the first transport members are spaced apart in the machine direction from the first and second inner translation rollers of the second transport member, wherein in the second configuration the first and second outer translation rollers of the first transport member are at substantially the same machine-directional position as the first and second inner translation rollers of the second transport member.
6 more elements
An article grouping apparatus comprising:
- a frame comprising a first portion and a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion, wherein the first and second portions each comprise an outer track and an inner track that extends parallel with the outer track, wherein the outer and inner tracks define a machine direction, and wherein the outer tracks each comprise a horizontal outer track surface and a vertical outer track surface that is orthogonal to the horizontal outer track surface, and wherein the inner tracks each comprise a horizontal inner track surface and a vertical inner track surface that is orthogonal to the horizontal inner track surface,
- a first transport member;
- a second transport member, wherein each of the first and second transport members are defined by a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion separating the first and second end portions, wherein each of the first and second transport members are configured to advance in the machine direction about a closed travel path, wherein the first and second transport members each comprise:
- a first outer translation roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the first portion of the frame;
- a first outer vertical roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the first portion of the frame;
- a first inner translation roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the first portion of the frame;
- a first inner vertical roller operatively connected with the first end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the first portion of the frame;
- a second outer translation roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the second portion of the frame;
- a second outer vertical roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the second portion of the frame;
- a second inner translation roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the inner track of the second portion of the frame;
- and
- a second inner vertical roller operatively connected with the second end portion of the transport member and operatively engaged with the outer track of the second portion of the frame,
- wherein the first and second outer translation rollers are operatively engaged with the horizontal outer track surfaces, the first and second inner translation rollers are operatively engaged with the horizontal inner track surfaces, the first and second outer vertical rollers are operatively engaged with the vertical outer track surfaces, and the first and second inner vertical rollers are operatively engaged with the vertical inner track surfaces.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.