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US 9,802,720 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for maintaining a pattern of non-rigid objects in a desired position and orientation
AssigneeFrito-Lay North America, Inc.
InventorsDarin James Baylor, Kevin L Cote, Mark T Maldonado
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for maintaining a pattern of non-rigid objects in a desired position and orientation. The first surface, second surface, and third surface are mutually orthogonal and meet at a point to form a lowest corner. The second and third surfaces are supported by, attached to and extend at least somewhat vertically from the apparatus. The first surface is oriented at an angle to a plane running through a bottom of the apparatus and thereby provides the lowest corner.
Claims39
An apparatus comprising:
- a universal surface conveyor;
- and
- a universal surface for maintaining a pattern of non-rigid objects in a desired position and orientation, wherein the universal surface comprises:
- object-supporting surfaces comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface;
- a lowest corner of the object-supporting surfaces;
- and
- a bottom configured to be positioned on the universal surface conveyor and in contact with the universal surface conveyor;
- wherein the first surface is oriented at a compound angle to a bottom plane running through the bottom, wherein the bottom plane is oriented parallel to the bottom, and wherein, when the bottom is oriented horizontally, the bottom plane is parallel to a horizontal plane and the first surface is at the compound angle to the horizontal plane;
- wherein the first surface, second surface, and third surface are mutually orthogonal and meet at a point to form the lowest corner;
- wherein the second and third surfaces are supported by, attached to and extend at least somewhat vertically from the universal surface;
- wherein, when the bottom is oriented horizontally, the orientation of the first surface at the compound angle provides the lowest corner;
- wherein the compound angle comprises two angles, wherein a first angle of the two angles is measured from the bottom plane to a first placement vector, wherein the first placement vector extends from the lowest corner and is parallel to the first surface and the second surface, wherein a second angle of the two angles is measured from the bottom plane to a second placement vector, wherein the second placement vector extends from the lowest corner and is parallel to the first surface and the third surface, and
- wherein the first surface is configured to provide a static coefficient of friction between the first surface and the objects, wherein the static coefficient of friction is sufficient to prevent the objects from sliding against the first surface under forces experienced by the objects as a result of transportation of the objects by the universal surface conveyor.
10 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a universal surface conveyor;
- and
- a universal surface for maintaining a pattern of objects in a desired position and orientation, wherein the universal surface comprises:
- object-supporting surfaces comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface;
- a lowest corner of the object-supporting surfaces;
- and
- a bottom configured to be positioned on the universal surface conveyor and in contact with the universal surface conveyor;
- wherein the first surface is oriented at a compound angle to a bottom plane oriented parallel to the bottom, and wherein, when the bottom is oriented horizontally, the bottom plane is parallel to a horizontal plane and the first surface is at the compound angle to the horizontal plane;
- wherein the second surface and third surface approach a point on the first surface, wherein the point of the first surface provides the lowest corner;
- wherein the first surface, second surface, and third surface are configured to maintain a desired position and orientation of a lowest object in the pattern of objects when the lowest object is positioned adjacent to the lowest corner;
- wherein the second and third surfaces are supported by, attached to and extend at least somewhat vertically from the universal surface;
- wherein, when the bottom is oriented horizontally, the orientation of the first surface at the compound angle provides the lowest corner;
- wherein the compound angle comprises two angles, wherein a first angle of the two angles is measured from the bottom plane to a first placement vector, wherein the first placement vector extends from the lowest corner and is parallel to the first surface and the second surface, wherein a second angle of the two angles is measured from the bottom plane to a second placement vector, wherein the second placement vector extends from the lowest corner and is parallel to the first surface and the third surface, and
- wherein the first surface is configured to provide a static coefficient of friction between the first surface and the objects, wherein the static coefficient of friction is sufficient to prevent the objects from sliding against the first surface under forces experienced by the objects as a result of transportation of the objects by the universal surface conveyor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.