Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for establishing and moving a group of items – Having items discharged from plural distinct outlets into group
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-11
2001-02-20
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for establishing and moving a group of items
Having items discharged from plural distinct outlets into group
C414S497000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189678
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the priority of Swiss Application 3557/95 filed Dec. 15, 1995 which is incorporated herewith by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for forming groups of superposed flat items, such as disk-shaped confectionary products. The apparatus has a conveyor which carries projecting fingers to push the item groups, while they are being formed, along an upper, approximately horizontal working flight in a conveying direction. Above the working flight a plurality of serially arranged chutes are provided each accommodating a stack of superposed items and each having a lower, item-discharging opening above the working flight, at a distance therefrom. The fingers are adapted to push simultaneously a plurality of items out of the lower end of the chutes.
An apparatus of the above-outlined type is described in British Patent 1,001,036. A circulating conveyor chain carries pusher fingers at uniform distances which project upwardly from the chain along a horizontal working flight. Above the working flight two chutes are arranged in series, containing stacks of superposed flat items. The bottom of each chute is situated above and spaced from the chain and is closed by a slotted base while being open at the lower end in the conveying direction. As the fingers travel with the circulating chain, they project through the slot of the base plate and push the lowest item out of the chute. The item removed in this manner from the first chute is pushed through underneath the base plate of the second chute so that the item moved out from the second chute will be superposed on the item originating from the first chute. Subsequently two of such item groups are packed together. Such an apparatus has been found to be satisfactory but has the disadvantage that its versatility is limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the above-outlined type which has a substantial adaptability.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the apparatus for forming groups of superposed, flat items, includes a conveyor having a transporting device traveling in a conveying direction along a generally horizontal working flight; and a plurality of upstanding pusher fingers secured to the transporting device. A plurality of storage chutes are serially positioned above the working flight for holding items in a superposed stack therein. An item-retaining device is situated at a lower, item-discharging end of each chute. The item-retaining device includes a component defining an item-retaining surface for retaining the items in the chute by supporting a lowermost item of the stack. Each pusher finger is arranged for travel through the item-discharging end for pushing all items forming part of the stack in the chute and being situated in a path of travel of the pusher finger, off the item-retaining device and for advancing the items in the conveying direction along the working flight. A height-adjusting device sets the component into different selected positions for changing a vertical distance of the item-retaining surface from the working flight to vary a number of items forming part of the stack in the chute and being situated in the path of travel of the pusher fingers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1092613 (1914-04-01), Warme
patent: 1126194 (1915-01-01), Graham
patent: 1722048 (1929-07-01), Hill
patent: 2872020 (1959-02-01), Hansel et al.
patent: 3625384 (1971-12-01), Boerger et al.
patent: 3978571 (1976-09-01), Orlando et al.
patent: 4013179 (1977-03-01), Fluck
patent: 4044896 (1977-08-01), Reinecke
patent: 4421019 (1983-12-01), Hocking et al.
patent: 4547114 (1985-10-01), Watrous et al.
patent: 5473978 (1995-12-01), Colombo
patent: 5823738 (1998-10-01), Spatafora et al.
patent: 400892 (1966-04-01), None
patent: 962446 (1964-07-01), None
patent: 1111619 (1968-05-01), None
Loewenthal Horst
Wipf Alfred
Ellis Christopher P.
Kelemen Gabor J.
Sharma Rashai
SIG Pack Systems AG
Venable
LandOfFree
Apparatus for forming groups of superposed flat items does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for forming groups of superposed flat items, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for forming groups of superposed flat items will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2563461