Weighing scales – Computer – Electrical
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-01
2001-08-07
Gibson, Randy W. (Department: 2859)
Weighing scales
Computer
Electrical
C193S00200R, C177S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271485
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims priority from British Patent Application 9705686.5 filed Mar. 19, 1997, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an article alignment device for use in article dispensing apparatus such as a combinatorial weighing apparatus in which batches of articles are weighed by a plurality of weighing units respectively, and a combination of weighing units is selected that provides a total weight equal to or most closely approximating a target weight within a predetermined tolerance and then the articles are discharged from the selected weighing units. The invention is particularly suited for use with apparatus for dispensing foodstuffs comprising elongate articles such as bread sticks and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, bread sticks have been manually loaded into receptacles for storage and subsequent sale although more recently a system has been devised in which such sticks are supplied vertically into a hopper which is then rotated through 90° following which the group of bread sticks is dropped into a receptacle. The problem with this latter arrangement is that the sticks have a relatively short length compared with the width of a hopper, with the result that some can be misaligned on entry into the hopper and result in a jumble of sticks which will not load neatly into a receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an article alignment device for use in article dispensing apparatus such as a weighing apparatus that combines objects comprises a chute defining a throat which extends and narrows from an inlet position downwardly to an outlet position at which the articles are discharged, so as to cause elongate articles having an elongate dimension greater than the lateral dimension of the chute at the outlet position to align themselves in the direction of travel along the chute.
The present invention is an article alignment device including a chute as defined above which has been found to result in the much more efficient supply of aligned articles at the outlet position. Providing a gradually narrowing throat towards the outlet position acts to cause increased alignment of the articles as they pass along the chute while preventing them from substantial misalignment.
The chute could have a variety of cross-sections including circular or polygonal and may be closed around its circumference or open. In the preferred embodiment, the chute comprises a central base and pair of side walls, the angle of inclination of the side walls to the base decreasing from the inlet position to the outlet position.
Although the central base could have a rectilinear form, preferably it is concave from the inlet position to the outlet position, when viewed from above. It has been found that this structure results in optimal supply speeds and alignment efficiencies. Typically, the central base will comprise a planar strip.
In some cases, the lateral dimension of the central base could vary along its length but preferably the central base has a substantially constant lateral dimension along its length.
Typically, the central base is angled at substantially 10° to the horizontal at the outlet position although this may be increased up to about 30°.
The height and length of the chute are chosen depending upon the articles to be dispensed so as to impart sufficient energy to the articles as they fall down the chute so that they will align, but be delivered from the outlet position without breakage.
The articles can be delivered into the chute in any conventional manner and in any orientation. It has been found that if the articles are delivered with their elongate dimension extending along the chute rather than laterally across the chute, they may take significantly different times to pass along the chute thus delaying operation. Preferably, therefore, the device further comprises an inlet guide located at the inlet position of the chute, the inlet guide having front and back walls connected by a pair of spaced side walls. When the chute is formed with a central base, the front and back walls may extend substantially parallel with a lateral dimension of the central base. The front and back walls may be angled towards the chute inlet position.
In some cases, the articles can simply be discharged from the end of the chute at the outlet position. In the preferred arrangement, however, more control is achieved. over discharge by providing an aperture in the base at the outlet position, the side walls of the chute extending along opposite sides of the aperture. In this case, the side walls continue to guide the articles as they reach the outlet position and begin to pass through the aperture.
The articles could drop onto a moving conveyor or the like where they are conveyed to a remote location for loading into containers. Preferably, however, the conveyor carries individual trays into which the articles are loaded. The trays could move in a step-wise or continuous fashion depending upon the number of articles to be loaded into each tray, the speed of supply of articles and movement of the trays, and the degree of alignment.
In the preferred embodiment, further alignment of the articles is achieved by providing an alignment tray located at the outlet position to receive articles from the chute; and a device for moving the tray in a lateral direction so as to further align articles in the tray.
The alignment tray is provided between the chute and the ultimate destination of the articles to enable the articles to be fully aligned. Alignment is achieved by moving the tray in a lateral direction, preferably substantially parallel with the elongate dimension of the articles.
Typically, the moving device will impart a shaking motion to the alignment tray, rather than a smooth movement, so as to minimis the amount of movement needed to achieve alignment. Although the shaking motion could follow a very symmetrical pattern, it has been found preferable if the moving device causes the alignment tray to move in an unsymmetrical manner.
The unsymmetrical motion can be achieved in a variety of ways but in the preferred approach the moving device causes the alignment tray to pause at the home position longer than at the away position. In this case, the time for moving the alignment tray between the home and away positions may differ depending upon the direction of movement but conveniently these times are the same.
In order to discharge the articles from the tray, when provided, the device may further comprise a gate beneath the outlet position, which can be retracted to allow articles in the tray to drop into a receptacle.
The gate may form part of the tray but conveniently comprises a plate over which the sides of the tray can be moved independently of the base. This enables the gate to be operated independently of the tray. In order to facilitate a quick exit from the alignment tray, the sides of the tray are preferably angled outwardly in the downward direction.
When articles are released from the tray, they will drop into a receptacle beneath the tray. In some cases, in order to maintain alignment, a guide chute may be provided beneath the tray to assist passage of aligned articles into a receptacle.
The alignment device can be used for aligning articles supplied manually to the inlet position but is particularly useful with article dispensing apparatus, such as a weighing apparatus that combines objects, which further comprises a supply system for supplying elongate articles to the inlet position; and a receptacle supply system for supplying receptacles to the outlet position for receiving articles which have been discharged from the chute.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1430011 (1922-09-01), Heath
patent: 1893903 (1933-01-01), Mullins
patent: 3304973 (1967-02-01), Norris
patent: 3700054 (1972-10-01), McClusky
patent: 3868045 (1975-02-01), Snell
patent: 4514959 (1985-05-01), Shroyer
patent: 45
Bennett Robert
Richardson Simon John
Gibson Randy W.
Ishida Co. Ltd.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Article alignment device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Article alignment device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Article alignment device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521958