Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Positions intersupporting article into row
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-28
2001-07-31
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Positions intersupporting article into row
C198S419100, C414S801000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267550
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to machines or assemblies for counting and stacking nestable containers. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that accurately and reliably counts nesting containers in a continuous fashion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers are used for containing and storing a wide variety of products. In most cases, such containers are manufactured at a site different from the site where the container is actually filled with the product. In many circumstances, the containers are manufactured, boxed, sold and delivered to a distinct purchaser which fills the containers. To facilitate the packaging and transport of the finished containers, such containers are often nested within one another. At the same time, the containers must be arranged and counted for invoicing and for inventory management. Although the process of nesting and counting such containers has been automated with a variety of different apparatuses, such known apparatuses are prone to undesirable stoppages and provide inaccurate and unreliable container counts.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a machine or apparatus that accurately and precisely nests and counts containers in a continuous and efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus for nesting a plurality of containers into a stack having a desired quantity of containers are disclosed. The apparatus includes a container guide, a container hold back, a counter and a shuttle. The container guide includes an input end and output end and provides at least one guide surface adapted to direct the plurality of containers from the input end to the output end. The container hold back is proximate the output end and includes a stop surface actuatable between a first hold back position in which the stop surface engages a frontward most container of the plurality of containers such that successive containers nest within the frontward most container and within each other and a second retracted position. The counter is proximate the input end and is configured to count the plurality of containers moving towards the output end prior to the containers nesting with each other. The shuttle is situated proximate the guide and is configured to engage and push a counted and nested stack of containers toward the output end past the hold back based upon the number of nested containers that have moved past the counter.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for nesting a plurality of containers into a stack having a desired quantity of containers. The method includes the steps of directing a plurality of containers including a first container and a last container in succession, reducing a rate of movement of the first container at a first downstream location causing successive containers to nest with the first container and to nest with one another, counting each of the plurality of containers to produce a container count as the containers move past a second upstream location prior to becoming nested with preceding containers and engaging the last container and pushing the last container and the plurality of containers past the first downstream location in response to the container count equaling a predetermined quantity.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5122029 (1992-06-01), DelDuca
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patent: 5273167 (1993-12-01), Haas et al.
patent: 7903253 (1980-10-01), None
Foley & Lardner
Krizek Janice L.
Paper Machinery Corporation
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