Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed... – By member adjacent conveyor for contacting successive...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-04
2004-11-30
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed...
By member adjacent conveyor for contacting successive...
C198S803130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06823981
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for processing individual, loose articles. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus and method for efficiently arranging loose articles into a configuration that can be readily introduced into a selected packaging system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional systems for automatically packaging articles produced on a manufacturing line are well known. Individual articles received from the manufacturing line have been counted and arranged into one or more stacks by employing conventional devices. Additionally, conventional devices have been employed to insert the stacks into pre-selected packages, such as cartons or bags.
During the conventional stacking and packaging operations, however, individual articles have often become dislodged or otherwise diverted from the ordinary manufacturing and packaging operations. While the resulting loose articles have been commercially acceptable, it has been difficult to reintroduce the articles into the ongoing manufacturing processes. Typically, the individual loose articles have been gathered, rearranged and stacked by hand. The resulting stacks have then been manually introduced back into the packaging operation.
The manual sorting and stacking operations, however, have been excessively inefficient and costly. As a result, there has been a continuing need for an automated system that can more efficiently rearrange, sort and reorient the individual loose articles. There has also been a continuing need for an automated system that can more efficiently stack or otherwise arrange the articles, and insert the resulting article stacks or other arrangements into desired packages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for accumulating articles include conveying a plurality of individual articles with a stacking conveyor. In a particular aspects, the stacking conveyor can have a plurality of holding members that project away from an article-side surface of the stacking conveyor, and the stacking conveyor can be arranged with an elbow configuration to substantially avoid an undesired encircling or surrounding of a substantially fixed portion of cooperating downstream equipment.
An apparatus aspect can include a stacking conveyor for moving a plurality of individual articles
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. In particular aspects, the stacking conveyor can be arranged with an elbow configuration which substantially avoids an undesired encircling or surrounding of a substantially fixed portion of cooperating, downstream equipment, and the stacking conveyor can have a plurality of holding members that project away from an article-side surface of the stacking conveyor. In another aspect, the method and apparatus can include a turning mechanism which forms the elbow configuration. A further aspect can include a transfer system which can load the articles into downstream packaging equipment with a vacuum system which can vacuum-hold the articles. Desirably, the vacuum system can hold the articles in a substantially fully-suspended position. Still another aspect can include a storage buffer mechanism.
In its various aspects and features, the present invention can more effectively and more efficiently provide a processing system capable of converting individual, loose articles into a configuration that can be efficiently and automatically recovered and inserted into a selected packaging system. The method and apparatus of the invention can effectively accumulate, meter, orient, arrange, and transfer the recovered articles into the packaging system. The technique of the invention is readily placed at a desired location, and is readily adaptable to handle grade changes and different types of articles. Additionally, the method and apparatus of the invention can be highly reliable and can operate at desired, high speeds.
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Hellmann Steven A.
Ogle Richard J.
Bidwell James R.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Yee Paul Y.
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