Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed... – By conveying randomly faced items and turning items to...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-11-13
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed...
By conveying randomly faced items and turning items to...
C198S378000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315102
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for sorting and feeding a plurality of objects, and more particularly to an apparatus for sequentially sorting and feeding candies in a specific orientation for packaging in a parallel arrangement at high speed.
2. Related Background Art
Many popular candies, snacks and other foodstuffs are often packaged together in multiple flavor or multiple color groupings. These groupings are often packaged in single, in-line rows or what is commonly referred to in the art as “stickpacks”. An example of such a candy arranged in a stickpack is a Starburst® fruit candy. Other types of candies, especially those having block shapes, like chocolates and the like, are also packed in stickpacks.
It has been a problem that the existing techniques for packaging stickpacks require excessive amounts factory floor space and complicated equipment. Another problem is that the speed of sorting candies in existing equipment is quite slow. In addition, physical monitoring of the equipment is necessary in order to prevent candies from jamming within the equipment. When jamming occurs, the equipment must be shut down and an operator summoned to un-jam the candies by hand. These problems result in an economically unsatisfactory overall candy making and packaging operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention presents new apparatuses and methods for providing correctly orientated objects at high speed, in a much smaller space without requiring human intervention to dislodge jammed candies.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-speed sorting and feeding apparatus which is simple in design, takes up less space, and operates at high speed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sorting and feeding apparatus which is low cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sorting and feeding apparatus for sorting and feeding a plurality of objects in a specific orientation.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a sorting and feeding apparatus that sorts and feeds a plurality of different color/flavor candies in individual lanes for assembly into a stickpack.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a sorting and feeding apparatus that sorts and feeds a plurality of different objects of the same dimensions.
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for sequentially feeding a plurality of objects in a line, where each object is placed at a specific orientation, includes a hollow receiving member having a generally cylindrical shape and an inner wall and an inlet adjacent one end for receiving a plurality of randomly orientated objects, and an outlet at the other end for sequentially feeding out correctly orientated objects in a line. The apparatus further includes a generally cylindrical inner member centrally aligned within the hollow receiving member. The inner member includes an outer wall which is spaced apart from the inner wall of the hollow receiving member to define a space adapted for receiving a correctly orientated object for sequential feeding. The upper portion of the cylindrical inner member inclines toward the inner wall of the hollow receiving member. At least one of the generally cylindrical inner member and the hollow receiving member rotate relative to one another in a feeding direction to sequentially feed the objects out of the outlet. In addition, at least one of the inner member and receiving member also rotate relative to one another in a direction opposite to the feeding direction at predetermined intervals for a predetermined period of time to clear objects that jam.
In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for supplying a plurality of different objects at a specific orientation and in a parallel arrangement includes a plurality of feeders as described above, each for sequentially feeding a single line of one type of correctly orientated objects. The apparatus according to this aspect also includes a plurality of transport conveyors each having an end positioned at one of the outlets of the feeders for transporting a specific type of correctly orientated object away from one of the feeding devices. The transport conveyors are positioned along side each other to provide a plurality of correctly orientated objects for packaging in a stickpack.
In yet another aspect of the current invention, a method for sequentially organizing a plurality of objects includes the steps of feeding a plurality of randomly orientated objects between an inner wall of a hollow receiving member, having a generally cylindrical shape, and an outer wall of a generally cylindrical inner member. The outer wall of the inner member is spaced apart from the inner wall of the hollow receiving member to define a space adapted for receiving a correctly orientated object. The method also includes the step of rotating at least one of the inner member and the receiving member relative to one another in a feeding direction, and rotating at least one of the receiving member and the inner member relative to one another in a direction opposite to the feeding direction at predetermined intervals for a predetermined period of time.
One of the unique features of the present invention is the ability of the apparatus to un-jam candies that get stuck within the equipment. This is accomplished by the counter rotation, or oscillation of rotation, of the sorting device which causes stuck candies to loosen and be placed in a position in which they can be sorted. As a result, an operator is no longer necessary to manually fix the jammed pieces, and equipment no longer must be shut down to do so.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof.
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patent: 5649406 (1997-07-01), Sonntag et al.
patent: 5826696 (1998-10-01), Rupp et al.
patent: 5826697 (1998-10-01), Mochizuki et al.
patent: 09290911 (1998-02-01), None
patent: WO 85/02600 (1985-06-01), None
Black Johnny
Brinkerhuff Terry
Lenart Dennis
McGee Michael
Rieger Ron
Bidwell James R.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Mars Incorporated
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