Metering drum for an automatic accumulation system
First Claim
1. A method for accumulating articles, said method comprising:
- a dispensing of said articles with a rotating, metering drum for movement to a first conveyor;
wherein said metering drum has an entry end and an exit end; and
said metering drum is configured such that a rotation of said metering drum overcomes a static friction which inhibits a movement of said articles downstream through said metering drum.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus (20) for accumulating articles (28) can include a dispensing of the articles with a rotating, metering drum (40) for movement to a first conveyor (50). The metering drum (40) has an entry end (86) and an exit end (88), and in a particular aspect, the metering drum (40) can be configured such that a rotation of the metering drum overcomes a static friction which would inhibit a movement of the articles (28) downstream through the metering drum. In another aspect the metering drum (40) can include at least one lug member (90) which is positioned and attached inside the metering drum at the exit end (88) of the metering drum. In further aspects, a ramp member (43) can be configured to extend an operative distance into the volume of the metering drum, and can be spaced away from an inside wall surface of the metering drum by a selected offset distance.
58 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for accumulating articles, said method comprising:
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a dispensing of said articles with a rotating, metering drum for movement to a first conveyor;
wherein said metering drum has an entry end and an exit end; and
said metering drum is configured such that a rotation of said metering drum overcomes a static friction which inhibits a movement of said articles downstream through said metering drum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for accumulating articles, said apparatus comprising:
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a rotatable, metering drum which can dispense said articles for movement to a first conveyor;
wherein said metering drum has an entry end and an exit end; and
said metering drum is configured such that a rotation of said metering drum overcomes a static friction which inhibits a movement of said articles downstream through said metering drum. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification