ARTICLE ARRANGING AND COUNTING MACHINE

• US 3,730,386 A
• Filed: 05/10/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Claude E. Monsees
• Original Assignee: Claude E. Monsees
• Inventors: Monsees, Claude E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/141,690
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 221/12,206,207,201 235/92 198/33AA,30
• US Class Current: 221/7
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 27/34 comprising a series of co-operating units
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/145 Jigging or reciprocating movement

Abstract

A cascade of vibratory conveyors receive discrete fragile articles in bulk and by operating successive conveyors at higher rates the articles are delivered in a single row to a rotary brush which accelerates successive articles to provide spaces between them. The spaced articles are photoelectrically counted and dropped onto a bottom closure in a receiver. After a predetermined count a partition is interposed in the receiver to temporarily intercept and hold further articles, while feeding and counting continues, until the articles on the closure have been discharged and the closure returned to closed position. A portion of one of the conveyors is so narrow it can hold only a single row of articles.

Claims

1. In an article arranging and counting machine:

at least first and second serially arranged vibratory conveyors at least the second of which is of generally V-shape in transverse section whereby discrete articles therein are urged toward the longitudinal centerline thereof;

means actuating the second of said conveyors at a higher feed rate than said first conveyor whereby articles being conveyed are accelerated to form a single row thereof in at least a last of said conveyors;

counting means for counting articles discharged by said last conveyor;

receiver means for receiving and segregating groups of articles of a predetermined number of articles in each group; and

one of said conveyors being provided with a narrow forward extension, of a maximum width not substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of an article to be conveyed whereby if two articles reach said extension in side-by-side or superimposed relation at least one of them will fall laterally off said conveyor extension.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first conveyor is arranged to discharge articles from said extension onto said second conveyor, said second conveyor being of a width substantially the same as the width of said extension.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said extension tapers, in width, forwardly to a minimum width at the forward end thereof substantially equal to the width Of the articles to be conveyed;

and wing panels extending downwardly and outwardly from the tapering side edges of said extension.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said extension overlies an end portion of said second conveyor.

5. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said counting means comprises a rotatable brush arranged to receive thereon articles discharged from said second conveyor;

means for rotating said brush at a speed to accelerate articles deposited thereon and thereby provide space between successive articles; and

photoelectric means for counting the articles so spaced.

6. In a machine having an article counter and means for sequentially delivering single discrete articles to said counter to be counted thereby and a receiver arranged to receive articles from said counter, the improvement comprising:

said receiver having side wall means defining an article receiving chamber;

a movable bottom closure for said chamber;

a singe movable partition in said chamber, movable between a first position wherein counted articles may fall freely therepast to said bottom closure and a second position wherein it divides said chamber into upper and lower compartments;

means normally holding said bottom closure closed and said partition in said first position; and

actuating means responsive to operation of said counter after deposit of a first group of a predetermined number of said articles on said bottom closure, for moving said partition to said second position to intercept further articles coming from said counter and start accumulation of a second group in said upper compartment, then opening said bottom closure to discharge said first group of articles, then closing said bottom closure, then moving said partition to said first position, whereby said delivering and counting means may operate continuously.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said actuating means include pneumatic motor devices drivingly connected to said partition and to said bottom closure.

8. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said partition comprises a plate member pivotal about a generally horizontal axis extending through said chamber, said first position being wherein said plate member extends generally vertically and said second position being wherein said plate member extends across said chamber sufficiently to intercept and hold said articles.