Ordering apparatus having walls with polygonal rotators
First Claim
1. Apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, comprising, in combination,(1) conveyor means having a conveyor surface composed of at least article single file and article accumulation portions;
- (2) restraining walls along at least one side of the article accumulation portion defining(a) an article accumulation area where the articles are randomly disposed and susceptible to jamming or blockages; and
(b) guide walls leading from the article accumulation area to the article single file portion of the conveyor surface, the guide walls comprising;
(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators;
(ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators;
(iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
about 150° and
so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surfacewhereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, featuring an article conveyor having guide walls composed of a plurality of polygonal rotators arranged in substantially vertical stands in superimposed rotating relationship, the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles betweeen 60° and 150°, and preferably oriented to each other in the stand in nonaligned relation with corners projecting outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand, thereby imparting a rotational and vibrational movement to articles in contact with the rotators.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file, comprising, in combination,
(1) conveyor means having a conveyor surface composed of at least article single file and article accumulation portions; (2) restraining walls along at least one side of the article accumulation portion defining (a) an article accumulation area where the articles are randomly disposed and susceptible to jamming or blockages; and (b) guide walls leading from the article accumulation area to the article single file portion of the conveyor surface, the guide walls comprising; (i) a plurality of polygonal rotators; (ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators; (iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
about 150° and
so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surfacewhereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A polygonal rotator that can be arranged for rotation in a substantially vertical stand of superimposed such rotators;
- the rotator having a body portion with substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
about 150° and
a hub portion having a central aperture for reception of a central shaft supporting a stand of such rotators in interlocking rotating relationship, and an irregular surface on each side of the hub interlocking with a corresponding mating surface on the hub of an adjacent rotator, so as to maintain adjacent rotators in a selected orientation in a stand. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- the rotator having a body portion with substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
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14. A guide wall for apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file leading to an article single file portion of the apparatus, comprising:
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(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators; (ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators; (iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
about 150° and
so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surface;
whereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A stand for use as a guide wall and in apparatus for ordering a flow of randomly arranged cylindrical articles into a single file leading from the article accumulation area to the article single file portion of the conveyor surface, the stand comprising:
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(i) a plurality of polygonal rotators (ii) arranged for rotation in substantially vertical stands of superimposed rotators; (iii) the rotators having substantially straight side walls joined together at corners with angles between about 60° and
about 150° and
so oriented to each other in the stand that corners of some rotators project outwardly beyond side walls of other rotators in the stand for operative contact with cylindrical articles on the conveyor surface whereby rotating polygonal rotators in the stands upon contact with cylindrical articles impart a vibrational movement to the articles while the articles are rotating and so inhibit jamming and blockages while the articles are moved and ordered into the single file. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification