Automated product collection apparatus

• US 5,715,660 A
• Filed: 12/05/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Balentine
• Original Assignee: Paul Balentine
• Inventors: Balentine, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Coan, James F.
• Application Number:
  US08/567,539
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 53/250, 53/249, 53/251, 53/252, 53/501, 53/502, 53/500, 53/495, 53/494, 53/493, 53/52
• US Class Current: 53/501
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08

Abstract

An automated product collection apparatus comprising two vertical, endless belt conveyor systems and a horizontal conveyor. One vertical conveyors (the load station) is loaded with a number of empty containers which are transferred sequentially to the horizontal conveyor (the fill station). The horizontal conveyor moves an empty container into position to collect parts from process and production equipment. Sensing circuitry counts the parts loaded into each container to determine when each container is full or reaches a predetermined product count. The full container is moved to the second vertical conveyor system (the unload station) which accumulates the full containers until unloaded from the second vertical conveyor. Individual parts may be counted, the accumulated total of parts can be weighed, and inputs may be obtained from other automated production equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for accumulating items in a series of containers, comprising:

(a) a loading station for storing a plurality of said containers in an empty state, wherein said loading station further comprises means for storing said containers in a vertically stacked relationship, and further wherein said means for storing of said loading station comprises a vertical conveyor comprising at least one pair of endless belts having disposed thereon a plurality of complementary lifting brackets for engaging in a horizontally sliding fashion the bottom of each of said containers, whereby said containers may be supported on and vertically translated sequentially by said vertical conveyor to the bottom of said loading station, and further whereby said lifting brackets disengage from each of said containers upon reaching said bottom of said loading station;

(b) a filling station for filling said containers with said items, said filling station further comprising sensing means for sensing a predetermined full state for each of said containers;

(c) an unloading station for storing a plurality of said containers in a full state, wherein said unloading station further comprises means for storing said containers in a vertically stacked relationship, and further wherein said means for storing of said unloading station comprises a vertical conveyor comprising at least one pair of endless belts having disposed thereon a plurality of complementary lifting brackets for engaging in a horizontally sliding fashion the bottom of each of said containers whereby said containers may be supported on and vertically translated sequentially by said vertical conveyor from the bottom of said unloading station and further whereby said lifting brackets engage each of said containers upon being horizontally translated into said bottom of said unloading station; and

(d) means for horizontally translating said containers from said loading station to said filling station and from said filling station to said unloading station,

wherein said means for horizontally translating comprises a single horizontal conveyor belt for horizontally translating an empty container from said bottom of said loading station to said filling station and horizontally translating a filled container from said filling station to said bottom of said unloading station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises an inductive parts counter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a capacitative parts counter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises an interruptable light beam parts counter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a weight sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a cycle timer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises output from automated production machinery.