The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 1990
Filed:
Nov. 10, 1988
Robert L Fuller, Jr, Issaquah, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A frame is positioned about a vertical axis (z). A helical track composed of track sections (72) is supported on the frame and extends about the vertical axis (z). The helical track has a lower entrance end and an upper exit end. An endless conveyor (EC) comprising a series of article carriers (26) moves along an endless path, defined in part by the helical track. A plurality of article receiving receptacles (20) are supported by the frame, radially outwardly from the helical track. A helical ramp is located radially between the helical track and the plurality of article receiving receptacles. A support frame for the receptacles, the helical ramp and the helical track are all of sectional construction and each section is positioned between an adjacent pair of radially extending frame portions. A rotating drive drum is supported for rotation about the vertical axis. The helical track surrounds the drive drum. The drum is driven in steps, equal to the angular spacing of the receptacles. The drum engages the endless conveyor and moves it in steps. The article carriers are spaced apart a distance equal to a step length. Each article carrier is pivotable in position between a carry position and a discharge position. When the carrier is pivoted into its discharger position, the article which it carries falls by gravity onto the ramp and is guided by the ramp into a dedicated receptacle for that particular article.