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:
Jul. 14, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1991
Paul W Smith, Forest, VA (US);
Simplimatic Engineering Company, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Abstract
A conveyor is provided for producing a single file from a mass of articles comprising a conveyor surface, an article engager for engaging articles in the mass and transporting a single file of them off of the conveyor surface, and a guide rail mounted along the conveyor surface, the guide rail including a shifting portion for creating an accumulation of articles, a gap filling portion for filling gaps in the single file of articles, and a pressure relieving portion for relieving some of a back pressure on articles. The conveyor preferably also includes a fourth guide rail portion for spacing the first portion upstream from the third portion, or an oscillator for jostling articles, or a roller for rotating articles.