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. 01, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1995
Rolf Muller, Mehring, DE;
Riverwood International Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A spacing conveyor mechanism (10) for conveying cans (11) along an article feed path (12) in a packaging machine for forming the cans into groups of cans is disclosed. The spacing conveyor mechanism has a pair of spaced drive sprockets (15) positioned along the article feed path, and over which an endless drive chain (14) is passed. A spaced series of carriages (17) are pivotally attached to the drive chain. Each of the carriages includes a conveyor (18), the conveyor having a plurality of recessed pockets (19) sized and shaped to engage one each of the cans therein. Each carriage includes a toothed cog (20) affixed thereto and extending therefrom, each toothed cog being constructed to engage one of a pair of second sprockets (21) when the drive chain changes direction so that each of the carriages is sequentially rotated at a different rate of speed with respect to the rate of speed of the drive chain to maintain the orientation of the conveyors with respect to the article feed path, and the articles being conveyed thereon.