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.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1998

Filed:

Apr. 18, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:

Svatoboj Otruba, Ceres, CA (US);

Joseph Parker, Turlock, CA (US);

Gary Gomes, Winton, CA (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
1984592 ; 1984801 ; 1984811 ;
Abstract

A machine and method for handling a plurality of articles, and a feed apparatus for transporting the article between a first station and a second station. The machine generally includes a conveyor which supplies a stream articles to an infeed station and a feed apparatus for indexing the articles. The feed apparatus includes at least one pocket shaped to at least partially receive one of the articles for transport the article from the first station to the second station and a guide section configured to separate the first one of the articles from the second one of the articles for movement of the first one of the articles into the pocket, to control movement of the second one of the articles during separation of the first one of the articles from the second one of the articles, and to move the second one of the articles into the pocket upon further rotation of the feed apparatus. The method includes the steps of moving a plurality of articles to the first station in a substantially continuous stream and rotating the feed wheel to separate adjacent articles and individually move the articles from the infeed station to the exit station.


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