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:
Sep. 19, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2002
Ronald E. Kelbert, Neenah, WI (US);
Richard J. Ogle, Neenah, WI (US);
Steven A. Hellmann, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Ronald E. Kelbert, Neenah, WI (US);
Richard J. Ogle, Neenah, WI (US);
Steven A. Hellmann, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus () for accumulating articles () can include a dispensing of the articles with a rotating, metering drum () for movement to a first conveyor (). The metering drum () has an entry end () and an exit end (), and in a particular aspect, the metering drum () can be configured such that a rotation of the metering drum overcomes a static friction which would inhibit a movement of the articles () downstream through the metering drum. In another aspect the metering drum () can include at least one lug member () which is positioned and attached inside the metering drum at the exit end () of the metering drum. In further aspects, a ramp member () can be configured to extend an operative distance into the volume of the metering drum, and can be spaced away from an inside wall surface of the metering drum by a selected offset distance.