US3799318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor loading apparatus
Assignee: FREMAR Inc A Corp OF WA
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for loading hanger type article supports onto a conveyor, and particularly, apparatus for loading hangered garments onto a conveyor of the type including a plurality of spaced hanger support members extending from an endless chain or the like. The apparatus includes: an elongate arm positioned adjacent the conveyor on an angle such that hangered garments placed thereon tend to slide toward the conveyor; a retaining block on the arm preventing the hangered garments from sliding thereby; and, a lifting finger raising individual hangered garments past the retaining block in response to a signal from a switch adjacent the conveyor upstream from the elongate arm which is actuated by the hanger support member to be loaded. A hanger release arm is positioned transverse the conveyor adjacent the elongate arm to hold individual hangered garments on the arm until the hanger support member to be loaded pivots it away from the arm such that the hangered garment slides onto the hanger support members.
Inventors
- 👤 J Dekoekkoek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/60; B65G47/61; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0229
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for loading hanger means on a conveyor including: a continuous conveyor; hanger support hooks mounted on said conveyor at longitudinal intervals therealong and extending downwardly therefrom; an elongate arm having a hanger delivery end adjacent the conveyor and a hanger storage end distal said hanger delivery end; hanger means mounted on said elongate arm at said storage end; said elongate arm canted such that the hanger means positioned thereon tend to move from said storage end toward said delivery end; stop means restraining movement toward said delivery end of said hanger means on said elongate arm; finger means lifting individual hanger means past said stop means such that said hanger means resume movement toward said delivery end; hanger release arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor such that a portion thereof lies in the path of said hanger support hooks on said conveyor; said hanger release arm means having a first hold position extending outwardly from said conveyor to a location adjacent the delivery end of said elongate arm to engage and hold a hanger means on the delivery end thereof; and, said hanger release arm means being pivotally movable in response to contact by a hanger support hook to a second release position away from said elongate arm to release the hanger means on said elongate arm such that said hanger means moves onto and loads said hanger support hook.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for loading hanger means on a conveyor including: a continuous conveyor; hanger support hooks mounted on said conveyor at longitudinal intervals therealong and extending downwardly therefrom; an elongate arm having a hanger delivery end adjacent the conveyor and a hanger storage end distal said hanger delivery end; hanger means mounted on said elongate arm at said storage end; said elongate arm canted such that the hanger means positioned thereon tend to move from said storage end toward said delivery end; stop means restraining movement toward said delivery end of said hanger means on said elongate arm; finger means lifting individual hanger means past said stop means such that said hanger means resume movement toward said delivery end; hanger release arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor such that a portion thereof lies in the path of said hanger support hooks on said conveyor; said hanger release arm means having a first hold position extending outwardly from said conveyor to a location adjacent the delivery end of said elongate arm to engage and hold a hanger means on the delivery end thereof; and, said hanger release arm means being pivotally movable in response to contact by a hanger support hook to a second release position away from said elongate arm to release the hanger means on said elongate arm such that said hanger means moves onto and loads said hanger support hook.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stop means is mounted on the top portion of said elongate arm and includes an upstanding face portion on its end adjacent the storage end of said elongate arm and a sloping back portion adjacent the delivery end of said elongate arm such that hanger means lifted thereon slide toward said delivery end of said elongate arm means; and, said finger means includes a curvilinear top portion and is mounted in said elongate arm adjacent the upstanding face of said stop means and movable upwardly with respect to said upstanding face to lift an individual hanger means such that said hanger means slides from said curvilinear top portion down the sloping back of said stop means toward said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including sensing means positioned adjacent said conveyor upstream from said loading apparatus, said sensing means adapted to sense the passing of a hanger support hook and actuate means lifting said finger means to move an individual hanger past said stop means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensing means senses the load or no load condition of a hanger support hook conveyed thereby and actuates said finger means on said elongate arm means only in response to the passage of an unloaded hanger support hook.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensing means includes microswitch means adjacent said conveyor upstream from said elongate arm, and wherein said finger means is raised by solenoid means actuated by said microswitch means to advance individual hangered garments past said stop means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for loading hangered garments including: a conveyor having a plurality of hangered garment support members extending downwardly from a continuous flexible member; an elongate arm positioned adjacent said conveyor and extending upward therefrom such that hangered garments loaded on said arm gravitate toward said conveyor; a stop member mounted on said elongate arm preventing hangered garments from moving thereby; finger means adapted to lift individual hangered garments past said stop member; sensing means adjacent said conveyor upstream from said elongate arm sensing the movement of a hangered garment support member thereby and adapted to actuate said fingers means; hanger release arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor such that a portion thereof lies in the path of movement of said hangered garments support members; said hanger release arm means having a first hold position wherein said arm means extends outwardly from said conveyor to a location adjacent said elongate arm to engage and hold a hangered garment thereon; and, said hanger release arm means being pivotally movable in response to contact by a hangered garment support member to a second release position away from said elongate arm whereby said hangered garment is released to slide onto and load the hangered garment support hook.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for loading hangered garments including: a conveyor having a plurality of hangered garment support members extending downwardly from a continuous flexible member; an elongate arm positioned adjacent said conveyor and extending upward therefrom such that hangered garments loaded on said arm gravitate toward said conveyor; a stop member mounted on said elongate arm preventing hangered garments from moving thereby; finger means adapted to lift individual hangered garments past said stop member; sensing means adjacent said conveyor upstream from said elongate arm sensing the movement of a hangered garment support member thereby and adapted to actuate said fingers means; hanger release arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said conveyor such that a portion thereof lies in the path of movement of said hangered garments support members; said hanger release arm means having a first hold position wherein said arm means extends outwardly from said conveyor to a location adjacent said elongate arm to engage and hold a hangered garment thereon; and, said hanger release arm means being pivotally movable in response to contact by a hangered garment support member to a second release position away from said elongate arm whereby said hangered garment is released to slide onto and load the hangered garment support hook.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensing means includes means actuated by the passing of more than one hangered garment support member such that said finger means is actuated to lift an individual hangered garment past said stop member to load less than all of the hangered garment support members passing thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sensing means senses the load or no load condition of the hangered garment support member passing thereby and actuates said finger means only in response to the sensing of an unloaded hangered garment support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1268212A
Cited
FR1520468A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |