Carton inspecting and conveying apparatus
US4349998A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1980 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B57/02
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A carton inspecting and conveying apparatus is disclosed as including a lower horizontal conveyor formed by two parallel spaced plastic chain loops with retractable pawls therebetween for stopping cartons at stations along the conveyor. At one such station, jets of air are directed at each carton to open any improperly sealed flaps, open flaps being photoelectrically detected. A pneumatic ejector at a subsequent station is selectively actuated by an electronic control unit responsive to the photodetector to remove unsealed cartons from the conveyor. A pneumatic lifting head is provided to transfer cartons from the conveyor to an accumulator column in the event of a carton backup. An elevator having platforms passing between the plastic chains lifts cartons from the lower conveyor, and a rotary transfer device places them on an upper outfeed conveyor belt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.