Patent · US Expired

Box filling apparatus

US4534156A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 6, 1984
Grant dateAug 13, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65B57/14
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention is applied to an apparatus for filling storage boxes with lemons or other articles. The articles are first diverted from a conveyor into a measuring and collecting bin. When articles fill the bin to a level which will fill a box beneath the apparatus, a photoswitch stops the conveyor to prevent overfilling of the bin. The photoswitch also tilts a chute at the bottom of the bin whereby the entire contents of the bin are emptied into the box. Although the level of articles in the bin falls below the beam which operates the photoswitch, an internal time delay in the photoswitch holds the conveyor in stopped position and it also holds the chute in tilted position until sufficient time has passed for the box to be filled. Immediately thereafter, the chute is returned to upright position, the conveyor is restarted, and an unfilled box takes the position of the filled box.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.