Patent · US Expired

Apparatus with replaceable trays on automatic packaging machines

US4716714A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1986
Grant dateJan 5, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2201/02
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatic packaging machine having a conveyor which travels over a fixed and closed path. a plurality of carriers are mounted at fixed intervals along the conveyor. A tray having a fixed physical dimensions, is mounted on the carrier to carry an object having the same dimensions. The tray is releasably locked onto the carrier by at least two inverted, bolt-like interconnectors located at positions displaced along the length of a support plate which is on the carrier. A key hole in the support plate receives a head on one of the bolt-like interconnectors which passes through and then slide along the length of and is captured in a small end of the key hole slot. A leaf spring snaps over the head of one bolt as it slides in the key hole slot. The leaf spring is flexed away from the bolt head to release the tray.

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