Patent · US Expired

Ending apparatus and method

US5174351A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 1991
Grant dateDec 29, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T83/8798
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An ending apparatus for positioning elongate objects comprising, in combination, object singulating equipment for separating a plurality of elongate objects in an inlet area into single objects while moving the objects in a first direction to an outlet area, and object support rollers intermediate the inlet and outlet area for supporting a separated, single elongate object. The object support rollers are adapted to move the elongate object in a second direction toward a reference surface independently of the object's movement in the first direction on the singulating device. The reference surface stops movement of the elongate object to establish a pre-determined position for the elongate object. Establishing the position of the object permits more efficient handling during further processing.

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