Spacing device for spreading stamped material

US6065586A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Daniel Heinz · Joppatowne, US
• Oliver Klein · Saarlouis, DE
• Mario Peter Neuhof · Hohenahr, DE
• Hans-Juergen Solert · Münstermaifeld, DE
• Kevin Stamp · Sheffield, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 22, 1997
• Grant date: May 23, 2000
• Expiry date: Aug 22, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G47/26
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A spacing device for spreading stamped material, especially soap bars, during transfer from a stamping process to a packaging process comprises a train of at least a first and last coupled carriages mounted for movement along an axis and coupled together to allow spacing therebetween upon movement of one of the carriages. A single driving mechanism is provided to move the first carriage along the axis. An actuating mechanism, such as a rack and pinion or a crank lever, is operably connected to the first carriage such that when the driving mechanism moves the first carriage along the axis, the actuating mechanism moves the last carriage along the axis in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first carriage, thereby spacing the train of carriages apart.