Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for separating and supplying cylindrical cans and method therefore

US6561341B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 2001
Grant dateMay 13, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2201/0261
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus whereby cylindrical cans formed of a ferromagnetic material and transported at high speed along a carrying conveyor in such a contiguous way as having no gaps between adjoining cylindrical cans are separated so as to provide a spacing therebetween to eliminate interference between the adjoining cylindrical cans, thereby supplying a plurality of cylindrical cans with reliability to a main index wheel of an automatic machine for producing cylindrical cans. The apparatus includes a carrying conveyor, star index wheel, supply index wheel and main index wheel. The supply index wheel has permanent magnets, each holding an individual cylindrical can by suction. The transport speed of a plurality of cylindrical cans transported along a conveyor at high speed is reduced for a moment by the star index wheel. Then, each respective cylindrical can is held by suction caused by magnetic force from permanent magnets disposed around the outer edge of the disc-shaped supply index wheel and spaced uniformly to provide a spacing between adjoining cylindrical cans. While maintaining the foregoing spacing, the cylindrical cans are supplied to the main index wheel of the automatic machine f…

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