Taco shell nesting apparatus and method
US7922639B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B61/20
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is, in one embodiment, an apparatus for placing an insert within a nested group of taco shells. The insert placement apparatus comprises a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, a first pillow block, a second pillow block, a vacuum cup, a horizontal timing belt, an air cylinder, and a servomotor. The vacuum cup is adapted to transport the insert. The first pillow block has a bore therethrough for receiving the horizontal shaft. The second pillow block is supported off of the first pillow block and has a bore therethrough for receiving the vertical shaft. The vacuum cup is suspended off of the vertical shaft. The horizontal belt is routed around a drive pulley and a second pulley and is interconnected to the first pillow block. The servomotor is interconnected to the drive pulley. The servomotor causes the timing belt to displace the first pillow block along the horizontal shaft, thereby causing the vacuum cup to displace horizontally. The air cylinder is adapted to vertically displace the vertical shaft through the second pillow block. This causes the vacuum cup to displace vertically.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.