US3568818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor for accumulating, spacing and storing articles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-19
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-08-19
Abstract
Abstract An accumulation conveyor track, including parallel lines of pairs of spaced-apart rollers, receives pallets or boxes to be stored thereon and positions and maintains them in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The boxes never get closer than the predetermined distance to each other. An elevatable and lowerable platform rides on a platform carriage. This carriage is chain driven in the direction of box movement and rides on a carriage track below and parallel to a conveyor track support plane defined by the top of the spaced-apart conveyor rollers. Such a platform raises into driving relationship to each box as it comes on to the conveyor and moves the box up to the predetermined distance from the box ahead of it. A feeler arm on the platform carriage ahead of the platform allows a sprocket on a pivoted platform drive arm to engage and run on a fixed roller chain pathway below the platform carriage track to position the platform in its upper position when no obstruction is felt by the feeler arm. When the feeler arm encounters a box ahead of it, it causes the platform to lower to position its box on a conveyor track at the predetermined distance from the forward box. The power to raise the platform and at least part of the weight of the box is derived from the reaction of the motion of the platform carriage with respect to the fixed chain pathway.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas R Hanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/261; B65G47/265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An accumulation conveyor for receiving boxes or other like articles and for maintaining them in predetermined spaced relation from each other until they are removed therefrom; said conveyor including a linear conveyor track having means to support said boxes on a conveyor track support plane; at least one platform carriage; a carriage track for supporting said platform carriage for movement parallel to said linear conveyor track; means for driving said platform carriage along said carriage track parallel to direction of box movement; a fixed pathway parallel to said carriage track; a platform mounted on said carriage for movement between an elevated and a lowered position; a platform control linkage connected between said platform and said carriage and including a drive arm operative upon movement of said carriage with respect to said fixed pathway to cause said platform to be elevated into driving relationship to a first box on said conveyor track as said drive arm is moved into driving relationship to said pathway, and to cause said platform to be lowered from driving relationship to said first box as said drive arm is moved out of driving relationship to said pathway; and a feeler arm supported with respect to said platform carriage to normally extend ahead of said first box and in the path of said box above said conveyor track support plane, said feeler arm being operatively associated with said control linkage to cause said drive arm to move into and out of driving relationship to said pathway responsive, respectively, to the absence and presence of another box at said predetermined distance ahead of said first box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
An accumulation conveyor for receiving boxes or other like articles and for maintaining them in predetermined spaced relation from each other until they are removed therefrom; said conveyor including a linear conveyor track having means to support said boxes on a conveyor track support plane; at least one platform carriage; a carriage track for supporting said platform carriage for movement parallel to said linear conveyor track; means for driving said platform carriage along said carriage track parallel to direction of box movement; a fixed pathway parallel to said carriage track; a platform mounted on said carriage for movement between an elevated and a lowered position; a platform control linkage connected between said platform and said carriage and including a drive arm operative upon movement of said carriage with respect to said fixed pathway to cause said platform to be elevated into driving relationship to a first box on said conveyor track as said drive arm is moved into driving relationship to said pathway, and to cause said platform to be lowered from driving relationship to said first box as said drive arm is moved out of driving relationship to said pathway; and a feeler arm supported with respect to said platform carriage to normally extend ahead of said first box and in the path of said box above said conveyor track support plane, said feeler arm being operatively associated with said control linkage to cause said drive arm to move into and out of driving relationship to said pathway responsive, respectively, to the absence and presence of another box at said predetermined distance ahead of said first box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
333 words
An accumulation conveyor for receiving boxes or other like articles and for maintaining them in a predetermined spaced relation from each other until they are removed therefrom; said conveyor including a linear conveyor track having means to support said boxes on a conveyor track support plane and to confine said boxes against substantial lateral movement; an endless flexible drive chain having a first upper portion thereof situated parallel to and below said track support plane; means for driving said chain to cause said first portion to move in directioN parallel to the direction of box movement; at least one platform carriage driven by said chain and supported below and parallel to said track support plane during its movement with said chain along said first upper portion thereof; a fixed pathway parallel to said first upper track portion and below said carriage; a platform mounted on said carriage for movement between an elevated and a lowered position; a platform control linkage connected between said platform and said carriage and including a drive arm operative upon movement of said carriage with respect to said fixed pathway to cause said platform to be elevated into driving relationship to a first box on said conveyor track as said drive arm is moved into driving relationship to said pathway, and to cause said platform to be lowered from driving relationship to said first box as said drive arm is moved out of driving relationship to said pathway; and a feeler arm supported with respect to said platform carriage to normally extend ahead of said box and above said conveyor track support plane and moveable responsive to the presence of another box ahead of said first box to position below said conveyor support plane, said feeler arm being operatively associated with said control linkage to cause said drive arm to move into and out of driving relationship to said pathway responsive, respectively to the absence and presence of another box at said predetermined distance ahead of said first box.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
333 words
An accumulation conveyor for receiving boxes or other like articles and for maintaining them in a predetermined spaced relation from each other until they are removed therefrom; said conveyor including a linear conveyor track having means to support said boxes on a conveyor track support plane and to confine said boxes against substantial lateral movement; an endless flexible drive chain having a first upper portion thereof situated parallel to and below said track support plane; means for driving said chain to cause said first portion to move in directioN parallel to the direction of box movement; at least one platform carriage driven by said chain and supported below and parallel to said track support plane during its movement with said chain along said first upper portion thereof; a fixed pathway parallel to said first upper track portion and below said carriage; a platform mounted on said carriage for movement between an elevated and a lowered position; a platform control linkage connected between said platform and said carriage and including a drive arm operative upon movement of said carriage with respect to said fixed pathway to cause said platform to be elevated into driving relationship to a first box on said conveyor track as said drive arm is moved into driving relationship to said pathway, and to cause said platform to be lowered from driving relationship to said first box as said drive arm is moved out of driving relationship to said pathway; and a feeler arm supported with respect to said platform carriage to normally extend ahead of said box and above said conveyor track support plane and moveable responsive to the presence of another box ahead of said first box to position below said conveyor support plane, said feeler arm being operatively associated with said control linkage to cause said drive arm to move into and out of driving relationship to said pathway responsive, respectively to the absence and presence of another box at said predetermined distance ahead of said first box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said fixed pathway includes a fixedly mounted length of drive chain; and said control linkage includes a sprocket clutch rotatably mounted on an outer end of said drive arm to normally roll along said drive chain as said carriage moves in direction of box movement, and means including a locking bar connected to move into rotation preventing relationship to said sprocket to clutch said drive arm to said drive chain as said feeler arm moves from position below said conveyor support plane into its normal position and to position said locking bar out of rotation preventing relationship to said sprocket after said drive arm has moved said platform to its elevated position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3369650A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |