US3570651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-21
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1989-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system including a monorail drive having vertically extending brackets which support a continuous product support surface. The product support surface includes separately supported grid surface which interleave with the next adjacent grid thereby to facilitate turning around a radius while maintaining a continuous product support surface.
Inventors
- 👤 William E Lanham
- 👤 Gene C Miller
- 👤 William E Lanham Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/061; A; A21; A21B; A21B1/00; A21B1/42; A21B1/48; A21C; A21C13/00; A21C13/02; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In an endless conveyor system, a conveyor adapted to move along a path including a curved portion therealong, said conveyor comprising, an endless conveyor drive chain and a continuous array of product-supporting units each of which is formed by a vertical bracket and a horizontally disposed product-supporting grid, said grids being in spaced relationship along said chain and each providing a relatively fixed support for the products at a support plane with the products remaining relatively fixed with respect to the respective grid throughout the movement along said path, each of said grids comprising a product support surface mounted at the top of a bracket above said chain, and each said product support surface including generally longitudinal bar portions extending between adjacent brackets thereby to overlap with the next adjacent support surface to permit said product support surfaces to move separately around said curved portion without restriction while maintaining a continuous product support surface and wherein each said support surface comprises a transverse support member upon which is mounted a bar bent in a zigzag form to provide said longitudinal bar portions which are joined at each end to the next adjacent bar portion by a U-shaped bend.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In an endless conveyor system, a conveyor adapted to move along a path including a curved portion therealong, said conveyor comprising, an endless conveyor drive chain and a continuous array of product-supporting units each of which is formed by a vertical bracket and a horizontally disposed product-supporting grid, said grids being in spaced relationship along said chain and each providing a relatively fixed support for the products at a support plane with the products remaining relatively fixed with respect to the respective grid throughout the movement along said path, each of said grids comprising a product support surface mounted at the top of a bracket above said chain, and each said product support surface including generally longitudinal bar portions extending between adjacent brackets thereby to overlap with the next adjacent support surface to permit said product support surfaces to move separately around said curved portion without restriction while maintaining a continuous product support surface and wherein each said support surface comprises a transverse support member upon which is mounted a bar bent in a zigzag form to provide said longitudinal bar portions which are joined at each end to the next adjacent bar portion by a U-shaped bend.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The conveyor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped bends of each said support surface are positioned alternately between the U-shaped bends of the next adjacent support surface thereby to provide an interlocked network of continuous product support surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The conveyor system as defined in claim 2 wherein said conveyor includes spaced longitudinally extending side rails disposed substantially parallel to said conveyor drive chain, and said side rails are positioned to provide lateral support for said product supporting grid portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The conveyor system as defined in claim 3 wherein each said side rail includes an upper runner portion in contact with the underside of said product supporting grid surfaces which has a low coefficient of friction thereby to permit said product supporting grid surfaces to slide easily therealong.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The conveyor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said chain is mounted within a tube having a longitudinal slot through which said brackets are supported, and cover means for said slot comprising a plurality of flexible cover strips each of which is mounted at one end of said brackets and extends beyond a next adjacent bracket, said strips being overlapped in shingle style. >
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3285394A
Cited
US3363744A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |