Conveyor article transfer apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for automatic transfer of articles from one conveyor to an adjacent second conveyor, said conveyors having parallel courses at the points of transfer, and comprising frame means positioned between said conveyors, endless chain means journaled on said frame means for movement from adjacent one conveyor to a point adjacent the second conveyor, pickoff means secured to said chain means to engage an article on said one conveyor, disengage it therefrom, and move it to a point adjacent said second conveyor, drive means connecting to said chain means to move it through a controlled oscillating path, an article deposit means on said frame means adjacent said second conveyor to engage an article on said pickoff means and disengage it therefrom, and control means engaging said article deposit means to control the position thereof and oscillate said article deposit means for article release onto said second conveyor.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said articles are secured to said conveyors by a hanger having an upper bar extending longitudinally of said first conveyor, and a pair of arms form said pickoff means, said arms being positioned and movable to engage spaced portions of said bar to lift it off of said first conveyor to move said hanger substantially perpendicularly away from the longitudinal axis of said first conveyor towards said second conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 where a pair of pivotally positioned support arms form said article deposit means and such support arms are positioned in the course of movement of said first-named arms to in turn pick off said hanger as moved toward said second conveyor by said chain means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 where a mechanical drive is taken from said first conveyor, and means connect said mechanical drive to said drive means and control means for timed actuation thereof.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said reversible drive means include a rack gear controlled by a piston and cylinder means, means connecting said rack gear operatively to said chain means for driving the same through a controlled reversible arc.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said control means comprise circuit means including switch means operatively associated with said second conveyor to be actuated by movement of said conveyor to actuate said control means for timed deposit of an article onto said second conveyor.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said control means are connected operatively to said article deposit means for driving the same through a controlled reversible arc.

Claim 9

Apparatus for automatic transfer of articles from one endless chain conveyor to an adjacent second endless chain conveyor, said conveyors having parallel courses at the points of transfer and having dependent supports thereon, said articles being secured to said first conveyor by a hanger having an upper bar extending longitudinally of said first conveyor, and comprising frame means positioned betWeen said conveyors, a pair of parallel endless chain means journaled on said frame means for movement from adjacent one conveyor to a point adjacent the second conveyor, pickoff means secured to said chain means to engage a hanger on said one conveyor, disengage it therefrom, and move it to a point adjacent said second conveyor, drive means connecting to said chain means to move it through controlled oscillating path, an article deposit means operatively positioned on said frame means adjacent said second conveyor to engage a hanger on said pickoff means and disengage it therefrom, and control means engaging said article deposit means to control the position thereof and oscillate said article deposit means for hanger release and positioning on said second conveyor.

Claim 10

Apparatus for automatic transfer of articles from one endless chain conveyor to an adjacent second endless chain conveyor, said conveyors having parallel courses at the points of transfer and having dependent supports thereon, said articles being secured to said first conveyor by a hanger having an upper bar extending longitudinally of said first conveyor, and comprising frame means positioned betWeen said conveyors, a pair of parallel endless chain means journaled on said frame means for movement from adjacent one conveyor to a point adjacent the second conveyor, pickoff means secured to said chain means to engage a hanger on said one conveyor, disengage it therefrom, and move it to a point adjacent said second conveyor, drive means connecting to said chain means to move it through controlled oscillating path, an article deposit means operatively positioned on said frame means adjacent said second conveyor to engage a hanger on said pickoff means and disengage it therefrom, and control means engaging said article deposit means to control the position thereof and oscillate said article deposit means for hanger release and positioning on said second conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 8 where said frame means are positioned for movement parallel to said conveyor, and means operatively engage said frame means to move it in synchronism with said one conveyor for a short portion of its movement.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 8 where said frame means are positioned for movement parallel to the parallel courses of said conveyors, and slidable bar means adapted in one position to operatively engage said frame means with said one conveyor to move said frame means in synchronism downstream with said conveyor while an article is being picked therefrom.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 10 where a return means operatively engages said frame means to move it upstream, and means disengage said bar means from said one conveyor.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 8 where said control means also control said drive means and comprise circuit means including switch means operatively associated with said conveyors to be actuated by movement of said conveyors to actuate said drive means and said control means for timed pickup and/or deposit of articles from or onto said conveyor.

Claim 15

Apparatus for automatic transfer of articles supported on a hanger from one conveyor to an adjacent second conveyor, said conveyors having parallel courses at the points of transfer, and comprising frame means positioned between said conveyors, a pair of driven endless means journaled on spaced side portions of said frame means for movement from adjacent one conveyor to a point adjacent the second conveyor, pickoff means secured to each of said endless means to engage an article hanger on said one conveyor, disengage it therefrom, and move it to a point adjacent said second conveyor, pivotally positioned article deposit means on said frame means adjacent said second conveyor to engage an article hanger on said pickoff means and disengage it therefrom, and intermittently actuated control means operatively engaging said article deposit means to control the position thereof and move said article deposite means through a controlled reversible arc for article hanger release and deposit onto said second conveyor.

Claim 16

Apparatus for automatic transfer of articles supported on a hanger from one conveyor to an adjacent second conveyor, said conveyors having parallel courses at the points of transfer, and comprising frame means positioned between said conveyors, a pair of driven endless means journaled on spaced side portions of said frame means for movement from adjacent one conveyor to a point adjacent the second conveyor, pickoff means secured to each of said endless means to engage an article hanger on said one conveyor, disengage it therefrom, and move it to a point adjacent said second conveyor, pivotally positioned article deposit means on said frame means adjacent said second conveyor to engage an article hanger on said pickoff means and disengage it therefrom, and intermittently actuated control means operatively engaging said article deposit means to control the position thereof and move said article deposite means through a controlled reversible arc for article hanger release and deposit onto said second conveyor.