Article carrying and discharge mechanisms

Claim 2

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sectIons and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections, means adapted to switch said movable sections in response to operation of said discharge initiating means, means connected to said transversely movable element for engagement with said track means whereby switching of a movable section operates to effect transverse movement of said element and whereby the connection between said element and said actuating means operates to effect pivotal movement of said article carrying means.

Claim 3

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said article carrying means comprise individual tray constructions, a plurality of interconnected trucks for pivotally mounting each of the tray constructions, and a separate track for supporting said trucks.

Claim 4

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a leg extending downwardly from each of said article carrying means, the pivotal support for said article carrying means being located at an intermediate point on said legs, and wherein said transversely movable element is located at the lower end of each leg.

Claim 5

A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said transversely movable element comprises a horizontally disposed plate, and guide means defining a separate track for controlling the transverse movement of said plate.

Claim 6

A system in accordance with claim 4 including rollers extending downwardly from said plate for engaging said track, said rollers following said movable sections of the track to effect transverse movement of a plate when said movable sections have been switched to the discharge position.

Claim 7

A system in accordance with claim 4 including a bifurcated member extending upwardly from said plate, a guide member carried by said leg and received in said bifurcated member, said guide member reciprocating relative to said bifurcated member during transverse movement of said plate.

Claim 8

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said movable track sections are pivotally mounted, spring means normally urging said movable sections to the discharge position, and locking means operable by said discharge initiating means to release said movable sections for switching movement of the movable sections to the discharge position.

Claim 9

A system in accordance with claim 7 including additional track sections located to provide continuations of said movable sections when the movable sections are switched to the discharge position, said additional sections serving to complete the discharge movement of said article carrying means, and means operating independently of the completion of discharge for restoring said movable sections into alignment with said stationary track sections.

Claim 10

A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said restoring means are operated through engagement with said transversely movable member upon entry of said member into an additional section.

Claim 11

A system in accordance with claim 8 including means for locking said movable track sections in the discharge position after they have been switched to the discharge position, said restoring means including a lever adapted to unlock said movable sections, and including drive means for forcing said movable sections back into alignment with the stationary track sections.

Claim 12

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said movable track sections are located on only one side of the conveyor at any particular discharge location, and wherein said movable track sections comprise channel-shaped members for confining the downwardly extending members carried by said transversely movable elements.

Claim 13

A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said movable track sections are positioned at alternating locations on opposite sides of the conveyor.

Claim 14

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said movable sections are positioned on both sides of the conveyor in opposed relationship, said movable track sections comprising channel-shaped members for confining downwardly extending members carried by said transversely Movable element, and wherein an interior wall of each channel-shaped member is collapsible to permit movement of one downwardly extending member out of one movable track section when the other downwardly extending member is confined by the opposed movable track section.

Claim 15

A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said interior walls are normally in a collapsed state, and wherein switching movement of a movable section results in the upward movement of the associated interior wall to bring the wall into a confining position.

Claim 16

A system in accordance with claim 1 including means associated with said transversely movable element adapted to operatively engage movable track sections along the path of the conveyor when said element is in the discharge position and when the movable track section has switched to the discharge position, the engaging action of said element operating to restore the movable track section into alignment with a stationary track section.

Claim 17

A system in accordance with claim 15 including lever means connected to said track sections for imparting restoring movement thereto, said transversely movable element engaging said lever means for achieving said restoring movement.

Claim 18

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station and past a plurality of article discharge stations, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to and extending downwardly from said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable, horizontally disposed plate connected to said actuating means, transverse movement of said plate operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said plate to restrain the plate against transverse movement, said track including at least one movable section adapted to switch relative to a stationary track section, said transversely movable plate following said movable track section to effect transverse movement for imparting discharge movement to said article carrying means.

Claim 19

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station and past a plurality of article discharge stations, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to and extending downwardly from said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable, horizontally disposed plate connected to said actuating means, transverse movement of said plate operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said plate to restrain the plate against transverse movement, said track including at least one movable section adapted to switch relative to a stationary track section, said transversely movable plate following said movable track section to effect transverse movement for imparting discharge movement to said article carrying means.

Claim 20

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, said actuating means comprising a leg extending downwardly from each of said article carrying means, the pivot axis for said article carrying means being located at an intermediate point on each of said legs, a transversely movable element connected at the lower end of each leg, said transversely movable element comprising a horizontally disposed plate, and guide means defining a separate track for controlling the transverse movement of said plate, movement of said plate operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said plate to restrain the plate against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections, and means adapted to switch said movable sections in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said plate and pivotal movement of said article carrying means.

Claim 21

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, said actuating means comprising a leg extending downwardly from each of said article carrying means, the pivot axis for said article carrying means being located at an intermediate point on each of said legs, a transversely movable element connected at the lower end of each leg, said transversely movable element comprising a horizontally disposed plate, and guide means defining a separate track for controlling the transverse movement of said plate, movement of said plate operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said plate to restrain the plate against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections, and means adapted to switch said movable sections in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said plate and pivotal movement of said article carrying means.

Claim 22

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past A plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections, and means adapted to switch said movable sections in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, said movable track sections being pivotally mounted, and including spring means normally urging said movable sections to the discharge position, and locking means operable by said discharge initiating means to release said movable sections for switching movement of the movable sections to the discharge position.

Claim 23

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past A plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections, and means adapted to switch said movable sections in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, said movable track sections being pivotally mounted, and including spring means normally urging said movable sections to the discharge position, and locking means operable by said discharge initiating means to release said movable sections for switching movement of the movable sections to the discharge position.

Claim 24

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections and adapted to switch in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, said movable sections being positioned on both sides of the conveyor in opposed relationship, said movable track sections comprising channel-shaped members for confining downwardly extending members carried by said transversely movable element, and wherein an interior wall of each channel-shaped member is collapsible to permit movement of one downwardly extending member out of one movable track section when the other downwardly extending member is confined by the opposed movable track section.

Claim 25

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections located intermediate the stationary sections and adapted to switch in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, said movable sections being positioned on both sides of the conveyor in opposed relationship, said movable track sections comprising channel-shaped members for confining downwardly extending members carried by said transversely movable element, and wherein an interior wall of each channel-shaped member is collapsible to permit movement of one downwardly extending member out of one movable track section when the other downwardly extending member is confined by the opposed movable track section.

Claim 26

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections loCated intermediate the stationary sections and adapted to switch in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, and means associated with said transversely movable element adapted to operatively engage movable track sections along the path of the conveyor when said element is in the discharge position and when the movable track section has switched to the discharge position, the engaging action of said element operating to restore the movable track section into alignment with a stationary track section.

Claim 27

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station, and past a plurality of article discharge stations, and including discharge initiating means located at said discharge stations adapted to be selectively operated for effecting removal of articles from said article carrying means, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to said support for imparting pivotal movement thereto, a transversely movable element connected to said actuating means, movement of said element operating said actuating means to effect said pivotal movement, and a track extending parallel with the conveyor path and normally engaging said element to restrain the element against transverse movement, said track including stationary sections and movable sections loCated intermediate the stationary sections and adapted to switch in response to operation of said discharge initiating means to effect transverse movement of said element and pivotal movement of said article carrying means, and means associated with said transversely movable element adapted to operatively engage movable track sections along the path of the conveyor when said element is in the discharge position and when the movable track section has switched to the discharge position, the engaging action of said element operating to restore the movable track section into alignment with a stationary track section.

Claim 28

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station and past a plurality of article discharge stations, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to and extending downwardly from said support for imparting pivotal movement to said support, transversely movable means, means confining said transversely movable means to movement in a horizontal plane in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said article carrying means, means connecting said transversely movable means to said actuating means whereby transverse movement of said transversely movable means is translated into pivotal movement of said support, means extending parallel with the direction of movement of said article carrying means and normally engaging said transversely movable means to restrain the transversely movable means against transverse movement, and means positioned at each of said discharge stations for engaging said transversely movable means and for thereby diverting said transversely movable means for transverse movement perpendicular to the direction of movement of said article carrying means, the diverting of said transversely movable means thereby imparting discharge movement to said article carrying means.

Claim 29

In an article delivery system wherein article carrying means are located on a conveyor for movement past at least one article loading station and past a plurality of article discharge stations, the improvement in means for supporting said article carrying means comprising a pivotally mounted support connected to the article carrying means, an actuating means connected to and extending downwardly from said support for imparting pivotal movement to said support, transversely movable means, means confining said transversely movable means to movement in a horizontal plane in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said article carrying means, means connecting said transversely movable means to said actuating means whereby transverse movement of said transversely movable means is translated into pivotal movement of said support, means extending parallel with the direction of movement of said article carrying means and normally engaging said transversely movable means to restrain the transversely movable means against transverse movement, and means positioned at each of said discharge stations for engaging said transversely movable means and for thereby diverting said transversely movable means for transverse movement perpendicular to the direction of movement of said article carrying means, the diverting of said transversely movable means thereby imparting discharge movement to said article carrying means.