Patent US3595415A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3595415A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elevator with a pivoted support deck
Assignee: Columbia Machine Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-04
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1989-08-04
Abstract
Abstract Article transfer apparatus including a tiltable elevator for transferring an article from one elevation to transport mechanism at a lower elevation. The elevator is mounted for vertical movement on a pair of spaced upright posts that straddle a portion of the transport mechanism. Gravity acting on the elevator tends to hold it in an attitude with its support deck substantially horizontal. Pivot structure causes the elevator to tilt to another attitude with its support deck inclined upon lowering of the elevator toward the lower elevation mentioned. The elevator''s support deck is at least partially defined by power-driven rolls.
Inventors
- 👤 William E Herd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G2814/00; B65G2814/03; B65G2814/0347; B65G2814/0353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
For use with article transport means defining at one elevation a path of travel for an article, apparatus for receiving an article at another elevation which is above said one elevation and for delivering the same to said transport means at said one elevation, the apparatus comprising a frame including a pair of spaced upright posts straddling said path, elevator means having a support deck disposed between said posts and means mounting said elevator means for vertical movement on said posts above said path, said mounting means accommodating rocking of said elevator means about a substantially horizontal rock axis extending transversely of said path, such rocking being effective to adjust said elevator means between one attitude with its deck substantially horizontal and another attitude with its deck inclined, said elevator means above a certain elevation which is above said one elevation being maintained under the influence of gravity acting thereon in said one attitude, power-operated means operatively connected to said elevator means adjustable to raise and lower the same, and pivot means effective with said power-operated means adjusted to lower said elevator means below said certain elevation to produce rocking of the elevator toward its said other attitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
For use with article transport means defining at one elevation a path of travel for an article, apparatus for receiving an article at another elevation which is above said one elevation and for delivering the same to said transport means at said one elevation, the apparatus comprising a frame including a pair of spaced upright posts straddling said path, elevator means having a support deck disposed between said posts and means mounting said elevator means for vertical movement on said posts above said path, said mounting means accommodating rocking of said elevator means about a substantially horizontal rock axis extending transversely of said path, such rocking being effective to adjust said elevator means between one attitude with its deck substantially horizontal and another attitude with its deck inclined, said elevator means above a certain elevation which is above said one elevation being maintained under the influence of gravity acting thereon in said one attitude, power-operated means operatively connected to said elevator means adjustable to raise and lower the same, and pivot means effective with said power-operated means adjusted to lower said elevator means below said certain elevation to produce rocking of the elevator toward its said other attitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of elongated guide means, with one on each post, and a pair of carriages joined to opposite sides of said elevator means with each supported for movement along a different one of said guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, considering each guide means and its associated carriage, the guide means comprises an upright rail, and the carriage comprises a pair of rollers at different elevations disposed on opposite sides of said rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said opposite sides of a rail occupy upright planes that extend transversely of said path, the upper roller in the pair of rollers on one carriage and the upper roller in the pair on the other carriage are disposed adjacent one set of corresponding sides of said upright rails, and the lower rollers are disposed adjacent the other set of corresponding sides, and said elevator means is constructed with its center of gravity spaced on the opposite side of said lower rollers from said guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said rollers engage said opposite sides of said rails with the elevator means occupying its said one attitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power-operated means comprises elongated trainable tensioning means operatively connected to and extending upwardly from said elevator means, and motor means drivingly connected to said tensioning means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said tensioning means comprises a pair of elongated chains having one set of spaced-apart ends fastened adjacent opposite sides of said elevator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherEin said chains have another set of ends fastened to said frame, and said chains extend from said other set of ends toward a common drive member which is driven by said motor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said power-operated means comprises a pair of elongated motor-driven chains having one set of spaced-apart ends fastened adjacent opposite sides of said elevator means at points intermediate said upright planes with the elevator means in its said one attitude, and with the chains extending upwardly from said one set of ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pivot means comprises an elongated substantially horizontal pin mounted on said elevator means, and means anchored to said frame defines an upwardly facing socket for freely receiving said pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pin received within said socket the longitudinal axis of the pin coincides with said rock axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said pivot means comprises an elongated substantially horizontal pin mounted on said elevator means at a location spaced on the opposite side of said center of gravity from said rollers, and means anchored to said frame defines an upwardly facing socket for freely receiving said pin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said elevator means has receiving and discharge ends and in its said other attitude is oriented with its said support deck sloping downwardly toward said discharge end, said pin is located adjacent said receiving end, and stop means is mounted on said frame adjacent said discharge end and is positioned to provide vertical support for said discharge end with said elevator means in its said other attitude.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elevator means has receiving and discharge ends, and comprises a pair of elongated laterally spaced sideplates extending between such ends and power-driven conveyor means mounted on and disposed between said sideplates operable to transport an article in a direction from said receiving end toward said discharge end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said conveyor means comprises a first set of elongated, spaced, substantially parallel rolls whose top sides occupy a common plane and define said support deck.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 15, which further comprises a set of elongated, spaced, substantially parallel nonpowered rolls mounted on and extending between said sideplates at an elevation which is below the rolls in said first set of rolls with the bottom sides of said nonpowered rolls occupying another common plane that intersects said first-mentioned common plane along a substantially horizontal line adjacent the discharge end of said elevator means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, viewing said elevator means in side elevation, the angle between said common planes is substantially the same as the angle between said support deck and the horizontal with said elevator means in its said other attitude.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rolls in said first set have substantially the same outer diameters, said nonpowered rolls are located toward the discharge end of said elevator means from the rolls in said first set, and said conveyor means further comprises a second set of elongated, spaced, substantially parallel rolls mounted on and extending between said sideplates at a location directly over said nonpowered rolls, the rolls in said second set being substantially parallel to the rolls in said first set and being positioned with their top sides occupying said first-mentioned common plane, and having outer diameters which are smaller than those of the rolls in said first set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein there is a motor drivingly connected to the rolls in the first set and connecting means drivingly connecting the rolls in said second set to those in said first set, said connecting means being constructed to drive the rolls in said second set with substantially the same tangential velocity as that of the Rolls in said first set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, which is for use in conjunction with package stacking and palletizing equipment having a discharge end at said other elevation, and with said apparatus being positioned whereby its said elevator means is adapted to receive an article from such discharge end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2220191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |