Conveying apparatus

Claim 2

In a trolley of the type having a drive pawl near its forward end, a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, and means mounting said pawls on said trolley for pivotal movement from a lowered position wherein all portions of said pawls are below a predetermined level to a raised position, the improvement which comprises means for holding said pawls in the raised position, and means for effecting the movement of both of said pawls to lowered position, said means for holding said second pawl in raised position comprising a weighted portion of said pawl, and said means for holding said drive pawl in raised position comprising a lever having an end portion engageable with said drive pawl for moving said drive pawl to raised position and locking it in said position, said lever effective to cause positive engagement with said second pawl to urge it to lowered position.

Claim 3

In a trolley of the type having a drive pawl near its forward end, a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, and means mounting said pawls on said trolley for pivotal movement from a lowered position wherein all portions of said pawls are below a predetermined level to a raised position, the improvement which comprises means for holding said pawls in the raised pOsition, and means for effecting the movement of both of said pawls to lowered position, said means for holding said pawls in raised position including a first lever mounted for engagement with said second pawl for pivoting it to lowered position and a second lever that is movable into engagement with said pawl-engaging lever to actuate said pawl-engaging lever into pawl-lowering contact with said pawl.

Claim 4

In a trolley of the type having a drive pawl near its forward end, a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, and means mounting said pawls on said trolley for pivotal movement from a lowered position wherein all portions of said pawls are below a predetermined level to a raised position, the improvement which comprises means for holding said pawls in the raised pOsition, and means for effecting the movement of both of said pawls to lowered position, said means for holding said pawls in raised position including a first lever mounted for engagement with said second pawl for pivoting it to lowered position and a second lever that is movable into engagement with said pawl-engaging lever to actuate said pawl-engaging lever into pawl-lowering contact with said pawl.

Claim 5

In combination, a conveyor track, a trolley movable along said track and having a drive pawl near its forward end and a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement to a raised position, a lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position in engagement with said drive pawl for locking said pawl in raised position to a second position in operative engagement with said second pawl for holding said second pawl in lowered position, and actuating means for moving said lever between first and second positions, said actuating means including a weighted portion carried by said lever for urging said lever from said second to said first position.

Claim 6

In combination, a conveyor track, a trolley movable along said track and having a drive pawl near its forward end and a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement to a raised position, a lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position in engagement with said drive pawl for locking said pawl in raised position to a second position in operative engagement with said second pawl for holding said second pawl in lowered position, and actuating means for moving said lever between first and second positions, said actuating means including a weighted portion carried by said lever for urging said lever from said second to said first position.

Claim 7

In combination, a conveyor track, a trolley movable along said track and having a drive pawl near its forward end and a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement to a raised position, a first lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position in engagement with said drive pawl for locking said pawl in raised position to a second position for releasing the pawl to said lowered position, a second lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement into operative engagement with said second pawl for holding said second pawl in lowered position on movement of said first lever into said second position, and actuating means for moving said first lever between said first and second positions.

Claim 8

In combination, a conveyor track, a trolley movable along said track and having a drive pawl near its forward end and a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement to a raised position, a first lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position in engagement with said drive pawl for locking said pawl in raised position to a second position for releasing the pawl to said lowered position, a second lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement into operative engagement with said second pawl for holding said second pawl in lowered position on movement of said first lever into said second position, and actuating means for moving said first lever between said first and second positions.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 4 wherein said actuating means includes cam means mounted in fixed position along said track to engage and move said lever from said first to said second position.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 4 wherein said actuating means includes a weighted portion carried by said lever for urging said lever from said second to said first position.

Claim 11

In a trolley of the type having a drive pawl near its forward end, a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, and means mounting said pawls on said trolley for pivotal movement from a lowered position wherein all portions of said pawls are below a predetermined level to a raised position, the improvement which comprises means for holding said pawls in the raised position including a first lever pivotally mounted on the trolley and movable with respect to the drive pawl to engage the drive pawl, and means for effecting the movement of both of said pawls to lowered position including a second lever pivotally mounted on the trolley in the path of said first lever for engagement thereby for lowering of said pawls simultaneously.

Claim 12

In a trolley of the type having a drive pawl near its forward end, a second pawl rearwardly of said drive pawl, and means mounting said pawls on said trolley for pivotal movement from a lowered position wherein all portions of said pawls are below a predetermined level to a raised position, the improvement which comprises means for holding said pawls in the raised position including a first lever pivotally mounted on the trolley and movable with respect to the drive pawl to engage the drive pawl, and means for effecting the movement of both of said pawls to lowered position including a second lever pivotally mounted on the trolley in the path of said first lever for engagement thereby for lowering of said pawls simultaneously.

Claim 13

A conveyor system having a main line and having a shunt line branching off the main line at a transfer zone, said system having pusher means movable along a path adjacent the main line and having pusher means movable along a path adjacent the shunt line, said paths spaced apart in the transfer zone, a trolley movable along said lines and having a drive pawl on the trolley, said trolley having a second pawl rearward of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement normally to a raised position, a lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position to a second position, said lever operable in said first position to hold said drive pawl in the raised position and Operable in the second position to hold said second pawl in the lowered position, and actuating means operable in response to movement of the trolley through the transfer zone to shift said lever to said second position whereby both pawls are held beyond the reach of the pusher means for the shunt line.

Claim 14

A conveyor system having a main line and having a shunt line branching off the main line at a transfer zone, said system having pusher means movable along a path adjacent the main line and having pusher means movable along a path adjacent the shunt line, said paths spaced apart in the transfer zone, a trolley movable along said lines and having a drive pawl on the trolley, said trolley having a second pawl rearward of said drive pawl, said drive pawl being pivoted on said trolley for gravity movement to a lowered position and said second pawl being pivoted on said trolley for movement normally to a raised position, a lever pivotally mounted on said trolley for movement from a first position to a second position, said lever operable in said first position to hold said drive pawl in the raised position and Operable in the second position to hold said second pawl in the lowered position, and actuating means operable in response to movement of the trolley through the transfer zone to shift said lever to said second position whereby both pawls are held beyond the reach of the pusher means for the shunt line.