Patent US3604554A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tray-spacing conveyor
Assignee: Johnson Gordon Co
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Filing: 1970-01-22
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-01-22
Abstract
Abstract An article transfer apparatus has a conveyor provided with rotatable, article-supporting rollers. Movable article-spacing devices used in conjunction with the conveyor have stops, normally held down by gravity, and depressors, which are lowered and held down by an article resting thereon to raise the corresponding stops into the path of the articles. Accelerator pad means engaged by the rollers rotate the latter to augment advancement by the articles.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Martz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/24; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/261; B65G47/268; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
Article transfer apparatus comprising: a supporting framework; a pair of horizontally spaced carriers mounted on said framework for rotation about horizontal axes; an endless, flexible conveyor trained about said carriers, presenting an elongated, uppermost, article-supporting stretch movable continuously from one of said carriers to the other of said carriers; a row of elongated, article-spacing devices extending from said one carrier to said other carrier along said stretch; pivot means for each device respectively swingably mounting the same on said framework for movement about a horizontal axis traversing the device intermediate its ends, the axes of swinging movement of said devices being parallel with said axes of rotation of said carriers; an article stop on the leading end of each device respectively; a depressor on the trailing end of each device respectively; and means for each device respectively yieldably biasing the same in one direction of swinging movement thereof, placing the depressors in a normal position within the path of travel of the articles on said stretch and placing the stops in a normal position below said path of travel of the articles, whereby the stops are raised to hold the articles against advancement by said stretch when their corresponding depressors are held down by an article thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
Article transfer apparatus comprising: a supporting framework; a pair of horizontally spaced carriers mounted on said framework for rotation about horizontal axes; an endless, flexible conveyor trained about said carriers, presenting an elongated, uppermost, article-supporting stretch movable continuously from one of said carriers to the other of said carriers; a row of elongated, article-spacing devices extending from said one carrier to said other carrier along said stretch; pivot means for each device respectively swingably mounting the same on said framework for movement about a horizontal axis traversing the device intermediate its ends, the axes of swinging movement of said devices being parallel with said axes of rotation of said carriers; an article stop on the leading end of each device respectively; a depressor on the trailing end of each device respectively; and means for each device respectively yieldably biasing the same in one direction of swinging movement thereof, placing the depressors in a normal position within the path of travel of the articles on said stretch and placing the stops in a normal position below said path of travel of the articles, whereby the stops are raised to hold the articles against advancement by said stretch when their corresponding depressors are held down by an article thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stops and said depressors comprise upwardly extending, generally V-shaped elements, presenting inclined, article-engaging ramps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein is provided bumpers on said framework disposed for engagement by the stops and by the depressors on the down stroke thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each device has a pair of sections extending in opposite directions from its axis of swinging movement, one of said sections having the stop thereon being heavier than the other of said sections having the depressor thereon whereby said means for yieldably biasing the devices in said one direction comprises the weight differential between said sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said one section is longer than said other section, presenting said weight differential therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each device has a pair of angularly offset sections extending in opposite directions from its axis of swinging movement, presenting a downwardly facing, acute angle between the sections at said axis of swinging movement of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each device includes an elongated, flat plate, and wherein said stops and said depressors comprise upwardly extending, generally V-shaped elements terminating in inclined, downwardly extending flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each device includes an elongated, flat plate, and wherein said stops and said depressors comprise upwardly extending, generally V-shaped elements terminating in inclined, downwardly extending flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein is provided bumpers on said framework disposed for engatement by the lowermost ends of said flanges on the downstroke of the latter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is provided with a continuous series of article-supporting rollers movable therewith and freely rotatable about horizontal axes parallel with said axes of rotation of said carriers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein is provided a pair of laterally spaced, article guides on said framework along said stretch and parallel therewith for holding the articles on said series of rollers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said guides are shiftable toward and away from each other and means iS provided for holding them in any one of a number of adjusted positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein is provided a number of accelerators mounted on said framework, spaced along said stretch, and disposed for engagement with said rollers as they travel from said one carrier to said other carrier for rotating the rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein each depressor is spaced rearwardly from the next succeeding stop, and wherein the accelerators are in underlying relation to the spaces between the stops and the depressors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said accelerators comprise friction pads underlying said stretch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said accelerators comprise friction pads underlying said stretch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein each device includes an elongated, flat plate, each plate having a pair of sections extending in opposite directions from its axis of swinging movement, one of said sections having the stop thereon being heavier than the other of said sections having the depressor thereon whereby said means for yieldably biasing the devices in said one direction comprises the weight differential between said sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Article transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said one section is longer than said other section, presenting said weight differential therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB881250A
Cited
US3373860A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |