Accumulating roller conveyor system

Claim 2

In a conveyor, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending article-supporting rollers, drive means beneath the rollers for engaging the rollers to rotate them and thereby move articles supported thereby, means normally biasing one end of said rollers upwardly away from said drive means whereby said rollers are normally not rotated but may be urged downwardly by an article supported thereon into engagement with the drive means, expansible chamber means operable upon application of fluid thereto to prevent the rollers from moving toward the drive means or to move the rollers upwardly out of engagement with the drive means if an article is held thereon, sensing means in the path of the articles for determining the presence of an article interrupted in its movement on the rollers, and means operable by said sensing means for applying fluid to said expansible chamber means when an article is present and interrupted in its movement on said rollers.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring engaging one end of each of said rollers.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a yieldable plastic element urging one end of said rollers upwardly.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said expansible chamber means comprises an elastic-walled hollow element positioned adjacent one end of the rollers which is expandable on application of fluid thereon and is operable to engage said one end of said rollers to bias said one end upwardly upon expansion.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a longitudinally extending belt maintained in predetermined vertically disposed position with respect to said rollers, and means for driving said belt.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the other end of each said roller is supported for rotation and is normally in a vertically disposed position lower than said one end of each said roller.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a member positioned in the path of said articles and adapted to engage said articles, and a valve operable by said member for applying fluid to said expansible means.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a member engageable by an article, and means operable by said member for applying fluid to said expansible chamber means.

Claim 10

The combination seT forth in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a noncontacting sensing device adapted to be actuated by an article overlying said device.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a nozzle for directing fluid upwardly in the path of an article, and means operable by interruption of flow of the nozzle for actuating said expansible chamber means.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluidic switch.

Claim 13

In a conveyor, a plurality of groups of longitudinally spaced transversely extending article-supporting rollers, drive means beneath the rollers for engaging the rollers to rotate them and thereby move articles supported thereby, means normally biasing at least one end of said rollers upwardly away from said drive means whereby said rollers are normally not rotated but are urged downwardly by an article supported thereon into engagement with the drive means, expansible chamber means operable upon application of fluid thereto to prevent the rollers from moving toward the drive means or to move the rollers upwardly out of engagement with the drive means if an article is held thereon, said expansible chamber means comprising an elastic-walled hollow element positioned adjacent one end of said group of rollers and which is expandable on application of fluid thereon and is operable to engage said one end of said group of rollers to bias said one end upwardly upon expansion, and sensing means in the path of the articles for determining the presence of an article interrupted in its movement on the rollers, and means operable by said sensing means for applying fluid to said expansible chamber means when an article is present and interrupted in its movement on said rollers.

Claim 14

In a conveyor, a plurality of groups of longitudinally spaced transversely extending article-supporting rollers, drive means beneath the rollers for engaging the rollers to rotate them and thereby move articles supported thereby, means normally biasing at least one end of said rollers upwardly away from said drive means whereby said rollers are normally not rotated but are urged downwardly by an article supported thereon into engagement with the drive means, expansible chamber means operable upon application of fluid thereto to prevent the rollers from moving toward the drive means or to move the rollers upwardly out of engagement with the drive means if an article is held thereon, said expansible chamber means comprising an elastic-walled hollow element positioned adjacent one end of said group of rollers and which is expandable on application of fluid thereon and is operable to engage said one end of said group of rollers to bias said one end upwardly upon expansion, and sensing means in the path of the articles for determining the presence of an article interrupted in its movement on the rollers, and means operable by said sensing means for applying fluid to said expansible chamber means when an article is present and interrupted in its movement on said rollers.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring engaging one end of each of said rollers.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said biasing means comprises a yieldable plastic element urging one end of said rollers upwardly.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said drive means comprises a longitudinally extending belt maintained in predetermined vertically disposed position with respect to said rollers, and means for driving said belt.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the other end of each said roller is supported for rotation and is normally in a vertically disposed position lower than said one end of each said roller.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises a member positioned in the path of said articles and adapted to engage said articles, and a valve operable by said member for applying fluid to said expansible chamber.

Claim 20

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises a member engageable by an article, and means operable by said member for applying fluid to said expansible chamber means.

Claim 21

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises a noncontacting sensing device adapted to be actuated by an article overlying said device.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a nozzle for directing fluid upwardly in the path of an article, and means operable by interruption of flow of the nozzle for actuating said expansible chamber means.

Claim 23

The combination set forth in claim 20 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fluidic switch.