Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A ring rotatable about its axis comprising at least three angularly spaced roller means for supporting said ring, at least one of which rollers has a pair of spaced converging conically surfaced flanges which surfaces contact said ring at two points radially spaced with respect to the center of said ring and through which points a straight line intersects the axis of said one roller means on said axis of rotation of said ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A ring rotatable about its axis comprising at least three angularly spaced roller means for supporting said ring, at least one of which rollers has a pair of spaced converging conically surfaced flanges which surfaces contact said ring at two points radially spaced with respect to the center of said ring and through which points a straight line intersects the axis of said one roller means on said axis of rotation of said ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ring according to claim 1 including means for driving at least one of said roller means to rotate said ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A ring according to claim 1 including means for supporting work stations on said ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ring according to claim 1 including cam means on said ring and control switches located around said ring cooperable with said cam means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ring according to claim 1 including flange means on said ring and brake-type jaws located at least at one position aLong the circumference of said ring adjacent to said flange means for engaging said flange means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A ring according to claim 1 wherein another of said roller means comprises a supporting cylindrical roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A ring according to claim 1 including a guiding cylindrical roller engageable with said ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ring according to claim 1 wherein all of said roller means have a pair of flanges which contact said ring as said one roller means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A plurality of concentric rings each having supporting roller means according to claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A plurality of concentric rings according to claim 9 wherein said one roller means for each ring of said plurality of rings has its two points of contact in the same straight line with the two points of contact of each of the other said one roller means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A plurality of concentric rings according to claim 9 wherein said one roller means for each said ring has its two points of contact in different straight lines which intersect at a common point on said axis of rotation of said rings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circular conveyor comprising: A. a ring rail having a center axis, B. an article-supporting means connected to said rail, and C. at least three circumferentially spaced supporting rollers for said rail, at least one of said rollers having a pair of spaced converging conically surfaced flanges which provide two points of contact with said rail radially spaced with respect to the center of said ring rail, said points of contact being on a straight line which intersects the axis of said roller at the axis of said ring whereby each of which points has the same angular velocity with said rail when said rail is rotating about its said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A circular conveyor comprising: A. a ring rail having a center axis, B. an article-supporting means connected to said rail, and C. at least three circumferentially spaced supporting rollers for said rail, at least one of said rollers having a pair of spaced converging conically surfaced flanges which provide two points of contact with said rail radially spaced with respect to the center of said ring rail, said points of contact being on a straight line which intersects the axis of said roller at the axis of said ring whereby each of which points has the same angular velocity with said rail when said rail is rotating about its said axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A conveyor according to claim 12 including means for driving said one roller to rotate said conveyor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A conveyor according to claim 12 including two concentric rings mounted on separate rollers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conveyor according to claim 14 including a common driving means for said one roller for each ring for rotating both said rings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conveyor according to claim 14 including different driving means for said one roller for each said ring for rotating said rings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conveyor according to claim 12 wherein said one roller comprises a pair of conical flanges which have different apex angles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conveyor according to claim 17 wherein said conical flanges have friction-engaging means to reduce slipping at said points of contact between said ring and said flanges.