US3650371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accumulator table for a conveying system
Assignee: STROH BREWERY COMPANY
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Filing: 1969-11-05
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1989-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A conveying system, including a conveyor and an accumulator table located adjacent the conveyor and sloped downwardly toward the conveyor. When a blockage occurs in the conveyor system, the articles being conveyed accumulate on the inclined table, and when the blockage is cured, the articles will move downwardly across the plate and back onto the conveyor. A vibrating unit can be associated with the inclined accumulator table to vibrate the table and increase the speed of movement of the articles on the table.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F Constable
- 👤 Robert F Risley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/51; B65G47/5104; B65G47/5109; B65G47/52; B65G47/68; B65G47/682; B65G47/683; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In a conveying system, conveyor means having a conveying member operating in a given plane to convey a plurality of articles, and an accumulator member having means for disposing said member laterally of the conveyor member and having a generally flat accumulating surface disposed at an acute angle in the range of 3* to 8* with respect to said plane, said accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to a side edge of the conveyor member whereby the articles can pass freely from the conveyor member to the accumulating surface, means for mounting said conveyor member and said accumulating surface at a downwardly inclined angle in the direction of travel of said conveyor member, guide means located adjacent the lower downstream end of the accumulator surface and extending laterally outward in an upstream direction and at an acute angle with respect to the side edge of the conveyor member, said accumulating surface receiving an accumulation of said articles in the event of a blockage in the conveying system downstream of said accumulator member, and the accumulated articles moving downwardly by gravity on said surface and returning in a diagonal direction to said conveying member when said blockage is cured.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a conveying system, conveyor means having a conveying member operating in a given plane to convey a plurality of articles, and an accumulator member having means for disposing said member laterally of the conveyor member and having a generally flat accumulating surface disposed at an acute angle in the range of 3* to 8* with respect to said plane, said accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to a side edge of the conveyor member whereby the articles can pass freely from the conveyor member to the accumulating surface, means for mounting said conveyor member and said accumulating surface at a downwardly inclined angle in the direction of travel of said conveyor member, guide means located adjacent the lower downstream end of the accumulator surface and extending laterally outward in an upstream direction and at an acute angle with respect to the side edge of the conveyor member, said accumulating surface receiving an accumulation of said articles in the event of a blockage in the conveying system downstream of said accumulator member, and the accumulated articles moving downwardly by gravity on said surface and returning in a diagonal direction to said conveying member when said blockage is cured.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The conveying system of claim 1, in which the accumulating surface is formed of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveying system of claim 1, and including drive means for moving the accumulating surface in an oscillating path of movement to thereby increase the speed of travel of the articles on said accumulating surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The conveyor system of claim 3, wherein said drive means is arranged to move said accumulating surface in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of said conveying member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The conveying system of claim 3, wherein said drive means comprises a series of vibrating units located in spaced relation along the length of the accumulating surface with each vibrating unit operable to oscillate said accumulating surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The conveying system of claim 5, and including operating means for independently operating each vibrating unit when the containers accumulate on said surface to a position in the operating zone of each vibrating unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conveying system of claim 6, wherein the operating means is responsive to the pressure of the accumulated containers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The conveying system of claim 1, and including an intermediate member disposed between the side edge of said conveying member and the adjacent edge of said accumulating surface, said intermediate member being disposed at an acute angle of less than 3* with respect to said plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The conveying system of claim 8, wherein said intermediate member is plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
The conveying system of claim 1, including a second accumulator member having means for disposing said second accumulator member laterally of the conveyor member on the opposite side of said conveyor member from said first accumulator member, said second accumulator member having a generally flat second accumulating surface disposed at an acute angle in the range of 3* to 8* with respect to said plane and said second accumulating surface having an edge located adjacent to a side edge of the conveyor member whereby articles can pass freely from the conveyor member to the second accumulating surface of said second accumulating member, and means for mounting said second accumulating surface at said downwardly inclined angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a conveying system, first conveyor means to convey a plurality of articles and having a first conveying surface disposed in a first plane, second conveyor means to convey said articles and located in spaced relation to said first conveyor means, said second conveyor means including a second conveying surface disposed in a second plane parallel to the first plane and at a lower level than said first plane, and an accumulator member extending between said first conveying surface and second conveying surface, said accumulator member being generally flat and disposed at an angle of 3* to 8* with respect to said planes and having a pair of opposed edges, one of said edges being located aDjacent to and at approximately the same level as a side edge of the first conveying surface and a second of said edges being located adjacent to and at approximately the same level as the side edge of the second conveying surface whereby the articles can pass freely from the first conveying surface downwardly across the accumulator member to said second conveying surface, said accumulator member is elongated and the length of said accumulator member is parallel to said conveying surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a conveying system, first conveyor means to convey a plurality of articles and having a first conveying surface disposed in a first plane, second conveyor means to convey said articles and located in spaced relation to said first conveyor means, said second conveyor means including a second conveying surface disposed in a second plane parallel to the first plane and at a lower level than said first plane, and an accumulator member extending between said first conveying surface and second conveying surface, said accumulator member being generally flat and disposed at an angle of 3* to 8* with respect to said planes and having a pair of opposed edges, one of said edges being located aDjacent to and at approximately the same level as a side edge of the first conveying surface and a second of said edges being located adjacent to and at approximately the same level as the side edge of the second conveying surface whereby the articles can pass freely from the first conveying surface downwardly across the accumulator member to said second conveying surface, said accumulator member is elongated and the length of said accumulator member is parallel to said conveying surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The conveying system of claim 11, and including an intermediate member located between the side edge of each conveying surface and the adjacent edge of said accumulator member, each of said intermediate members being located at an acute angle up to 3* with respect to said planes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conveying system of claim 11, and including a sheet of plastic material disposed on said accumulating member and being substantially coextensive therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveying system of claim 11, and including guide means for guiding said articles in a path of travel from said first conveyor means across said accumulator member to said second conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The conveying system of claim 11, and including vibrating means for vibrating said accumulator member to thereby increase the speed of travel of said articles over said member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The conveying system of claim 15, wherein said vibrating means is arranged to move the accumulator member in a reciprocating path of travel in a direction from the first conveyor means to the second conveyor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |