US3661094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system for trays
Assignee: Jervis B Webb Co
•
Filing: 1970-01-21
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system in which carriers such as trays are propelled along a support by pusher units on an endless driven chain and can be stopped, accumulated and transferred from one chain to another. Each pusher unit includes a pusher member engageable with a driving flange on a carrier and retained in driving position by a locking member which projects into the path of carrier movement in advance of the pusher member and the carrier driven thereby and is engageable with an object in the path of movement to release the pusher member and permit the stopping and accumulation of carriers.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Pachuta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:40
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B10/00; B61B10/04; B61B10/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
In a pusher conveyor system for trays, the combination of: a plurality of trays, each tray having a bottom portion with driving means thereon; tray supporting and guiding structure defining a path of tray travel; a propelling member and means mounting the propelling member for travel below the bottom portion of trays on the tray supporting structure; a plurality of pusher units and bracket means connecting each of the pusher units to the propelling member in spaced relation along the length thereof; each pusher unit comprising a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm; the bracket means supporting the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with the driving means on a tray and a non-driving position, and separately supporting the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to non-driving position; the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position extending into the path of tray movement in advance of a tray whose driving means is engaged by the driving dog of the pusher member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a pusher conveyor system for trays, the combination of: a plurality of trays, each tray having a bottom portion with driving means thereon; tray supporting and guiding structure defining a path of tray travel; a propelling member and means mounting the propelling member for travel below the bottom portion of trays on the tray supporting structure; a plurality of pusher units and bracket means connecting each of the pusher units to the propelling member in spaced relation along the length thereof; each pusher unit comprising a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm; the bracket means supporting the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with the driving means on a tray and a non-driving position, and separately supporting the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to non-driving position; the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position extending into the path of tray movement in advance of a tray whose driving means is engaged by the driving dog of the pusher member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the pusher member and locking member are supported by the bracket means for pivotal movement on separate axes spaced longitudinally of the propelling member, the pivotal axis of the locking member being located in advance of the pivotal axis of the pusher member with relation to the forwarding direction of conveyor movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the positioning arm of the pusher member is provided with an abutment engageable by the locking member to define the normal locking position thereof and prevent movement in one direction of the locking member from the locking position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the positioning arm Of the pusher acts as a counterweight to urge the pusher member to the normal driving position and the locking portion of the locking member acts as a counterweight to urge the locking member to the normal locking position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the driving means on each tray comprises a recessed shoulder formed in the bottom of the tray and extending transversely between the sides thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 5 including a junction between main and branch line, each line having a propelling member and pushers, the propelling members of the main and branch lines at the junction being spaced transversely a distance less than the transverse length of the driving means on a tray, and a tray deflector positionable to shift a tray forwarded on one line laterally into a position for engagement of the driving means by a pusher of the other line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 5 wherein the recessed shoulder includes a center portion extending substantially normal to the longitudinal center line of the tray and a pair of angular side portions which converge in the direction of travel of the tray on the pusher conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 7 including a junction between main and branch lines, each line having a propelling member and pushers, the propelling members of the main and branch lines at the junction being spaced transversely a distance less than the transverse length of the driving means on a tray, and a tray deflector positionable to shift a tray forwarded on one line laterally into a position for engagement of the driving means by a pusher of the other line, the angular side portions of the driving means compensating for the oblique positioning of a tray relative to the path of travel of a pusher unit during transfer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 7 including a horizontal curve section in the tray supporting and guiding structure, the means mounting the propelling member including a track which is offset towards the inner radius of the horizontal curve section to define a path of pusher member travel in which one of the angular side portions of the driving means on a tray is engageable by a pusher member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the means mounting the propelling member comprises a tubular track in which the propelling member is confined, the track having a continuous slot along one vertical side thereof, and the bracket means connecting each pusher unit to the propelling member including an arm connected to the propelling member and projecting laterally through the slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a conveyor system having pusher units connected to a propelling member in spaced relation along the length thereof for forwarding load carriers along a support, the improvement wherein: each pusher unit comprises a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm; bracket means connected to the propelling member supports the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with a load carrier and a non-driving position, and separately supports the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to non-driving position; and, the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position and the driving dog of the pusher member in driving position each project toward the carrier support with the tripping arm being located forwardly of the driving dog with relation to the forwarding direction of movement of the propelling member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a conveyor system having pusher units connected to a propelling member in spaced relation along the length thereof for forwarding load carriers along a support, the improvement wherein: each pusher unit comprises a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm; bracket means connected to the propelling member supports the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with a load carrier and a non-driving position, and separately supports the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to non-driving position; and, the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position and the driving dog of the pusher member in driving position each project toward the carrier support with the tripping arm being located forwardly of the driving dog with relation to the forwarding direction of movement of the propelling member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A conveyor system according to claim 11 wherein the pusher member and locking member are supported by the bracket means for pivotal Movement on separate axes spaced longitudinally of the propelling member, the pivotal axis of the locking member being located in advance of the pivotal axis of the pusher member with relation to the forwarding direction of movement of the propelling member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conveyor system according to claim 11 wherein the positioning arm of the pusher member is provided with an abutment engageable by the locking member to define the normal locking position thereof and prevent movement in one direction of the locking member from the locking position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A conveyor system according to claim 11 wherein the positioning arm of the pusher acts as a counter weight to urge the pusher member to the normal driving position, and the locking portion of the locking member acts as a counter weight to urge the locking member to the normal locking position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |