Patent JPH113374A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3669241A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package accumulating conveyor
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-11-13
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-11-13
Abstract
Abstract Packages are temporarily accumulated from a main conveyor line, in the event of a blockage of the packages from normal movement therealong, and are subsequently redelivered to the main conveyor line by a reversible conveyor apparatus for moving packages in either of two opposite directions away from and toward the main conveyor line. Control over movement of packages on the accumulating conveyor is exercised in response to sensing of the presence and absence of the excessive number of packages on the main conveyor line as pointed out more fully hereinafter.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Chalich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B57/00; B65B57/02; B65B57/04; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/51; B65G47/5104; B65G47/515; B65G47/5154; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0235; B65G2201/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In a package transporting conveyor system having a main conveyor line normally moving packages along a predetermined path of travel, the combination therewith of means operable in the event of blockage of packages from normal movement along the predetermined path for temporarily accumulating packages from the main conveyor line and subsequently redelivering accumulated packages thereto, the accumulating means comprising: accumulating conveyor means mounted adjacent said main conveyor line for package transporting movement away from and toward said main conveyor line along a path perpendicular to said predetermined path of travel, reversible drive means operatively connected to said accumulating conveyor means for driving the same in package transporting movement away from and toward said main conveyor line, and control means operatively connected to said reversible drive means for controlling driving of said accumulating conveyor means and including means for sensing the presence and absence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line, said control means responding to the sensed presence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line by initiating driving of said accumulating conveyor means in movement away from said main conveyor line so as to move packages away from said predetermined path of travel and further responding to the sensed absence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line by initiating driving of said accumulating conveyor means in movement toward said main conveyor line so as to return packages to said predetermined path of travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a package transporting conveyor system having a main conveyor line normally moving packages along a predetermined path of travel, the combination therewith of means operable in the event of blockage of packages from normal movement along the predetermined path for temporarily accumulating packages from the main conveyor line and subsequently redelivering accumulated packages thereto, the accumulating means comprising: accumulating conveyor means mounted adjacent said main conveyor line for package transporting movement away from and toward said main conveyor line along a path perpendicular to said predetermined path of travel, reversible drive means operatively connected to said accumulating conveyor means for driving the same in package transporting movement away from and toward said main conveyor line, and control means operatively connected to said reversible drive means for controlling driving of said accumulating conveyor means and including means for sensing the presence and absence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line, said control means responding to the sensed presence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line by initiating driving of said accumulating conveyor means in movement away from said main conveyor line so as to move packages away from said predetermined path of travel and further responding to the sensed absence of excessive numbers of packages on said main conveyor line by initiating driving of said accumulating conveyor means in movement toward said main conveyor line so as to return packages to said predetermined path of travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
A conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein said main conveyor line and said accumulating conveyor means define generally horizontal package supporting surfaces lying substantially in a common plane and further comprising package stabilizing rail means mounted in predetermined relation to said accumulating conveyor means for normally forming a portion of an edge rail extending along said main conveyor line, said package stabilizing rail means being movable relative to said main conveyor line for engaging packages crowded onto said accumulating conveyor means by the presence of excessive numbers of packages on the main conveyor line and thereby for facilitating maintenance of engaged packages in their desired orientation on said package supporting surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A conveyor system according to claim 2 wherein said package stabilizing rail means is operatively connected to said accumulating conveyor means for movement therewith in response to said drive means driving said accumulating conveyor means and for movement relative thereto in response to crowding of packages onto said accumulating conveyor means from said main conveyor line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A conveyor system according to claim 2 wherein said package stabilizing rail means cooperates with said control means in sensing of the presence of excessive numbers Of packages on said main conveyor line, said control means sensing movement of said package stabilizing rail means away from said main conveyor line in response to crowding of packages onto said accumulating conveyor means from said main conveyor line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein said accumulating conveyor means comprises at least one flexible, endless loop conveyor member and sprocket means supporting said member for movement about a predetermined closed path of travel including a generally horizontal portion wherein said conveyor member defines a package supporting surface and further wherein said reversing drive means is operatively connected to said sprocket means for driving said sprocket means in a first rotational direction for movement of said conveyor member along said horizontal path away from said main conveyor line and in a second, opposite rotational direction for movement of said conveyor member along said horizontal path toward said main conveyor line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
A conveyor system according to claim 5 wherein said sprocket means comprises a driven sprocket mounted at a location remote from said main conveyor line and operatively connected to said drive means for transmitting to said conveyor member motive power driving said conveyor member both away from and toward said main conveyor line and further wherein said accumulating conveyor means comprises stationary support means underlying said conveyor member along said horizontal path for cooperation with said sprocket means in supporting said conveyor member, said stationary support means extending from adjacent said main conveyor line to a point spaced from said driven sprocket for accommodating the presence of a catenary curve portion of said conveyor member between said driven sprocket and said stationary support means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
A conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein said means for sensing the presence and absence of excessive members of packages on said main line conveyor comprises a first sensing device positioned along said main conveyor line downstream of said accumulating conveyor means for detecting crowding of packages therealong and a second sensing device positioned for detecting crowding of packages from said main conveyor line onto said accumulating conveyor means, said first sensing device cooperating in said control means for determining the direction in which said accumulating conveyor means is to be driven by said drive means and said second sensing device cooperating in said control means for determining when said accumulating conveyor means is to be driven.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conveyor system according to claim 7 wherein said control means further comprises means for sensing the presence on the accumulating conveyor means of such number of packages as to fill the capacity thereof for temporary accumulation of packages, said control means being responsive to sensing of such capacity accumulation for interrupting driving of said accumulating conveyor means away from said main conveyor line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A conveyor system according to claim 7 wherein said control means further comprises means for sensing the redelivery from the accumulating conveyor means to the main conveyor line of such number of packages as to momentarily fill the capacity of the main conveyor line to move packages along said predetermined path of travel, said control means being responsive to sensing of such capacity redelivery for interrupting driving of said accumulating conveyor means toward said main conveyor line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2462021A
Cited
US3442401A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |