US3679043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roller transfer conveyor
Assignee: Jervis B Webb Co
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Filing: 1971-04-13
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1991-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor for moving articles such as pallets in a main path and selectively in a transfer path at right angles to the main path. The article is supported by a plurality of generally spherical elements mounted at desired intervals along each of a plurality of parallel shafts. Each spherical element consists of a pair of spherical segments forming portions of a sphere centered on a shaft and rotatable therewith, the segments being independently rotatable on an axis normal to the shaft. When the shafts are rotated by driving means, an article is moved by the elements in the main path. When the shafts are stopped with the axes of rotation of the spherical segments at about 45* to the base plane of an article, it is movable in the transfer path with independent rotation of the spherical segments which the article engages.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond M Becker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/53; B65G47/54; B65G13/00; B65G13/08; B65G13/10; B65G39/00; B65G39/02; B65G39/025; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
In a conveyor having frame structure and a plurality of article supporting elements mounted thereon so as to define an article supporting plane, the improvement comprising: a plurality of spaced shafts mounted on the frame structure, each shaft having a plurality of article supporting elements mounted thereon in spaced relation longitudinally of such shaft for rotation therewith; each article supporting element including a pair of spherical segments, and mounting means rotatably supporting the pair of spherical segments on an axis normal to the axis of the shaft and with the pair of segments forming portions of a sphere whose center is coincident with the axis of the shaft; and, drive means operable to rotate at least some of the shafts in unison whereby the article supporting elements are capable of moving an article engaged thereby in directions normal to the axes of the shafts and to arrest such rotation of the shafts when the axes of the spherical segments lie at angles of about 45* relative to the article supporting plane whereby an article may be moved in a direction parallel to the axes of the shafts with rotation of the spherical segments engaged by the article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a conveyor having frame structure and a plurality of article supporting elements mounted thereon so as to define an article supporting plane, the improvement comprising: a plurality of spaced shafts mounted on the frame structure, each shaft having a plurality of article supporting elements mounted thereon in spaced relation longitudinally of such shaft for rotation therewith; each article supporting element including a pair of spherical segments, and mounting means rotatably supporting the pair of spherical segments on an axis normal to the axis of the shaft and with the pair of segments forming portions of a sphere whose center is coincident with the axis of the shaft; and, drive means operable to rotate at least some of the shafts in unison whereby the article supporting elements are capable of moving an article engaged thereby in directions normal to the axes of the shafts and to arrest such rotation of the shafts when the axes of the spherical segments lie at angles of about 45* relative to the article supporting plane whereby an article may be moved in a direction parallel to the axes of the shafts with rotation of the spherical segments engaged by the article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means of adjacent article supporting elements are arranged so that the axis of rotation of the spherical segments of one article supporting element is in perpendicular relation to the axis of rotation of the spherical segments of an adjacent article supporting element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the article supporting elements are mounted on the shafts in substantially parallel rows, and wherein the axis of rotation of the spherical segments of one article supporting element lies in substantially perpendicular relation to the axes of rotation of the spherical segments of adjacent article supporting elements in the same row and to the axes of rotation of the spherical segments of adjacent article supporting elements in an adjacent row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of the spherical segments of the article supporting elements are arranged so that an article is engageable by at least one-half of the spherical segments at any one time when the drive means is operated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means for the spherical segments of each article supporting element comprises a hub fixed to a shaft, and a pair of axles carried by the hub and extending oppositely therefrom on a common axis normal to the axis of such shaft, the pair of spherical segments being rotatably supported on the pair of axles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A conveyor according to claim 5 wherein said hub includes a portion in the shape of a spherical segment, which portion together with said pair of spherical segments forms substantially a complete spherical surface circumferentially of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a drive unit, drive transmitting means coupling the drive unit to the shafts, and control means for stopping the drive unit and shafts when the axes of the spherical segments lie in said angular relation of about 45* to the article supporting plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 further including control means responsive to movement of an article by rotation of the shafts for stopping such rotation when such article arrives at a selected position on the conveyor and the shafts turn to positions in which the axes of the spherical segments lie in said angular relation of abOut 45* to the article supporting plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 further including pusher means engageable with an article supported on the conveyor for moving such article in the direction parallel to the axes of the shafts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A conveyor according to claim 9 wherein the pusher means are capable of moving an article in either direction parallel to the axes of the shafts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 further including means forming a station to which an article can be transferred by movement in the direction parallel to the axes of said shafts, and means for moving such article in the direction parallel to the axes of the shafts for transferring the article to and from said station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A conveyor according to claim 11 wherein the means for moving such article includes a pusher.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the shafts are arranged in two groups, all of the shafts in one group being parallel to each other and perependicular to all of the shafts in the other group, and wherein the drive means is operable to rotate at least some of the shafts of one of the groups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A conveyor according to claim 13 further including second drive means for rotating at least some of the shafts of the other group when the drive means for the shafts of the first group is stopped with the axes of the spherical segments of the supporting elements carried thereby positioned in said angular relation of about 45* to the article supporting plane.
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) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |