Abstract A transfer mechanism for use with mutually perpendicular in-feed and cross conveyors has an endless chain entrained over two sprockets arranged one on either side of the in-feed conveyor, with the first of these being driven in timed relationship with the in-feed converter and located somewhat upstream of the cross conveyor. The second sprocket is located adjacent the cross conveyor and downstream of both it and the driven sprocket. A portion of the chain extends across adjacent portions of these conveyors and carries pusher elements for feeding the articles being handled off the in-feed conveyor across a deadplate, and onto the cross conveyor in accurately index relationship to one another. A guide bar associated with the cross conveyor urges the articles being transferred outwardly beyond the extremities of the pusher elements as they reach the desired point on the cross conveyor. Means is also described for confining the chain portion referred to above for movement in a generally arcuate path such that the glassware articles on the in-feed conveyor are engaged by the pusher elements as the latter move in substantially same direction as said in-feed conveyor, and for gradually turning the articles off the in-feed conveyor across the deadplate and onto the cross conveyor.
In an apparAtus for transferring articles from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor oriented generally perpendicularly to the first conveyor, said apparatus including a deadplate alongside said first conveyor, and said apparatus further including a pair of sprockets arranged one on either side of said first conveyor, and an endless carrier chain entrained on said sprockets and having spaced outwardly projecting article engaging pusher elements mounted thereon and adapted to move successively across said first conveyor and thence across the deadplate and finally across the second conveyor, the improvement comprising chain confining plate means to restrict said elements to movement along a continuously curving concave path while in contact with the articles being transferred, said plate means causing said pusher elements to move into initial contact with the articles on said first conveyor at a shallow incident angle in the range between 10* and 20*, and said chain confining plate means further serving to cause said elements to gradually change direction and to turn said articles through an angle at least twice said incident angle upon reaching said deadplate and prior to said second conveyor, one of said sprockets comprising a driven sprocket, and sprocket drive release device including a spring loaded plunger normally received in a detent in said driven sprocket, and means for adjustably positioning the driven sprocket independently of said drive overload release plunger, said means for adjustably positioning said driven sprocket including a high friction worm gear located in mechanical series between said driven sprocket and said drive overload release plunger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In an apparAtus for transferring articles from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor oriented generally perpendicularly to the first conveyor, said apparatus including a deadplate alongside said first conveyor, and said apparatus further including a pair of sprockets arranged one on either side of said first conveyor, and an endless carrier chain entrained on said sprockets and having spaced outwardly projecting article engaging pusher elements mounted thereon and adapted to move successively across said first conveyor and thence across the deadplate and finally across the second conveyor, the improvement comprising chain confining plate means to restrict said elements to movement along a continuously curving concave path while in contact with the articles being transferred, said plate means causing said pusher elements to move into initial contact with the articles on said first conveyor at a shallow incident angle in the range between 10* and 20*, and said chain confining plate means further serving to cause said elements to gradually change direction and to turn said articles through an angle at least twice said incident angle upon reaching said deadplate and prior to said second conveyor, one of said sprockets comprising a driven sprocket, and sprocket drive release device including a spring loaded plunger normally received in a detent in said driven sprocket, and means for adjustably positioning the driven sprocket independently of said drive overload release plunger, said means for adjustably positioning said driven sprocket including a high friction worm gear located in mechanical series between said driven sprocket and said drive overload release plunger.