US3717102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parts conveyor pallet and means for supporting same on an initial pair of rails and switching same to a second pair of rails
Assignee: Lott Tool Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-03
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A pallet for conveying parts through a succession of work stations. The primary support for the pallet comprises a pair of vertically aligned tubular rails. The pallet is supported on these rails by a pair of upper rollers mounted on said pallet and riding on the upper rail and a pair of lower rollers mounted on said pallet and riding on the lower rail along with a third pair of intermediate or clamping rollers, shiftably mounted on said pallet, which cooperates with the upper rollers to clamp the pallet to the upper rail. In this manner the pallet is cantilevered from the top rail. The first mentioned rails are disposed in a continuous path. Each work station is mounted to one side of said path. For each work station there is a side pair of vertically aligned rails extending closely adjacent to and parallel to said first mentioned rails a relatively short distance, then leaving said first mentioned rails to lead to a said work station, and then extending back to said first mentioned rails wherein said side pair of rails is again closely adjacent to and parallel to said first mentioned rails a relatively short distance. Said pallet has mounted thereon a second pair of upper rollers, and a second pair of lower rollers, disposed to engage said side pair of rails when the pallet is brought to that position wherein the side pair of rails is parallel to said first mentioned rails. At this last mentioned point means are actuated to disengage said third pair of rollers from clamping engagement with said first mentioned upper rail while immediately causing a similar pair of clamping rollers to engage the upper of said side pair of rails whereby said pallet is then cantilevered from said side pair of rails by virtue of said second pair of upper rollers, said similar pair of clamping rollers and said second pair of lower rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 G Lott
- 👤 F Little
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G35/00; B65G35/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A pallet adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members, said pallet comprising a body, at least one first upper roller journaled in said body at one side thereof, at least one first lower roller journaled in said body at said one side, and a first clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said first upper and said first lower rollers, whereby when said first upper roller is engaged on one of said elongated members and said first lower roller is engaged on the other of said elongated members, movement of said first clamping roller into engagement with one of said first pair of elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said main track; said pallet being adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from either said main track or from a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions thereof spaced from and parallel to, in respective horizontal planes, said said first pair of elongated members; said pallet having at leaSt one second upper roller journaled in said body at the side opposite said one side, at least one second lower roller journaled in said body at said opposite side, and a second clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said second upper and lower rollers, whereby when said second upper roller is engaged on one of said second elongated members and said second lower roller is engaged on the other of said second elongated members, movement of said second clamping roller into engagement with one of said second elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said side track when said first clamping roller is disenggaged from said one of said first pair of elongated members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
A pallet adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members, said pallet comprising a body, at least one first upper roller journaled in said body at one side thereof, at least one first lower roller journaled in said body at said one side, and a first clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said first upper and said first lower rollers, whereby when said first upper roller is engaged on one of said elongated members and said first lower roller is engaged on the other of said elongated members, movement of said first clamping roller into engagement with one of said first pair of elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said main track; said pallet being adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from either said main track or from a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions thereof spaced from and parallel to, in respective horizontal planes, said said first pair of elongated members; said pallet having at leaSt one second upper roller journaled in said body at the side opposite said one side, at least one second lower roller journaled in said body at said opposite side, and a second clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said second upper and lower rollers, whereby when said second upper roller is engaged on one of said second elongated members and said second lower roller is engaged on the other of said second elongated members, movement of said second clamping roller into engagement with one of said second elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said side track when said first clamping roller is disenggaged from said one of said first pair of elongated members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
320 words
A pallet adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members, said pallet comprising a body, at least one first upper roller journaled in said body at one side thereof, at least one first lower roller journaled in said body at said one side, and a first clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said first upper and said first lower rollers, whereby when said first upper roller is engaged on one of said elongated members and said first lower roller is engaged on the other of said elongated members, movement of said first clamping roller into engagement with one of said first pair of elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said main track; said pallet being adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from either said main track or from a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions thereof spaced from and parallel to, in respective horizontal planes, said said first pair of elongated members; said pallet having at leaSt one second upper roller journaled in said body at the side opposite said one side, at least one second lower roller journaled in said body at said opposite side, and a second clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said second upper and lower rollers, whereby when said second upper roller is engaged on one of said second elongated members and said second lower roller is engaged on the other of said second elongated members, movement of said second clamping roller into engagement with one of said second elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said side track when said first clamping roller is disenggaged from said one of said first pair of elongated members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
320 words
A pallet adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members, said pallet comprising a body, at least one first upper roller journaled in said body at one side thereof, at least one first lower roller journaled in said body at said one side, and a first clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said first upper and said first lower rollers, whereby when said first upper roller is engaged on one of said elongated members and said first lower roller is engaged on the other of said elongated members, movement of said first clamping roller into engagement with one of said first pair of elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said main track; said pallet being adapted to be supported in cantilever fashion from either said main track or from a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions thereof spaced from and parallel to, in respective horizontal planes, said said first pair of elongated members; said pallet having at leaSt one second upper roller journaled in said body at the side opposite said one side, at least one second lower roller journaled in said body at said opposite side, and a second clamping roller mounted in said body for selective movement towards and away from one of said second upper and lower rollers, whereby when said second upper roller is engaged on one of said second elongated members and said second lower roller is engaged on the other of said second elongated members, movement of said second clamping roller into engagement with one of said second elongated members will result in said pallet being cantilevered from said side track when said first clamping roller is disenggaged from said one of said first pair of elongated members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The pallet of claim 1 in which there are a pair of said first upper rollers and a pair of said second upper rollers, a pair of said first lower rollers and a pair of said second lower rollers, a pair of said first clamping rollers and a pair of second clamping rollers, said pair of first clamping rollers being movable towards and away from said pair of first upper rollers and said pair of second clamping rollers being movable towards and away from said pair of second upper rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
253 words
A pallet-conveyor system including a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members; a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions which are spaced from and parallel to corresponding portions of said first mentioned elongated members; a pallet having a pair of first upper rollers adapted to engage the upper of said main track elongated members and a pair of second upper rollers adapted to engage the upper of said side track elongated members; said pallet having a pair of first lower rollers adapted to engage the lower of said main track elongated members and a pair of second lower rollers adapted to engage the lower of said side track elongated members; said pallet having a shaft rotatably mounted therein, a pair of arms fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a first pair of clamping rollers, each of said arms having one such first clamping roller journaled on one end thereof opposite one another, a second pair of clamping rollers, each of said arms having one such second clamping roller journaled on the other end thereof opposite one another, and means to rock said shaft and said arms so as alternatively to engage said first pair of clamping rollers with said upper of said main track elongated members and said second pair of clamping rollers with said upper of said side track elongated members, whereby said pallet is cantilevered either from said main track or from said side track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
253 words
A pallet-conveyor system including a main track comprised of a first pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members; a side track comprised of a second pair of parallel, vertically aligned elongated members having portions which are spaced from and parallel to corresponding portions of said first mentioned elongated members; a pallet having a pair of first upper rollers adapted to engage the upper of said main track elongated members and a pair of second upper rollers adapted to engage the upper of said side track elongated members; said pallet having a pair of first lower rollers adapted to engage the lower of said main track elongated members and a pair of second lower rollers adapted to engage the lower of said side track elongated members; said pallet having a shaft rotatably mounted therein, a pair of arms fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, a first pair of clamping rollers, each of said arms having one such first clamping roller journaled on one end thereof opposite one another, a second pair of clamping rollers, each of said arms having one such second clamping roller journaled on the other end thereof opposite one another, and means to rock said shaft and said arms so as alternatively to engage said first pair of clamping rollers with said upper of said main track elongated members and said second pair of clamping rollers with said upper of said side track elongated members, whereby said pallet is cantilevered either from said main track or from said side track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
The system of claim 3 including a first drive chain for said main track and a second drive chain for said side track, said first and said second drive chains running at the same speed, said drive chains being closely adjacent one another in the region wherein the said portions of said main track and said side track are parallel to one another, and said pallet having a spring biased friction plate normally engaging said first drive chain and being adapted to engage said second drive chain when said drive chains are closely adjacent one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 4 including a work station serviced by said side track, means to stop said pallet at said work station, and means to disengage said friction plate from said second chain when said pallet is so stopped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3099966A
Cited
US3628462A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |