Automatic hot end coating hood lifter

Claim 1

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor when an article on the conveyor becomes displaced with respect to its proper orientation on the conveyor which displacement would cause the article to strike a portion of the hood if the hood were not moved from the path of the displaced article, said device comprising a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor, means for detecting improper displacement of an article on said conveyor, and means for lifting said hood, said detecting means being connected to said lifting means so that when said detecting means detects that an article is displaced, said lifting means is activated to lift said hood thus permitting said displaced article to pass beneath said lifted hood, said device further comprising a second detecting means for detecting when said hood has been lifted to permit the displaced article to pass, said second detecting means being connected to and deactivating said lifting means.

Claim 2

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor when an article on the conveyor becomes displaced with respect to its proper orientation on the conveyor which displacement would cause the article to strike a portion of the hood if the hood were not moved from the path of the displaced article, said device comprising a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor, means for detecting improper displacement of an article on said conveyor, and means for lifting said hood, said detecting means being connected to said lifting means so that when said detecting means detects that an article is displaced, said lifting means is activated to lift said hood thus permitting said displaced article to pass beneath said lifted hood, said device further comprising a second detecting means for detecting when said hood has been lifted to permit the displaced article to pass, said second detecting means being connected to and deactivating said lifting means.

Claim 3

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion oF a conveyor when an article is located at an improper position upon said conveyor which would cause said article to strike said hood unless said hood were removed from the path of travel of said article, said device comprising a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor, first detecting means for detecting an article in improper position, means for raising said hood, and a second detecting means for detecting when said hood has been raised, said first detecting means being connected to said raising means to activate said raising means when said first detecting means detects an article in said improper position, said second detecting means being connected to said raising means to deactivate said raising means when said second detecting means detects that said hood has been raised so that said hood will return to a position over said conveyor, said first detecting means comprising: at least one microswitch; a feeler connected to said microswitch and extending over said improper position upon said conveyor so that when said feeler is contacted by an article located in said improper position said microswitch will be activated; a latching relay having an activating coil and latching relay switch, said activating coil being connected to said microswitch xo that when said microswitch is activated, said activating coil will be energized closing said latching relay switch, said relay switch being connected to and activating said raising means when said relay switch is closed.

Claim 4

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion oF a conveyor when an article is located at an improper position upon said conveyor which would cause said article to strike said hood unless said hood were removed from the path of travel of said article, said device comprising a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor, first detecting means for detecting an article in improper position, means for raising said hood, and a second detecting means for detecting when said hood has been raised, said first detecting means being connected to said raising means to activate said raising means when said first detecting means detects an article in said improper position, said second detecting means being connected to said raising means to deactivate said raising means when said second detecting means detects that said hood has been raised so that said hood will return to a position over said conveyor, said first detecting means comprising: at least one microswitch; a feeler connected to said microswitch and extending over said improper position upon said conveyor so that when said feeler is contacted by an article located in said improper position said microswitch will be activated; a latching relay having an activating coil and latching relay switch, said activating coil being connected to said microswitch xo that when said microswitch is activated, said activating coil will be energized closing said latching relay switch, said relay switch being connected to and activating said raising means when said relay switch is closed.

Claim 6

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor when an article on the conveyor becomes displaced with respect to its proper orientation on the conveyor which displacement would cause the article to strike a portion of the hood if the hood were not moved from the path of the displaced article, said device comprising conveying means, hood means over at least a portion of said conveying means, means for detecting an article in improper position on said conveyor means and means for lifting said hood, said detecting means being connected to said lifting means so that when said detecting means detects that an article is in improper position on said conveyor said lifting means is activated to lift said hood thus permitting said displaced article to pass on said conveyor beneath said lifted hood, said lifting means comprising at least one air cylinder connected to said hood so that activation of said air cylinder raises and lowers said hood, said air cylinder being connected to a solenoid valve which in turn is connected to said detecting means so that said solenoid valve is opened by said detecting means which permits compressed air to pass through said solenoid valve to said air cylinder which raises said hood.

Claim 7

A device for automatically lifting a hood covering at least a portion of a conveyor when an article on the conveyor becomes displaced with respect to its proper orientation on the conveyor which displacement would cause the article to strike a portion of the hood if the hood were not moved from the path of the displaced article, said device comprising conveying means, hood means over at least a portion of said conveying means, means for detecting an article in improper position on said conveyor means and means for lifting said hood, said detecting means being connected to said lifting means so that when said detecting means detects that an article is in improper position on said conveyor said lifting means is activated to lift said hood thus permitting said displaced article to pass on said conveyor beneath said lifted hood, said lifting means comprising at least one air cylinder connected to said hood so that activation of said air cylinder raises and lowers said hood, said air cylinder being connected to a solenoid valve which in turn is connected to said detecting means so that said solenoid valve is opened by said detecting means which permits compressed air to pass through said solenoid valve to said air cylinder which raises said hood.

Claim 8

A device for automatically lifting a hood above a conveyor to prevent displaced articles travelling on said conveyor from contacting said hood comprising: conveyor means for transporting articles, hood means covering at least a portion of said conveyor means, lifting means to raise said hood out of contact with displaced articles, means to detect displaced articles on said conveyor means and to activate said lifting means, and means to deactivate said lifting means.

Claim 9

A device for automatically lifting a hood above a conveyor to prevent displaced articles travelling on said conveyor from contacting said hood comprising: conveyor means for transporting articles, hood means covering at least a portion of said conveyor means, lifting means to raise said hood out of contact with displaced articles, means to detect displaced articles on said conveyor means and to activate said lifting means, and means to deactivate said lifting means.