Walking beam conveyor with weighing apparatus

Claim 2

In a walking beam conveyor for step-by-step advance of an article received thereon, said conveyor having a first member and a second member to support the article alternately and having means to effect advancing and retracting movement in successive cycles of one of said members, said one member advancing above the other member to carry the article thereover and dropping below said other member before retraction to deposit the article thereon, whereby the article is advanced in steps, the improvement comprising means on said one member to indicate the weight of the article thereon when the article is supported sOlely by said member.

Claim 3

In a walking beam conveyor for step-by-step advance of an article received thereon, said conveyor having a first member and a second member to support the article alternately and having means to effect advancing and retracting movement in successive cycles of one of said members, said one member advancing above the other member to carry the article thereover and dropping below said other member before retraction to deposit the article thereon, whereby the article is advanced in steps, the improvement comprising means on said other member to indicate the weight of the article thereon when the article is supported solely by said member

Claim 4

In a walking beam conveyor for step-by-step advance of an article received thereon, said conveyor having a first member and a second member to support the article alternately and having means to effect advancing and retracting movement in successive cycles of one of said members, said one member advancing above the other member to carry the article thereover and dropping below said other member before retraction to deposit the article thereon, whereby the article is advanced in steps, the improvement comprising means on said other member to indicate the weight of the article thereon when the article is supported solely by said member

Claim 5

In a walking beam conveyor for step-by-step advance of an article received thereon, said conveyor having a first member and a second member to support the article alternately and having means to effect advancing and retracting movement in successive cycles of at least one of said members, said one member advancing above the other member to carry the article thereover and dropping below said other member before retraction to deposit the article thereon, whereby the article is advanced in steps, the improvement comprising means on one of said members to indicate the weight of the article when the article is supported solely by said member.

Claim 6

In a walking beam conveyor for step-by-step advance of an article received thereon, said conveyor having a first member and a second member to support the article alternately and having means to effect advancing and retracting movement in successive cycles of at least one of said members, said one member advancing above the other member to carry the article thereover and dropping below said other member before retraction to deposit the article thereon, whereby the article is advanced in steps, the improvement comprising means on one of said members to indicate the weight of the article when the article is supported solely by said member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on one of said members to indicate the weight of the article includes a load cell.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 including means to confine the force on said load cell to a vertical force from said article.

Claim 9

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a movable carriage including a vertically movable elongated walking beam unit having an article engaging surface, said walking beam unit supported on said carriage; c. hydraulic power means for raising and lowering said walking beam unit from a position in which the article engaging surface is disposed below the level of the stationary surface to a position in which the article engaging surface is above said stationary surface; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. weighing means having an article engaging surface disposed above the stationary surface of said support frame for receiving the articles to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the articles above the level of said stationary surface.

Claim 10

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a movable carriage including a vertically movable elongated walking beam unit having an article engaging surface, said walking beam unit supported on said carriage; c. hydraulic power means for raising and lowering said walking beam unit from a position in which the article engaging surface is disposed below the level of the stationary surface to a position in which the article engaging surface is above said stationary surface; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. weighing means having an article engaging surface disposed above the stationary surface of said support frame for receiving the articles to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the articles above the level of said stationary surface.

Claim 11

The walking beam conveyor of claim 6 wherein the weighing means comprises a plurality of load cells.

Claim 12

The walking beam conveyor of claim 6 wherein the hydraulic power means for raising and lowering said walking beam unit is located within said carriage and is a self-contained hydraulic system including an electric motor, a pump, a fluid reservoir, a remotely operated control valve, interconnecting fluid lines and at least one vertical lift hydraulic power cylinder connected to said walking beam unit and supported by said carriage.

Claim 13

The walking beam conveyor of claim 8 further comprising a guide bearing radially supporting the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder, said guide bearing supported on said vertical lift cylinder in axial alignment with the axis of the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder and said guide bearing located between said cylinder and the connection of the piston rod to said walking beam unit whereby said guide bearing prevents lateral forces from being applied to or causing bending in the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder.

Claim 14

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks and a vertically movable elonGated walking beam unit mounted on said trucks, said walking beam unit having an article engaging surface movable between a position disposed below said stationary surface to a position above said stationary surface for lifting the articles off said stationary surface of said supporting frame; c. a self-contained hydraulic power lift system carried by each of said trucks for raising and lowering of said walking beam unit; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. load cell weighing means mounted on a section of said stationary support frame, said weighing means including at least one weigh beam having a top surface disposed above said stationary surface of said supporting frame for receiving the articles to be weighed, said weighing means located in the path of travel of said movable walking beam unit so that the articles are lifted and moved to the weighing means by said walking beam unit and when said walking beam unit is lowered the articles are deposited onto the weigh beam for weighing.

Claim 15

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks and a vertically movable elonGated walking beam unit mounted on said trucks, said walking beam unit having an article engaging surface movable between a position disposed below said stationary surface to a position above said stationary surface for lifting the articles off said stationary surface of said supporting frame; c. a self-contained hydraulic power lift system carried by each of said trucks for raising and lowering of said walking beam unit; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. load cell weighing means mounted on a section of said stationary support frame, said weighing means including at least one weigh beam having a top surface disposed above said stationary surface of said supporting frame for receiving the articles to be weighed, said weighing means located in the path of travel of said movable walking beam unit so that the articles are lifted and moved to the weighing means by said walking beam unit and when said walking beam unit is lowered the articles are deposited onto the weigh beam for weighing.

Claim 16

The walking beam conveyor of claim 10 wherein the load cell weighing means includes a plurality of load cells, each of said load cells is attached at its bottom portion to a lower hardened steel plate member secured to said section of said stationary support frame and the top of the movable portion of each load cell engages an upper hardened steel plate member secured to the bottom of said weigh beam.

Claim 17

The walking beam conveyor of claim 11 wherein said weigh beam is further provided with a plurality of flexure members, at least one flexure member being positioned in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor and at least one flexure member being positioned in a transverse direction of the conveyor, one end of each flexure member being connected to said weigh beam and the opposite end connected to said stationary support frame, said flexure members permitting free vertical movement of said weigh beam but restraining said weigh beam in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

Claim 18

The walking beam conveyor of claim 10 wherein the self-contained hydraulic power lift system includes a vertical hydraulic power cylinder supported by said truck and having a piston rod connected to said walking beam unit, a fluid reservoir, an electric motor, a pump, a remotely operated control valve and interconnecting fluid lines mounted on said truck.

Claim 19

The walking beam conveyor of claim 13 wherein said vertical power cylinder is further provided with a guide bearing radially supporting said piston rod, said guide bearing being located between said cylinder and said piston rod connection to said walking beam unit and said guide bearing being supported by said truck with the axis of said bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of said piston rod.

Claim 20

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks and a vertically movable elongated walking beam unit mounted on said trucks, said walking beam unit movable between a position disposed below said stationary surface of said support frame and a position disposed above said stationary surface for lifting the articles off said supporting frame; c. a self-contained hydraulic power lift system carried by each of said trucks for raising and lowering of said walking beam unit; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. load cell weighing means mounted within one end of said walking beam unit, said weighing means including a weigh beam having a top surface disposed above the top of said walking beam unit, said top surface receiving the article to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the article above the level of said stationary surface of said support frame.

Claim 21

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a stationary surface for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks and a vertically movable elongated walking beam unit mounted on said trucks, said walking beam unit movable between a position disposed below said stationary surface of said support frame and a position disposed above said stationary surface for lifting the articles off said supporting frame; c. a self-contained hydraulic power lift system carried by each of said trucks for raising and lowering of said walking beam unit; d. hydraulic power means connected to said carriage for moving said carriage horizontally; and e. load cell weighing means mounted within one end of said walking beam unit, said weighing means including a weigh beam having a top surface disposed above the top of said walking beam unit, said top surface receiving the article to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the article above the level of said stationary surface of said support frame.

Claim 22

The walking beam conveyor of claim 15 wherein the self-contained hydraulic power lift system comprises an electric motor, a pump, a fluid reservoir, a remotely operated control valve, interconnecting fluid lines, and a vertical lift cylinder, said lift cylinder connected to said walking beam unit.

Claim 23

The walking beam conveyor of claim 16 further comprising a guide bearing radially supporting the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder, on each of said trucks, said guide bearing supported on said truck with the axis of said bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder and said guide bearing located between said cylinder and the connection of the piston rod to said walking beam unit whereby said guide bearing prevents any lateral force from being applied to or causing bending in the piston rod of said vertical lift cylinder.

Claim 24

The walking beam conveyor of claim 15 wherein said walking beam unit further comprises an elongated structural beam member having an open top, U-shaped section at one end and said load cell weighing means is mounted within said U-shaped end section, said U-shaped end section having a length greater than the length of the largest article to be weighed and having at least one transverse plate member at each end of said end section rigidly secured to the vertical legs of said U-shaped end section of said beam member.

Claim 25

The walking beam conveyor of claim 18 wherein said weighing means comprises a plurality of load cells and said weigh beam is supported on said load cells, the longitudinal length of said weigh beam being at least equal to the length of the largest article to be weighed and the top of said weigh beam is disposed slightly above the top of the vertical legs of said U-shaped end section of said walking beam member.

Claim 26

The walking beam conveyor of claim 19 wherein the bottom of each load cell is attached to a bottom hardened steel plate member secured to the lower part of said U-shaped end section of said walking beam member and the top of each load cell engages a top hardened steel plate member secured to said weigh beam.

Claim 27

The walking beam conveyor of claim 19 wherein said weigh beam is a T-shaped member, and said T-shaped weigh beam is equipped with a plurality of flexure members to restrain the weigh beam in the lateral and longitudinal directions but to permit free vertical movement.

Claim 28

The walking beam conveyor of claim 21 wherein said plurality of flexure members includes a longitudinal flexure member, said longitudinal flexure member comprises an elongated flexible rod member whose central portion is rigidly attached to the bottom of the vertical leg of said T-shaped weigh beam, said rod member extending beyond each longitudinal end of said weigh beam, each end of said rod member being threaded and adjustable and removably fastened to said transverse plate members in said U-shaped end section of said structural beam member of said walking beam unit.

Claim 29

The walking beam conveyor of claim 21 wherein said plurality of flexure members includes at least two lateral flexure members, said lateral flexure members being located adjacent each longitudinal end of said T-shaped weigh beam, said lateral flexure members being a flexible threaded rod member whose ends are securely fastened to the vertical legs of said U-shaped end section of said walking beam member and whose central portion is adjustably fastened to the vertical leg of said T-shaped weigh beam.

Claim 30

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams for supporting the articles to be conveyed, said support frame including a short stationary section of lower elevation at one end; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks operable between said laterally spaceD longitudinally beams of said support frame, said carriage located on the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; c. a vertically movable walking beam unit having an article engaging top surface and connecting said trucks so said trucks move in unison; d. an hydraulically operated power cylinder supported on each truck having a vertically movable piston rod connected to and supporting said walking beam unit; e. a guide bearing radially supporting the vertical movement of said piston rod on each of said power cylinders, said guide bearing supported by said truck in a position with the bore of said guide bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of said piston rod and said guide bearing located between said power cylinder and the connection of said piston rod to said walking beam unit to prevent any lateral force from said walking beam unit being applied to and causing bending in said piston rod; f. a self-contained hydraulic power unit mounted in each of said trucks for operating said power cylinder to raise and to lower said article engaging surface of said walking beam unit from a position located below the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams to a position located above the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; g. hydraulic power means connected to said walking beam unit for moving said carriage horizontally; h. a plurality of load cells laterally spaced from the path of said walking beam unit and mounted on said short section of lower elevation at one end of said stationary support frame; i. two laterally spaced longitudinal weigh beams engaging the tops of said load cells, said weigh beams having a top surface located above the top of said laterally spaced beams of said supporting frame to receive the articles to be weighed, said weigh beams further located within the path of travel of said walking beam unit but laterally spaced therefrom so that when said walking beam unit picks up and moves the articles from the stationary laterally spaced longitudinal beams, the articles are deposited on said weigh beams for weighing by said load cells as the walking beam unit is lowered; and j. a plurality of flexure members connected between said weigh beams and said stationary support frame to restrain said weigh beams in the longitudinal and the lateral directions of the conveyor, but to permit free vertical movement of said weigh beams for accurate weighing of the article by said load cells.

Claim 31

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams for supporting the articles to be conveyed, said support frame including a short stationary section of lower elevation at one end; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks operable between said laterally spaceD longitudinally beams of said support frame, said carriage located on the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; c. a vertically movable walking beam unit having an article engaging top surface and connecting said trucks so said trucks move in unison; d. an hydraulically operated power cylinder supported on each truck having a vertically movable piston rod connected to and supporting said walking beam unit; e. a guide bearing radially supporting the vertical movement of said piston rod on each of said power cylinders, said guide bearing supported by said truck in a position with the bore of said guide bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of said piston rod and said guide bearing located between said power cylinder and the connection of said piston rod to said walking beam unit to prevent any lateral force from said walking beam unit being applied to and causing bending in said piston rod; f. a self-contained hydraulic power unit mounted in each of said trucks for operating said power cylinder to raise and to lower said article engaging surface of said walking beam unit from a position located below the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams to a position located above the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; g. hydraulic power means connected to said walking beam unit for moving said carriage horizontally; h. a plurality of load cells laterally spaced from the path of said walking beam unit and mounted on said short section of lower elevation at one end of said stationary support frame; i. two laterally spaced longitudinal weigh beams engaging the tops of said load cells, said weigh beams having a top surface located above the top of said laterally spaced beams of said supporting frame to receive the articles to be weighed, said weigh beams further located within the path of travel of said walking beam unit but laterally spaced therefrom so that when said walking beam unit picks up and moves the articles from the stationary laterally spaced longitudinal beams, the articles are deposited on said weigh beams for weighing by said load cells as the walking beam unit is lowered; and j. a plurality of flexure members connected between said weigh beams and said stationary support frame to restrain said weigh beams in the longitudinal and the lateral directions of the conveyor, but to permit free vertical movement of said weigh beams for accurate weighing of the article by said load cells.

Claim 32

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks operable between said laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said support frame, said carriage being located on the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; c. a vertically movable walking beam unit having an article engaging top surface and connecting said trucks so said trucks move in unison, said walking beam unit further having an elongated structural beam member having an open top, U-shaped section at one end, said end section beam longer than the length of the largest article to be weighed; d. an hydraulically operated power cylinder supported on each truck having a vertically movable piston rod connected to and supporting said walking beam unit; e. a guide bearing radially supporting the vertical movement of said piston rod on each of said power cylinders, said guide bearing supported by said truck in a position with the bore of said guide bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of said piston rod and said guide bearing located between said power cylinder and the connection of said piston rod to said walking beam unit to prevent any lateral force from said walking beam unit being applied to and causing bending in said piston rod; F. a self-contained hydraulic power unit mounted in each of said trucks for operating said power cylinder to raise and lower said article engaging top surface of said walking beam unit from a position located below the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams to a position located above the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; g. hydraulic power means connected to said walking beam unit for moving said carriage horizontally; h. a plurality of load cells mounted and supported within said open top end section of said walking beam structural beam member; i. a weigh beam engaging the tops of said load cells, said weigh beam having a top surface located slightly above the article engaging top surface of said walking beam unit, said weigh beam having a length slightly greater than the length of the largest article to be weighed, said top surface of said weigh beam receiving the article to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the article above the level of the top of said laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; and j. a plurality of flexure members connected between said weigh beam and said stationary support frame to restrain said weigh beam in the longitudinal and the lateral directions of the conveyor, but to permit free vertical movement of said weigh beam for accurate weighing of the article by said load cells.

Claim 33

A walking beam conveyor for conveying articles with means for weighing the articles comprising in combination: a. an elongated stationary support frame having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams for supporting the articles to be conveyed; b. a horizontally movable carriage including a pair of wheeled trucks operable between said laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said support frame, said carriage being located on the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor; c. a vertically movable walking beam unit having an article engaging top surface and connecting said trucks so said trucks move in unison, said walking beam unit further having an elongated structural beam member having an open top, U-shaped section at one end, said end section beam longer than the length of the largest article to be weighed; d. an hydraulically operated power cylinder supported on each truck having a vertically movable piston rod connected to and supporting said walking beam unit; e. a guide bearing radially supporting the vertical movement of said piston rod on each of said power cylinders, said guide bearing supported by said truck in a position with the bore of said guide bearing in axial alignment with the vertical axis of said piston rod and said guide bearing located between said power cylinder and the connection of said piston rod to said walking beam unit to prevent any lateral force from said walking beam unit being applied to and causing bending in said piston rod; F. a self-contained hydraulic power unit mounted in each of said trucks for operating said power cylinder to raise and lower said article engaging top surface of said walking beam unit from a position located below the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams to a position located above the top of the laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; g. hydraulic power means connected to said walking beam unit for moving said carriage horizontally; h. a plurality of load cells mounted and supported within said open top end section of said walking beam structural beam member; i. a weigh beam engaging the tops of said load cells, said weigh beam having a top surface located slightly above the article engaging top surface of said walking beam unit, said weigh beam having a length slightly greater than the length of the largest article to be weighed, said top surface of said weigh beam receiving the article to be weighed after said walking beam unit has lifted the article above the level of the top of said laterally spaced longitudinal beams of said stationary support frame; and j. a plurality of flexure members connected between said weigh beam and said stationary support frame to restrain said weigh beam in the longitudinal and the lateral directions of the conveyor, but to permit free vertical movement of said weigh beam for accurate weighing of the article by said load cells.