Rapid retracting torque activated drive roller unit for conveyor systems

Claim 2

A power-operable roller mechanism for propelling loads along a conveyor plane defined by associated load-supportng means comprising a base, a frame carried by said base, translatable with respect thereto from a normal position below said conveyor plane toward said plane and returnable by gravity to said normal position, a drive roller rotatably mounted on said frame, an actuating mechanism for translating said frame toward said conveyor plane comprising a rockable shaft, cam means carried by said shaft for translating said frame toward said conveyor plane upon rocking movement of said shaft away from its normal position of rest, drive means for simultaneously and individually applying rotational torque to said roller and rocking said shaft and means comprising a spring tensionable by said drive means upon operation thereof for effecting retrograde movement of said shaft to its said normal position of rest upon interruption of the operation of said drive means, thereby permitting return of said frame to its said normal position.

Claim 3

A power-operable roller mechanism according to claim 1 in which said rockable shaft is rockable in either direction from a normal central position and in which said cam means effects translation of said frame toward said conveyor plane upon rocking movement of said shaft in either direction.

Claim 4

A power-operated roller mechanism according to claim 1 in which said cam means comprises a cam having a radius of curvature of its effective portion which is progressively increasing as said means translates said frame toward said conveyor plane.

Claim 5

In a power roller mechanism for propelling loads along a platform having freely rotatable means for supporting such loads along a laterally extending plane thereon a rotatable drive roller having an axis disposed parallel to said plane, means for supporting said roller for translatory movement under power into, and for free gravitational movement out of a position in which it is tangential to said load plane and in tractional engagement with a load supported thereon comprising a pivotal mounting for said supporting means laterally displaced from said roller axis; said supporting means having its center of gravity located between said pivotal mounting and said roller axis whereby gravity is effective to normally maintain said roller out of its position tangential to said load plane and out of tractional engagement with a load supported thereon, a power means and means operable by said power means for rotating said roller on its axis and actuating said supporting means to cause the same to translate said roller into its position tangential to said load plane and in traction with a load supported thereon, and effective upon cessation of operation of said means by said drive train to permit gravitational return of said supporting means to remove said roller from said position; said last named means including a device applyIng a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller which restraint decreases in magnitude as the speed of rotation of said roller decreases.

Claim 6

In a power roller mechanism for propelling loads along a platform having freely rotatable means for supporting such loads along a laterally extending plane thereon a rotatable drive roller having an axis disposed parallel to said plane, means for supporting said roller for translatory movement under power into, and for free gravitational movement out of a position in which it is tangential to said load plane and in tractional engagement with a load supported thereon comprising a pivotal mounting for said supporting means laterally displaced from said roller axis; said supporting means having its center of gravity located between said pivotal mounting and said roller axis whereby gravity is effective to normally maintain said roller out of its position tangential to said load plane and out of tractional engagement with a load supported thereon, a power means and means operable by said power means for rotating said roller on its axis and actuating said supporting means to cause the same to translate said roller into its position tangential to said load plane and in traction with a load supported thereon, and effective upon cessation of operation of said means by said drive train to permit gravitational return of said supporting means to remove said roller from said position; said last named means including a device applyIng a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller which restraint decreases in magnitude as the speed of rotation of said roller decreases.

Claim 7

A power roller mechanism according to claim 4 in which said device applying a yielding restraint upon restraint of said roller comprises a liquid-containing reservoir and an element connected to and rotatable with said roller; said element being immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 8

A power roller mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the device applying the yielding restraint comprises juxtaposed members with complemetary surfaces spaced apart, flowable material between the surfaces, one member being fixed, the other being rotatable, and an input from the power means is coupled to the rotatable member.

Claim 9

A power-operable roller mechanism for propelling loads along a conveyor plane defined by associated load-supporting means comprising a drive roller, means mounting said roller for rotation and for translational movement with respect to said conveyor plane, drive means for simultaneously and individually applying rotational torque to said roller and translating the same toward said conveyor plane; said drive means including a portion operable in response to translation of said roller away from said conveyor plane to cause retrograde rotation of said roller, and means for applying a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said roller, said last named means comprising a liquid-containing reservoir disposed coaxially with said roller adjacent one end thereof, a first series of spaced plates fixed within said reservoir, a second series of plates interspersed between said fixed plates and connected to and rotatable with said roller; both said fixed plates and said rotatable plates being at least partially immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 10

A power-operable roller mechanism for propelling loads along a conveyor plane defined by associated load-supporting means comprising a drive roller, means mounting said roller for rotation and for translational movement with respect to said conveyor plane, drive means for simultaneously and individually applying rotational torque to said roller and translating the same toward said conveyor plane; said drive means including a portion operable in response to translation of said roller away from said conveyor plane to cause retrograde rotation of said roller, and means for applying a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said roller, said last named means comprising a liquid-containing reservoir disposed coaxially with said roller adjacent one end thereof, a first series of spaced plates fixed within said reservoir, a second series of plates interspersed between said fixed plates and connected to and rotatable with said roller; both said fixed plates and said rotatable plates being at least partially immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 11

A power-operable roller mechanism for propelling loads along a conveyor plane defined by associated load-supporting means comprising a base, a frame carried by said base and translatable with respect thereto toward and away from said conveyor plane, a drive roller rotatably mounted on said frame, an actuating mechanism for translating said frame toward said conveyor plane, drive means for simultaneously and individually applying rotational torque to said roller and driving said actuating mechanism to effect translation of said frame toward said conveyor plane; a portion of said drive means being operable by said actuating mechanism, as an incident to movement of said frame away from said conveyor plane, to cause retrograde rotation of said roller, and means for applying a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said roller, said last named means comprising a liquid-containing reservoir disposed coaxially with said roller adjacent one end thereof, a first series of spaced plates fixed within said reservoir, a second series of plates interspersed between said fixed plates and connected to and rotatable with said roller, both said fixed plates and said rotatable plates being at least partially immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.

Claim 12

A power-operable roller mechanism for propelling loads along a conveyor plane defined by associated load-supporting means comprising a base, a frame carried by said base and translatable with respect thereto toward and away from said conveyor plane, a drive roller rotatably mounted on said frame, an actuating mechanism for translating said frame toward said conveyor plane, drive means for simultaneously and individually applying rotational torque to said roller and driving said actuating mechanism to effect translation of said frame toward said conveyor plane; a portion of said drive means being operable by said actuating mechanism, as an incident to movement of said frame away from said conveyor plane, to cause retrograde rotation of said roller, and means for applying a yielding restraint upon rotation of said roller proportional in magnitude to the speed of rotation of said roller, said last named means comprising a liquid-containing reservoir disposed coaxially with said roller adjacent one end thereof, a first series of spaced plates fixed within said reservoir, a second series of plates interspersed between said fixed plates and connected to and rotatable with said roller, both said fixed plates and said rotatable plates being at least partially immersed in the liquid in said reservoir.