US3742861A — Transfer conveyors

Claim 1

Independent Claim 345 words

In a conveyor system including two conveyors each of the kind wherein load carrying trolleys are normally continuously propelled along a trolley track by pusher dogs depending from an endless driven chain disposed above such track, the provision of means for transferring load carrying trolleys from the trolley track of one conveyor to the trolley track of the second conveyor, said means comprising a transfer track connecting the trolley tracks of the two conveyors, switch means operable at will to divert any selected load carrying trolley from the trolley track of said one conveyor on to said transfer track, a transfer unit, supporting means extending parallel to said transfer track and supporting said transfer unit for movement back and forth along a path parallEl to the transfer track, said transfer unit comprising reversible drive means whereby a drive may be imparted thereto in either direction at will and a laterally projecting arm which is arranged to project into the path of any trolley present on said transfer track and is effective on movement of said unit in a direction towards the second conveyor to propel the load trolley along said transfer track and on to the trolley track of the second conveyor, said reversible drive means comprising a drive wheel arranged to cooperate with a fixed element, a reversible electric motor arranged to drive said drive wheel such that rotation of said drive wheel in one direction or the other will result in movement of the unit back or forth along said path parallel to said transfer track, and means enabling a selected load carrying trolley to be propelled by said unit along said transfer track into a position out of the paths of movement of the load carrying trolleys of the first and second conveyors and remain in that position until the approach of a free pusher dog on the chain of the second conveyor causes said unit to propel the selected load carrying trolley onto the trolley track of the second conveyor so that the trolley is engaged by the free pusher dog.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 345 words

In a conveyor system including two conveyors each of the kind wherein load carrying trolleys are normally continuously propelled along a trolley track by pusher dogs depending from an endless driven chain disposed above such track, the provision of means for transferring load carrying trolleys from the trolley track of one conveyor to the trolley track of the second conveyor, said means comprising a transfer track connecting the trolley tracks of the two conveyors, switch means operable at will to divert any selected load carrying trolley from the trolley track of said one conveyor on to said transfer track, a transfer unit, supporting means extending parallel to said transfer track and supporting said transfer unit for movement back and forth along a path parallEl to the transfer track, said transfer unit comprising reversible drive means whereby a drive may be imparted thereto in either direction at will and a laterally projecting arm which is arranged to project into the path of any trolley present on said transfer track and is effective on movement of said unit in a direction towards the second conveyor to propel the load trolley along said transfer track and on to the trolley track of the second conveyor, said reversible drive means comprising a drive wheel arranged to cooperate with a fixed element, a reversible electric motor arranged to drive said drive wheel such that rotation of said drive wheel in one direction or the other will result in movement of the unit back or forth along said path parallel to said transfer track, and means enabling a selected load carrying trolley to be propelled by said unit along said transfer track into a position out of the paths of movement of the load carrying trolleys of the first and second conveyors and remain in that position until the approach of a free pusher dog on the chain of the second conveyor causes said unit to propel the selected load carrying trolley onto the trolley track of the second conveyor so that the trolley is engaged by the free pusher dog.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 64 words

A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the last-mentioned means is operative such that, on diversion of a load carrying trolley onto the transfer track, the transfer unit will be moved automatically from an initial position out of said paths of movement and intermediate the ends of said transfer track to a position wherein it will be effective subsequently to propel said trolley.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 60 words

A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein said arm is pivotally mounted on the transfer unit and is spring loaded to assume an operative position, the arrangement being such that while said arm is capable of free pivotal movement in one direction from its operative position, pivotal movement in the other direction from said operative position will be prevented.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-02	1977-01-01	1977-07-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-02	1981-01-01	1981-07-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-02	1985-01-01	1985-07-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Transfer conveyors

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag