Sectional conveyor apparatus

Claim 2

In a sectionalized conveyor system comprising contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections; respsective article position sensing means associated with said respective conveyor sections for sensing the presence and absence of articles thereon; first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of said conveyor sections; respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections each having a first normal drive condition for driving the associated conveyor section and a second condition where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section; and article position responsive means associated with each of said conveyor sections and responsive normally after a given delay period to the sensing by the article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved of the presence of an article on the former conveyor section by operating the conveyor section drive means of the latter conveyor section in said second condition, said delay period indicating the stoppage of such article on the former conveyor section, the improvement wherein the article position responsive means associated with each conveyor section includes: latch means having a normal inoperative position when the associated article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved indicates the absence or momentary presence of an article on the former conveyor section and has an operating position when the last mentioned article position sensing means indicates the stoppage of an article on the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved, actuating means for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said First normal drive condition and movable into a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means in said second position, and operating means repeatedly moved in a first path relative to the associated actuating means where it does not engage the associated actuating means when the article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved indicates the absence of an article on the former conveyor section and repeatedly moved along a different path relative to said actuating means where at a given point in its relative path of travel it engages said actuating means and moves the same into a position to be engaged by the associated latch means in said operating position, where the actuating means involved is maintained in said second position when the article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved indicates the stoppage of an article thereon.

Claim 3

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, a different article position sensing means associated with each conveyor section for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of said conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive condition for driving the associated conveyor section and a second condition where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive condition and movable from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means in said second condition, the improvement comprising operating means and latch means associated with each of said actuating means, means responsive to an article position sensing means of a given conveyor section indicating the presence of an article thereon for causing the operating means associated with the conveyor section immediately behind the latter conveyor section to engage the associated actuating means and move the same into said second position and to effect the latching of said actuating means into said second position by said associated latching means, each of the latching means becoming disengaged from the associated actuating means when the article position sensing means associated therewith indicates that the article sensed by the article position sensing means involved is moving from the conveyor section involved.

Claim 4

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, a different article position sensing means associated with each conveyor section for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of said conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive condition for driving the associated conveyor section and a second condition where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive condition and movable from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means in said second condition, the improvement comprising operating means and latch means associated with each of said actuating means, means responsive to an article position sensing means of a given conveyor section indicating the presence of an article thereon for causing the operating means associated with the conveyor section immediately behind the latter conveyor section to engage the associated actuating means and move the same into said second position and to effect the latching of said actuating means into said second position by said associated latching means, each of the latching means becoming disengaged from the associated actuating means when the article position sensing means associated therewith indicates that the article sensed by the article position sensing means involved is moving from the conveyor section involved.

Claim 5

The sectionalized conveyor of claim 2 wherein there is provided spring means normally urging each of the actuating means into said first position thereof and spring means urging each of said article position sensing means into the path of movement of an article on the associated conveyor section, each said responsive means including means for moving said operating means respectively to actuating means engaging and actuating means disengaging positions and for moving each of said latch means between actuating means latching and actuating means unlatching positions as said associated article position sensing means is respectively engaged by the movment of an article thereagainst and released by the movement of the article away from the same.

Claim 6

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, respective article for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, position sensing means associated with said conveyor sections means movable in front of said first conveyor section to stop the movement of articles therefrom, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of sAid conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive position for driving the associated conveyor section and a second position where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means which actuator means is spring urged into a first position for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive position and movable against a spring forced from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means to said second position, the improvement comprising: operating means associated with each of said other conveyor sections, continuously driven power means for continuously moving said operating means, said operating means being movagle relative to said power means from a normal first position into which it is spring urged, where said power means repeatedly moves the same over a first given path, to a second position where said power means repeatedly moves the same over a second path, each of said actuating means having a projecting portion adapted to be operatively engaged by the operating means of the associated conveyor section only at one point in said second path of travel thereof as the operating means moves in a given direction thereagainst and moved to advance the actuating means to said second position, means associated with each conveyor section and responsive to the sensing of the presence of an article by the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved for moving the associated operating means into said second position where the power means moves the same in said second path of travel and responsive to the sensing by the latter article position sensing means of the absence of an article for enabling the associated operating means to return to said first position where said power means moves the same in said first given path, and latch means associated with each of said operating means for latching the actuating means into said second position when moved to said position by said operating means and for releasing said actuating means from said second position when the article position sensing means involved senses the absence of an article on the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved.

Claim 7

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, respective article for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, position sensing means associated with said conveyor sections means movable in front of said first conveyor section to stop the movement of articles therefrom, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of sAid conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive position for driving the associated conveyor section and a second position where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means which actuator means is spring urged into a first position for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive position and movable against a spring forced from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means to said second position, the improvement comprising: operating means associated with each of said other conveyor sections, continuously driven power means for continuously moving said operating means, said operating means being movagle relative to said power means from a normal first position into which it is spring urged, where said power means repeatedly moves the same over a first given path, to a second position where said power means repeatedly moves the same over a second path, each of said actuating means having a projecting portion adapted to be operatively engaged by the operating means of the associated conveyor section only at one point in said second path of travel thereof as the operating means moves in a given direction thereagainst and moved to advance the actuating means to said second position, means associated with each conveyor section and responsive to the sensing of the presence of an article by the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved for moving the associated operating means into said second position where the power means moves the same in said second path of travel and responsive to the sensing by the latter article position sensing means of the absence of an article for enabling the associated operating means to return to said first position where said power means moves the same in said first given path, and latch means associated with each of said operating means for latching the actuating means into said second position when moved to said position by said operating means and for releasing said actuating means from said second position when the article position sensing means involved senses the absence of an article on the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved.

Claim 8

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said power means reciprocates each of said operating means over said first and second paths, said operating means being a pawl means which engages the projecting portion of the associated actuating means when moved only in one direction thereagainst and passes over the same when moved in the opposite direction thereover.

Claim 9

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, a different article position sensing means associated with each conveyor section for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of said conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive condition for driving the associated conveyor section and a second condition where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive condition and movable from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means in said second condition the improvement comprising pawl means associated with each of said activating means, pawl engageable means on each of said actuating means to be engaged by the associated pawl means moving in a given operating dirEction to move the associated actuating means to said second position, continuously driven power means for the various actuating means which power means repeatedly normally moves each pawl means in a position spaced from the pawl engageable means of the associated actuating means, and coupling means responsive to the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved and indicating the presence of an article on the former conveyor section by causing the pawl means of the succeeding conveyor section to be moved by said power means in said given operative direction against the pawl-engageable means of the actuating means associated with the latter conveyor section and move the actuating means to said second position, and latch means for each of the actuating means and responsive to the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved indicating the presence of an article thereon by latching onto a portion of the latter actuating means when in said second position for holding the actuating means in said second position, thereby to terminate the movement of the conveyor involved, and responsive to the last mentioned article position sensing means indicating the absence of an article on said former conveyor section by disengaging from the latter actuating means to effect the return of said actuating means to said first position.

Claim 10

In a sectionalized conveyor system having contiguous conveyor sections forming different parts of a conveyor system for moving articles along a given path encompassed by said conveyor sections, a different article position sensing means associated with each conveyor section for sensing the presence or absence of an article thereon, first conveyor section drive means for continuously driving the first of said conveyor sections, other respective conveyor section drive means for the other conveyor sections and each having a first normal drive condition for driving the associated conveyor section and a second condition where drive power is disconnected from the associated conveyor section, and actuating means for each of said other conveyor section driving means for normally operating the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive condition and movable from a first to a second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means in said second condition the improvement comprising pawl means associated with each of said activating means, pawl engageable means on each of said actuating means to be engaged by the associated pawl means moving in a given operating dirEction to move the associated actuating means to said second position, continuously driven power means for the various actuating means which power means repeatedly normally moves each pawl means in a position spaced from the pawl engageable means of the associated actuating means, and coupling means responsive to the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved and indicating the presence of an article on the former conveyor section by causing the pawl means of the succeeding conveyor section to be moved by said power means in said given operative direction against the pawl-engageable means of the actuating means associated with the latter conveyor section and move the actuating means to said second position, and latch means for each of the actuating means and responsive to the article position sensing means of the conveyor section immediately ahead of the conveyor section involved indicating the presence of an article thereon by latching onto a portion of the latter actuating means when in said second position for holding the actuating means in said second position, thereby to terminate the movement of the conveyor involved, and responsive to the last mentioned article position sensing means indicating the absence of an article on said former conveyor section by disengaging from the latter actuating means to effect the return of said actuating means to said first position.

Claim 11

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 6 wherein there is provided means raisable in front of said first conveyor section to stop the movement of articles therefrom.

Claim 12

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 6 wherein said power means is a reciprocating means carrying said pawl means longitudinally spaced thereon and respectively positioned adjacent said pawl engageable means of the actuating means associated with said various other conveyor sections, each of said pawl means being adapted to engage with the associated pawl engageable means when the article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved indicates the continued presence of an article on said former conveyor section and adapted to pass over the associated pawl engageable means of the associated actuating means when the article position sensing means of the conveyor section ahead of the conveyor section involved indicates the absence of an article on said former conveyor section.

Claim 13

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 6 whereon each of said actuating means is spring urged into said first position which normally operates the associated conveyor section drive means in said first normal drive positions and movable against a spring force to said second position to operate the associated conveyor section drive means to said second position of the succeeding conveyor section to be moved by said power means in said given operative direction against the pawl-engageable means of the actuating means associated with the latter conveyor section and move the actuating means to said second position.

Claim 14

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 9 wherein said power means is a reciprocating means carrying said pawl means longitudinally spaced thereon thereon positioned adjacent said pawl engageable means of the associated actuating means, each of said pawl means being adapted to pass over the pawl engageable means of the associated actuating means when the pawl means is moved in a reverse direction from said given direction.

Claim 15

The sectionalized conveyor system of claim 10 wherein said pawl means always moves said actuating means a distance somewhat beyond said second position to permit the easy disengagement of the latch means from the actuating means when the article position sensing means indicates the absence of an article on said former conveyor section.