Article transfer apparatus

Claim 2

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said endless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, and follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, said follower guide means including a cam mounted for turning about the axis of one of said sprockets and having a cam track movable therewith to guide the follower means selectively onto said first or said second track means, and means for selectively turning said cam.

Claim 3

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said eNdless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, said article pusher member comprising an auxiliary roller supported for axial rotation about an axis laterally offset from said pivot axis, and said second track means includes means for guidably supporting said follower means to maintain said auxiliary roller at the level of the upper run of said travelling roller bed.

Claim 4

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said eNdless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, said article pusher member comprising an auxiliary roller supported for axial rotation about an axis laterally offset from said pivot axis, and said second track means includes means for guidably supporting said follower means to maintain said auxiliary roller at the level of the upper run of said travelling roller bed.

Claim 5

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said endless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, an article conveyor means for advancing articles laterally of said endless travelling roller bed onto an inlet portion of said upper run of endless roller bed, an article stop means adjacent said inlet portion of said endless roller bed for stopping articles at a preselected lateral location thereon, brake means frictionally engaging the upper surface of said rollers as they move past said inlet portion of the upper run to normally inhibit advance of the articles with the travelling bed of rollers, means for sensing advance of an article onto said inlet portion of said upper run of said roller bed, and means controlled by said sensing means for operating said follower guide means to guide the follower onto said first track means.

Claim 6

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said endless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, an article conveyor means for advancing articles laterally of said endless travelling roller bed onto an inlet portion of said upper run of endless roller bed, an article stop means adjacent said inlet portion of said endless roller bed for stopping articles at a preselected lateral location thereon, brake means frictionally engaging the upper surface of said rollers as they move past said inlet portion of the upper run to normally inhibit advance of the articles with the travelling bed of rollers, means for sensing advance of an article onto said inlet portion of said upper run of said roller bed, and means controlled by said sensing means for operating said follower guide means to guide the follower onto said first track means.

Claim 7

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the Improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said endless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, laterally spaced chain guide rails on said frame for guidably supporting said chains and the rollers carried thereby during movement along said upper run, said first and second track means including follower guide rails mounted on said frame laterally inwardly of said chain guide rails.

Claim 8

In an article transfer mechanism including a frame and an endless travelling roller bed on said frame having an upper run adapted to underlie and support articles, the travelling roller bed including laterally spaced endless chains entrained over sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on the frame at locations spaced apart longitudinally of said upper run and a plurality of rollers extending between the chains at spaced locations therealong, and drive means for driving the endless chains to advance the upper run of the roller bed, the Improvement comprising: at least one article pusher member extending crosswise of the endless roller bed and mounted on said laterally spaced endless chains intermediate adjacent ones of said rollers for vertical swinging movement relative to the chains and rollers about a pivot axis extending crosswise of said roller bed, follower means on said article pusher member laterally offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of the upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along the upper run of said endless roller bed for guidably supporting the article pusher member in a raised position projecting above the upper run of said roller bed to advance articles therealong, a second track means on said frame extending along at least a portion of said upper run of said endless roller bed adapted to engage said follower means as said article pusher member advances along said upper run of said roller bed to guide the article pusher member in a lower position no higher than the upper run of said roller bed, follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, laterally spaced chain guide rails on said frame for guidably supporting said chains and the rollers carried thereby during movement along said upper run, said first and second track means including follower guide rails mounted on said frame laterally inwardly of said chain guide rails.

Claim 9

In an article transfer apparatus including a frame having laterally spaced side members, first and second shafts mounted on said side members to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong, a pair of laterally spaced sprockets on each shaft and a pair of laterally spaced endless chains entrained over said sprockets to have an upper run thereof extend between respective sprockets on the first and second shafts, a plurality of rollers mounted on said pair of chains to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong defining a travelling roller bed for supporting articles as the chains advance along said upper run thereof, and means for guidably supporting said rollers as they advance along said upper run of said chains, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets each pivotally connected to a respective one of said chains for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis extending crosswise between said laterally spaced chains, an article pusher member connected to said brackets at a location radially offset from said pivot axis, a follower on each bracket radially offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said side members engageable with said followers for guidably supporting said article pusher member at a level above said roller bed during movement along at least a portion of said upper run and a second track means on said side members below said first track means and engageable with said followers for guiding said article pusher member at a second level below said first level and no higher than said upper run of said roller bed during movement along said portion of said upper run, and follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means.

Claim 10

In an article transfer apparatus including a frame having laterally spaced side members, first and second shafts mounted on said side members to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong, a pair of laterally spaced sprockets on each shaft and a pair of laterally spaced endless chains entrained over said sprockets to have an upper run thereof extend between respective sprockets on the first and second shafts, a plurality of rollers mounted on said pair of chains to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong defining a travelling roller bed for supporting articles as the chains advance along said upper run thereof, and means for guidably supporting said rollers as they advance along said upper run of said chains, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets each pivotally connected to a respective one of said chains for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis extending crosswise between said laterally spaced chains, an article pusher member connected to said brackets at a location radially offset from said pivot axis, a follower on each bracket radially offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said side members engageable with said followers for guidably supporting said article pusher member at a level above said roller bed during movement along at least a portion of said upper run and a second track means on said side members below said first track means and engageable with said followers for guiding said article pusher member at a second level below said first level and no higher than said upper run of said roller bed during movement along said portion of said upper run, and follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means.

Claim 11

In an article transfer apparatus including a frame having laterally spaced side members, first and second shafts mounted on said side members to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong, a pair of laterally spaced sprockets on each shaft and a pair of laterally spaced endless chains entrained over said sprockets to have an upper run thereof extend between respective sprockets on the first and second shafts, a plurality of rollers mounted on said pair of chains to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong defining a travelling roller bed for supporting articles as the chains advance along said upper run thereof, and means for guidably supporting said rollers as they advance along said upper run of said chains, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets each pivotally connected to a respective one of said chains for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis extending crosswise between said laterally spaced chains, an article pusher member connected to said brackets at a location radially offset from said pivot axis, a follower on each bracket radially offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said side members engageable with said followers for guidably supporting said article pusher member at a level above said roller bed during movement along at least a portion of said upper run and a second track means on said side members below said first track means and engageable with said followers for guiding said article pusher member at a second level below said first level and no higher than said upper run of said roller bed during movement along said portion of said upper run, and follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, said follower guide means including laterally spaced cams mounted for turning about the axis of said first shaft and each having a cam track movable therewith to guide said follower means selectively onto said first or said second track means and means for selectively turning said cams.

Claim 12

In an article transfer apparatus including a frame having laterally spaced side members, first and second shafts mounted on said side members to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong, a pair of laterally spaced sprockets on each shaft and a pair of laterally spaced endless chains entrained over said sprockets to have an upper run thereof extend between respective sprockets on the first and second shafts, a plurality of rollers mounted on said pair of chains to extend therebetween at spaced locations therealong defining a travelling roller bed for supporting articles as the chains advance along said upper run thereof, and means for guidably supporting said rollers as they advance along said upper run of said chains, the improvement comprising a pair of brackets each pivotally connected to a respective one of said chains for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis extending crosswise between said laterally spaced chains, an article pusher member connected to said brackets at a location radially offset from said pivot axis, a follower on each bracket radially offset from said pivot axis, a first track means on said side members engageable with said followers for guidably supporting said article pusher member at a level above said roller bed during movement along at least a portion of said upper run and a second track means on said side members below said first track means and engageable with said followers for guiding said article pusher member at a second level below said first level and no higher than said upper run of said roller bed during movement along said portion of said upper run, and follower guide means operable to guide said follower means selectively onto either said first track means or said second track means, said follower guide means including laterally spaced cams mounted for turning about the axis of said first shaft and each having a cam track movable therewith to guide said follower means selectively onto said first or said second track means and means for selectively turning said cams.

Claim 13

An article transfer apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cams are nonrotatably secured to said first shaft inwardly of said sprockets on said first shaft and said sprockets are rotatably supported on said first shaft, said means for turning said cams including an actuator connected to said first shaft.

Claim 14

An article transfer mechanism according to claim 5 including means for advancing articles onto an inlet portion of the upper run of said roller bed, brake means frictionally engaging the upper surface of the rollers as they move past said inlet portion of the upper run for rotating said rollers in a direction to retard advance of the articles with the roller bed, means for sensing advance of articles onto said inlet portion of said upper run of said roller bed, and means controlled by said article sensing means for operating said follower guide means.