US3799541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum belt-type conveyor
Assignee: Bucciconi Engineering Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor designed for piling sheets or similar articles which comprises an elongate rail-like frame which is supported at its end on opposite sides of a piling area, the frame having mounted therein a vacuum box with a relatively flat belt supported for travel on spaced pulleys so that the lower run of the belt advances along the open bottom face of the vacuum box, the belt having normally closed apertures and the frame having means for opening the apertures, as the forward edge of a sheet is fed into engagement with the bottom surface of the belt, so as to hold the sheet on the belt by suction for advance to the piling area where the suction is discontinued and the sheet dropped onto a pile.
Inventors
- 👤 D Buccicone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/26; B65H29/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A traveling conveyor unit for sheet material or the like comprising an elongate frame, an endless belt assembly of substantial width, spaced end supports on said frame for carrying said belt assembly with the lower face of the lower run thereof forming a sheet supporting and carrying surface, means forming a vacuum chamber above the lower run of said belt assembly and having a bottom opening which is closed by said belt assembly, said belt assembly comprising an inner belt member which has a perforated, longitudinal center portion flanked by imperforate portions and an outer cover member having side marginal portions connected to side marginal portions of said inner belt member, said outer cover member having an imperforate, longitudinal center portion which is positioned to overlie the perforated, longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member and which is flanked by perforated side portions so that when the longitudinal center portions of the inner and outer belt members are in face-to-face engagement the belt assembly forms an imperforate closure for said vacuum chamber, and means within said vacuum chamber for normally holding said longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member in face engagement with the corresponding portion of said belt outer cover member which means is releasable to permit the longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member to be drawn out of engagement with the corresponding portion of said belt outer cover member thereby to provide passageways for application of vacuum through the belt members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A traveling conveyor unit for sheet material or the like comprising an elongate frame, an endless belt assembly of substantial width, spaced end supports on said frame for carrying said belt assembly with the lower face of the lower run thereof forming a sheet supporting and carrying surface, means forming a vacuum chamber above the lower run of said belt assembly and having a bottom opening which is closed by said belt assembly, said belt assembly comprising an inner belt member which has a perforated, longitudinal center portion flanked by imperforate portions and an outer cover member having side marginal portions connected to side marginal portions of said inner belt member, said outer cover member having an imperforate, longitudinal center portion which is positioned to overlie the perforated, longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member and which is flanked by perforated side portions so that when the longitudinal center portions of the inner and outer belt members are in face-to-face engagement the belt assembly forms an imperforate closure for said vacuum chamber, and means within said vacuum chamber for normally holding said longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member in face engagement with the corresponding portion of said belt outer cover member which means is releasable to permit the longitudinal center portion of said inner belt member to be drawn out of engagement with the corresponding portion of said belt outer cover member thereby to provide passageways for application of vacuum through the belt members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said belt assembly has an outer cover member with side marginal portions sealed to side marginal portions of said inner belt member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said belt assembly has an outer cover member which is in the form of a fabric with an imperforate longitudinal center portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said belt assembly has an inner belt member with a longitudinal center portion in which there is a line of relatively small holes forming vacuum passageways.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame has belt side guides adjacent the bottom face of said vacuum chamber wiTh inwardly facing guide channels for receiving the side edges of the belt assembly and said outer belt member has its side edges disposed inwardly of the side edges of the outer belt member so that the side edges of the belt assembly are received within said guide channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for holding the center portions of said inner and outer belt members together comprises a plurality of pairs of rollers, said rollers being mounted for movement into and out of operative position, means for latching said rollers in belt holding, operative position and means responsive to advancing movement of a sheet to release said latching means so as to enable said rollers to move to an inoperative position where the vacuum is effective through said belt assembly to hold the sheet on the surface thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for holding the center portions of said belt members together comprises longitudinally spaced members mounted for movement into and out of pressing engagement with the top surface of said inner belt member when it is traversing the lower run thereof so as to close the openings in said inner belt member, means for latching said belt pressing members in operative position and means responsive to sheet movement for releasing said belt pressing members so as to permit opening of said belt members for passage of vacuum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A traveling conveyor unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for holding the center portions of said belt members together comprises eccentrically mounted, pressure applying members which are movable into a position to press the center portion of said inner belt member into engagement with said outer belt member when said belt members are traversing the lower run thereof so as to close the openings in said inner belt member, means to latch said belt pressing members in belt pressing position and means to release said latch means so as to enable said belt pressing members to retract to a position where vacuum passageways through the belt members are open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a conveyor unit for advancing sheet material having an endless traveling belt assembly mounted on end supports and a vacuum box with a downwardly opening face across which the lowermost run of the belt assembly passes so as to serve as a closure for said vacuum box, said belt assembly having inner and outer belt members disposed with their outer and inner faces, respectively in laterally extending, overlying, face-to-face relation, said belt members having separable portions and having openings in said separable portions which are adapted to form vacuum passageways through said belt members when said portions of the belt members are separated to thereby hold a sheet on the outermost face of the outer belt member by vacuum pull for travel therewith, movable means disposed in spaced relation in said vacuum box for engaging said inner belt member and normally holding said inner and outer traveling belt members in face engaging relation thereby to close said vacuum passageways, releasable means for latching said belt engaging means in the position to close said passageways and means for releasing said latching means so as to open said passageways upon predetermined movement of a sheet along the bottom face of said vacuum box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a conveyor unit for advancing sheet material having an endless traveling belt assembly mounted on end supports and a vacuum box with a downwardly opening face across which the lowermost run of the belt assembly passes so as to serve as a closure for said vacuum box, said belt assembly having inner and outer belt members disposed with their outer and inner faces, respectively in laterally extending, overlying, face-to-face relation, said belt members having separable portions and having openings in said separable portions which are adapted to form vacuum passageways through said belt members when said portions of the belt members are separated to thereby hold a sheet on the outermost face of the outer belt member by vacuum pull for travel therewith, movable means disposed in spaced relation in said vacuum box for engaging said inner belt member and normally holding said inner and outer traveling belt members in face engaging relation thereby to close said vacuum passageways, releasable means for latching said belt engaging means in the position to close said passageways and means for releasing said latching means so as to open said passageways upon predetermined movement of a sheet along the bottom face of said vacuum box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a conveyor unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said belt engaging means comprises pairs of rollers supported in longitudinally spaced realtion with the rollers of each pair spaced transversely so as to engage the inner belt member of said belt assembly on opposite sides of the portions of the belt to be separated in opening the vacuum passageways.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a conveyor unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said belt engaging means comprises longitudinally spaced pairs of eccentrically mounted rollers with the rollers of each pair thereof laterally spaced and disposed so as to engage the innermost face of the inner belt member of the belt assembLy on opposite sides of the portions of the belt members to be separated so as to open said vacuum passageways and wherein said means for latching said belt engaging means in the position to close said vacuum passageways comprises pivotally mounted latch arms having an abutment forming portion adapted to be positioned for enagement with a portion of the eccentric mounting means for said rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a conveyor unit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for latching said belt engaging means comprises a reciprocable bar member having cam members thereon for engaging the eccentric mounting means for said rollers so as to lower said rollers into pressure engagement with said belt assembly and close the vacuum passageways, said rollers being mounted so that upon the eccentric mounting means being freed for movement by retraction of said bar member the weight distribution and pressure of the belt assembly on the rollers will automatically urge the rollers to a position which will open the vacuum passageways in the belt assembly in response to vacuum pull.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
A belt assembly for use on a traveling belt conveyor unit where the belt assembly is carried on spaced end supports with a bottom run forming a closure for the open bottom face of a vacuum chamber, said belt assembly comprising an inner base member having a longitudinal center portion which is perforated and side portions which are imperforate and an outer cover member having a longitudinal center portion which is imperforate and which is positioned to overlie the perforated center portion of said inner member with adjoining portions on either side thereof which are perforated, side marginal portions of said belt members being connected and the center portion of said inner belt member being sufficiently flexible to permit it to be separated by vacuum pull on the innermost face and provide vacuum passageways through the perforated portions of the belt assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A belt assembly for use on a traveling belt conveyor unit where the belt assembly is carried on spaced end supports with a bottom run forming a closure for the open bottom face of a vacuum chamber, said belt assembly comprising an inner base member having a longitudinal center portion which is perforated and side portions which are imperforate and an outer cover member having a longitudinal center portion which is imperforate and which is positioned to overlie the perforated center portion of said inner member with adjoining portions on either side thereof which are perforated, side marginal portions of said belt members being connected and the center portion of said inner belt member being sufficiently flexible to permit it to be separated by vacuum pull on the innermost face and provide vacuum passageways through the perforated portions of the belt assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner belt member has a center portion which includes a line of spaced apertures and said outer belt member has portions on either side of the imperforate center portion which include spaced apertures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner belt member has a center portion with a line of apertures and side portions with longitudinally spaced shallow transverse grooves in the outermost face thereof which confronts the innermost face of the outer cover member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said outer cover member has side portions which are in the form of a perforate fabric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said outer cover member is in the form of a fabric sheet material with an imperforate center portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inner belt member is relatively flexible and said outer belt member has substantial rigidity in a transverse direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said belt assembly is relatively flexible in the longitudinal direction and wherein said belt assembly has a substantial degree of rigidity in the transverse direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A belt assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said belt assembly has a substantial degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction and a substantial degree of rigidity in the transverse direction, with the side edges of the outer cover member terminating short of the corresponding edges of the inner base member so as to form guide recesses along the side edge margins of the belt assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |