US3815723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for transferring and storing articles
Assignee: ROCKWELL GRAPHIC SYSTEMS Inc 3100 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60650 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a vertically-disposed endless loop continuously-operating tray conveyor having at least two loading stations and at least two unloading stations. The load-receiving capability of each tray is automatically sensed in advance of its arrival at a loading station and remembered so that any of the loading stations ready to deliver a bundle can be actuated to do so when the empty tray arrives. Once loaded, the identity of the load on a particular tray is remembered in terms of the loading station it came from. The trays thus loaded may be emptied immediately through one or more of the unloading stations ready to receive same or, alternatively, all or part of the loads can be circulated and thus stored on the conveyor until such time as an unloading station is readied to discharge them. The method of using the system involves tracking the loaded trays until they are emptied at which point the discharge of the load is noted; however, it is the determination of the load-receiving capabilities of each tray preparatory to loading the empty ones that becomes the overriding control for the system thus eliminating the cumulative errors should a false load discharge signal be received.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wright
- 👤 R Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
The endless loop tray conveyor system which comprises: a plurality of trays and linking means connected therebetween cooperating to define an endless chain of upwardly facing receptacles; guide means engaging said chain and forming same into a vertically disposed essentially coplanar loop having upper and lower runs arranged in superimposed relation; at least two load delivery stations located adjacent one of said superimposed runs positioned and adapted upon actuation to place loads into the trays thereof; at least two load discharging stations located adjacent the other of said superimposed runs positioned and adapted upon actuation to remove loads from the trays; drive means operatively associated with the tray chain adapted to continuously circulate same past the load delivery and discharging stations; load-sensing means positioning in the path of the moving trays adapted to sense the presence oF a load therein; tray-tracking means responsive to the movement of each tray adapted to locate same at any point within the loop; actuating means connected to each load delivery and load discharging station operative to selectively actuate same; and, control means connected to receive and store information from the load-sensing and tray-tracking means as to the location and loadreceiving capabilities of each tray and actuate the load delivery and discharging stations in response thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
The endless loop tray conveyor system which comprises: a plurality of trays and linking means connected therebetween cooperating to define an endless chain of upwardly facing receptacles; guide means engaging said chain and forming same into a vertically disposed essentially coplanar loop having upper and lower runs arranged in superimposed relation; at least two load delivery stations located adjacent one of said superimposed runs positioned and adapted upon actuation to place loads into the trays thereof; at least two load discharging stations located adjacent the other of said superimposed runs positioned and adapted upon actuation to remove loads from the trays; drive means operatively associated with the tray chain adapted to continuously circulate same past the load delivery and discharging stations; load-sensing means positioning in the path of the moving trays adapted to sense the presence oF a load therein; tray-tracking means responsive to the movement of each tray adapted to locate same at any point within the loop; actuating means connected to each load delivery and load discharging station operative to selectively actuate same; and, control means connected to receive and store information from the load-sensing and tray-tracking means as to the location and loadreceiving capabilities of each tray and actuate the load delivery and discharging stations in response thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the load-sensing means is located beyond the last of the load-discharging stations and ahead of the first load delivery station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the tray-tracking means includes triggering means operative to actuate upon movement of the system through a predetermined distance, sensing means responsive to actuations of the triggering means, and memory means connected to the sensing means adapted to collect the information received therefrom and translate same into a continuously updated location of each tray in terms of its position relative to said triggering means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: each load delivery station includes a load-supporting platform positioned in superimposed relation above the trays passing therebeneath, a fixed load stop extending along the upstream side of said platform, and platform retracting means connected to said platform operative upon actuation to withdraw the latter from beneath the load while it is held against the stop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the trays are open on at least one side and all trays are open on the same side; and, in which the actuating means at each load-discharging station includes a pusher element movable horizontally upon actuation from a retracted inoperative position into an extended operative position adapted to push a load out through the open side of the tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: a pair of transversely-spaced parallel rails border the upper and lower superimposed runs on opposite sides of the linking means; and, in which rollers are journalled for rotation on opposite corners of each tray positioned and adapted to roll along the rails and maintain said trays in an upright position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the endless chain includes tray-elevating and tray-lowering runs interconnecting the upper and lower superimposed runs; secondary chain loops are provided adjacent each of the tray-elevating and tray-lowering runs with runs paralleling the latter driven in the same direction and at the same speed; and, in which interlocking means are carried by each tray and each secondary chain loop adapted to interengage as said tray leaves one of the superimposed runs so as to support same in upright position until it re-enters another superimposed run.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the guide means includes a chain-engaging sprocket wheel at each corner; and, in which a tray-leveling wheel is operatively associated with each sprocket wheel for synchronous rotation therewith about different horizontally-spaced axes, said sprocket and tray-leveling wheels cooperating with one another and with each tray to support same in upright position as it moves around the corner defined thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: both sides of each tray are open; the actuating means for at least one load delivery station is connected to the load-sensing means; and, in which the load-sensing means includes a normally-open switch responsive to the presence of each tray and a photoelectric switch positioned and adapted to direct a beam across each tray through the open sides thereof, said switches cooperating with one another and with the actuatIng means to de-energize the latter upon detecting a loaded tray, and said switches cooperating to energize the latter upon detecting an empty tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: each tray is sized to accept two loads in side-by-side relation; each load delivery station is capable of delivering either one or two loads arranged side-by-side to an empty tray passing therebeneath; a load-counting means is operatively associated with each load delivery station; and, in which a load-selection means is included within the control means connected to the load-counting means and actuating mean of a particular load delivery station adapted to preselect the quantity of load to be delivered thereby, said load-selection means being responsive to the load-counting means and operative to de-energize the actuating means until the preselected load is present in the load delivery station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the control means includes loader selection means connected to the actuating means of each load delivery station operative upon actuation to choose therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 1 in which: the control means includes ejector selection means connected to the actuating means of each load-discharging station operative upon actuation to choose therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 2 in which: the load-sensing means is operatively connected to the actuating means of at least the adjacent load delivery station so as to actuate same to discharge the load into an empty tray detected thereby as it passes therebeneath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 3 in which: the triggering means is responsive to movement of the drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 4 in which: each load-supporting platform is suspended from an overhead pivot adapted to tilt same downwardly and forwardly so as to slide the load off into the empty tray passing therebeneath as it is actuated into retracted position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 4 in which: the load-supporting platform includes an upstanding gate positioned and adapted to engage the entering loads and stop same over the trays.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 4 in which: an extendible stop is positioned in opposed face-to-face relation to the fixed stop, said extendible stop being operative upon actuation to push a load located between it and the fixed stop up firmly against the latter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 4 in which: the load-supporting surface comprises a plurality of rollers journalled for rotation in side-by-side parallel relation with their axes extending in the direction of conveyor movement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
146 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 5 in which: the actuating means for each load-discharging station includes an overhead diagonally-disposed boom having an endless cam track therein, a carriage movable longitudinally of said boom carrying the pusher for movement therewith, a cam follower mounted on the pusher for movement within the cam track, and drive means connected to the carriage for reciprocating same, said cam follower and cam track cooperating with one another during the extension stroke of the carriage to lower the pusher into the tray and sweep any load therein out the open side as it continues to move along therebeneath, and said cam follower and cam track cooperating with one another during the retraction stroke of the carriage to raise the pusher out of the path of a loaded tray passing therebeneath and return same to its starting point.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 6 in which: the loop includes essentially vertical runs interconnecting the upper and lower runs; a second pair of rollers are journalled for rotation on the unoccUpied corners of each tray in transversely offset relation to the first pair of rollers; and, in which at least one vertically-disposed rail parallels each vertical run positioned and adapted to receive one of said second set of rollers and prevent the tray associated therewith from tilting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 7 in which: a pair of rollers are journalled for rotation on the opposite corners of each tray; and, in which the interlocking means comprise the roller on the leading corner of each tray and a pair of spaced rollers on each secondary chain positioned and adapted to receive said tray roller therebetween and support same throughout the tray elevating and tray lowering runs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 8 in which: each tray includes a second pair of rollers in the unoccupied corners thereof offset laterally from the first pair thereof; and, in which each tray-leveling wheel includes notches in the peripheral edge thereof positioned and adapted to receive the trailing roller of the second pair thereof and guide same around the corner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The endless loop tray conveyor as set forth in claim 19 in which: a proximity switch is connected to the carriage drive means located in the path of the trays approaching the load-discharging stations, said proximity switch being operative to permit energization of the latter only when the tray is in position for the pusher to move freely therethrough.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
180 words
The method of loading the empty trays of a single continuously moving endless loop tray conveyor with goods from two or more loading stations and storing some of the goods on the conveyor while selectively unloading the remainder of the loaded trays at one or more unloading stations which comprises the steps of: providing at least two loading stations with a supply of goods to be loaded; determining the load-receiving capabilities of each tray prior to its arrival at the loading stations and remembering said capability; loading some of the empty trays with goods from one loading station and other empty trays with goods from another; independently tracking the goods from each of the separate loading stations; choosing a loading station to receive the goods selecting a loading station to supply goods to the latter; determining the capability of the chosen unloading station to receive goods; unloading goods from the selected loading station through the chosen unloading station predetermined ready to receive same; and, recirculating goods loaded at other loading stations pending selection of an unloading station to receive same.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
180 words
The method of loading the empty trays of a single continuously moving endless loop tray conveyor with goods from two or more loading stations and storing some of the goods on the conveyor while selectively unloading the remainder of the loaded trays at one or more unloading stations which comprises the steps of: providing at least two loading stations with a supply of goods to be loaded; determining the load-receiving capabilities of each tray prior to its arrival at the loading stations and remembering said capability; loading some of the empty trays with goods from one loading station and other empty trays with goods from another; independently tracking the goods from each of the separate loading stations; choosing a loading station to receive the goods selecting a loading station to supply goods to the latter; determining the capability of the chosen unloading station to receive goods; unloading goods from the selected loading station through the chosen unloading station predetermined ready to receive same; and, recirculating goods loaded at other loading stations pending selection of an unloading station to receive same.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 including the steps of: redetermining the position of each tray preparatory to loading same and loading in accordance with such redetermined location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 including the steps of: redetermining the position of each tray preparatory to unloading same and unloading same and unloading in accordance with such redetermined location.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 which includes the steps of: alternately supplying successive empty trays with goods from different loading stations.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as set forth in claim 24 which includes the steps of: predetermining the quantity of goods to be placed in each tray at a given loading station and selecting an unloading station predicated upon the quantity of goods within a given tray to be emptied therethrough.
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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |