Tray conveyor

Claim 2

A high-speed conveyor system for the conveyance of trays and like objects, comprising in combination: a stationary elongated conveyor frame, including at least one longitudinal frame member on each side thereof; a succession of transverse drive shafts extending across the frame members at regular longitudinal intervals, the shafts beIng rotatably supported between the frame members; at least one extremity of each drive shaft including a shaft extension reaching outside the supporting frame member; a succession of flanged drive wheels mounted on the shaft extensions outside the frame members in such a way that a row of drive wheels is provided on each side of the conveyor with their flanges facing away from each other, the flanged drive wheels thereby providing successive points of support and frictional drive for a flat-bottomed object such as a tray, as well as lateral guidance therefor; a longitudinal main drive shaft arranged between the frame members underneath the transverse drive shafts; a succession of drive pulleys mounted on the main drive shaft in a first axial alignment with the transverse shafts; and a driven pulley on each transverse drive shaft, with a belt connecting it to the corresponding drive pulley; wherein the transverse drive shafts have a non-circular profile, the flanged drive wheels and the driven pulleys mounted thereon having matching bores for rotational engagement therewith; the driven pulleys are axially movable on their drive shafts; and the driving means further includes a frictional override connection between the main drive shaft and at least some of the flanged drive wheels.

Claim 3

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frictional override connection of the driving means is arranged between the main drive shaft and the drive pulleys mounted thereon.

Claim 4

A high speed conveyor system, comprising in combination: a stationary elongated conveyor frame, including at least one longitudinal frame member on each side thereof; a succession of transverse drive shafts extending across the frame members at regular longitudinal intervals, the shafts being rotatably supported between the frame members; at least one extremity of each drive shaft including a shaft extension reaching outside the supporting frame member; a succession of flanged drive wheels mounted on the shaft extensions outside the frame members in such a way that a row of drive wheels is provided on each side of the conveyor with their flanges facing away from each other, the flanged drive wheels thereby providing successive points of support and frictional drive for a flat-bottomed object such as a tray, as well as lateral guidance therefor; means for simultaneously driving at least a group of transverse drive shafts; wherein the conveyor frame includes straight-line sections, and bend sections, the longitudinal frame members of a bend section being curved to define an inner frame member and an outer frame member; the transverse drive shafts in a bend section are arranged substantially perpendicular to the curved frame members; the flanged drive wheels on the outer drive shaft extensions of the bend sections are positioned a greater distance from the outer frame member than the corresponding wheels of a straight-line frame section; wherein the flanged drive wheels on the inner shaft extensions of a bend section are smaller than the flanged drive wheels on the outer shaft extensions, so as to impart a curvilinear motion to objects supported and driven by these wheels; the transverse drive shafts in a bend section are arranged at an incline so as to maintain the support and drive points of the inner and outer flanged drive wheels in alignment with the support and drive points of the flanged drive wheels of an adjacent straight-line conveyor section; wherein the driving means in a straight-line section includes: a longitudinal main drive shaft for each straight-line conveyor section arranged between the frame members underneath the transverse drive shafts; a succession of drive pulleys mounted on the main drive shaft in alignment with the transverse shafts; and driven pulleys on the transverse drive shafts, with belts connecting them to the drive pulleys; and the driving means in a beNd section including: at least one short main drive shaft coupled to the main drive shaft of the adjoining straight-line section at an angular offset thereto and connected to a limited number of drive shafts in the bend section in the same manner as called for in the straight-line section; several successively coupled and angularly of set main drive shafts being arranged in a bend section which covers an angle that is greater than twice the angular offset between the short main drift shaft and an adjacent longitudinal main drive shaft of a straight-line section.

Claim 5

A high speed conveyor system, comprising in combination: a stationary elongated conveyor frame, including at least one longitudinal frame member on each side thereof; a succession of transverse drive shafts extending across the frame members at regular longitudinal intervals, the shafts being rotatably supported between the frame members; at least one extremity of each drive shaft including a shaft extension reaching outside the supporting frame member; a succession of flanged drive wheels mounted on the shaft extensions outside the frame members in such a way that a row of drive wheels is provided on each side of the conveyor with their flanges facing away from each other, the flanged drive wheels thereby providing successive points of support and frictional drive for a flat-bottomed object such as a tray, as well as lateral guidance therefor; means for simultaneously driving at least a group of transverse drive shafts; wherein the conveyor frame includes straight-line sections, and bend sections, the longitudinal frame members of a bend section being curved to define an inner frame member and an outer frame member; the transverse drive shafts in a bend section are arranged substantially perpendicular to the curved frame members; the flanged drive wheels on the outer drive shaft extensions of the bend sections are positioned a greater distance from the outer frame member than the corresponding wheels of a straight-line frame section; wherein the flanged drive wheels on the inner shaft extensions of a bend section are smaller than the flanged drive wheels on the outer shaft extensions, so as to impart a curvilinear motion to objects supported and driven by these wheels; the transverse drive shafts in a bend section are arranged at an incline so as to maintain the support and drive points of the inner and outer flanged drive wheels in alignment with the support and drive points of the flanged drive wheels of an adjacent straight-line conveyor section; wherein the driving means in a straight-line section includes: a longitudinal main drive shaft for each straight-line conveyor section arranged between the frame members underneath the transverse drive shafts; a succession of drive pulleys mounted on the main drive shaft in alignment with the transverse shafts; and driven pulleys on the transverse drive shafts, with belts connecting them to the drive pulleys; and the driving means in a beNd section including: at least one short main drive shaft coupled to the main drive shaft of the adjoining straight-line section at an angular offset thereto and connected to a limited number of drive shafts in the bend section in the same manner as called for in the straight-line section; several successively coupled and angularly of set main drive shafts being arranged in a bend section which covers an angle that is greater than twice the angular offset between the short main drift shaft and an adjacent longitudinal main drive shaft of a straight-line section.