Eccentric wheel accumulators

Claim 2

A cam roller means for supporting a propelling member in both a raised and lowered position comprising first and second eccentric rollers mounted coaxially, and rotatable relative to each other between a lowered position wherein the portions of least radius of said rollers are in phase with each other and supporting said propelling member in its lowered position and a raised position wherein the portions of least radius of said rollers are out of phase with each other forming a circular roller means supporting said propelling member in its raised position.

Claim 3

The roller means according to claim 1 wherein said rollers are stationary in said lowered position and rotating jointly in said raised position.

Claim 4

The roller means according to claim 1 wherein said roller means further includes a stop actuated by a keeper movable into and out of engagement with said stop to select the positioning of said rollers in one of said raised or lowered positions.

Claim 5

The roller means according to claim 3 wherein said propelling member is a continuously driven belt engaged with at least one of said rollers urging said rollers to move between said raised and lowered positions.

Claim 6

The roller means according to claim 4 wherein said first roller has an annular slot, said belt has a depending ridge movable in said slot for guiding said belt over said first roller.

Claim 7

The roller means according to claim 5 wherein said annular slot has a depth greater than said ridge, said stop being a pin extending laterally through said first roller in said greater depth portion, the opposite ends of said pin extending beyond said first roller for interference with said second roller, said second roller including a circumferential opening extending less than 360*, said pin extending through said opening and engageable with each end of said opening to selectively lock said rollers into one of said raised or lowered positions.

Claim 8

The roller means according to claim 6 wherein said keeper has a finger moveable radially relative to said first roller, said finger being movable into said slot for interference with said pin to stop in sequence said first and second rollers.

Claim 9

The roller means according to claim 6 wherein said opening extends approximately 180* so that said second roller in said raised position is approximately diametrically out of phase with said first roller.

Claim 10

The roller means according to claim 3 wherein a plurality of roller means are positioned beneath said propelling means, said propelling means causing article movement along a conveyor, said keeper being movable into stopping interference with a discrete number of adjacent roller means to cause article accumulation at selected locations along said conveyor.

Claim 11

The roller means according to claim 9 wherein said keeper is actuated by a sensor responsive to article movement along said conveyor.

Claim 12

The roller means according to claim 1 wherein said portions of least radius are substantially similar and extend less than 180* circumferentially.

Claim 13

The roller means according to claim 11 wherein the radius of the portion of least radius of said first roller is greater than that of said second roller whereby said second roller is disengaged from said propelling member when in said lowered position.

Claim 14

The roller means according to claim 1 wherein said second roller is counter weighted toward said lower position and said first roller is counter weighted toward said lift position.

Claim 15

An eccentric split-cam roller means for supporting a propelling member in both raised and lowered positions comprising: a pair of coaxially adjacent rollers eccentric in cross section and rotatable relative each other into a first position wherein the portions of least radius are in phase with each other and a second position wherein the portions of least radius are out of phase with each other; and a stop on said cam means for selective engagement with a keeper movable into and out of engagement with said stop, said stop when engaged with said keeper preventing further rotation of said rollers causing said rollers to dwell in said first position with said portions of least radius engaging said propelling member thereby lowering said propelling member, said stop when not engaged with said keeper allowing said rollers to be rotated by said propelling member relative to each other into said second position, whereupon said rollers rotate jointly together forming a circular roller means lifting said propeller member.

Claim 16

An eccentric split-cam roller means for supporting a propelling member in both raised and lowered positions comprising: a pair of coaxially adjacent rollers eccentric in cross section and rotatable relative each other into a first position wherein the portions of least radius are in phase with each other and a second position wherein the portions of least radius are out of phase with each other; and a stop on said cam means for selective engagement with a keeper movable into and out of engagement with said stop, said stop when engaged with said keeper preventing further rotation of said rollers causing said rollers to dwell in said first position with said portions of least radius engaging said propelling member thereby lowering said propelling member, said stop when not engaged with said keeper allowing said rollers to be rotated by said propelling member relative to each other into said second position, whereupon said rollers rotate jointly together forming a circular roller means lifting said propeller member.

Claim 17

The roller means according to claim 14 wherein one of said rollers includes a stop pin positioned laterally and extending beyond said one roller, the other of said rollers including a circumferential slot through which said pin extends, the length of said circumferential slot being less than 360* whereby said pin engages one or the other ends of said circumferential slot to lock said rollers into one of said two positions.

Claim 18

The roller means according to claim 15 wherein said circumferential slot extends approximately 180* so that said rollers in said second position are approximately diametrically out of phase with each other.

Claim 19

The roller means according to claim 15 wherein the radial magnitude of the eccentric portion of said one roller is greater than the radial magnitude of the eccentric portion of the other of said rollers so that said propelling member is disengaged from the other of said rollers when said roller means is in said first position.

Claim 20

The roller means according to claim 14 wherein said portions of least radius extend less than oNe-half the circumference.

Claim 21

The roller means according to claim 14 wherein one of said rollers include a bias weight which urges said one roller toward said first position and the other of said rollers includes a bias weight which urges said one roller toward said second position when said roller means are free of influence from said propelling member.

Claim 22

The roller means according to claim 14 wherein a plurality of roller means are positioned beneath said propelling means, said propelling means causing article movement along a conveyor, said keeper being movable into stopping interference with a discrete number of adjacent roller means to cause article accumulation at selected locations along said conveyor.

Claim 23

The roller means according to claim 20 wherein said keeper is actuated by a sensor to article movement along said conveyor.

Claim 24

Means for supporting and controlling the position of a conveyor propelling member, said means having a first eccentric roller provided with a flattened portion of least radius, said means characterized by a second eccentric roller provided with a flattened portion of least radius, an element coaxially mounting said first and second rollers for rotation independently of each other, said rollers, with their flattened portions are in phase forming an eccentric support for said propelling member holding it constantly in one position and when said portions are out of phase forming circular support for said propelling member holding it constantly in a second position spaced from said first position.

Claim 25

Means for supporting and controlling the position of a conveyor propelling member, said means having a first eccentric roller provided with a flattened portion of least radius, said means characterized by a second eccentric roller provided with a flattened portion of least radius, an element coaxially mounting said first and second rollers for rotation independently of each other, said rollers, with their flattened portions are in phase forming an eccentric support for said propelling member holding it constantly in one position and when said portions are out of phase forming circular support for said propelling member holding it constantly in a second position spaced from said first position.

Claim 26

Means as described in claim 22 wherein the radius of said flattened portion of one of said rollers is greater than the radius of the flattened portion of the other of said rollers whereby said propelling member engages only one of said rollers when the flattened portions of said rollers are in phase.

Claim 27

Means as described in claim 23 wherein a stop is provided on one of said rollers and a lost motion catch is provided on the other thereof said catch having a pair of spaced abutments, one abutment engaging said stop when the flattened portions of said rollers are in phase and the other abutment engaging said stop when said flattened portions are out of phase.

Claim 28

Means as described in claim 24 wherein said lost motion catch is an arcuate slot and said abutments are the ends thereof.

Claim 29

The roller means according to claim 1 wherein a third roller is coaxially mounted with said first and second rollers, said third roller corresponding dimensionally to said second roller and rotating jointly therewith, said first roller being positioned intermediate said second and third rollers.