Article conveying apparatus

Claim 2

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, and said first hinge and said second hinge each comprising an elongated tubular member connected to said article engaging member, a mounting rod slidably receivable in said elongated tubular member thereby being mounted on said mounting rod for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of said mounting rod; means to removably mount opposite ends of said mounting rod to different ones of the two parallel continuous chain members, and means to connect one end of said mounting rod to one of the continuous chain members to prevent axial movement of said mounting rod.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, including: at least one support roller disposed between and generally parallel to said pair of said first and second hinges associated with said article engaging members.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein two of said support rollers are disposed in parallel relationship between said first hinge and said second hinge.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to removably mount the opposite ends of said mounting rod to a different one of the parallel continuous chain members comprises: pairs of outwardly projecting parallel flanges connected to opposite longitudinal sides of predetermined links of the two continuous chain members, each pair of flanges connected to the links of one of the continuous chain members being aligned with a different predetermined pair of flanges connected to the links of the other continuous chain member; each of said flanges of each pair of flanges have a hole therethrough, said holes in a pair of flanges being coaxial with each other and coaxial with said holes in said flanges of the predetermined pair of flanges with which they are aligned; and said mounting rod being axially received through said holes in said aligned pairs of flanges such that said mounting rod is transversely disposed to the continuous chain members.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said means to connected one end of said mounting rod to one of the continuous chain members to prevent axial movement of said mounting rod comprises: an arm having two ends connected near one end to one end of said mounting rod and extending at a right angle thereto; and a bracket having two ends pivotally mounted at one end to the other end of said arm, the other end of said bracket being receivable between said flanges to lock one of said flanges between said bracket and said arm to selectively prevent axial movement of said mounting rod from said holes in said pairs of flanges.

Claim 7

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, at least one support roller disposed between and generally parallel to said pair of said first and second hinges associated with said article engaging members, said support roller comprising a rod transversely disposed to the two parallel continuous chain members, means to mount opposite ends of said rod to different ones of the two parallel chain members, for an elongated hollow support roller tube mounted for rotational movement on said rod, such that the outer peripheral surface of said hollow support tube is in contact with the surface of said resilient article carrying member which is adjacent the continuous chain members.

Claim 8

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, at least one support roller disposed between and generally parallel to said pair of said first and second hinges associated with said article engaging members, said support roller comprising a rod transversely disposed to the two parallel continuous chain members, means to mount opposite ends of said rod to different ones of the two parallel chain members, for an elongated hollow support roller tube mounted for rotational movement on said rod, such that the outer peripheral surface of said hollow support tube is in contact with the surface of said resilient article carrying member which is adjacent the continuous chain members.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said means to mount opposite ends of said rod to different ones of the two parallel chain members comprises: pairs of outwardly projecting parallel flanges connected to opposite longitudinal sides of predetermined links of the two continuous chain members, each pair of flanges connected to the links of one of the continuous chain members is aligned with a predetermined pair of flanges connected to the links of the other continuous chain member; each of said flanges of each pair of flanges have a hole therethrough, said holes in a pair of flanges being coaxial with each other and coaxial with said holes in said flanges of the predetermined pair of flanges with which they are aligned; and said rod being axially received through said holes in said aligned pairs of flanges such that said rod is transversely disposed to the continuous chain members.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said rod comprises: an enlarged heat at one end of said rod to prevent said rod from axially passing entirely through said holes in said flanges; means defining a hole at the other end of said rod generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rod; and a cotter key receivable in said transversely disposed hole at the other end of said rod, said enlarged head and said cotter key coacting to retain said rod in said holes in said flanges.

Claim 11

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, and at least Two support rollers disposed between and generally parallel to said hinges.

Claim 12

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, and at least Two support rollers disposed between and generally parallel to said hinges.

Claim 13

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, each of said resilient flexible article carrying members comprising an inner core of a resilient flexible material, an outer cover of flexible material to encase said inner core and having an opening in one surface through which said inner core is inserted into and removed from said outer covering and closing means to close said opening in said outer cover, said inner core being fabricated of a low density polyurethane foam, said outer core being fabricated of a flexible nylon reinforced neoprene, and said closing means being a zipper attached to the outer cover.

Claim 14

In combination with an endless conveying apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of resilient flexible article engaging members engage an article to be conveyed, and wherein the resilient flexible article engaging members are connected to two parallel spaced continuous chain members disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and trained about head chain sprockets and tail chains sprockets, the improvement which comprises: a pair of hinges comprising a first hinge and a second hinge connecting each article engaging member to the continuous chain members; said first hinge connecting a leading edge of said article engaging member to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said first hinge being generally transverse to the direction of movement of said continuous chain members, said second hinge connecting a trailing edge of said article engaging members to each of the continuous chain members, the pivotal axis of said second hinge being generally transverse to the continuous chain members, each of said resilient flexible article carrying members comprising an inner core of a resilient flexible material, an outer cover of flexible material to encase said inner core and having an opening in one surface through which said inner core is inserted into and removed from said outer covering and closing means to close said opening in said outer cover, said inner core being fabricated of a low density polyurethane foam, said outer core being fabricated of a flexible nylon reinforced neoprene, and said closing means being a zipper attached to the outer cover.