US3882793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tow conveyor
Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-07-10
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A tow conveyor includes at least one carrier. Connected to the front and rear of the carrier are rod members extending forwardly downward and rearwardly downward respectively and pivotally movable in horizontal and vertical directions. Running assemblies free to move on guide rails are connected to the lower ends of the rod members respectively so as to be pivotally movable in horizontal and vertical directions. The front running assembly has an engaging dog projecting downward and the rear running assembly has a horizontal tilting plate. A trolley driven on endless rails has pivoted thereto a pusher engageable with the engaging dog and tilting dogs to be pivotally forced down by the tilting plate on the rear running assembly of a preceding carrier to thereby tilt the pusher through a link when the carrier approaches the preceding carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Takao Wakabayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:28
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B10/00; B61B10/04; B61B9/00; B61J; B61J3/00; B61J3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails, a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in from of a pusher and projection upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, and, wherein the pusher tilting dog and the pusher are tiltably supported by pivots on the trolley and normally remain upright by virtue of the weight of their portions below the pivots, the trolley including a link having a front end pivoted to the pusher tilting dog at a position above its pivot and a rear end pivoted to the pusher at a position below its pivot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails, a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in from of a pusher and projection upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, and, wherein the pusher tilting dog and the pusher are tiltably supported by pivots on the trolley and normally remain upright by virtue of the weight of their portions below the pivots, the trolley including a link having a front end pivoted to the pusher tilting dog at a position above its pivot and a rear end pivoted to the pusher at a position below its pivot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
268 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical direction and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rolls, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in fron of a pusher and projecting upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, wherein the trolley has two parallel pusher tilting dogs spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of an engaging dog disposed at the lower end of the engaging means and smaller than the width of a tilting plate disposed at the lower end of the disengaging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
268 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical direction and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rolls, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in fron of a pusher and projecting upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, wherein the trolley has two parallel pusher tilting dogs spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of an engaging dog disposed at the lower end of the engaging means and smaller than the width of a tilting plate disposed at the lower end of the disengaging means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tow conveyor as set forth in claim 2 wherein a reverse travel preventing dog is interposed between the two pusher tilting dogs and is tiltably supported by a pivot and normally remains upright by virtue of weight of its portion below the pivot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
242 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails, a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in front of a pusher and projecting upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, and which includes a fixing means for holding the engaging means and the disengaging means to the under face of the carrier, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
242 words
A tow conveyor comprising the combination of at least one carrier, first rails disposed close to the floor, second rails disposed on the first rails in parallel thereto, an engaging means connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, at least one trolley including rollers in rolling contact with the first rails, a drive means connected to the trolley to move the trolley along the first rails, and a pusher mounted on the trolley for engagement with the engaging means and projecting upward from the first rails to connect the carrier to the trolley and to thereby move the carrier along with the trolley, wherein the engaging means is positioned in front of the carrier and a disengaging means is provided in the rear of the carrier, the disengaging means being connected to the carrier pivotally movable in the horizontal and vertical directions and having rollers in rolling contact with the second rails, the trolley further including a pusher tilting dog mounted thereon in front of a pusher and projecting upward from the first rails to disengage the pusher from the engaging means by being pivotally forced down by the disengaging means of a preceding carrier and to thereby separate the carrier from the trolley, and which includes a fixing means for holding the engaging means and the disengaging means to the under face of the carrier, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The tow conveyor as set forth in claim 4 wherein the fixing means comprises a support member for supporting a rod member connecting a running assembly to the carrier pivotally movably in vertical directions and a holder secured to the under face of the carrier to hold the support member slidably.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The tow conveyor as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a loop of endless conveyor line including the first rails and the second rails, a straight conveyor line branching off the endless conveyor line and including the second rails, and a lift table supporting a rail segment and an engaging member for operating the support member, the rail segment forming part of the second rails in the straight conveyor line and having a length corresponding at least to the length of the running 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) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |