Conveyor stop

Claim 2

A load spacing mechanism for a load conveyor including an actuating member movable between extended and retracted positions in response to the absence of presence of a load thereon respectively, stop means movable between retracted and extended stop positions, said actuating member and stop means being longitudinally spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the load on the conveyor, elongate linkage means continuously extending between said longitudinally spaced actuating member and stop means, said elongate linkage means being mounted for longitudinal movement toward and away from said spaced actuating member and stop means, and first and second pivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said actuating member and stop means respectively for movement between said positions, wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith: first urging means acting between said elongate linkage means and said stop means urging said stop means to said extended stop position in response to a force exerted on said first urging means by and upon said longitudinal movement of said elongate linkage means in a first direction due to movement of said actuating member to said retracted position, but permitting said stop means to remain in said retracted position in the event that a load is positioned on both said stop means and actuating member, and second urging means urging said linkage means to longitudinally move in a second direction opposite said first direction to move said actuating member to said extended position and said stop means to said retracted position in the absence of a load on said actuating member, but being overcome by said actuating member when a load is positioned on said actuating member.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first and second urging means comprise resilient springs.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said linkage means comprise an elongate rod, said stop means comprise a stop member pivotally movable between said retracted and extended stop positions, link means one end of which is pivotally connected to said stop member and the other end of which is connected to said first urging means, and said first urging means comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod opposite said actuating member, whereby when said actuating member is moved to said retracted position said spring means is compressed to exert a force via said link means which tends to urge said stop member to said extended stop position.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said second urging means also comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod toward said actuating member, whereby said actuating member is urged to said extended position and when in said position said stop member is urged toward its said retracted position.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 1 including in combination therewith a conveyor having supporting portions along which loads travel in a defined path, said actuating member and said stop means extending above said supporting portions and into said defined path of the travelling load when in their said extended positions and being positioned beneath said defined path of the travelling load when in their said retracted positions.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said first urging means is overcome by the weight of the load on said stop means to retain said stop means in said retracted position when a load is positioned on both said actuating member and said stop means.

Claim 8

In the combination of claim 5 wherein said linkage means comprise an elongate rod, said stop means comprise a stop member pivotally movable between said retracted and extended stop positions, link means one end of which is pivotally connected to said stop member and the other end of which is connected to said first urging means, and said first urging means comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod opposite said actuating member, whereby when said actuating member is moved to said retracted position said spring means is compressed to exert a force via said link means which tends to urge said stop member to said extended stop position.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 wherein said second urging means also comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod toward said actuating member, whereby said actuating member is urged to said extended position and when in said position said stop member is urged toward its said retracted position.

Claim 10

A load spacing mechanism for a load conveyor including an actuating member movable between extended and retracted positions in response to the absence or presence of a load thereon respectively, stop means movable between retracted and extended stop positions, said actuating member and stop means being longitudinally spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the load on the conveyor, elongate linkage means extending between said longitudinally spaced actuating member and stop means, said elongate linkage means being mounted for longitudinal movement toward and away from said spaced actuating member and stop means, and first and second pivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said actuating member and stop means respectively for movement between said positions, wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith: first urging means urging said stop means to said extended stop position in response to said longitudinal movement of said elongate linkage means in a first direction due to movement of said actuating member to said retracted position, but permitting said stop means to remain in said retracted position in the event that a load is positioned on both said stop means and actuating member, second urging means urging said linkage means to longitudinally move in a second direction opposite said first direction to move said actuating member to said extended position and said stop means to said retracted position in the absence of a load on said actuating member, but being overcome by said actuating member when a load is positioned on said actuating member, wherein said linkage means comprise an elongate rod, said stop means comprise a stop member pivotally movable between said retracted and extended stop positions, link means one end of which is pivotally connected to said stop member and the other end of which is connected to said first urging means, and said first urging means comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod opposite said actuating member, whereby when said actuating member is moved to said retracted position said spring means is compressed to exert a force via said link means which tends to urge said stop member to said extended stop position.

Claim 11

A load spacing mechanism for a load conveyor including an actuating member movable between extended and retracted positions in response to the absence or presence of a load thereon respectively, stop means movable between retracted and extended stop positions, said actuating member and stop means being longitudinally spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the load on the conveyor, elongate linkage means extending between said longitudinally spaced actuating member and stop means, said elongate linkage means being mounted for longitudinal movement toward and away from said spaced actuating member and stop means, and first and second pivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said actuating member and stop means respectively for movement between said positions, wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith: first urging means urging said stop means to said extended stop position in response to said longitudinal movement of said elongate linkage means in a first direction due to movement of said actuating member to said retracted position, but permitting said stop means to remain in said retracted position in the event that a load is positioned on both said stop means and actuating member, second urging means urging said linkage means to longitudinally move in a second direction opposite said first direction to move said actuating member to said extended position and said stop means to said retracted position in the absence of a load on said actuating member, but being overcome by said actuating member when a load is positioned on said actuating member, wherein said linkage means comprise an elongate rod, said stop means comprise a stop member pivotally movable between said retracted and extended stop positions, link means one end of which is pivotally connected to said stop member and the other end of which is connected to said first urging means, and said first urging means comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod opposite said actuating member, whereby when said actuating member is moved to said retracted position said spring means is compressed to exert a force via said link means which tends to urge said stop member to said extended stop position.

Claim 12

The mechanism of claim 9 wherein said second urging means also comprise spring means extending between said link means and a location on said rod toward said actuating member, whereby said actuating member is urged to said extended position and when in said position, said stop member is urged toward its said retracted position.

Claim 13

The mechanism of claim 9 including in combination therewith a conveyor having supporting portions along which loads travel in a defined path, said actuating member and said stop means extending above said supporting portions and into said defined path of the travelling load when in their said extended positions and being positioned beneath said defined path of the travelling load when in their said retracted positions.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein said second urging means also comprise spring means extending between said link means and a locatioN on said rod toward said actuating member, whereby said actuating member is urged to said extended position and when in said position, said stop member is urged toward its said retracted position.