Patent US3893564A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3893564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Article carrier and drive means therefor
Assignee: FKI Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract The pallets of an endless conveyor are interconnected by links which include rollers operating between spaced guides. The conveyor is driven by drive blocks carried by and between parallel endless drive chains to engage each link above the rollers. The roller guides are continuous excepting only where the upward and downward path of the drive blocks intersects the horizontal path of the rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren S Raynor
- 👤 Jacob Hermans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/065; B65G17/066; B65G23/00; B65G23/02; B65G23/14; B65G23/16; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A horizontal conveyor comprising an endless series of rollersupported pallets having interconnecting links and a drive system therefor, each link comprising a plate attached to the underside of a pallet, a rod and first and second members which are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation on a vertical axis, the first member being attached to the plate extending downwardly therefrom and the second member being joined to one end of said rod, the other end of said rod being attached to the underside of said plate whereby said links and pallets are interconnected to form a closed loop, said drive system comprising a driven member attached to the underside of each plate and disposed intermediate said links, a series of drive members adapted to engage successive driven members, a pair of drive chains, said series of drive members being disposed between and carried by said chains, and a spaced pair of drive sprockets over which said chains operate; said chains and sprockets being disposed and spaced laterally to allow the driven members and links to pass between said chains and sprockets, the adjacent links and the intermediate driven members being spaced in the loop direction to allow a drive member to engage the driven member in the horizontal plane immediately below said plate whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and pallets in said closed loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A horizontal conveyor comprising an endless series of rollersupported pallets having interconnecting links and a drive system therefor, each link comprising a plate attached to the underside of a pallet, a rod and first and second members which are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation on a vertical axis, the first member being attached to the plate extending downwardly therefrom and the second member being joined to one end of said rod, the other end of said rod being attached to the underside of said plate whereby said links and pallets are interconnected to form a closed loop, said drive system comprising a driven member attached to the underside of each plate and disposed intermediate said links, a series of drive members adapted to engage successive driven members, a pair of drive chains, said series of drive members being disposed between and carried by said chains, and a spaced pair of drive sprockets over which said chains operate; said chains and sprockets being disposed and spaced laterally to allow the driven members and links to pass between said chains and sprockets, the adjacent links and the intermediate driven members being spaced in the loop direction to allow a drive member to engage the driven member in the horizontal plane immediately below said plate whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and pallets in said closed loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein each first member comprises a pin extending downwardly through and below the second member and which further includes a roller turnable on the lower end of each such pin and parallel guides for the rollers of the conveyor, said guides including separate sections which are spaced to allow the drive members to intersect the path of the rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
A horizontal conveyor comprising an endless series of roller-supported pallets having interconnecting links and a drive system therefor, each link comprising a rod and first and second members which are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation on a vertical axis, a series of drive members adapted to engage successive driven members, a pair of drive chains, said series of drive members being carried by and between said chains, and a spaced pair of drive sprockets over which said chains operate; said chains and sprockets being disposed and spaced laterally to allow the driven members and links to pass between said chain sprockets, the adjacent links and the intermediate driven member being spaced in the loop direction to allow a drive member to engage the driven member in the horizontal plane of the links whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and pallets in a closed loop, a guide roller depending from below each link, a stationary guide track with a pair of spaced apart guide elements guidiNg the roller in a horizontal path, which path is open at the position of the drive chains, and further spaced guide plates between the drive chains for guiding the roller between the drive chains.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A horizontal conveyor comprising an endless series of roller-supported pallets having interconnecting links and a drive system therefor, each link comprising a rod and first and second members which are pivotally interconnected for relative rotation on a vertical axis, a series of drive members adapted to engage successive driven members, a pair of drive chains, said series of drive members being carried by and between said chains, and a spaced pair of drive sprockets over which said chains operate; said chains and sprockets being disposed and spaced laterally to allow the driven members and links to pass between said chain sprockets, the adjacent links and the intermediate driven member being spaced in the loop direction to allow a drive member to engage the driven member in the horizontal plane of the links whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and pallets in a closed loop, a guide roller depending from below each link, a stationary guide track with a pair of spaced apart guide elements guidiNg the roller in a horizontal path, which path is open at the position of the drive chains, and further spaced guide plates between the drive chains for guiding the roller between the drive chains.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
In combination with a conveyor comprising a series of pallets disposed in a closed horizontal loop and guide means therefor, each pallet having a downwardly extending pin, a downwardly extending driven member and a rod having one end secured to the underside of said pallet and extending horizontally beneath the next adjacent pallet of the closed loop, the other end of said rod being pivotally turnable on said pin, the pin extending downward and having a roller cooperating with said guide means for guiding the pallets; drive means including horizontally spaced pairs of sprockets, a spaced pair of drive chains operating over said sprockets and having a series of drive members carried thereby and therebetween, said drive chains and members being disposed and spaced so that the rods and driven members pass between the upper runs of the chains as the drive members successively engage driven members to propel the conveyor, a frame supporting said pallets, a base supporting said drive means, said guide means comprising spaced parallel guides defining therebetween the closed loop of the conveyor, said guides including a section supported by said frame and a straight section supported by said base, the corresponding adjoining ends of said sections being only spaced to allow the drive members to intersect the path of the rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
In combination with a conveyor comprising a series of pallets disposed in a closed horizontal loop and guide means therefor, each pallet having a downwardly extending pin, a downwardly extending driven member and a rod having one end secured to the underside of said pallet and extending horizontally beneath the next adjacent pallet of the closed loop, the other end of said rod being pivotally turnable on said pin, the pin extending downward and having a roller cooperating with said guide means for guiding the pallets; drive means including horizontally spaced pairs of sprockets, a spaced pair of drive chains operating over said sprockets and having a series of drive members carried thereby and therebetween, said drive chains and members being disposed and spaced so that the rods and driven members pass between the upper runs of the chains as the drive members successively engage driven members to propel the conveyor, a frame supporting said pallets, a base supporting said drive means, said guide means comprising spaced parallel guides defining therebetween the closed loop of the conveyor, said guides including a section supported by said frame and a straight section supported by said base, the corresponding adjoining ends of said sections being only spaced to allow the drive members to intersect the path of the rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The conveyor drive as in claim 4 further comprising horizontal supports positioned under an upper run of each drive chain for the chains to slide thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
A conveyor comprising a series of roller supported pallets having interconnecting links and operating in a closed horizontal loop and a drive system therefor comprising a series of spaced drive members carried by and between drive chains operating in closed parallel vertical loops, each link including a plate portion secured to the underside of the pallet, a first aperture in the plate portion, a pin receiving portion rigid with the plate portion and having a second pin receiving aperture aligned with the first aperture, a rod portion having one end rigid with the plate portion, a bearing carried by the other end of the rod portion, a pin received in the apertures and extending through the bearing for connecting the links together, the pin extending downward between the drive chains and cooperating with guide means for guiding the pallets, said drive chains being spaced to allow the rod portions and pin receiving portions to pass between the upper runs of the chains, the underside of each link being shaped to allow one of the drive members to engage and drive the same, each plate portion being fixed to the underside of a pallet whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and the pallets in a closed loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
209 words
A conveyor comprising a series of roller supported pallets having interconnecting links and operating in a closed horizontal loop and a drive system therefor comprising a series of spaced drive members carried by and between drive chains operating in closed parallel vertical loops, each link including a plate portion secured to the underside of the pallet, a first aperture in the plate portion, a pin receiving portion rigid with the plate portion and having a second pin receiving aperture aligned with the first aperture, a rod portion having one end rigid with the plate portion, a bearing carried by the other end of the rod portion, a pin received in the apertures and extending through the bearing for connecting the links together, the pin extending downward between the drive chains and cooperating with guide means for guiding the pallets, said drive chains being spaced to allow the rod portions and pin receiving portions to pass between the upper runs of the chains, the underside of each link being shaped to allow one of the drive members to engage and drive the same, each plate portion being fixed to the underside of a pallet whereby the movement of the chains drives the links and the pallets in a closed loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
An endless horizontally disposed conveyor comprising a series of pallets supported by rollers and guided in a closed horizontal loop, the pallets being pivotably interconnected on vertical axes, each pallet having a downwardly extending driven member, a spaced pair of drive chains trained over sprockets having horizontal axes, a plurality of drive members carried by and between the chains, the drive members shaped for successive driving cooperation with the driven member extending downwardly from each pallet, the chains being disposed so that the downwardly extending member from each pallet successively extends downwardly into the space between the chains during driving movement of the chains, each pallet including a depending guide roller on a vertical axis, a stationary guide track for guiding the roller and the pallets in the closed horizontal loop except in the area of the drive chains, and further spaced guide plates between the drive chains to provide uninterrupted guidance of the rollers throughout the closed horizontal loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An endless horizontally disposed conveyor comprising a series of pallets supported by rollers and guided in a closed horizontal loop, the pallets being pivotably interconnected on vertical axes, each pallet having a downwardly extending driven member, a spaced pair of drive chains trained over sprockets having horizontal axes, a plurality of drive members carried by and between the chains, the drive members shaped for successive driving cooperation with the driven member extending downwardly from each pallet, the chains being disposed so that the downwardly extending member from each pallet successively extends downwardly into the space between the chains during driving movement of the chains, each pallet including a depending guide roller on a vertical axis, a stationary guide track for guiding the roller and the pallets in the closed horizontal loop except in the area of the drive chains, and further spaced guide plates between the drive chains to provide uninterrupted guidance of the rollers throughout the closed horizontal loop.
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) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |