US3897875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorting conveyors
Assignee: British Railways Board
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Filing: 1974-05-20
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1994-05-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a circular sorting conveyor of the kind which includes at least one circular carousel comprising a number of radially extending, tiltable, segmentally shaped panels or slats which are moved unidirectionally about a circular path. Means are provided for tilting a selected panel or a number of adjacent panels so that an article resting on any panel or panels tilted, can slide on to a discharge chute or apron arranged internally of the circular path of movement of the panels. Each individual panel or slat is mounted upon a pivot having an axis which is downwardly inclined in the unidirectional circular movement of the panels or slats, with the object of obviating any tapered configuration arising in the gap between adjacent panels, where the adjacent panels are in a substantially horizontal disposition or are in a tilted disposition.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Hawthorn Luckett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/94; B65G47/96; B65G47/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A circular sorting conveyor of the kind which includes at least one circular carousel comprising a number of radially extending, tiltable, segmental panels or slats, which are arranged for movement unidirectionally about a circular path, there being means for tilting at least one selected panel, so that an article resting thereon can slide on to a discharge chute or apron arranged internally of the circular path of movement of the panels, characterized in that each individual segmental panel or slat is mounted upon a pivot about which it is tiltable inwardly of the circular path of movement of the panels, from a substantially horizontal disposition, the axis of such pivot being downwardly inclined in the direction of the unidirectional circular movement of the panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A circular sorting conveyor of the kind which includes at least one circular carousel comprising a number of radially extending, tiltable, segmental panels or slats, which are arranged for movement unidirectionally about a circular path, there being means for tilting at least one selected panel, so that an article resting thereon can slide on to a discharge chute or apron arranged internally of the circular path of movement of the panels, characterized in that each individual segmental panel or slat is mounted upon a pivot about which it is tiltable inwardly of the circular path of movement of the panels, from a substantially horizontal disposition, the axis of such pivot being downwardly inclined in the direction of the unidirectional circular movement of the panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A circular sorting conveyor according to claim 1 characterised in that a plurality of such panels are mounted in common upon a wheeled carriage and a number of such carriages arE constrained to follow a circular path on guide tracks, the carriages being so linked together that all the panels of the circular sorting conveyor are substantially evenly spaced from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A conveyor according to claim 2, characterised in that each panel is pivotally mounted on its carriage so as to be tiltable from a normal disposition radially inwardly of the circular path followed by the linked carriages and switch gear is provided at certain locations about said circular path for effecting such tilting movement while stabilizing tracks are engaged by the panels to hold the latter both in their normal and tilted dispositions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A conveyor according to claim 3 wherein the carriages are linked together by a common chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the common chain is driven to move the carriages along their circular paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein linear motors are employed to drive the carriages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the individual panels are all mounted on a common ring which in turn is revolved to effect circular movement of the panels, each panel being pivotally mounted on the ring so as to be tiltable radially inwardly of the ring about an axis which lies at right angles to the radius of the ring but which is downwardly inclined towards the direction of rotation of the ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 including feed means arranged adjacent the circular array of segmental panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the feed means is arranged internally of the circular array of segmental panels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the feed means is arranged externally of the circular array of segmental panels.
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) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |