Transfer conveyor including supports movable to a bridging position

Claim 2

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising an endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 3

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, wherein said endless belt is at least one articulated roller chain.

Claim 4

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, wherein said supports are mounted for free rotational movement with respect to said belt.

Claim 5

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means for maintaining said supports in the conveying position thereof during movement of said supports along the conveying reach.

Claim 6

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, and further including a pair of spaced apart rails extending from the infeed end to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor and positioned to maintain said supports in the conveying position thereof during movement along the conveying reach.

Claim 7

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, and further including control means positioned at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor for maintaining said supports in the bridging position thereof during transfer from the return reach to the conveying reach.

Claim 8

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 1, and further including an arcuate plate extending from the return reach to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and positioned to control the position of said supports and maintain said supports in the bridging position thereof during movement along the return reach to the conveying reach.

Claim 9

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a pair of spaced apart endless belts movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belts and movable from a conveying position to a sTorage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, each of said supports being formed of a rod shaped to provide a central support surface with two outwardly extending ends adapted to be freely mounted on said endless belts for free swinging movement about an axis formed by said ends, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belts and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belts from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belts are driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 10

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a pair of spaced apart endless belts movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belts and movable from a conveying position to a sTorage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, each of said supports being formed of a rod shaped to provide a central support surface with two outwardly extending ends adapted to be freely mounted on said endless belts for free swinging movement about an axis formed by said ends, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belts and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belts from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belts are driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 11

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 8, wherein said endless belts are spaced apart articulated roller chains having said supports mounted therein for free rotational movement with respect thereto.

Claim 12

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a pair of spaced apart endless belts movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belts and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, each of said supports being formed of a rod shaped to provide an extended support surface with two inwardly extending ends adapted to be freely mounted on said endless belts for free swinging movement about an axis formed by said ends, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belts and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belts from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belts are driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 13

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a pair of spaced apart endless belts movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belts and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, each of said supports being formed of a rod shaped to provide an extended support surface with two inwardly extending ends adapted to be freely mounted on said endless belts for free swinging movement about an axis formed by said ends, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belts and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belts from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belts are driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 14

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 10, wherein said endless belts are spaced apart articulated roller chains having said supports mounted therein for free rotational movement with respect thereto.

Claim 15

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 10, wherein said extended support surface of each support has a longer longitudinal extent than the distance between said spaced apart belts.

Claim 16

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a first endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infEed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said first endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said first endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, means including a second endless belt positioned to contact said supports in the storage position thereof for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position, motor means for moving said second endless belt at a speed greater than the speed of said first endless belt thereby causing said supports contacted by said second endless belt to extend toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor, and means for moving said supports when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said first endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 17

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a first endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infEed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said first endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said first endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, means including a second endless belt positioned to contact said supports in the storage position thereof for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position, motor means for moving said second endless belt at a speed greater than the speed of said first endless belt thereby causing said supports contacted by said second endless belt to extend toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor, and means for moving said supports when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said first endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 18

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 13, and further comprising means positioned along the return reach to maintain said supports in the bridging position thereof after contact by said second endless belt.

Claim 19

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising an endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, means including a guide positioned to trap said supports therein for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position such that said supports extend toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor, and means for moving said supports when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 20

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising an endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, said supports in the bridging position thereof extending toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor with said supports at the infeed end of said transfer conveyor overlying the outfeed end of the associated conveyor and bridging the gap between the associated conveyor and said transfer conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, means including a guide positioned to trap said supports therein for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position such that said supports extend toward the outfeed end of the associated conveyor, and means for moving said supports when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor.

Claim 21

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 15, wherein said trap guide maintains said supports in the bridging position thereof during movement of said supports along the return reach.

Claim 22

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated delivery conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and for transferring the articles to the inFeed end of an associated removal conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising an endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, means for controlling the position of said supports during transfer thereof from the conveying reach to the return reach to prevent interference by said supports with the infeed end of the associated removal conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor and to the infeed end of the associated removal conveyor.

Claim 23

A transfer conveyor for smoothly receiving articles from the outfeed end of an associated delivery conveyor disposed adjacent to the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and for transferring the articles to the inFeed end of an associated removal conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising an endless belt movable along a conveying reach from the infeed end of said transfer conveyor to the outfeed end thereof and along a return reach from the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor to the infeed end thereof, a plurality of supports mounted on said endless belt and movable from a conveying position to a storage position and then to a bridging position and back to the conveying position, means for controlling the position of said supports during transfer thereof from the conveying reach to the return reach to prevent interference by said supports with the infeed end of the associated removal conveyor, motor means for moving said endless belt and said supports mounted thereon in a closed path along said conveying reach and said return reach between the infeed end of said transfer conveyor and the outfeed end thereof, and means for moving said supports when on the return reach of said endless belt from the storage position to the bridging position and when on the conveying reach to the conveying position as said endless belt is driven by said motor means, whereby articles conveyed from the outfeed end of the associated conveyor are received on said supports in the bridging positions thereof and are conveyed along the conveying reach to the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor and to the infeed end of the associated removal conveyor.

Claim 24

The transfer conveyor set forth in claim 17, wherein said control means is an arcuate plate positioned at the outfeed end of said transfer conveyor constructed and arranged to retain said supports close to the outfeed end of said conveyor to prevent interference by said supports with the associated removal conveyor.