Stow roller train

Claim 2

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feller means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means comprises individual links connecting adjacent intermediate rollers of said groups of rollers.

Claim 3

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected bEtween said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, said mounting means for said intermediate rollers includes axle means for permitting individual radial movement of said intermediate rollers, one end of said axle means being secured to said frame and pivotable with respect thereto, and the other end of said axle means being disposed in a respective aperture to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 4

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected bEtween said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, said mounting means for said intermediate rollers includes axle means for permitting individual radial movement of said intermediate rollers, one end of said axle means being secured to said frame and pivotable with respect thereto, and the other end of said axle means being disposed in a respective aperture to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 5

A stow roller train for the storage and transportion of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: a frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is in the form of articulated members connected to said intermediate rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being movable with respect to said adjusting means between said driving means and said load carrying rollers.

Claim 6

A stow roller train for the storage and transportion of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: a frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is in the form of articulated members connected to said intermediate rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being movable with respect to said adjusting means between said driving means and said load carrying rollers.

Claim 7

A stow roller train as defined in claim 2 including spring means connected to said mounting means for said intermediate rollers for biasing said intermediate rollers into the driving position.

Claim 8

A stow roller train as defined in claim 2 wherein said driving means is a constantly rotating V-belt and a plurality of spaced supporting rollers carries said belt, at least one of said intermediate rollers being arranged between adjacent ones of said supporting rollers.

Claim 9

A stow roller train as defined in claim 5, wherein two intermediate rollers are arranged between said adjacent supporting rollers.

Claim 10

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movemenT of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, said mounting means includes a plurality of axles, each of said axles carrying one of said intermediate rollers, said frame means being provided with a plurality of bearings, one end of each of said axles being disposed in a respective one of said bearings such that said axles are radially pivotable about said bearings and the other end of said axles being disposed in one of said apertures to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 11

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movemenT of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, said mounting means includes a plurality of axles, each of said axles carrying one of said intermediate rollers, said frame means being provided with a plurality of bearings, one end of each of said axles being disposed in a respective one of said bearings such that said axles are radially pivotable about said bearings and the other end of said axles being disposed in one of said apertures to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 12

A stow roller train as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said intermediate rollers is positioned proximate to the end of the axle opposite said bearings to permit maximum radial movement thereof.

Claim 13

A stow roller train as defined in claim 2, wherein said intermediate rollers are in constant engagement with said driving means and movement of said intermediate rollers between the driving position and the idling position is effected by movement of said rollers along said driving means.

Claim 14

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures having a part of said mounting means for said intermediate rollers arranged therein to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers in at least two directions with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 15

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers in radial directions in response to said feeler means, said adjusting means is provided with a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures having a part of said mounting means for said intermediate rollers arranged therein to permit limited movement of said intermediate rollers in at least two directions with respect to said adjusting means.

Claim 16

A stow roller train as defined in claim 10, wherein said apertures are in the form of slots and serve as bearings for said intermediate rollers.

Claim 17

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers iN radial directions in response to said feeler means, said mounting means for said intermediate rollers includes a pair of lever members having an articulated connection at one end thereof, the other end of one of said members being connected to said intermediate roller and the other end of said other member being connected to said frame means.

Claim 18

A stow roller train for the storage and transportation of articles without jamming of such articles, comprising: frame means, load carrying rollers for conveying the articles rotatably mounted in said frame means, driving means for rotating said load carrying rollers, intermediate rollers for selectively drivingly connecting said driving means to said load carrying rollers, each of said intermediate rollers being associated with a respective one of said load carrying rollers, said load carrying rollers and said intermediate rollers being combined to form groups of rollers, means for mounting each of said intermediate rollers for individual movement between a driving position and an idling position, feeler means associated with each of said groups of rollers and responsive to the conveyed articles for controlling the positioning of said intermediate rollers of each of said groups of rollers, and adjusting means connected between said feeler means and said intermediate rollers of each of said groups for adjusting the position of said intermediate rollers between said driving position and said idling position and for permitting limited movement of said intermediate rollers iN radial directions in response to said feeler means, said mounting means for said intermediate rollers includes a pair of lever members having an articulated connection at one end thereof, the other end of one of said members being connected to said intermediate roller and the other end of said other member being connected to said frame means.

Claim 19

A stow roller train as defined in claim 12, wherein said articulated connection is provided by a pin mounted on one of said lever members and disposed in a slotted guide arranged within the other lever member, said adjusting means being connected to the lever member connected to said frame means.