US3915290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooperating conveyor chains
Assignee: KIMWOOD CORP
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An article conveyor for carrying articles along a path with the center line of each article maintained substantially on a preselected datum plane extending in the direction of the path. A pair of endless, elongated, opposed, power-driven conveyor chains are positioned with their article-engaging reaches extending along opposite sides of the path. These reaches of chain are yieldably biased toward the datum plane with substantially equal force so that an article carried therebetween will urge the opposed reaches of chain substantially equal distances from opposite sides of the datum plane. An article conveyed along the path by powered movement of the chains thus is supported with its center line substantially at the datum plane, regardless of the thickness of the article.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren H Zuercher
- 👤 Frank David Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G37/00; B65G37/005; B24; B24B; B24B21/00; B24B21/04; B27; B27B; B27B25/00; B27B25/04; B65G2207/00; B65G2207/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for conveying charges of lumber, including charges having different thickness pieces arranged side-by-side, along a path with the center lines of the pieces substantially on a prEselected datum plane extending in the direction of said path, comprising a first bank of endless, elongated conveyor chains disposed side-by-side, each chain having an article-engaging reach extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path, free to shift toward and away from said path independently of the other chains in said first bank, a second bank of endless, elongated conveyor chains disposed side-by-side, each chain having an article-engaging reach extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path, free to shift toward and away from said path independently of the other chains in said second bank, each of said reaches in said second bank being disposed directly opposite a corresponding reach in said first bank, drive means operatively connected to said banks of chains for driving the article-engaging reaches of the chains at substantially the same speed in the direction of said path, support means supporting each of said reaches independently of the other reaches in its associated bank of chains for independent movement toward and away from said datum plane to accommodate articles of different thickness between oppositely disposed reaches, and biasing means yieldably biasing the oppositely disposed reaches toward each other with substantially equal force to engage opposite sides of articles disposed therebetween and providing substantially equal spacing of said oppositely disposed reaches from said datum plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for conveying charges of lumber, including charges having different thickness pieces arranged side-by-side, along a path with the center lines of the pieces substantially on a prEselected datum plane extending in the direction of said path, comprising a first bank of endless, elongated conveyor chains disposed side-by-side, each chain having an article-engaging reach extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path, free to shift toward and away from said path independently of the other chains in said first bank, a second bank of endless, elongated conveyor chains disposed side-by-side, each chain having an article-engaging reach extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path, free to shift toward and away from said path independently of the other chains in said second bank, each of said reaches in said second bank being disposed directly opposite a corresponding reach in said first bank, drive means operatively connected to said banks of chains for driving the article-engaging reaches of the chains at substantially the same speed in the direction of said path, support means supporting each of said reaches independently of the other reaches in its associated bank of chains for independent movement toward and away from said datum plane to accommodate articles of different thickness between oppositely disposed reaches, and biasing means yieldably biasing the oppositely disposed reaches toward each other with substantially equal force to engage opposite sides of articles disposed therebetween and providing substantially equal spacing of said oppositely disposed reaches from said datum plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said biasing means for a bank of chains comprises a plurality of fluid-pressure-operated rams, each of which is operatively connected to one of said article-engaging reaches of chain in such a manner that with fluid under pressure supplied thereto it yieldably urges its associated reach of chain toward an oppositely disposed reach of chain in the other bank independently of the other chains in said bank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said biasing means for a bank of chains comprises an elongated manifold block extending transversely of the article-engaging reaches of said chains on the sides of said reaches opposite said path, said manifold block having a plurality of cylinders defined therein, a plurality of pistons mounted in said cylinders for reciprocation toward and away from said path, each piston being operatively connected to an article-engaging reach of chain whereby movement of one produces movement of the other, means defining a conduit in said manifold block communicating with said cylinders for supplying pressure fluid to the sides of the pistons which will urge them and their associated reaches of chain toward said path, and pressure fluid supply means connected to said conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said biasing means for an oppositely disposed pair of chains in said banks comprises first spring means operatively connected to one of said reaches in the pair for biasing it toward the other of said reaches and second spring means operatively connected to the other of said reaches for biasing it toward said one reach, said first and second spring means having the same spring rate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |