US3929218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modulated speed control for a conveying system
Assignee: STROH BREWERY COMPANY
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Filing: 1974-05-01
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A conveying system having a modulated speed control that is responsive to the flow of articles on the system. The conveying system includes a pair of conveyors and a spring loaded cable is mounted along one side of one of the conveyors and is capable of deflecting laterally in response to a pressure generated by an accumulation of articles on the conveyor. The cable is operably connected to a valve of a hydraulic motor which drives the second conveyor that is located upstream of the first conveyor. If a blockage occurs downstream, the articles will accumulate on the first conveyor causing the cable to flex, and flexing of the cable will operate the valve to vary the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor for the second upstream conveyor, thereby either decreasing the speed of the upstream conveyor or stopping operation of that conveyor. As the accumulation of articles on the first conveyor is returned to the conveying system, the cable will return to a taut condition to thereby operate the valve to correspondingly increase the speed of the hydraulic motor of the upstream conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F Risley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G43/00; B65G43/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for moving articles, a first transfer unit for moving articles, a second transfer unit for moving articles, guide means disposed above said transfer units for guiding the articles from the first transfer unit to the second transfer unit, said guide means including a movable guide member associated with a first of said transfer units, said guide member being mounted for movement with respect to the first transfer unit in response to pressure exerted by an accumulation of said articles on said first transfer unit, fluid power-operated drive means operably connected to the second of said transfer units for driving said second transfer unit, control means for controlling the flow of fluid to said drive means and including a rotary valve element, a rotatable member means connecting said rotatable member to said guide member in a manner such that movement of said guide member acts to rotate said rotatable member, and means operably connecting said rotatable member to said rotary valve element whereby rotation of said rotatable member will cause rotation of said valve element to vary the flow of fluid to said drive means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for moving articles, a first transfer unit for moving articles, a second transfer unit for moving articles, guide means disposed above said transfer units for guiding the articles from the first transfer unit to the second transfer unit, said guide means including a movable guide member associated with a first of said transfer units, said guide member being mounted for movement with respect to the first transfer unit in response to pressure exerted by an accumulation of said articles on said first transfer unit, fluid power-operated drive means operably connected to the second of said transfer units for driving said second transfer unit, control means for controlling the flow of fluid to said drive means and including a rotary valve element, a rotatable member means connecting said rotatable member to said guide member in a manner such that movement of said guide member acts to rotate said rotatable member, and means operably connecting said rotatable member to said rotary valve element whereby rotation of said rotatable member will cause rotation of said valve element to vary the flow of fluid to said drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second transfer units are conveyors and the first conveyor is located downstream of the second conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide member is flexible and is mounted for lateral deflection with respect to the first transfer unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one end of said flexible guide member is fixed and the opposite end of the flexible guide member is connected to said rotatable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein movement of said guide member acts to rotate the rotatable member in one direction, said apparatus also including biasing means connected to the rotatable member for rotating the rotatable member in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said guide member comprises a flexible cable disposed circumferentially around the rotatable member and said biasing means comprises a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises gear means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a conveying system, a first conveyor for conveying articles in a path of travel, a second conveyor for conveying articles in a path of travel, guide means disposed above the conveyor for guiding the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said guide means including a flexible guide member, said guide member being associated with the first of said conveyors, one end of said guide member being fixed and said guide member being mounted for lateral deflection with respect to said first conveyor, hydraulic operated drive means operably connected to the second of said conveyors, valve control means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to said drive means and including a rotary valve element, means maintaining the guide member in a taut non-deflected condition, lateral outward pressure of an accumulation of articles on said first conveyor causing deflection of said guide member, a rotatable member, said means connecting said rotatable member to said guide member in a manner such that movement of said guide member acts to rotate said rotatable member, and means operably connecting said rotatable member to said rotary valve element whereby rotation of said rotatable member will cause rotation of said valve element to vary the flOw of fluid to said drive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a conveying system, a first conveyor for conveying articles in a path of travel, a second conveyor for conveying articles in a path of travel, guide means disposed above the conveyor for guiding the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said guide means including a flexible guide member, said guide member being associated with the first of said conveyors, one end of said guide member being fixed and said guide member being mounted for lateral deflection with respect to said first conveyor, hydraulic operated drive means operably connected to the second of said conveyors, valve control means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to said drive means and including a rotary valve element, means maintaining the guide member in a taut non-deflected condition, lateral outward pressure of an accumulation of articles on said first conveyor causing deflection of said guide member, a rotatable member, said means connecting said rotatable member to said guide member in a manner such that movement of said guide member acts to rotate said rotatable member, and means operably connecting said rotatable member to said rotary valve element whereby rotation of said rotatable member will cause rotation of said valve element to vary the flOw of fluid to said drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The conveying system of claim 8, wherein the conveyors are link belt conveyors, and said first conveyor is located downstream of said second conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The conveying system of claim 8, wherein the means maintaining the guide member in a taut condition comprises spring means connected to said rotatable member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The conveying system of claim 8, wherein said guide member when in the non-deflected condition is disposed generally parallel to a side edge of said first conveyor and is spaced laterally inward of said side edge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The conveyor system of claim 8, wherein said valve control means includes adjusting means operably connected to said valve element to adjust the position of said valve element and establish a given rate of flow of the fluid through said valve control means for said taut condition of said guide member.
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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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |