Flow dividing mechanism for a conveyor system

Claim 2

An article flow dividing mechanism, comprising: a first conveying section having a first end and a second end; means for pivotally mounting the first end of said first conveying section to move the second end of said first conveying section through a first reciprocating arcuate path; a second conveying section having a first end and a second end; means for pivotally mounting the first end of said second conveying section in spaced relation to the first end of said first conveying section to move the second end of said second conveying section through a second reciprocating arcuate path to align the second end of said first conveying section and second end of said second conveying section at a predetermined position along their respective arcuate paths; and elevator means comprising: motor means; shaft means operatively connected to said motor means; and means operatively connected to said shaft means and said first and second conveying sections for simultaneously moving the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section in opposed directions along their respective arcuate paths when said motor means is energized to align the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section and for applying the dynamic force of said first conveying section to said shaft means in an opposed direction to the dynamic force applied to said shaft means by said second conveying section.

Claim 3

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving and applying means includes: said shaft means having at least two camming surfaces.

Claim 4

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving and applying means includes: a first pair of cam members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft means; means for operatively connecting said first pair of cam members to said first conveying section; a second pair of cam members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft means; and means for operatively connecting said second pair of cam members to said second conveying section.

Claim 5

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving and applying means includes: a first camming member mounted on said shaft means; first means for operatively connecting said first camming member to said first conveying section; a second camming member mounted on said shaft means; and second means for operatively connecting said second camming member to said second conveying section.

Claim 6

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second operatively connecting means includes: a member having a bifurcated end and a shaft end; and means for rotatably mounting the shaft end of said member to a one of said camming members and the bifurcated end to the respective one of said conveyor sections.

Claim 7

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving and applying means includes: at least one wheel member mounted on said shaft means; and means for connecting said at least one wheel member to said first and second conveying sections.

Claim 8

The flow dividing mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said connecting means includes: a first rod having a first end pivotally mounted to said at least one wheel member and the second end pivotally connected to said first conveying section; and a second rod having a first end pivotally mounted to said at least one wheel member and the other end pivotally connected to said second conveying section, the first end of said second rod and said first rod mounted 180° apart in a circle having its center coincident with the axis of said shaft means.

Claim 9

In a system for conveying an article wherein the system is of the type having a first article conveying means, a second article conveying means, a third article conveying means, a first means for mounting the first and second conveying means in approximately the same plane with their adjacent ends in spaced relation, a second means for mounting the third conveying means vertically spaced from the second means, the improvement comprising: a first conveying section having a first end and a second end; a first means for pivotally mounting the first end of said first conveying section adjacent the first conveying means and between the first and second conveying means to provide a first article movement path along the first conveying means, said first conveying section and the second conveying means and to move the second end of said first conveying section through a first reciprocating arcuate path; a second conveying section having a first end and a second end; a second means for pivotally mounting said first end of said second conveying section adjacent an end of the third conveying means with the second end of said second conveying section vertically spaced from the second end of said first conveying section and to move the second end of said second conveying section through a second reciprocating arcuate path to align the second ends of said conveying sections at a predetermined position along their respective arcuate paths to provide a second article movement path along the first conveying means, said first and second conveying sections and the third conveying means; and elevator means comprising: motor means; shaft means operatively connected to said motor means; and means operatively connected to said shaft means and said first and second conveying sections for simultaneously moving the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section in opposed first directions along their respective arcuate paths when said motor means is energized to align the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section to provide the second article movement path and for simultaneously moving the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section in opposed second directions opposite to the first direction to provide the first article movement path and for applying the dynamic force of said first conveying section to said shaft means in an opposed direction to the dynamic force applied to said shaft means by said second conveying section.

Claim 10

In a system for conveying an article wherein the system is of the type having a first article conveying means, a second article conveying means, a third article conveying means, a first means for mounting the first and second conveying means in approximately the same plane with their adjacent ends in spaced relation, a second means for mounting the third conveying means vertically spaced from the second means, the improvement comprising: a first conveying section having a first end and a second end; a first means for pivotally mounting the first end of said first conveying section adjacent the first conveying means and between the first and second conveying means to provide a first article movement path along the first conveying means, said first conveying section and the second conveying means and to move the second end of said first conveying section through a first reciprocating arcuate path; a second conveying section having a first end and a second end; a second means for pivotally mounting said first end of said second conveying section adjacent an end of the third conveying means with the second end of said second conveying section vertically spaced from the second end of said first conveying section and to move the second end of said second conveying section through a second reciprocating arcuate path to align the second ends of said conveying sections at a predetermined position along their respective arcuate paths to provide a second article movement path along the first conveying means, said first and second conveying sections and the third conveying means; and elevator means comprising: motor means; shaft means operatively connected to said motor means; and means operatively connected to said shaft means and said first and second conveying sections for simultaneously moving the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section in opposed first directions along their respective arcuate paths when said motor means is energized to align the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section to provide the second article movement path and for simultaneously moving the second end of said first conveying section and the second end of said second conveying section in opposed second directions opposite to the first direction to provide the first article movement path and for applying the dynamic force of said first conveying section to said shaft means in an opposed direction to the dynamic force applied to said shaft means by said second conveying section.

Claim 11

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second conveying sections are wheel type conveyors.

Claim 12

The improved conveyor system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said elevator means is mounted above the first article movement path.

Claim 13

The improved conveyor system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said elevator means is mounted below the first article movement path.

Claim 14

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second conveying section and the third conveying means are mounted above the second conveying means.

Claim 15

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second conveying section and third conveying means are mounted below the second conveying means.

Claim 16

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said moving and applying means includes: a first camming means mounted on said shaft means; first means for operatively connecting said first camming means to said first conveying section; second camming means mounted on said shaft means; and second means for operatively connecting said second camming means to said second conveying section.

Claim 17

The improved system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the dynamic force exerted by the first conveying section on said shaft means is approximately equal to the dynamic force exerted by the second conveying section on said shaft means.

Claim 18

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said moving and applying means includes: said shaft means having a first and second camming surface; means for operatively connecting said first camming surface to said first conveying section; and means for operatively connecting said second camming surface to said second conveying section.

Claim 19

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said connecting means includes: a member having a bifurcated end and a shaft end; means for rotatably mounting the shaft end of said member to a selected one of said camming surfaces and the bifurcated end of said member to a selected one of said conveying sections.

Claim 20

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said moving and applying means includes: a pair of wheel members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft means; and means for connecting said pair of wheels to said first and second conveying sections.

Claim 21

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said connecting means includes: a first rod having a first end pivotally mounted on each of said pair of wheel members and the second end pivotally connected to said first conveying section; and a second rod having a first end pivotally mounted on each of said pair of wheel members and the other end pivotally connected to said second conveying section wherein the first end of said second rods and said first rods are 180° apart on their respective wheel member in a circle having its center coincident with the axis of said shaft means.

Claim 22

In a system for conveying an article wherein the system is of the type having a first article conveying means, a second article conveying means, a third article conveying means, a first means for mounting the first and second conveying means in approximately the same plane with their adjacent ends in spaced relation, a second means for mounting the third conveying means in a plane vertically spaced from and below the second conveying means, the improvement comprising: a first conveying section having a first end and a second end; a first means for pivotally mounting the first end of said first conveying section adjacent the first conveying means and between the first and second conveying means to provide a first article movement path along the first conveying means, said first conveying section and the second conveying means; a second conveying section having a first end and a second end; a second means for pivotally mounting said first end of said second conveying section adjacent an end of the third conveying means with the second end spaced from and adjacent the second end of said first conveying section; a platform mounted above the second end of said first conveying section; a shaft rotatably mounted on said platform and extending transverse to the article movement path; a first pair of camming members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft; a first pair of yokes each having a collar end rotatably mounted on the periphery of a one of said first pair of camming members and a rod pivotally connected in spaced relation to said first conveyor; a second pair of camming members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft; a second pair of yokes each having a collar end rotatably mounted on the periphery of a one of said second pair of camming members and a rod pivotally mounted in spaced relation to said second conveying section; and motor means mounted on said platform and operatively connected to said shaft wherein said motor means rotates said shaft to simultaneously pivot said first conveyor section in a first direction while pivoting said second conveyor section in a second direction opposite to the first direction to align the second ends of said conveyor sections to provide a second article movement path and further rotation of said shaft simultaneously pivots said first conveyor section in the second direction and said second conveyor section in the first direction to provide the first article movement path.

Claim 23

In a system for conveying an article wherein the system is of the type having a first article conveying means, a second article conveying means, a third article conveying means, a first means for mounting the first and second conveying means in approximately the same plane with their adjacent ends in spaced relation, a second means for mounting the third conveying means in a plane vertically spaced from and below the second conveying means, the improvement comprising: a first conveying section having a first end and a second end; a first means for pivotally mounting the first end of said first conveying section adjacent the first conveying means and between the first and second conveying means to provide a first article movement path along the first conveying means, said first conveying section and the second conveying means; a second conveying section having a first end and a second end; a second means for pivotally mounting said first end of said second conveying section adjacent an end of the third conveying means with the second end spaced from and adjacent the second end of said first conveying section; a platform mounted above the second end of said first conveying section; a shaft rotatably mounted on said platform and extending transverse to the article movement path; a first pair of camming members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft; a first pair of yokes each having a collar end rotatably mounted on the periphery of a one of said first pair of camming members and a rod pivotally connected in spaced relation to said first conveyor; a second pair of camming members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft; a second pair of yokes each having a collar end rotatably mounted on the periphery of a one of said second pair of camming members and a rod pivotally mounted in spaced relation to said second conveying section; and motor means mounted on said platform and operatively connected to said shaft wherein said motor means rotates said shaft to simultaneously pivot said first conveyor section in a first direction while pivoting said second conveyor section in a second direction opposite to the first direction to align the second ends of said conveyor sections to provide a second article movement path and further rotation of said shaft simultaneously pivots said first conveyor section in the second direction and said second conveyor section in the first direction to provide the first article movement path.

Claim 24

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 20 wherein the articles are glass sheets conveyed in close spaced relation.

Claim 25

The improved conveying system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the third conveying section includes: conveyor means for moving the glass sheets in a direction transverse to the first article movement path.

Claim 28

The method as set forth in claim 23 further including the steps of: simultaneously moving the section of the first conveying means and second conveying means away from each other to provide the first and second predetermined paths; while transmitting dynamic force of the second conveying section as it moves away from the first conveying section to the first conveying section as the first conveying section moves away from the second conveying section.

Claim 29

The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the article is a plurality of glass sheets further including the steps of: moving first selected ones of the plurality of sheets from the first predetermined path to the second predetermined path; and moving second selected ones of the plurality of sheets along the first predetermined path past the first conveying section.

Claim 30

The method as set forth in claim 25 further including the step of: advance the first selected one of the plurality of glass sheets along the second predetermined path in a direction generally transverse to the first predetermined path.

Claim 31

The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said transmitting step is accomplished by: operatively interconnecting the first and second sections such that the movement of a one of the conveyor sections along its arcuate path transmits a force to the other one of the sections as it moves along its arcuate path in an opposite direction to the movement of the other one of the conveying sections.

Claim 32

The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein said applying step is accomplished by: operatively interconnecting each of the sections of the first and second conveying means to a weight.