Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A conveyor comprised by a train of consecutive article carrier elements movable along a conveyor or frame past one or more unloading stations and each being provided with an article support member which is laterally tiltable crosswise to the moving direction of the conveyor between a substantially horizontal transport position and a tilted unloading position without otherwise rotating, and cam means for retaining said support member in said transport position and for tilting said support member to said unloading position at said unloading station, said cam means including a cam member carried by one of said carrier elements or said support member, and a cam engaging member carried by the other of said carrier elements or said support member, said cam member being formed of a generally horizontal surface portion interconnecting surface portions which are inclined relative to the horizontal surface portion, the cam member and cam engaging member being rotatable relatively with respect to each other for causing said support member to be tilted as said cam engaging member follows said inclined portions at said unloading station and for holding said support member in said transport position by vertical pressure produced by engagement of said cam engaging element with said horizontal surface portion, and means associated with said unloading station for producing said relative rotation between the cam member and the cam engaging member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A conveyor comprised by a train of consecutive article carrier elements movable along a conveyor or frame past one or more unloading stations and each being provided with an article support member which is laterally tiltable crosswise to the moving direction of the conveyor between a substantially horizontal transport position and a tilted unloading position without otherwise rotating, and cam means for retaining said support member in said transport position and for tilting said support member to said unloading position at said unloading station, said cam means including a cam member carried by one of said carrier elements or said support member, and a cam engaging member carried by the other of said carrier elements or said support member, said cam member being formed of a generally horizontal surface portion interconnecting surface portions which are inclined relative to the horizontal surface portion, the cam member and cam engaging member being rotatable relatively with respect to each other for causing said support member to be tilted as said cam engaging member follows said inclined portions at said unloading station and for holding said support member in said transport position by vertical pressure produced by engagement of said cam engaging element with said horizontal surface portion, and means associated with said unloading station for producing said relative rotation between the cam member and the cam engaging member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A conveyor according to claim, 1, in which a rotary shaft is carried by the carrier element, and is shaped generally as a disc mounted centrally at the top end of said rotary shaft in an inclined position thereon, said stepped portion being provided as a bent middle zone of the disc along a horizontal diameter thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the carrier element is provided with a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft is rigidly provided with radial lever means projecting laterally outwardly from the shaft so as to be engageable by actuator means selectively positioned in the moving path of said lever means adjacent a selected unloading station so as to effect shaft rotation and tray tilting in response to passage of said actuator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
224 words
A conveyor of the type comprised by a train of consecutive article carrier elements movable along a conveyor or frame past one or more unloading stations and each being provided with an article support member which is laterally tiltable crosswise to the moving direction of the conveyor between a substantially horizontal transport position and a tilted unloading position without otherwise rotating, and cam means for retaining said support member in said transport position and for tilting said support member to said unloading position at said unloading station, said cam means including a cam member carried by one of said carrier elements or said support member, and a cam engaging member carried by the other of said carrier elements or said support member, said cam member being annular and having at least one inclined surface portion, the cam member and the cam engaging member being rotatable relative with respect to each other for causing said support member to be tilted as said cam engaging member follows said inclined surface at said unloading station and for bringing said support member into said transport position, said cam means further including means for releasably locking the trays in their horizontal transport position, and wherein said conveyor further comprises means associsted with said unloading station for producing said relative rotation between the cam member and the cam engaging member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
224 words
A conveyor of the type comprised by a train of consecutive article carrier elements movable along a conveyor or frame past one or more unloading stations and each being provided with an article support member which is laterally tiltable crosswise to the moving direction of the conveyor between a substantially horizontal transport position and a tilted unloading position without otherwise rotating, and cam means for retaining said support member in said transport position and for tilting said support member to said unloading position at said unloading station, said cam means including a cam member carried by one of said carrier elements or said support member, and a cam engaging member carried by the other of said carrier elements or said support member, said cam member being annular and having at least one inclined surface portion, the cam member and the cam engaging member being rotatable relative with respect to each other for causing said support member to be tilted as said cam engaging member follows said inclined surface at said unloading station and for bringing said support member into said transport position, said cam means further including means for releasably locking the trays in their horizontal transport position, and wherein said conveyor further comprises means associsted with said unloading station for producing said relative rotation between the cam member and the cam engaging member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conveyor according to claim 4, wherein said means for locking the trays is formed by a generally horizontal surface portion of said cam member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A conveyor according to claim 4, wherein said means for locking the trays is formed by a ball lock device which arrests the movement of said cam means by a resilient force exerted by the ball locking device engaging a hole in said cam means.