Patent US4430210A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4358010A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4358010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor
Assignee: CONVEYOR SALES & Manufacturing COMPANY A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1981-08-12
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Granted: 1982-11-09
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Expires: 2001-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor for transporting articles placed in series thereon includes a conveyor track of extruded high density polyethylene having an upwardly opening inverted T-shaped longitudinal slot therein and an endless conveyor chain slidably engaged in the slot with integral chain tabs extending laterally outwardly into lateral slot recesses from selected links of the conveyor chain so as to retain the chain against lateral, vertical or torsional displacement with respect to the slot. The conveyor chain projects above the opening of the slot to support the conveyed articles and bears on an upstanding central rib on the slot bottom and, through its tabs, on the lateral recess bottoms. Convergent notches in corresponding ends of successively end-abutted track members making up the track guide the chain tabs into the slot recesses without interference from track member end faces due to slight misalignment of track members. A chain drive mechanism drives the chain in a continuous loop along the conveyor track and along a return path underneath the track.
Inventors
- 👤 Creighton J. Besch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/16; B65G21/20; B65G21/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S198/00; Y10S198/955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
An endless article conveyor for transporting articles placed thereon comprising: an elongated conveyor track having an upwardly opening longitudinal guide slot therein, said guide slot having upright longitudinal sidewalls with mutually opposed, transversely extending longitudinal side slots recessed therein, said guide slot having a bottom with a longitudinal running rail upstanding from said bottom and centered between said sidewalls and having a width dimension narrower than the spacing between said sidewalls; an endless article support conveyor chain engaged and longitudinally movable in said guide slot, said chain comprising a series of links successively interconnected, links at regular intervals in said series having opposed substantially flat stabilizer tabs extending transversely into and slidably engaged in the respective side slots, links at regular intervals in said series having transversely spaced upright sideplates downwardly overlapping respectively opposite sides of said rail, links at regular intervals in said series carrying and being supported by transversely extending chain rollers disposed in longitudinal rolling engagement with the top of said rail, said chain projecting upwardly above the track to engage load articles for moving the same along said track, wherein the track comprises a unitary elongated extrusion of polymeric synthetic material having top and opposite side faces, said guide slot comprising an inverted T-shaped slot formed opening upwardly on said top face with an integral rib upstanding from the bottom of the guide slot to form said rail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
An endless article conveyor for transporting articles placed thereon comprising: an elongated conveyor track having an upwardly opening longitudinal guide slot therein, said guide slot having upright longitudinal sidewalls with mutually opposed, transversely extending longitudinal side slots recessed therein, said guide slot having a bottom with a longitudinal running rail upstanding from said bottom and centered between said sidewalls and having a width dimension narrower than the spacing between said sidewalls; an endless article support conveyor chain engaged and longitudinally movable in said guide slot, said chain comprising a series of links successively interconnected, links at regular intervals in said series having opposed substantially flat stabilizer tabs extending transversely into and slidably engaged in the respective side slots, links at regular intervals in said series having transversely spaced upright sideplates downwardly overlapping respectively opposite sides of said rail, links at regular intervals in said series carrying and being supported by transversely extending chain rollers disposed in longitudinal rolling engagement with the top of said rail, said chain projecting upwardly above the track to engage load articles for moving the same along said track, wherein the track comprises a unitary elongated extrusion of polymeric synthetic material having top and opposite side faces, said guide slot comprising an inverted T-shaped slot formed opening upwardly on said top face with an integral rib upstanding from the bottom of the guide slot to form said rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the links having transversely spaced upright sideplates have transversely extending chain rollers mounted at opposite ends thereof disposed in rolling engagement with said rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the links having opposed transversely extending tabs comprises upright, substantially flat, transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel sideplates having opposite ends straddling and pivotally connected to the links having transversely extending chain rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said sideplates of said links having transversely extending chain rollers comprise transversely spaced, substantially flat, longitudinally extending, parallel plates connected by transversely extending sleeves on which said chain rollers are rotatably mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said stabilizer tabs extend transversely outwardly from the lower edges of said upright parallel sideplates having opposite ends straddling the links having transversely extending chain rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said track is formed of high-density polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination defined in claim 6 or 1 wherein said conveyor track comprises a plurality of end-abutting track members aligned in series, each track member having first and second end faces, said first end face facing against the direction of conveyor movement and including a transverse V-shaped notch having top and bottom faces converging inwardly longitudinally of the track member toward said side slots so as to guide the stabilizer tabs of the chain in moving from the side slots of the preceding track member into the side slots of the next succeeding track member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each link of said chain comprises a pair of elongated spaced-apart upright sideplates that straddle the rail of the conveyor track, and wherein said sideplates include lower edges that extend in a common plane, and wherein said stabilizer tabs have lower surfaces that are substantially coplanar with said lower edges of said sideplates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said track is formed of high-density polyethylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-08 | 1986-05-10 | 1986-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-08 | 1990-05-10 | 1990-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-08 | 1994-05-10 | 1994-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |