US4372439A — Electronic conveyor control apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 339 words

A conveying system comprising a plurality of conveyors adapted to move an object from one point to another; electric power means for driving each conveyor, said power means comprising a motor and a starter for controlling said motor, said starter having a starting contact and a stopping contact; photosensing means positioned near the leading ends of each conveyor for sensing the approach of an object to be conveyed; electric control means for said conveying system, said control means comprising separate electrical circuits for each conveyor and timing means in operative electrical association with each of said circuits, said separate circuits being operably interrelated so that the overall functions of the conveying systems are correlated and represent said single control means; each of said photosensors being adapted through said electric circuits to operate the starting contacts of the power means for each of said circuits in response to a change in condition initiated by the approach of the object to be conveyed, said timing means being adapted through said electric circuits to time each object being conveyed to traverse the length of the conveyor and to shut down, through said stopping contact of said power means, the conveyor when the object has traversed its length; said timing means further including, in operative relationship with said electrical circuits, a memory providing for time accumulation such that, should a conveyor be caused to stop in response to an electrical function in said circuits, each timer would hold its accumulated time and upon contact of said conveyor, would resume its time function and cause said conveyor to run for the unexpired portion of said preset time cycle; each of said circuits further including a time delay relay, each relay being operably associated with a photosensor positioned at the leading edge of an adjacent downstream conveyor and adapted to stop the conveyor associated with the given circuit and through said stopping contact of said power means, in response to the blocking of said photosensor for a period in excess of the preset time limit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 339 words

A conveying system comprising a plurality of conveyors adapted to move an object from one point to another; electric power means for driving each conveyor, said power means comprising a motor and a starter for controlling said motor, said starter having a starting contact and a stopping contact; photosensing means positioned near the leading ends of each conveyor for sensing the approach of an object to be conveyed; electric control means for said conveying system, said control means comprising separate electrical circuits for each conveyor and timing means in operative electrical association with each of said circuits, said separate circuits being operably interrelated so that the overall functions of the conveying systems are correlated and represent said single control means; each of said photosensors being adapted through said electric circuits to operate the starting contacts of the power means for each of said circuits in response to a change in condition initiated by the approach of the object to be conveyed, said timing means being adapted through said electric circuits to time each object being conveyed to traverse the length of the conveyor and to shut down, through said stopping contact of said power means, the conveyor when the object has traversed its length; said timing means further including, in operative relationship with said electrical circuits, a memory providing for time accumulation such that, should a conveyor be caused to stop in response to an electrical function in said circuits, each timer would hold its accumulated time and upon contact of said conveyor, would resume its time function and cause said conveyor to run for the unexpired portion of said preset time cycle; each of said circuits further including a time delay relay, each relay being operably associated with a photosensor positioned at the leading edge of an adjacent downstream conveyor and adapted to stop the conveyor associated with the given circuit and through said stopping contact of said power means, in response to the blocking of said photosensor for a period in excess of the preset time limit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The conveying system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conveyors comprise two or more belt conveyors operating in tandem and said timing means comprises a solid state electronic timer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 42 words

The conveying system in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a traveling deflection plate positioned at the end of the last conveyor in the series and adapted to direct the object being conveyed into a receiving zone for further processing thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 289 words

In an electrical control system for a conveying apparatus including a plurality of conveyors adapted to move an object from one point to another; electric power means for driving said conveyors; photosensing means positioned near the leading ends of each conveyor for sensing the approach of an object to be conveyed; the improvement comprising electrical circuits for each conveyor and solid state timers in operative electrical association with each of said circuits, said circuits operably interrelated so that the overall functions of the conveying apparatus are correlated and form a single control for said apparatus; said photosensors being adapted through said electrical circuits to operate said power means for each of said conveyors in response to a change in condition initiated by the approach of the object to be conveyed, said timing means being adapted through said electric circuits to time each object being conveyed to traverse the length of the conveyor and to shut down the conveyor when the object has traversed its length; said timing means further including, in operative relationship with said electrical circuits, a memory providing for time accumulation such that, should a conveyor be caused to stop in response to an electrical function in said circuits, each timer would hold its accumulated time and would resume its time function upon restart of said conveyor to run for the unexpired portion of said preset time cycle, each of said circuits further including a time delay relay operably associated with a photosensor positioned at the leading edge of an adjacent downstream conveyor and adapted to stop the conveyor associated with the given circuit in response to the blocking of said photosensor for a period in excess of the preset time limit of said time delay relay.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 289 words

In an electrical control system for a conveying apparatus including a plurality of conveyors adapted to move an object from one point to another; electric power means for driving said conveyors; photosensing means positioned near the leading ends of each conveyor for sensing the approach of an object to be conveyed; the improvement comprising electrical circuits for each conveyor and solid state timers in operative electrical association with each of said circuits, said circuits operably interrelated so that the overall functions of the conveying apparatus are correlated and form a single control for said apparatus; said photosensors being adapted through said electrical circuits to operate said power means for each of said conveyors in response to a change in condition initiated by the approach of the object to be conveyed, said timing means being adapted through said electric circuits to time each object being conveyed to traverse the length of the conveyor and to shut down the conveyor when the object has traversed its length; said timing means further including, in operative relationship with said electrical circuits, a memory providing for time accumulation such that, should a conveyor be caused to stop in response to an electrical function in said circuits, each timer would hold its accumulated time and would resume its time function upon restart of said conveyor to run for the unexpired portion of said preset time cycle, each of said circuits further including a time delay relay operably associated with a photosensor positioned at the leading edge of an adjacent downstream conveyor and adapted to stop the conveyor associated with the given circuit in response to the blocking of said photosensor for a period in excess of the preset time limit of said time delay relay.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The electrical control system in accordance with claim 4 and further comprising a start stop pushbutton control, a series ready light and individual interlock relays which place said electrical circuitry in readiness to respond to input signals from said photosensors.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-02-07	1986-08-09	1987-02-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-02-07	1990-08-09	1991-02-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-02-07	1994-08-09	1995-02-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic conveyor control apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag