Conveyor discharge apparatus and method

Claim 2

A conveyor discharge apparatus, comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of transversely-oriented rotatable rollers spaced apart from each other so that a separate pocket is defined between each selected successive pair of said rollers, each of said pockets being adapted to carry a separate article; motor means for advancing said conveyor; a cam adjacent said conveyor; ejector means for ejecting any articles carried by said pockets, said ejector means being connected to said conveyor and including a plurality of ejection fingers, each being associated with a separate one of said pockets and being selectively movable through its associated pocket from a rest position to an ejection position so as to lift and thereby eject articles carried by the pocket in which it is located; a plurality of cam followers, each being associated with a separate one of said ejection fingers and being connected to said conveyor and being movable along with its associated ejection finger between a rest position in which said cam followers is not engaged with said cam, and an ejection position in which said cam follower is engaged with said cam; means for selectively initiating engagement of each of said cam followers with said cam as said conveyor advances each of said cam followers past said means for selectively initiating engagement, said means for selectively initiating engagement being located adjacent said conveyor and being selectively movable together with said cam longitudinally along said conveyor; and wherein said ejector means is configured such that the power required to lift and eject any article from any of said pockets is provided substantially by said motor means via advancing said conveyor.

Claim 3

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively initiating engagement includes a cam surface which is selectively rotatable so as to deflect each of said cam followers from its respective rest position into a deflection position in which each selective one of said cam followers is engageable with said cam, said cam surface being engageable with each of said cam followers upon selective rotation thereof.

Claim 4

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said conveyor further includes a rail along which said pockets move and at least one movable chain which is located in proximity to said rail and extends longitudinally therewith, said series of rollers defining said pockets being operatively connected to said chain for longitudinal movement therewith; and said cam has a camming periphery along which each of said cam followers travels upon being deflected from its respective rest position to its deflection position by said cam surface, said camming periphery having leading and central portions, which are each oriented at different acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail, and a trailing portion which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rail.

Claim 5

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inner periphery of said cam and said upper rail together define a channel through which each of said cam followers passes in its respective rest position as said conveyor is advanced by said motor means.

Claim 6

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ejector means further includes: a plurality of ejection guiding brackets, each being secured to said conveyor and to a separate one of said ejection fingers and its associated cam follower and having a rectangular base with a pivot side that has a boss for arresting movement of said finger and follower as they traverse their respective ejection positions.

Claim 7

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each successive pair of said rollers is adapted to orient, as well as to carry, a separate article.

Claim 8

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively initiating engagement is selectively slidable together with said cam longitudinally along said conveyor.

Claim 9

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 2, further including a solenoid operably connected to said cam surface for causing selective rotation of said cam surface.

Claim 10

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cam surface is engageable with each of said cam followers upon rotation of said cam surface approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of said solenoid.

Claim 11

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said cam followers is rigidly attached to its associated ejection finger.

Claim 12

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said cam followers and its associated ejection finger together comprise a unitary structure.

Claim 13

A conveyor discharge apparatus, comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of transversely-oriented rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of oppositely disposed movable chains, said rollers further being spaced apart from each other so that a separate pocket is situated between each selected successive pair of said rollers, each of said pockets being adapted to carry a separate article and being carried along by said chains; ejector means for ejecting any articles carried by said pockets, said ejector means being connected to said conveyor and including, a plurality of ejection fingers, each being associated with a separate one of said pockets and being selectively movable through its associated pocket from a rest position to an ejection position in which any article carried by the corresponding pocket in which it is located is ejected by said ejection finger, a cam located adjacent said conveyer, a plurality of cam followers, each being associated with a separate one of said ejection fingers, and being connected to said conveyor and being movable along with its associated ejection finger between a rest position in which said cam follower is not engageable with said cam and an injection position in which said cam follower is engageable with said cam; means for selectively initiating engagement of each of said cam followers with said cam as said conveyor advances each of said cam followers past said means for selectively initiating engagement, said means for selectively initiating engagement being located adjacent said conveyor and being selectively movable together with said cam longitudinally along said conveyor; and motor means for advancing said conveyor such that the power required to lift and eject any article from any of said pockets is provided substantially by said motor means via advancing said conveyor.

Claim 14

A conveyor discharge apparatus, comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of transversely-oriented rollers rotatably mounted to a pair of oppositely disposed movable chains, said rollers further being spaced apart from each other so that a separate pocket is situated between each selected successive pair of said rollers, each of said pockets being adapted to carry a separate article and being carried along by said chains; ejector means for ejecting any articles carried by said pockets, said ejector means being connected to said conveyor and including, a plurality of ejection fingers, each being associated with a separate one of said pockets and being selectively movable through its associated pocket from a rest position to an ejection position in which any article carried by the corresponding pocket in which it is located is ejected by said ejection finger, a cam located adjacent said conveyer, a plurality of cam followers, each being associated with a separate one of said ejection fingers, and being connected to said conveyor and being movable along with its associated ejection finger between a rest position in which said cam follower is not engageable with said cam and an injection position in which said cam follower is engageable with said cam; means for selectively initiating engagement of each of said cam followers with said cam as said conveyor advances each of said cam followers past said means for selectively initiating engagement, said means for selectively initiating engagement being located adjacent said conveyor and being selectively movable together with said cam longitudinally along said conveyor; and motor means for advancing said conveyor such that the power required to lift and eject any article from any of said pockets is provided substantially by said motor means via advancing said conveyor.

Claim 15

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said ejector means further includes a plurality of ejection guiding brackets, each being secured to said conveyor and to a separate one of said ejection fingers and its associated cam follower and having a rectangular base with a pivot side that has a boss for arresting movement of said finger and follower as they traverse their respective ejection positions.

Claim 16

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said means for selectively initiating engagement includes a cam surface which is selectively rotatable so as to deflect each of said cam followers from its respective rest position into a deflection position in which each selective one of said cam followers is engageable with said cam, said cam surface being engageable with each of said cam followers upon selective rotation thereof.

Claim 17

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: said conveyor further includes a rail having two oppositely disposed sides along which said pockets move and wherein said two movable chains are each adapted to move along a separate one of said sides of said rail; and said cam has a camming periphery along which each of said cam followers travels upon being deflected from its respective rest position to its deflection position by said cam surface, said camming periphery having leading and central portions, which are oriented at different acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail, and a trailing portion which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rail.

Claim 18

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cam has an inner periphery which is spaced from said upper rail so as to define therebetween a channel through which each of said cam followers passes in its respective rest position as said conveyor is advanced by said motor means.

Claim 19

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each successive pair of said rollers are adapted to orient, as well as to carry, a separate article.

Claim 20

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said means for selectively initiating engagement is selectively slidable together with said cam longitudinally along said conveyor.

Claim 21

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 14, further including a solenoid operably connected to said cam surface for causing selective rotation of said cam surface.

Claim 22

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said cam surface is engageable with each of said cam followers upon rotation of said cam surface approximately ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of said solenoid.

Claim 23

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said cam followers is rigidly attached to its associated ejection finger.

Claim 24

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said cam followers and its associated ejection finger together comprise a unitary structure.

Claim 25

A conveyor discharge apparatus, comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of transversely-oriented, rotatable rollers spaced apart from each other longitudinally along said conveyor, a successive pair of said rollers defining a pocket, said pocket adapted to carry an article; motor means for advancing said conveyor; and ejector means for ejecting any article carried in said pocket, said ejector means comprising: an ejection finger between the pair of rollers defining said pocket, said ejection finger being movable through said pocket from a rest position upwardly to an ejection position so as to lift and thereby eject any article carried by said pocket; camming means selectively movable longitudinally along said conveyor, said camming means adapted selectively to be configured to an engagement mode and in a disengagement mode; and cam engagement means, operably connected to said ejection finger and adapted to engage said camming means when said camming means is in its engagement mode, said engagement means adapted to cause said ejection finger to move upwardly to its ejection position when said engagement means engages said camming means; and wherein said ejector means is configured such that the power required to lift and eject any article in said pocket is provided substantially by said motor means via said advancing conveyor.

Claim 26

A conveyor discharge apparatus, comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of transversely-oriented, rotatable rollers spaced apart from each other longitudinally along said conveyor, a successive pair of said rollers defining a pocket, said pocket adapted to carry an article; motor means for advancing said conveyor; and ejector means for ejecting any article carried in said pocket, said ejector means comprising: an ejection finger between the pair of rollers defining said pocket, said ejection finger being movable through said pocket from a rest position upwardly to an ejection position so as to lift and thereby eject any article carried by said pocket; camming means selectively movable longitudinally along said conveyor, said camming means adapted selectively to be configured to an engagement mode and in a disengagement mode; and cam engagement means, operably connected to said ejection finger and adapted to engage said camming means when said camming means is in its engagement mode, said engagement means adapted to cause said ejection finger to move upwardly to its ejection position when said engagement means engages said camming means; and wherein said ejector means is configured such that the power required to lift and eject any article in said pocket is provided substantially by said motor means via said advancing conveyor.

Claim 27

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of said pockets is provided, each with an associated ejection finger and engagement means.

Claim 28

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of camming means is provided, each selectively located at a different point longitudinally along said conveyor and selectively movable to different such locations.

Claim 29

A conveyor discharge apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said successive pair of rollers is adapted to orient, as well as to carry, an article.