US5490591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor with cleats having a product-carrying surface and an opposite product-releasing surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-01-04
•
Granted: 1996-02-13
•
Expires: 2015-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor with cleats having a curved product-carrying surface on one side and a curved product-releasing surface on the opposite side. The cleats are pivotally linked to form an endless loop. A sprocket assembly and motor are provided to rotate the endless loop. The cleats extend outwardly from the loop and are spaced such that product items may be disposed between adjacent cleats. The loop has a transfer bend where product items shift by gravity from one cleat to an adjacent cleat. At the point where product items exit from the conveyor, the curved product-releasing surface gently deposits the product items onto an output surface.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Faulkner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/08; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/326; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A conveyor comprising: an endless loop having a transfer end, a return end, a product-receiving point and a product-releasing point; means for rotating the endless loop; and a plurality of cleats extending outwardly from the endless loop in spaced arrangement and having one side with a product-carrying surface and an opposite side with a product-releasing surface, each one of the cleats comprising: a base having a first side and a second side; a flight extending from the base between the first side and the second side of the base, the flight having a first bend proximate to the base and a second bend distal from the base, the first bend and the second bend being substantially reverse to one another, the first bend defining the product-carrying surface and the second bend defining the product-releasing surface of the cleat; wherein product items disposed between each pair of first and second adjacent cleats shifts by gravity from between the first and second cleats to the product-releasing surface of the second cleat at the transfer end of the endless loop and wherein the product items slide by gravity from the product-releasing surface of the second cleat when the second cleat rotates to the product-releasing point of the conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A conveyor comprising: an endless loop having a transfer end, a return end, a product-receiving point and a product-releasing point; means for rotating the endless loop; and a plurality of cleats extending outwardly from the endless loop in spaced arrangement and having one side with a product-carrying surface and an opposite side with a product-releasing surface, each one of the cleats comprising: a base having a first side and a second side; a flight extending from the base between the first side and the second side of the base, the flight having a first bend proximate to the base and a second bend distal from the base, the first bend and the second bend being substantially reverse to one another, the first bend defining the product-carrying surface and the second bend defining the product-releasing surface of the cleat; wherein product items disposed between each pair of first and second adjacent cleats shifts by gravity from between the first and second cleats to the product-releasing surface of the second cleat at the transfer end of the endless loop and wherein the product items slide by gravity from the product-releasing surface of the second cleat when the second cleat rotates to the product-releasing point of the conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein the product-carrying surface is substantially concave and semi-cylindrical in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein the product-releasing surface is substantially concave and semi-cylindrical in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein each one of the cleats further comprises: a transfer surface opposite the first bend and located between the base and the second bend of the cleat, the transfer surface being contoured such that a product shifted onto the transfer surface when the transfer surface is disposed substantially upward slides by gravity on the transfer surface onto the product-releasing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A conveyor cleat comprising: a base having a first side and a second side; a flight extending from the base between the first side and the second side of the base, the flight having a first bend proximate to the base and a second bend distal from the base, the first bend and the second bend being substantially reverse to one another; wherein the first bend defines a product-carrying surface and the second bend defines a product-releasing surface of the cleat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A conveyor cleat comprising: a base having a first side and a second side; a flight extending from the base between the first side and the second side of the base, the flight having a first bend proximate to the base and a second bend distal from the base, the first bend and the second bend being substantially reverse to one another; wherein the first bend defines a product-carrying surface and the second bend defines a product-releasing surface of the cleat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The conveyor cleat of claim 5 wherein the product-carrying surface is substantially concave and semi-cylindrical in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor of claim 5 wherein the product-releasing surface is substantially concave and semi-cylindrical in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The conveyor of claim 5 wherein each one of the cleats further comprises: a transfer surface opposite the first bend and located between the base and the second bend of the cleat, the transfer surface being contoured such that a product shifted onto the transfer surface when the transfer surface is disposed substantially upward slides by gravity on the transfer surface onto the product-releasing surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |