US5947262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor with integrated self-actuating clamp
Assignee: SER-TEK SYSTEMS Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-15
•
Granted: 1999-09-07
•
Expires: 2018-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor assembly includes an endless belt comprised of links which are driven by spaced sprockets. The conveyor carries a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of clamping members. The clamping members in each pair are relatively laterally displaceable between a gripping position, at which at least one of the clamping members moves toward the other to cooperatively grip an article for securing it to the conveyor, and a release position at which the at least one clamping member moves apart from the other clamping member to release the gripped article. An operator mechanism associated with each laterally movable clamping member is operative to automatically move the associated clamping member to a clamping position or to a release position in accordance with the direction of displacing movement of the conveyor links with respect to a predetermined attitude. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the clamping members are mounted on flights carried by the links of a roller chain and each clamping member is moved to its clamping position or release position in accordance with the relative displacement occurring between adjacent flights as the roller chain links, which carry the flights, are mutually displaced in traversing a chain drive sprocket.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Boring
- 👤 Mark D. Van Dyke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/323; B65G17/326; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: an endless chain structure including longitudinally spaced, articulating links; means for driving said chain structure along a continuous path of movement; oppositely spaced clamping members carried by said chain structure and movably connected to links thereof to be relatively displaceable with respect to each other between a clamping position in which said clamping members are effective to grippingly secure an article to the chain structure and a release position in which said clamping members release the secured article from the chain structure; an actuating mechanism operative to move each said at least one clamping member, said actuating mechanism including an actuating member connected at one end to said clamping member and at the other end to a link other than the link connecting said clamping member, whereby said actuating member induces movement in said clamping member in response to relative angular displacement between said link connecting said clamping member and that connecting said other end of said actuating member; and means for displacing said links of said chain structure from its selected course of movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: an endless chain structure including longitudinally spaced, articulating links; means for driving said chain structure along a continuous path of movement; oppositely spaced clamping members carried by said chain structure and movably connected to links thereof to be relatively displaceable with respect to each other between a clamping position in which said clamping members are effective to grippingly secure an article to the chain structure and a release position in which said clamping members release the secured article from the chain structure; an actuating mechanism operative to move each said at least one clamping member, said actuating mechanism including an actuating member connected at one end to said clamping member and at the other end to a link other than the link connecting said clamping member, whereby said actuating member induces movement in said clamping member in response to relative angular displacement between said link connecting said clamping member and that connecting said other end of said actuating member; and means for displacing said links of said chain structure from its selected course of movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 1 in which said at least one clamping member includes a pivot plate pivotally connected to a pivot base link of said chain structure, and said actuating member is an operator plate pivotally connected between said pivot plate and an operator base link of said chain structure to effect angular displacement of said pivot plate between a clamping position and a release position upon relative displacement of the operator base link and the pivot base link of said chain structure from a selected path of movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 2 including a gripper pad formed of resilient material carried by said pivot plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 2 in which said pivot plate is pin connected to said pivot base link and said operator plate is pin connected at one end to said pivot plate and at another end to said operator base link sequentially positioned adjacent said pivot base link in said chain structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 2 in which said pivot plate is positioned in laterally spaced arrangement with respect to the connection of said operator plate to said operator base link whereby displacement of said operator base link from a level path of movement imparts a force on said pivot plate effective to move it angularly with respect to said pivot base link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A conveyor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which said means for driving said chain structure along a continuous path of moment and said means for displacing said chain structure from a level course of movement comprises sprocket means engaging said chain structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 6 in which said clamping members are arranged in pairs, and in which the clamping members of each pair are mutually oppositely movable with respect to each other between a clamping position and a release position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
238 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: an endless chain structure including a plurality of laterally spaced rows of longitudinally spaced articulating links; means for moving said laterally spaced rows of links continuously in a selected direction, said chain structure, in at least one row of links, containing a clamping member disposed in laterally spaced, opposed relation with respect to a cooperating clamping member in a laterally spaced row of links, and said opposed clamping members being relatively oppositely displaceable between a clamping position in which said opposed clamping members grippingly secure an article to said chain structure and a release position in which said opposed clamping members release the secured article from the chain structure; means forming an actuating mechanism associated with at least one of said clamping members, said actuating mechanism including a pivot plate pivotally connected to a link of said chain structure forming a pivot base link for transverse pivotal movement with respect to the direction of movement of said chain structure, and an operator member connected between said pivot plate and an operator base link of said chain structure, said operator member being effective to displace said pivot plate with respect to said pivot base link between a clamping position and a release position upon displacement of said chain structure from a level path of movement; and means for mutually angularly displacing said articulating pivot base link and said operator base link of said chain structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
238 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: an endless chain structure including a plurality of laterally spaced rows of longitudinally spaced articulating links; means for moving said laterally spaced rows of links continuously in a selected direction, said chain structure, in at least one row of links, containing a clamping member disposed in laterally spaced, opposed relation with respect to a cooperating clamping member in a laterally spaced row of links, and said opposed clamping members being relatively oppositely displaceable between a clamping position in which said opposed clamping members grippingly secure an article to said chain structure and a release position in which said opposed clamping members release the secured article from the chain structure; means forming an actuating mechanism associated with at least one of said clamping members, said actuating mechanism including a pivot plate pivotally connected to a link of said chain structure forming a pivot base link for transverse pivotal movement with respect to the direction of movement of said chain structure, and an operator member connected between said pivot plate and an operator base link of said chain structure, said operator member being effective to displace said pivot plate with respect to said pivot base link between a clamping position and a release position upon displacement of said chain structure from a level path of movement; and means for mutually angularly displacing said articulating pivot base link and said operator base link of said chain structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 8 including a gripper pad formed of resilient material carried by said pivot plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 8 in which said pivot plate is pin-connected to said pivot base link and said operator member is an operator plate pin-connected at one end to said pivot plate and at another end to said operator base link sequentially positioned adjacent said pivot base link in said chain structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 10 in which said pivot plate is positioned in laterally spaced arrangement with respect to the connection of said operator plate to said operator base link whereby angular displacement of said operator base link from a path of movement imparts a force on said pivot plate to move said pivot plate angularly with respect to said pivot base link.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A conveyor assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 11 in which said means for driving said chain structure along a continuous path of movement and said means for displacing said chain structure from a level path of movement comprises sprocket means engaging said chain structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 12 in which said clamping members are arranged in pairs which are mutually oppositely movable with respect to each other between a clamping position and a release position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A conveyor assembly comprising: an endless chain structure including a pair of opposed, transversely spaced chains containing interconnected, articulating roller links, a plurality of flights attached to said chain in side-by-side relation to be carried thereby, a pivot plate connected to selected flights for pivotal movement transversely of the direction of movement of said chain, a clamping member fixed to said pivot plate and being operative to secure an article when displaced transversely by said pivot plate, an operator member having one end connected to a flight adjacent said selected flight and its other end connected to said pivot plate, a plurality of longitudinally spaced sprockets driving said chain and about which said flights angularly deflect with respect to each other as said links traverse said sprockets, said operating member being operative to pivotally urge said pivot plate transversely of said chain structure as said flights angularly deflect as they traverse said sprockets, whereby said clamping members are moved to their clamping position or to their release position in response to the direction of relative deflection of said links.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A conveyor assembly comprising: an endless chain structure including a pair of opposed, transversely spaced chains containing interconnected, articulating roller links, a plurality of flights attached to said chain in side-by-side relation to be carried thereby, a pivot plate connected to selected flights for pivotal movement transversely of the direction of movement of said chain, a clamping member fixed to said pivot plate and being operative to secure an article when displaced transversely by said pivot plate, an operator member having one end connected to a flight adjacent said selected flight and its other end connected to said pivot plate, a plurality of longitudinally spaced sprockets driving said chain and about which said flights angularly deflect with respect to each other as said links traverse said sprockets, said operating member being operative to pivotally urge said pivot plate transversely of said chain structure as said flights angularly deflect as they traverse said sprockets, whereby said clamping members are moved to their clamping position or to their release position in response to the direction of relative deflection of said links.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 14 in which each of said flights is attached to said links by means of pins interconnecting said roller links.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 14 in which said operator member is a resilient rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 16 in which said operator member contains a shouldered head at each end for connection to said pivot plate on said one flight and to said adjacent flight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 14 including means for guiding said flights along a course extending between and around said sprockets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 18 in which said flight guiding means comprises a frame, oppositely spaced guide sleeves carried by said frame, said guide sleeves defining a space therebetween for passage of said roller links and said flights.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 19 in which each said flight contains a support surface, connector elements depending from said support surface and being mutually spaced to receive a chain link, and holes in said connector elements receiving roller pins of said chain links for affixing said flight to said chain link.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 20 in which said flights include a support member upstanding from the support surface thereof, selected ones of said support members being adapted to support said pivot plate for transverse pivoted movement with respect to the direction of movement of said chain and selected other ones of said support members being adapted to connect an end of said operator member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 21 in which pivot base flights and said operator base said flights are identically formed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 22 in which said support member extends upwardly from a lateral end of the support surface thereof and in which flights carrying said pivot plate have said support member disposed on an inboard side of said assembly and flights securing an end of an operating rod have said support member disposed on an outboard side of said assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
246 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: a frame defining a longitudinally extending conveying course; pairs of transversely spaced sprockets mounted on an opposite ends of said frame for rotation and disposed on opposite sides of said conveying course; means for driving at least one of said pairs of sprockets; an endless chain containing interconnected, articulating links operatively disposed on each opposite side of said conveying course and being driven along said course by sprockets disposed at opposite ends of said course; a plurality of flights attached to each of said chains in side-by-side relation to be carried thereby; a pivot plate connected to oppositely spaced selected flights carried by each of said chains for opposed pivotal movement with respect to each other; a clamping member fixed to each pivot plate and operative to secure an article when said pivot plates converge toward each other and to release said article when said pivot plates diverge away from each other; each of said pivot plates having an operator member having one end thereof connected to a flight adjacent a selected flight and its other end connected to a pivot plate, said operating members being operative to pivotally urge said pivot plates transversely of said chain structure as said flights angularly deflect with respect to each other as they traverse said sprockets, whereby opposed clamping members mutually converge to an article securing position and diverge to an article releasing position in response to the direction of relative deflection of said flights.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
246 words
A conveyor assembly, comprising: a frame defining a longitudinally extending conveying course; pairs of transversely spaced sprockets mounted on an opposite ends of said frame for rotation and disposed on opposite sides of said conveying course; means for driving at least one of said pairs of sprockets; an endless chain containing interconnected, articulating links operatively disposed on each opposite side of said conveying course and being driven along said course by sprockets disposed at opposite ends of said course; a plurality of flights attached to each of said chains in side-by-side relation to be carried thereby; a pivot plate connected to oppositely spaced selected flights carried by each of said chains for opposed pivotal movement with respect to each other; a clamping member fixed to each pivot plate and operative to secure an article when said pivot plates converge toward each other and to release said article when said pivot plates diverge away from each other; each of said pivot plates having an operator member having one end thereof connected to a flight adjacent a selected flight and its other end connected to a pivot plate, said operating members being operative to pivotally urge said pivot plates transversely of said chain structure as said flights angularly deflect with respect to each other as they traverse said sprockets, whereby opposed clamping members mutually converge to an article securing position and diverge to an article releasing position in response to the direction of relative deflection of said flights.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 24 in which each of said flights is attached to said links by means of pins interconnecting said links.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 24 in which said operator members are resilient rods.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 26 in which said operator members each contain a shouldered head at each end for connection to said pivot plate on said selected flight and to said adjacent flight.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 24 including means carried by said frame on opposite sides of each of said chains for guiding said flights along a course extending between and around said sprockets.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conveyor assembly according to claim 28 in which each said flight guiding means comprises oppositely spaced guide sleeves, said guide sleeves defining a space therebetween for passage of said roller links and said flights of the respective chains.
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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) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |