Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Load simultaneously engaged between and moved by a plurality...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-13
2002-05-07
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Load simultaneously engaged between and moved by a plurality...
C198S626600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06382399
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to article conveyance, and, more particularly, relates to apparatus and method for article conveyance having mechanical drive for urging articles along a conveying path, and, still more particularly, relates to apparatus and method for mechanically conveying articles having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is oftentimes necessary to convey articles, such as, for example, containers, between different locations, such as, again by way of example, moving bottles having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon, from one location, or position, to another in connection with manufacture, processing, storage, and/or filling of the bottles.
While articles may sometimes simply be moved in single line, or file, between locations, it is sometimes necessary, or at least preferable, that unstable articles such as containers having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon, be supported during conveyance by engaging members that engage the lower protruding edge of the neck ring, with the thus supported articles being moved along an article conveying path either by air urging the articles along the path with the articles sliding along fixed position engaging members, as shown for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,370 (Danler et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,679 (Simkowski et al.), or by causing the engaging members to be moved along the article conveying path to thereby urge the articles along the article conveying path due to frictional engagement between the articles and the article engaging members, as shown for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,571 (Born et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,081 (Konko), U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,696 (Van Tilburg), U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,698 (Patois et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,998 (Priero), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,724 (Hirasawatu et al.).
Particular difficulty has heretofore been encountered, however, in handling some types of articles during conveyance, including, for example, unstable articles supported during conveyance by engagement with neck rings on the articles, and this invention is particularly directed to improvement of such conveyance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides improved apparatus and method for article conveyance by providing better and/or more efficient article contact during conveyance and/or by providing greater conveyance flexibility, including the ability to provide deviations, or turns, in the conveying path.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved article conveying apparatus and method.
It is another object of this invention to provide improved article conveying apparatus and method capable of better and/or more efficient article contact during conveyance.
It is another object of this invention to provide improved article conveying apparatus and method having improved conveyance flexibility, including enabling deviations, or turns, in the article conveying path.
It is another object of this invention to provide improved article conveying apparatus and method for apparatus that includes an elongated member with a plurality of sections each of which has an article engaging member extending into an article conveying path for engaging articles and urging engaged articles along the path.
It is another object of this invention to provide improved apparatus and method for apparatus that includes a chain having a plurality of shaped links and a flange extending therefrom for engaging articles to be conveyed along an article conveying path to urge movement of the articles along the article conveying path.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination, arrangement of parts, and method substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.
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Bidwell James R.
Goldco Industries, Inc.
Harris Robert E.
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