Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-11-27
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
C198S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321899
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for transferring goods from one conveyor of random nature to another, comprising a frame, endless transporting means supported therein and at least one carrier connected thereto.
Such device are applied in transport systems wherein vertical and/or horizontal distances between different conveyors have to be bridged, or simply in order to save space.
A first device known from the prior art comprises flexible mats which are connected to four endless transporting members such that these mats remain horizontal while supporting goods. Depending on the infeed and outfeed direction of the goods, the active part of the transporting members is arranged in a C-, L- or Z-shaped configuration in the frame. The goods are taken over from the conveyor close to the underside of the device connecting onto a conveyor. Close to the top side the goods are transferred from the flexible mats onto another conveyor. A drawback of such a device is that at the transition from conveyor to mat and vice versa there lies an opening through which small products can fall between conveyor and device. In addition, this device is of relatively complex structure.
Another device known from the prior art has obviated the drawback of transitions in that it lifts the goods from the conveyor. This is done with carriers formed by fingers arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other which are fed through between the rollers respectively ropes of a roller respectively rope conveyor. Such a device can only be applied in combination with a roller and/or rope conveyor. In addition, the goods can only be transferred in vertical direction because the carriers are fixedly arranged on the endless transporting means.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for transferring goods from one conveyor of random nature to another, wherein the above stated drawbacks are obviated. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device wherein the goods can be supplied and discharged from different directions. A final objective of the present invention is to provide such a device which is relatively simple to construct and takes up little space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For this purpose the device according to the present invention is characterized in that the carrier is connected to the endless transporting means for rotation on a lying shaft and in that means are provided for holding the carrier horizontal. Goods can hereby be transferred in a random path from the one to the other conveyor.
The means for holding the carrier horizontal preferably comprise at least one guide member which is connected to the carrier and which is in contact with at least one guide track at a distance from the rotation shaft of the carrier. A very simple and inexpensive embodiment of the means for holding the carrier horizontal is hereby obtained.
In order to prevent misalignment of the guide means, the guide member is in contact with the guide track in at least two mutually spaced apart positions parallel thereto.
The means for holding the carrier horizontal preferably further comprise a guide displaceable parallel to itself and a guide member which is connected to the carrier and which is in contact with the guide in at least two mutually spaced apart positions parallel thereto. This guide construction is particularly suitable for use in bends of the endless transporting means. When entering the bend, the guide member comes into contact with the guide, whereby the carrier is held horizontal while the endless transporting means change direction.
In preference the guide is hingedly connected to the frame by means of a parallelogram construction. The guide is hereby displaced parallel to itself. If the guide member exerts an asymmetric pressure on the guide because the carrier is or instance loaded asymmetrically by the product arranged thereon, this cannot result in misalignment of the guide.
In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention horizontal and vertical guide track segments are arranged along the endless transporting means, wherein the guide is arranged in each case close to a transition of the track segments. A random transport path can be formed in simple manner, wherein only straight guide tracks and guides arranged close to the transitions thereof are used.
If the conveyor is formed by a roller conveyor or rope conveyor, the carrier is formed by fingers arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other. The carriers “intersect” the infeed and outfeed paths, whereby during an ascending movement the goods are lifted off the feed conveyor and during a descending movement they are taken off the carrier and placed on the outfeed conveyor. The advantage hereof is that no transport transitions are present and that the device can be constructed very compactly in combination with the conveyors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4465177 (1984-08-01), Dorner
patent: 4987992 (1991-01-01), Pfleger
patent: 5101963 (1992-04-01), Skarlupka et al.
patent: 2300112 (1974-07-01), None
Nedpack
Noland Kenneth W.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
LandOfFree
Device for transferring goods does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for transferring goods, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for transferring goods will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2587919