Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for arranging or rearranging stream of items – By laterally or vertically moving successive items in...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-06-05
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for arranging or rearranging stream of items
By laterally or vertically moving successive items in...
C198S636000, C198S452000, C198S457050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241074
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a guide device for transferring articles from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor at a transfer point wherein the conveyors are moving generally in the same direction.
There are any number of situations in the art wherein articles moving on a first conveyor are transferred to a second conveyor that moves in generally the same direction. The present invention is related to any such situation. One conventional conveying system in which this takes place is an accumulator system wherein articles moving on a first conveyor are diverted from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor that forms part of an accumulator system that accumulates and stores articles before depositing the articles back onto the first conveyor. One particular type of accumulator system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,325. Another type of accumulator system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,858. The present invention is particularly adapted for use with an accumulator system for transferring articles that were deposited on a first conveyor at an upstream delivery station onto a second or different conveyor that forms part of the accumulator system.
A problem in the art, particularly with accumulating systems, is that the articles placed on the first conveyor at the delivery station are fed at such a speed onto the first conveyor that they have little or no longitudinal spacing therebetween, this is particularly true when the articles are square or rectangular. In this case, the articles end up backing up and abutting end-to-end on the first conveyor. However, it is often desirable that the articles have a sufficient longitudinal spacing therebetween for further processing or loading. Various devices and processes are known in the art for causing the backed up or contacting articles to space apart on the conveyor. For example, pneumatic air brakes and like devices are often utilized for this purpose. However, such pneumatic devices are relatively complicated and require extensive and complicated pneumatic systems. The present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive device for controlling the flow of articles and spacing of articles on the conveyor.
The present invention is not limited to applications wherein articles are transferred from one conveyor onto a second conveyor, but also has applications wherein it is desired to control the flow and spacing of articles on a single conveyor. In this regard, the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive device for temporarily transferring the articles onto a second conveyor and then immediately back onto the first conveyor in a controlled manner that results in a desired longitudinal spacing between the articles.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved guide device for transferring articles from a first conveyor onto a second conveyor wherein the articles achieve a desired longitudinal spacing on the second conveyor.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved guide device for controlling the flow and spacing of articles on a single conveyor.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In accordance with the objects and purposes of the invention, an apparatus is provided for regulating and controlling the flow of articles between conveyors. The apparatus includes a first conveyor moving in a first direction and a second conveyor onto which the articles from the first conveyor are to be transferred. The second conveyor moves generally in the same direction and parallel to the first conveyor along at least a portion thereof defining a transfer point for the articles. A guide device defines an inlet on the first conveyor at the transfer point for the articles. The guide device is oriented transversely so as to extend across and move articles from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. Typically, the articles on the first conveyor have backed up to an extent that the articles are abutting each other. This is particularly true wherein the articles have a rectangular or square configuration and are lined up end-to-end on the first conveyor.
The guide device defines a tortuous path of generally three changes of direction, for example three opposite radii of curvatures, for the articles such that the articles in direct end to end contact on the first conveyor are separated by the guide device.
The guide device may preferably comprise a first contact surface having a first radius of curvature, a second contact surface opposite from the first contact surface having a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius of curvature, and a third contact surface having a radius of curvature that is opposite to and greater than the second radius of curvature. In a preferred embodiment, the guide device comprises spaced apart guide rails. Preferably, the guide rails are adjustable so as to be adjusted according to the size of the articles to be conveyed therethrough.
The first radius of curvature is such that the articles conveyed along a first contact surface are caused to separate at corners thereof proximate to the first contact surface and to contact at corners thereof that are distant from the first contact surface. The second radius of curvature is such that the articles conveyed along the second contact surface are caused to reverse contacting corners and separate further at the corners proximate to the second contact surface. The third radius of curvature is such that the articles conveyed along the third contact surface again reverse contacting corners such that the corners proximate to the third contact surface contact with the opposite corners spaced apart a desired longitudinal spacing of the articles.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, the second conveyor takes over conveying of the articles, and the guide device deposits the articles on the second conveyor such that the articles eventually have a desired longitudinal spacing on the second conveyor upon the exiting the guide device.
In an alternative preferred embodiment, the guide device deposits the articles back onto the first conveyor from the second conveyor wherein the articles also assume a desired longitudinal spacing on the first conveyor upon exiting the guide device.
In the embodiment wherein the second conveyor takes over conveying of the articles, the conveyor may have a radius of curvature merging from the transfer point. The third radius of curvature of the third section of the guide device is initially less than the radius of curvature of the second conveyor and gradually increases to correspond to the radius of the second conveyor. In this manner, the articles conveyed along the third contact surface achieve a constant longitudinal spacing on the second conveyor, particularly at the point wherein the second conveyor merges from its radius into a straight section.
The invention will be described in greater detail below through use of the appended figures.
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Bidwell James R.
Dority & Manning P.A.
Hartness International, Inc.
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