Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system having auxiliary section for storing items... – Plural laterally spaced – same direction auxiliary paths
Utility Patent
1999-01-25
2001-01-02
Valenza, Jospeh E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system having auxiliary section for storing items...
Plural laterally spaced, same direction auxiliary paths
C198S447000, C198S453000
Utility Patent
active
06168005
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to accumulation tables. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a low pressure dynamic accumulation table.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Accumulators and accumulation tables are well known in the art of conveyors. Indeed, in production lines where the unfinished products are moved on conveyors from one production machine to another, means for accumulating the products between consecutive machines must often be installed since the production machines usually go at different speeds or may have to be momentarily stopped for maintenance.
Various types of accumulators have been proposed in the past. These accumulators may usually be classified as first in, last out (FILO) accumulators, where the first items stored exist last or as first in, first out (FIFO) accumulators where the first items stored exit first.
FILO accumulators are usually not well suited to accumulate food products since they present the disadvantage that they have to be emptied periodically to prevent products from staying accumulated for too long. These accumulators are therefore less commercially interesting since their use is limited.
FIFO accumulators are more interesting since they do not share the above noted drawback of FILO accumulators.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,525, issued to William J. COVERT on Feb. 1
th
, 1994 and entitled: “Product Accumulator” describes an accumulator that may be viewed as a FIFO accumulator. A drawback of Covert's accumulator is that it must be kept reasonably short since it is not a low pressure accumulator. Indeed, since the conveyor belt always applies pressure onto the products accumulated, the number of products accumulated must be kept relatively low to prevent the accumulation pressure to reach a problematic level.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved accumulation table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a low pressure accumulation table for accumulating products; the accumulation table comprising:
a frame having a first end, a second end and two opposite lateral sides;
an inlet provided at the first end of the frame;
an outlet provided at the second end of the frame;
at least one feed conveyor so mounted to the frame as to convey products from the first end towards the second end of the frame; the at least one feed conveyor having a predetermined feed conveying speed;
at least two accumulation conveyors mounted to the frame; the at least one feed conveyor and the at least two accumulation conveyors defining an accumulation surface; the at least two accumulation conveyors having a variable accumulation conveying speed that is slower than the predetermined feed conveying speed;
wherein (a) the at least one feed conveyor and the at least two accumulation conveyors are so mounted side by side that the at least one feed conveyor alternate with the at least two accumulation conveyors; and (b) the at least two accumulation conveyors, when energized, convey the products from the accumulation surface towards the outlet at a rate which is a function of the variable accumulation conveying speed of the at least two accumulation conveyors.
It is to be understood that the term “conveyor” used in the present disclosure and in the appended claims should be construed as any type of conveying surface such as, for example, belt conveyors or adjacent chain conveyors running at the same speed.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4037710 (1977-07-01), Brutcher
patent: 4054199 (1977-10-01), Polderman
patent: 4401207 (1983-08-01), Garvey
patent: 4570783 (1986-02-01), Newcom et al.
patent: 4635784 (1987-01-01), Bourgeois
patent: 4714152 (1987-12-01), Ross
patent: 4815580 (1989-03-01), Schanz et al.
patent: 4852714 (1989-08-01), Faber, Jr.
patent: 4917228 (1990-04-01), Ichihashi et al.
patent: 4944635 (1990-07-01), Carlier et al.
patent: 5161678 (1992-11-01), Garvey
patent: 5282525 (1994-02-01), Covert
patent: 5304027 (1994-04-01), La Barre et al.
patent: 5400894 (1995-03-01), Smith
patent: 25 04 264 (1976-08-01), None
Deuble Mark A.
Gebo Conveyors Consultants & Systems Inc.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Valenza Jospeh E.
LandOfFree
Low pressure dynamic accumulation table does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Low pressure dynamic accumulation table, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Low pressure dynamic accumulation table will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2462157