Conveyors – chutes – skids – guides – and ways – Rollerways – Submerging and rising
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-04
2001-05-22
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors, chutes, skids, guides, and ways
Rollerways
Submerging and rising
C198S463600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234292
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present direction is directed to a retainer for controlling the movement of objects along a conveyor and, more particularly, to a retainer having a pivoting retaining arm selectively positionable such that one end pivots above and below the height of the conveyor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, a conveyor system includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in a conveyor frame so as to define a path upon which articles are conveyed. The conveyor may include drive rollers for moving the materials along the conveyor length, belts, or preferably the conveyor may be gravity fed having free-moving rollers. To most effectively utilize the conveyor, it is often necessary to separate the goods and control the positioning. This may be necessary to allow for a user to individually handle or remove a single object, effectively route the materials to the appropriate destination, or to ensure that adjacent materials do not come in contact which may cause damage to the materials.
One type of presently available system includes an electrically powered retaining arm. These systems provide for accurate control of goods along the conveyor, however, they are often expensive to install and require a large amount of maintenance to ensure they operate effectively. Additionally, powered conveyors are more effective when permanently positioned at a single station and are not effective for portable conveyors that are used in a variety of situations such as loading and unloading from trucks and loading docks. Powered retainers using electrically controlled retaining arms may also not be available for use in wet environments such as a loading dock, tractor-trailer, etc.
There have further been numerous mechanically operated retainer mechanisms. However, these often require many intricate moving parts that are susceptible to wearing out or being damaged during use. These mechanisms may also become stuck in position resulting in the retention of all goods on the conveyor, or potentially worse, fail to retain materials when a load is placed upon them.
Thus, a straight-forward mechanical retainer is needed that effectively separates materials along a conveyor without being prohibitively expensive or require a large amount of maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a retainer for controlling the movement of materials along a conveyor. The invention provides for a user to selectively actuate the retaining arm between a first position that extends above the conveyor for stopping goods moving on the conveyor, and a second position having the arm under the conveyor allowing for goods to move along the conveyor.
The invention includes a retaining arm mounted to the conveyor and having a first end and a second end and a pivoting about a point there-between. A swing arm is pivotally attached to the retaining arm and includes a roller that slides against and abuts a channel or conveyor frame applying a force to the retaining arm. A link rod is connected to the roller for moving between a first load blocking position having the roller between the conveyor frame and the retaining arm for positioning the downstream end of the retaining arm above the conveyor frame. The link rod can be positioned in a second load releasing position having the roller and swing arm extending outward from the retaining arm resulting in the downstream end of the retaining arm being below the conveyor frame.
Preferably, the retaining arm is substantially L-shaped having a toe section that extends above the conveyor height and a leg section. A biasing member may be attached between the conveyor and the roller to pull the roller to the first position between the conveyor frame and retaining arm. To assist in maintaining the roller in the first position with the toe above the conveyor height, the roller is preferably positioned over-center of said swing arm pivot point. Most preferably, the roller is just over center to ensure the retaining arm stays in position but does not require a large amount of force by the link rod to pull it into the second position.
Another embodiment of the invention features the swing arm pivotally attached to the retaining arm at a point below where the retaining arm is pivotally connected to the conveyor. This alignment provides for the retaining arm pivot point, swing arm pivot point, and link arm being substantially aligned when the swing arm is pulled by the link rod in the second position. This provides for the retaining arm to move about its pivot point to control the flow of materials on the conveyor.
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Coats & Bennett PLLC
Ellis Christopher P.
Interroll Holding AG
Sharma Rashmi
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