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
1999-10-07
2001-11-06
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...
C198S803140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311830
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pocket for holding an elongate article by one of the lateral ends on a conveyor and to provide discharge of the elongate article from the conveyor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the manufacturing of certain products, the articles being processed may be transported from one delivery point or workstation to another workstation along a horizontal conveyor. In instances where the article is an elongated part, the article is generally laid on the conveyor in a horizontal position such that a longitudinally extending side of the article contacts the conveyor surface. When the article reaches the workstation, a transfer device or lifter is generally required to move the article from the conveyor and reorientate the article for proper alignment and processing at the workstation.
In some instances it is necessary to maintain the article on one lateral end so that a longitudinally extending side extends outwardly from the conveyor. In addition, some of these articles are not compatible with conventional gravity loaders or pallet stacker loaders. In these cases, a transfer device or lifter is again required to move the elongated article in the vertical direction away from the conveyor before moving the article horizontally toward the workstation. In both cases, the transfer device or lifter will employ a cylinder and piston mechanism to activate the movement of the transfer device or lifter.
It is therefore desirable to provide a holding means on the conveyor that is configured to hold an article by one lateral end and also allowing a gripper tool to unload the article from the holding means with a pivoting movement only. As a result, the cylinder and piston mechanism can be eliminated. It is further desirable to provide an article holding means for a conveyor that is cost effective and easily secured to the conveyor. It is also desirable to provide an article holder that is configured to not distort or be damaged by continuous angular unloading of the article.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the aforementioned concerns by providing a conveying system for transporting individual elongated articles having lateral ends from a first position to a second position. The conveying system also provides an article holding means for releasable securing the individual elongated articles by one of the lateral ends to the conveyor path. The conveying system may also include a conveyor gripper for removing the article individually in a single pivotal motion away from the conveying surface.
The present invention provides a conveying surface including a pocket for each article. The pockets are fixedly connected to the surface of the conveyor. The pockets have a complementary configuration portion for securely receiving the articles.
In one embodiment of the pocket, a pair of arcuate portions extend above a base which is fixedly connected to the conveyor surface. The arcuate portions are positioned in a discontinuous cylindrical configuration thereby providing open spaces between the arcuate portions. The open spaces provide access for releasing the article from the article holder to the article gripper.
In another embodiment the pocket may include a base fixedly connected to the conveyor surface. The pocket may have one end pivotally connected to the base. The pocket is preferably biased to return to the base against the surface of the conveyor. The pivoting feature of the pocket allows the article to be angularly removed from the pocket by the conveyor gripper.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Machine Tool Technology 21-Inc.
Noland Kenneth W.
Young & Basile P.C.
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