US3661094A - Conveyor system for trays - Google Patents

Conveyor system for trays Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3661094A
US3661094A US4633A US3661094DA US3661094A US 3661094 A US3661094 A US 3661094A US 4633 A US4633 A US 4633A US 3661094D A US3661094D A US 3661094DA US 3661094 A US3661094 A US 3661094A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
pusher
tray
locking
driving
propelling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US4633A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martin Pachuta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jervis B Webb Co
Original Assignee
Jervis B Webb Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jervis B Webb Co filed Critical Jervis B Webb Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3661094A publication Critical patent/US3661094A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B10/00—Power and free systems
    • B61B10/04—Power and free systems with vehicles rolling trackless on the ground
    • B61B10/046—Impellers

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A conveyor system in which carriers such as trays are propelled along a support by pusher units on an endless driven chain and can be stopped, accumulated and transferred from one chain to another.
  • Each pusher unit includes a pusher member engageable with a driving flange on a carrier and retained in driving position by a locking member which projects into the path of carrier movement in advance of the pusher member and the carrier driven thereby and is engageable with an object in the path of movement to release the pusher member and permit the stopping and accumulation of carriers.
  • This invention relates to improvements in a conveyor system of the type in which load carriers are engaged and propelled along a support by pushers on an endless chain mounted adjacent to the support.
  • the improvements of the invention are particularly directed to a system where trays or similar containers are used as load carriers.
  • One prior form of pusher conveyor for trays consists of a pair of rails which guide and support the trays, and a chain mounted below and between the rails provided with upstanding rigid pushers each engageable with the rear end of a tray.
  • This form of conveyor is limited in use to the continuous propulsion of trays by a single chain along rails where frictional resistance to the movement of the trays is great enough to insure that a tray will not move faster than the pusher which is propelling it.
  • the present invention overcomes certain limitations of prior tray conveyors and provides a conveyor system in which trays can be propelled horizontally and up and down inclines with a positive coupling to a pusher unit of the propelling member, and can be stopped, accumulated, and transferred from one propelling member to another as required in a particular installation.
  • the conveyor system of the invention consists essentially in the combination of a plurality of trays, each tray having a bottom portion with driving means thereon; tray supporting and guiding structure defining a path of tray travel; a propelling member and means mounting the propelling member for travel below the bottom portion of trays on the tray supporting structure; and a plurality of pusher units connected to the propelling member in spaced relation along the length thereof.
  • Each pusher unit includes a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm; and, the pusher member is supported for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with the driving means on a tray and a non-driving position, while the locking member is separately supported for movement between a'normal locking position in which the locking portion of the locking member engages the positioning arm of the pusher member and a released position.
  • the locking member prevents movement of the pusher member to non-driving position, and the tripping arm of the locking member extends into the path of tray movement in advance of a tray whose driving means is engaged by the driving dog of the pusher member.
  • each pusher unit is relatively simple and inexpensive while ofiering the combined advantages of positive driving action and pusher member releasing action for the stopping and accumulation of trays.
  • the driving means on each tray comprises a recessed shoulder formed in the bottom of the tray and extending transversely between the sides thereof, enabling a tray to be diverted laterally, while propelled by a pusher member, from the path of one propelling member and into the path of another to permit the positive transfer of trays to such other propelling member as desired.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a portion of a conveyor system constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a pusher unit and portions of a pair of trays
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
  • the conveyor system illustrated is capable of moving load carriers in the form of trays 10 along a path of travel defined by tray supporting and guiding structure.
  • This structure consists of a pair of horizontally spaced supporting rails 12 and 14 each fastened at suitable intervals to vertical posts 16 which are secured to frame members 18; and, a pair of horizontally spaced guide rails 20 and 22 each secured to upright members 23 carried by the frame members 18.
  • These guide rails 20 and 22 are positioned above the horizontal level of supporting rails 12 and 14 and are engageable bythe rim portion 24 of a tray 10.
  • Each tray 10 has a bottom 26 engageable with the supporting rails 12 and 14 and provided with driving means 28 consisting of a recessed shoulder formed in the bottom of the tray 10 adjacent each of the ends 30 and 31 thereof and extending transversely of the tray between the sides 32 thereof.
  • Each recessed shoulder includes a center portion 33 (FIG. 1) which extends substantially normal to the longitudinal center line of the tray 10 and a pair of angular side portions 34 which converge toward the adjacent end of the tray.
  • An endless propelling member 36 having pusher units 38 mounted thereon at longitudinally spaced intervals, is suitably supported for travel below the tray supporting rails 12 and I4, and is driven by a conventional type of drive unit (not shown).
  • the propelling member is in the form of a chain having alternate pairs of vertically disposed links 40 and horizontally disposed links 42 connected by pins 43.
  • a pair of supporting wheels 44 is carried by the vertical links 40 and a single guide wheel 45 by the horizontal links 42.
  • This chain travels in an inclosed track 46 supported by the frame members 18, alternate forms of track construction being shown.
  • the track 46 has a continuous slot 47 formed in one of the sides thereof, while in FIGS. 4 and 5, the track has a continuous slot 48 formed in the top thereof, and in either case the mounting means for each pusher unit 38 extends through the slot.
  • Each pusher unit 38 includes a U-shaped bracket 50, con nected to a horizontal link 42 of the chain by an arm 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3) or by a vertically extending portion 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5), and supporting a pusher member 54 and a locking member 56 on pivots 57 and 58 respectively, the locking member 56 being mounted forwardly of the pusher member 54 with relation to the direction of travel indicated by the arrow 59 in FIG. 4.
  • the pusher member 54 includes an arm 60 with an upstanding driving dog 61 and holdback dog 62, the holdback dog projecting in the direction of the plane defined by the supporting rails 12 and 14 a distance less than the driving dog and being normally non-engageable with a tray as best shown in FIG. 4.
  • the pusher member 54 also includes a positioning arm 64 which extends forwardly of the pusher member pivot 57, and which acts as a counterweight to normally urge the pusher member 54 to a driving position illustrated in FIG. 4, this gravity biased movement of the pusher member being limited by a stop 66.
  • Each locking member 56 has a tripping arm 68 and a locking portion 69 which is heavier than the tripping arm and normally urges the locking member to the position shown in FIG. 4.
  • the tripping arm 68 extends into the path of tray movement in advance of a tray engaged by the driving dog 61 of the pusher unit; and, the portion 69 of the locking member 56 engages a horizontal surface 70 and a shoulder or abutment 72 on the positioning arm 64 of the pusher member 54.
  • the shoulder 72 defines the nonnal position of the locking member 56, and also prevents movement of the locking member from this position in one direction.
  • the locking member 56 will move from the normal position to a released position when the pusher unit overtakes an object in the path of travel of the tripping arm 68 of the locking member 56, and permit the pusher member 54 to move from the driving position to a non-driving position in which the driving dog 61 is disengaged from the driving means 28 of a tray.
  • the locking member 56 will not move from normal position if overtaken by an object such as a tray but instead will function as a holdback member,
  • a slight amount of pivotal movement of the locking member resulting from engagement of the tripping arm 68 with an object in the path of travel will move the lobe 74 past a dead center position in the releasing direction of motion, and the releasing action will then be augmented by the driving reaction force.
  • the pusher unit 38 is shown with the tripping arm 68 of the locking member projecting into the path of movement of a tray 10, with the driving means 28 adjacent the end 30 of this tray engaged by the driving dog 61, and initially contacting the end 31 of a preceeding tray which may be assumed to be stopped. Further forward movement 59 of the pusher unit will result in the rapid releasing action described above, the driving dog 61 will disengage from the driving means of the tray being propelled, and the locking member 56 will be retained in released position by contact of the tripping arm 68 with the bottom 26 of the preceeding tray.
  • the same releasing action can be obtained by employing a stopping device (not shown) mounted on the tray supporting structure and having a surface engageable by the tripping arm 68 for a distance greater than the distance between the tripping arm 68 and driving dog 61 along the length of the conveyor.
  • a stopping device (not shown) mounted on the tray supporting structure and having a surface engageable by the tripping arm 68 for a distance greater than the distance between the tripping arm 68 and driving dog 61 along the length of the conveyor.
  • Ascending and descending vertical curves can also be used, as desired.
  • the spacing shown in FIG. 4 between the track 46 and the tray supporting plane defined by the rails 12 and 14 may be decreased to position the holdback dog 62 in overlapping relation with the end 30 of the tray; alternately or additionally, the tripping arm 68 may be lengthened for hold back action.
  • the conveyor construction illustrated includes a horizontal curve 76 and a junction 78 where operation of a diverter member 80 will result in a tray 10 being transferred from a forwarding pusher unit 38, travelling in the direction 81 along the path indicated by the broken line 82, to a branch line 84 having receiving pusher units 38 on a propelling member supported in a track 85 and traveling in the direction 86 along the path indicated by the broken line 87.
  • the propelling member track 46 is provided with a portion 88 off-set toward the inner radius of the curve which places the driving dog 61 of a pusher member in engagement with one of the angular side portions 34 of the driving means 28 of a tray, and following the horizontal curve 76 the propelling member track 46 is again off-set to return the path of pusher travel to a centered position.
  • These angular side portions 34 of the tray driving means 28 also aid in the transfer of a tray from a forwarding to a receiving pusher unit.
  • each tray having a bottom portion with driving means thereon;
  • tray supporting and guiding structure defining a path of tray travel
  • each pusher unit comprising a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm;
  • the bracket means supporting the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with the driving means on a tray and a non-driving position, and separately supporting the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to non-driving position;
  • the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position extending into the path of tray movement in advance of a tray whose driving means is engaged by the driving dog of the pusher member.
  • a pusher conveyor system according to-claim 1 wherein the pusher member and locking member are supported by the bracket means for pivotal movement on separate axes spaced longitudinally of the propelling member, the pivotal axis of the locking member being located in advance of the pivotal axis of the pusher member with relation to the forwarding direction of conveyor movement.
  • a pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the positioning arm of the pusher member is provided with an abutment engageable by the locking member to define the normal locking position thereof and prevent movement in one direction of the locking member from the locking position.
  • a pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the positioning arm of the pusher acts as a counterweight to urge the pusher member to the normal driving position and the locking portion of the locking member acts as a counterweight to urge the locking member to the normal locking position.
  • a pusher conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein the driving means on each tray comprises a recessed shoulder formed in the bottom of the tray and extending transversely between the sides thereof.
  • a pusher conveyor system including a junction between main and branch line, each line having a propelling member and pushers, the propelling members of the main and branch lines at the junction being spaced transversely a distance less than the transverse length of the driving means on a tray, and a tray deflector positionable to shift a tray forwarded on one line laterally into a position for engagement of the driving means by a pusher of the other line.
  • a pusher conveyor system according to claim 5 wherein the recessed shoulder includes a center portion extending substantially normal to the longitudinal center line of the tray and a pair of angular side portions which converge in the direction of travel of the tray on the pusher conveyor.
  • a pusher conveyor system including a junction between main and branch lines, each line having a propelling member and pushers, the propelling members of the main and branch lines at the junction being spaced transversely a distance less than the transverse length of the driving means on a tray, and a tray deflector positionable to shift a tray forwarded on one line laterally into a position for engagement of the driving means by a pusher of the other line, the angular side portions of the driving means compensating for the oblique positioning of a tray relative to the path of travel of a pusher unit during transfer.
  • a pusher conveyor system including a horizontal curve section in the tray supporting and guiding structure, the means mounting the propelling member including a track which is offset towards the inner radius of the horizontal curve section to define a path of pusher member travel in which one of the angular side portions of the driving means on a tray is engageable by a pusher member.
  • a pusher conveyor system comprising a tubular track in which the propelling member is confined, the track having a continuous slot along one vertical side thereof, and the bracket means connecting each pusher unit to the propelling member including an arm connected to the propelling member and projecting laterally through the slot.
  • each pusher unit comprises a pusher member and a locking member, the pusher member having a driving dog and a positioning arm, and the locking member having a locking portion and a tripping arm;
  • bracket means connected to the propelling member supports the pusher member for movement between a normal driving position in which the driving dog is engageable with a load carrier and a non-driving position, and separately supports the locking member for movement between a normal locking position in which the locking portion prevents movement of the positioning arm of the pusher member to non-driving position and a released position in which the pusher member is movable to nondriving position;
  • the tripping arm of the locking member in locking position and the driving dog of the pusher member in driving position each project toward the carrier support with the tripping arm being located forwardly of the driving dog with relation to the forwarding direction of movement of the propelling member.
  • a conveyor system according to claim 11 wherein the pusher member and locking member are supported by the bracket means for pivotal movement on separate axes spaced longitudinally of the propelling member, the pivotal axis of the locking member being located in advance of the pivotal axis of the pusher member with relation to the forwarding direction of movement of the propelling member.
  • a conveyor system wherein the positioning arm of the pusher acts as a counter weight to urge the pusher member to the normal driving position, and the locking portion of the locking member acts as a counter weight to urge the locking member to the normal locking position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Special Conveying (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
  • Jigging Conveyors (AREA)
  • Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Pusher Or Impeller Conveyors (AREA)
US4633A 1970-01-21 1970-01-21 Conveyor system for trays Expired - Lifetime US3661094A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US463370A 1970-01-21 1970-01-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3661094A true US3661094A (en) 1972-05-09

Family

ID=21711713

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US4633A Expired - Lifetime US3661094A (en) 1970-01-21 1970-01-21 Conveyor system for trays

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3661094A (de)
JP (1) JPS4821476B1 (de)
BE (1) BE761809A (de)
BR (1) BR7100270D0 (de)
CA (1) CA937526A (de)
DE (1) DE2102791B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2077256B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1333296A (de)
ZA (1) ZA708314B (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3799327A (en) * 1971-12-07 1974-03-26 Schulz F Ass Inc Conveyor system and dog
US3894629A (en) * 1972-11-04 1975-07-15 Nakanishi Metal Works Co Conveyor
JPS51158584U (de) * 1975-06-12 1976-12-16
US4924777A (en) * 1988-11-16 1990-05-15 Southern Systems, Inc. Maximum density conveyor system
US20130175138A1 (en) * 2012-01-10 2013-07-11 Kenneth Damgaard Hoell Conveyor apparatus for an assembly line
US20170107057A1 (en) * 2014-05-29 2017-04-20 Esypro Manutención S.L.U. Flexible manual storage system

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2726770C2 (de) * 1977-06-14 1982-10-07 Dipl.-Ing. Otto Schulze-Berge, Förder- und Lagertechnik, 4700 Hamm Vorrichtung zum staudrucklosen Fördern von Ladungsgutträgern
DE3368251D1 (en) * 1982-06-23 1987-01-22 Univeyor As An apparatus for rowwise accumulation of roller containers
DE3928437A1 (de) * 1989-08-24 1991-04-25 Mannesmann Ag Foerderanlage
DE102004006719B3 (de) * 2004-02-11 2005-08-11 WBS Fördertechnik GmbH Vertikale Staufördervorrichtung
CN113581751A (zh) * 2021-05-31 2021-11-02 宁夏天地奔牛实业集团有限公司 工业物料静态输送装备
CN113979013B (zh) * 2021-10-22 2023-08-25 珠海格力智能装备有限公司 定位机构及具有其的运输***

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1518431A (en) * 1924-04-09 1924-12-09 Leonard E Hurst Chain and truck guide
US3099228A (en) * 1961-10-12 1963-07-30 Lingg Gerhard Transport and storage arrangement for carriers
US3200768A (en) * 1963-09-04 1965-08-17 Mechanical Handling Sys Inc Conveyor system with accumulating trolley units
US3233557A (en) * 1965-06-07 1966-02-08 Perfecto Inc Automobile conveyor
US3410225A (en) * 1965-10-04 1968-11-12 Rapistan Inc Mechanism for orienting pallets
US3424112A (en) * 1966-01-22 1969-01-28 Fisholow Prod Ltd Conveyors
US3559586A (en) * 1968-11-29 1971-02-02 Rapistan Inc Retracting push-rod assembly for conveyors

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1194325B (de) * 1961-11-18 1965-06-03 Gerhard Lingg Dipl Ing Klinkenartige Mitnahmevorrichtung bei Schleppkettenfoerderern
FR1477129A (fr) * 1966-04-22 1967-04-14 Fisher & Ludlow Ltd Perfectionnements aux transporteurs situés au niveau du sol

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1518431A (en) * 1924-04-09 1924-12-09 Leonard E Hurst Chain and truck guide
US3099228A (en) * 1961-10-12 1963-07-30 Lingg Gerhard Transport and storage arrangement for carriers
US3200768A (en) * 1963-09-04 1965-08-17 Mechanical Handling Sys Inc Conveyor system with accumulating trolley units
US3233557A (en) * 1965-06-07 1966-02-08 Perfecto Inc Automobile conveyor
US3410225A (en) * 1965-10-04 1968-11-12 Rapistan Inc Mechanism for orienting pallets
US3424112A (en) * 1966-01-22 1969-01-28 Fisholow Prod Ltd Conveyors
US3559586A (en) * 1968-11-29 1971-02-02 Rapistan Inc Retracting push-rod assembly for conveyors

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3799327A (en) * 1971-12-07 1974-03-26 Schulz F Ass Inc Conveyor system and dog
US3894629A (en) * 1972-11-04 1975-07-15 Nakanishi Metal Works Co Conveyor
JPS51158584U (de) * 1975-06-12 1976-12-16
US4924777A (en) * 1988-11-16 1990-05-15 Southern Systems, Inc. Maximum density conveyor system
US20130175138A1 (en) * 2012-01-10 2013-07-11 Kenneth Damgaard Hoell Conveyor apparatus for an assembly line
US8839943B2 (en) * 2012-01-10 2014-09-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Conveyor apparatus for an assembly line
US20170107057A1 (en) * 2014-05-29 2017-04-20 Esypro Manutención S.L.U. Flexible manual storage system
US9896270B2 (en) * 2014-05-29 2018-02-20 Esypro Manutención S.L.U. Flexible manual storage system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA708314B (en) 1971-09-29
CA937526A (en) 1973-11-27
GB1333296A (en) 1973-10-10
BR7100270D0 (pt) 1973-04-05
FR2077256A1 (de) 1971-10-22
BE761809A (fr) 1971-07-01
DE2102791A1 (de) 1971-07-29
DE2102791C3 (de) 1975-04-03
DE2102791B2 (de) 1974-07-18
JPS4821476B1 (de) 1973-06-28
FR2077256B1 (de) 1974-10-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3661094A (en) Conveyor system for trays
US3650216A (en) Railway car speed control transportation system
US3451352A (en) Conveyor carrier with selectively operable dogs
US4461216A (en) Over and under accumulating power and free conveyor system
US2593699A (en) Booster conveyer for gravity conveyer systems
US4408540A (en) Method and conveyor system for processing articles through successive operations
GB1102202A (en) Improvements in conveyors
KR880002143B1 (ko) 콘베이어 및 그 추진기 장치
US2973721A (en) Conveyor system
US3523504A (en) Power and free conveyor
KR0149176B1 (ko) 캐리어 이동식 컨베이어
US3882793A (en) Tow conveyor
KR880002430B1 (ko) 동력 및 자유 구동형 콘베이어 장치
US4070972A (en) Carrier propelling mechanism for power and free conveyors
GB1416034A (en) Conveyor systems
US3724390A (en) Car wash conveyor
JPS608171A (ja) 搬送設備
US3621790A (en) Railway propulsion system
US2782727A (en) Conveyor systems
US3565012A (en) Conveyor carrier control system
US3908555A (en) Conveyor track switch
US3044415A (en) Mechanism for propelling a load carrying vehicle between main and branch lines of a material handling system
US3415202A (en) Conveyor construction
US4593624A (en) Power and free conveyor
US3741126A (en) Suspended conveyor system