Method for controlling the flow of articles and pallets in a conveyor system
US4236865A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 1978 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G1/08
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In a system wherein pallets and their loads are conveyed along paths to one or more unloading stations, a method of preventing piling up at the station and of load-shifting of stopped pallets, comprising the step of, in sequence, sensing the arrival of a pallet at the unloading station, applying a braking force to the underside of an arriving upstream pallet at an upstream position so as to decelerate it gradually and safely to a stop at a distance from the unloading station pallet, unloading the pallet from the unloading station and relieving the braking force from the upstream pallet so it can be conveyed onto the unloading station. The apparatus is in the form of a holdback assembly having a feeler assembly adjacent the unloading station responsive to a pallet or article moving into the unloading station for actuating a brake assembly to apply a braking force to the underside of the upstream pallet or to the engageable surface of the upstream article. The inertial energy of a downstream pallet or article moving into the unloading station provides the energy for actuating the brake assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.