Patent · US Expired

Accumulating commodity conveyor

US4679685A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
20References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1983
Grant dateJul 14, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2207/14
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

This invention is a commodity conveyor for use with an accumulating device wherein a pusher pushes box-shaped commodities off the conveyor in a perpendicular direction onto a second conveyor. The present invention provides a constant commodity flow rate, with individual commodities travelling at a fixed distance from each other, so that accumulation of the commodities can be made automatically. In one embodiment, the second conveyor includes a pair of endless chains connected by parallel cylindrical rollers. The speed of the pusher and the second conveyor are kept equal. In a second embodiment, sets of pairs of endless vertical belts are provided on either side of the commodity conveyor, gripping the individual commodities. With one set of belts travelling below conveyor speed, and another set travelling exactly at the same speed as the conveyor speed, it is possible to obtain the desired constant commodity flow rate and constant separation distance between commodities. Additional pushers can accumulate the commodities into a collecting container, and further, push them out of the container.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.