Patent · US Expired

Vertical load transferring apparatus

US5472503A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
16References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 1993
Grant dateDec 5, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05C3/02
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A raising and lowering mechanism is provided at a work station for vertically transferring articles or products delivered to the station by an overhead delivery conveyor. Discrimination between transfer of a load from the delivery conveyor and transfer back to the delivery conveyor is accomplished by a mechanical discriminator which appropriately conditions suspension hooks on the delivery conveyor for either releasing the load or reconnecting the load. The transfer mechanism employs a vertically reciprocating conveyor which is confined to a vertical transfer axis without the necessity to employ some degree of lateral movement to uncouple the load from the delivery conveyor, present the load at a working position within the work station, and return the load to the delivery conveyor. Drift compensation is provided to allow for some misalignment of a delivered load with the transfer axis. The drive system for the vertical conveyor may be coupled by a flexible linkage to other work stations to enable simultaneous operation of transfer mechanisms at a plurality of work stations with a single drive. In applications where articles are immersed in a treatment bath at a work station, the v…

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