Transfer system for a conveyor
US6158566A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/54
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A transfer system that moves packages on a conveyor to an accumulator and back thereto includes a plurality of spaced-apart rollers which rotate to transport the packages. The accumulator includes a plurality of storage shelves, each of which is formed from a plurality of spaced apart fingers. The transfer system includes a support structure, an actuator for moving the support structure a predetermined vertical distance and a predetermined horizontal distance, and a plurality of transfer fins secured to the support structure. Each transfer fin has a relatively small thickness and is adapted to fit within a space between a pair of adjacent rollers used in the conveyor and a space between a pair of accumulator shelf finger. The space between the rollers and the space between the accumulator fingers are generally aligned such that the fins can be moved vertically to supportably lift the package off of the conveyor rollers and moved horizontally to deposit the package on the accumulator shelves. In a first mode of operation, the transfer fins have a length which is approximately equal to the total length of the number of rows of packages which can be stored on the accumulator shelf. In…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.