Conveyor accumulator for controlling the flow of articles being conveyed
US9896271B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2016 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/5122
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A conveyor accumulator for conveying articles comprises first and second parallel rails, a turnaround wheel, an endless loop conveyor chain, an infeed drive device, and an outfeed drive device. Each of the rails comprises a support surface and a guide surface. The support surfaces slope downward as they extend outboard of the center plane of the accumulator. The turnaround wheel is movable between the guide rails. The conveyor chain is slideable along and supported against gravity by at least the support surfaces of the first and second rails and is prevented from moving outboard by the guide surfaces. The turnaround wheel is configured to move in a manner extending and, alternatively, contracting the path of the portion of the conveyor chain configured to hold articles. The turnaround wheel is configured and adapted to cause the conveyor chain to bank as the conveyor chain extends around the turnaround wheel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.