Variable-velocity conveyor

Claim 2

A conveyor system for moving a load from one station to another comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one intermediate section wherein said tracks are disposed in closer vertical relation than in the remainder of said path; a conveying mechanism mounted between said tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt for supporting a load thereon disposed over each repeating section; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism at a constant drive speed through said endless path whereby upon passage through said intermediate section of said endless path said conveying mechanism is moved at a higher speed than in said remainder of said path.

Claim 3

A conveyor system for moving a load from one station to another comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one intermediate section wherein said tracks are disposed in closer vertical relation than in the remainder of said path; a conveying mechanism mounted between said tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section, said flexible belt being continuous and including a plurality of horizontal stretches disposed over each repeating section and a plurality of vertical loops disposed between adjacent repeating sections, said repeating sections having means therein for adjusting the vertical extent of said vertical loops in response to horizontal elongation of said repeating sections in passing through said endless path; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism at a constant drive speed through said endless path whereby upon passage through said intermediate section of said endless path said conveying mechanism is moved at a higher speed than in said remainder of said path.

Claim 4

A conveyor system for moving a load from one station to another comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one intermediate section wherein said tracks are disposed in closer vertical relation than in the remainder of said path; a conveying mechanism mounted between said tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section, said flexible belt being continuous and including a plurality of horizontal stretches disposed over each repeating section and a plurality of vertical loops disposed between adjacent repeating sections, said repeating sections having means therein for adjusting the vertical extent of said vertical loops in response to horizontal elongation of said repeating sections in passing through said endless path; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism at a constant drive speed through said endless path whereby upon passage through said intermediate section of said endless path said conveying mechanism is moved at a higher speed than in said remainder of said path.

Claim 5

A conveyor system for moving a load from one station to another comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one intermediate section wherein said tracks are disposed in closer vertical relation than in the remainder of said path; a conveying mechanism mounted between said tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanisM including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section, each flexible belt having an intermediate horizontal stretch disposed over a repeating section and a pair of ends vertically disposed to said horizontal stretch, each repeating section including belt-retaining means secured to each respective end of said belt for adjusting the vertical length of said ends in response to movement of said conveying mechanism in said endless path; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism at a constant drive speed through said endless path whereby upon passage through said intermediate section of said endless path said conveying mechanism is moved at a higher speed than in said remainder of said path.

Claim 6

A conveyor system for moving a load from one station to another comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one intermediate section wherein said tracks are disposed in closer vertical relation than in the remainder of said path; a conveying mechanism mounted between said tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanisM including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section, each flexible belt having an intermediate horizontal stretch disposed over a repeating section and a pair of ends vertically disposed to said horizontal stretch, each repeating section including belt-retaining means secured to each respective end of said belt for adjusting the vertical length of said ends in response to movement of said conveying mechanism in said endless path; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism at a constant drive speed through said endless path whereby upon passage through said intermediate section of said endless path said conveying mechanism is moved at a higher speed than in said remainder of said path.

Claim 7

A conveyor system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said belt-retaining means is spring biased in a direction inwardly of said guide tracks.

Claim 8

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in close relationships, a pair of divergent zones on opposite sides of said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in greater spaced relationship than in said convergent zone, and at least one transition zone between each divergent zone and said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks join said zones together; a conveying mechanism mounted between said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt for supporting a load thereon disposed over each repeating section; and a drive means operatively connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path at a constant drive speed whereby said conveying mechanism accelerates in passing through one of said transition zones and decelerates in passing through the other of said transition zones.

Claim 9

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in close relationships, a pair of divergent zones on opposite sides of said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in greater spaced relationship than in said convergent zone, and at least one transition zone between each divergent zone and said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks join said zones together; a conveying mechanism mounted between said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt for supporting a load thereon disposed over each repeating section; and a drive means operatively connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path at a constant drive speed whereby said conveying mechanism accelerates in passing through one of said transition zones and decelerates in passing through the other of said transition zones.

Claim 10

A conveyor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide tracks include a pair of parallel coplanar upper guide tracks and a pair of parallel coplanar lower guide tracks defining a horizontally disposed endless path.

Claim 11

A conveyor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide tracks further define an endless path having a horizontal segment and a vertically inclined segment, said guide tracks including a pair of upper guide tracks and a pair of lower guide tracks disposed in substantially parallel relation in said horizontal and inclined segments and a third pair of guide tracks disposed in parallel coplanar relation to said upper guide tracks in said horizontal segment and in parallel vertically spaced relation to said upper guide tracks in said inclined segment; and wherein said repeating sections include means for contouring said flexible belt thereon into a horizontal tread section for carrying a load thereon and a downwardly inclined section within said inclined segment of said endless path.

Claim 12

A conveyor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for contouring said flexible belt includes a pair of belt guides disposed across said belt in said third pair of tracks, an upper track rod disposed in said upper guide tracks, a pair of lower track rods disposed in said lower guide tracks a fixed distance from said upper track rod, and belt-retaining means mounted on said lower track rods in engagement with said flexible belt to pull said belt taut over said belt guides and upper track rod to form the horizontal tread between one of said belt guides and said upper track rod.

Claim 13

A conveyor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a first driven endless chain adjacent said third pair of guide tracks in abutting relation with said belt guides for driving said belt guides at a slightly greater speed than said convEying mechanism in said horizontal segment and a second driven endless chain adjacent said lower guide tracks in said inclined segment for driving said lower track rods in said inclined segment at the same speed as the belt guides in said inclined segment.

Claim 14

A conveyor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said belt guides are freely mounted in said third pair of tracks to center over said lower track rods.

Claim 15

A conveyor as set forth in claim 8 wherein each said belt-retaining means is spring mounted on a respective lower track rod.

Claim 16

A conveyor as set forth in claim 8 wherein each said retaining means of an adjacent repeating section includes a rod spring mounted on and over a respective lower track rod.

Claim 17

A conveyor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveying mechanism includes a plurality of telescoping means connected between said upper track rod and each said belt guide and under said belt of each repeating section for supporting a load on said belt.

Claim 18

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a plurality of guide tracks including a pair of parallel coplanar upper guide tracks and a pair of parallel coplanar lower guide tracks defining a horizontally disposed endless path, said guide tracks being disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in close relationship, a pair of divergent zones on opposite sides of said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in greater spaced relationship than in said convergent zone, and at least one transition zone between each divergent zone and said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks join said zones together; a conveying mechanism mounted between said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section each repeating section including a pair of lower track rods movably mounted in said lower guide tracks, an upper track rod movably mounted in said upper guide tracks, a pair of hypothenuse rods of fixed length on each side of said conveying mechanism pivotally connected between said upper track rod and a respective lower track rod, a pair of belt guides movably mounted in said upper guide tracks on opposite sides of said upper track rod supporting a horizontal length of said flexible belt therebetween, and a belt-retaining means secured to each lower track rod engaging said flexible belt below a respective belt guide, said belt-retaining means being biased in a direction towards said lower track rod whereby upon movement of said conveying mechanism through each transition zone, said hypothenuse rods pivot with respect to said track rods to vary the vertical height and horizontal length of each repeating section while the horizontal length of said flexible belt is varied to maintain a substantially continuous floor from one repeating section to the next; and a drive means operatively connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path at a constant drive speed whereby said conveying mechanism accelerates in passing through one of said transition zones and decelerates in passing through the other of said transition zones.

Claim 19

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a plurality of guide tracks including a pair of parallel coplanar upper guide tracks and a pair of parallel coplanar lower guide tracks defining a horizontally disposed endless path, said guide tracks being disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having at least one convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in close relationship, a pair of divergent zones on opposite sides of said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks are disposed in greater spaced relationship than in said convergent zone, and at least one transition zone between each divergent zone and said convergent zone wherein said guide tracks join said zones together; a conveying mechanism mounted between said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected vertically and horizontally variable repeating sections and a flexible belt disposed over each repeating section each repeating section including a pair of lower track rods movably mounted in said lower guide tracks, an upper track rod movably mounted in said upper guide tracks, a pair of hypothenuse rods of fixed length on each side of said conveying mechanism pivotally connected between said upper track rod and a respective lower track rod, a pair of belt guides movably mounted in said upper guide tracks on opposite sides of said upper track rod supporting a horizontal length of said flexible belt therebetween, and a belt-retaining means secured to each lower track rod engaging said flexible belt below a respective belt guide, said belt-retaining means being biased in a direction towards said lower track rod whereby upon movement of said conveying mechanism through each transition zone, said hypothenuse rods pivot with respect to said track rods to vary the vertical height and horizontal length of each repeating section while the horizontal length of said flexible belt is varied to maintain a substantially continuous floor from one repeating section to the next; and a drive means operatively connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path at a constant drive speed whereby said conveying mechanism accelerates in passing through one of said transition zones and decelerates in passing through the other of said transition zones.

Claim 20

A conveyor as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a comb positioned between adjacent belt guides of adjacent repeating sections for overlying the space therebetween.

Claim 21

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a pair of upper guide tracks disposed in an endless loop; a pair of lower guide tracks disposed within said upper guide tracks to define an endless path, said lower tracks being spaced from said upper tracks in the upper reach of said path to define a pair of divergent zones having said upper and lower tracks spaced far apart, a convergent zone between said divergent having said upper and lower tracks spaced close tOgether, and a pair of transition zones between said convergent zone and a respective divergent zone having said lower tracks sloped with respect to said upper tracks; a conveying mechanism disposed in said upper and lower tracks to completely fill said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnecting collapsible repeating sections and a belt disposed over each repeating section to form a plurality of horizontal stretches over said repeating sections and a plurality of vertical loops between adjacent repeating sections, said loops being in engagement at the lowermost ends thereof with said repeating sections; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path whereby upon movement through each said transition zone said repeating sections collapse and change speed at a smooth rate while said horizontal stretches of said belt vary in length and speed to maintain a substantially continuous floor between adjacent repeating sections during acceleration and deceleration.

Claim 22

A conveyor of endless loop construction comprising: a pair of upper guide tracks disposed in an endless loop; a pair of lower guide tracks disposed within said upper guide tracks to define an endless path, said lower tracks being spaced from said upper tracks in the upper reach of said path to define a pair of divergent zones having said upper and lower tracks spaced far apart, a convergent zone between said divergent having said upper and lower tracks spaced close tOgether, and a pair of transition zones between said convergent zone and a respective divergent zone having said lower tracks sloped with respect to said upper tracks; a conveying mechanism disposed in said upper and lower tracks to completely fill said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnecting collapsible repeating sections and a belt disposed over each repeating section to form a plurality of horizontal stretches over said repeating sections and a plurality of vertical loops between adjacent repeating sections, said loops being in engagement at the lowermost ends thereof with said repeating sections; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path whereby upon movement through each said transition zone said repeating sections collapse and change speed at a smooth rate while said horizontal stretches of said belt vary in length and speed to maintain a substantially continuous floor between adjacent repeating sections during acceleration and deceleration.

Claim 23

A conveyor as set forth in claim 16 wherein said lower guide tracks slope at a constant angle with respect to said upper guide tracks in each said transition zone.

Claim 24

A conveyor as set forth in claim 16 wherein said drive means is connected to said conveying mechanism to drive said conveying mechanism at a constant rate.

Claim 25

A conveyor as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a comb means in said conveying mechanism adjacent said upper guide tracks between adjacent repeating sections for closing the space therebetween.

Claim 26

A conveyor as set forth in claim 16 wherein said drive means includes at least one roller along said endless path, said roller having a plurality of equispaced pushers thereon for abutting successive repeating sections of said conveying mechanism.

Claim 27

A conveyor comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having a horizontal segment and an inclined segment, said guide tracks including at least one upper guide track and at least one lower guide track in parallel relation, and at least a third guide track parallel to and coplanar with said guide track in said horizontal segment and parallel to and spaced between said upper and lower guide tracks in said inclined segment; a conveying mechanism mounted in said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected repeating sections and flexible belt over each repeating section defining a plurality of horizontal stretches over said repeating sections and a plurality of vertical loops between adjacent repeating sections, each repeating section including a pair of spaced lower track rods in said lower guide track, an upper track rod in said upper guide track, a pair of hypothenuse rods connected between said upper and lower track rods, a pair of belt guides mounted on opposite sides of said upper track rod in said third guide track for guiding said belt thereover, and belt-retaining means in engagement with each vertical loop for adjusting the length of said vertical loop; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path, said drive means including a first means parallel to said third guide track in said horizontal and inclined segments for engaging and driving said belt guides at a higher speed than said conveying mechanism and a second means parallel to said lower guide track for engaging and driving said lower track rods at the same speed as said belt guides in said inclined segment whereby said conveying mechanism is contoured in a steplike manner in passing through said inclined segment to form said belt into a horizontal tread between a belt guide and the upper track rod of each repeating section.

Claim 28

A conveyor comprising: a plurality of guide tracks disposed in spaced relation to define an endless path having a horizontal segment and an inclined segment, said guide tracks including at least one upper guide track and at least one lower guide track in parallel relation, and at least a third guide track parallel to and coplanar with said guide track in said horizontal segment and parallel to and spaced between said upper and lower guide tracks in said inclined segment; a conveying mechanism mounted in said guide tracks for movement through said endless path, said conveying mechanism including a plurality of interconnected repeating sections and flexible belt over each repeating section defining a plurality of horizontal stretches over said repeating sections and a plurality of vertical loops between adjacent repeating sections, each repeating section including a pair of spaced lower track rods in said lower guide track, an upper track rod in said upper guide track, a pair of hypothenuse rods connected between said upper and lower track rods, a pair of belt guides mounted on opposite sides of said upper track rod in said third guide track for guiding said belt thereover, and belt-retaining means in engagement with each vertical loop for adjusting the length of said vertical loop; and a drive means connected to said conveying mechanism for driving said conveying mechanism through said endless path, said drive means including a first means parallel to said third guide track in said horizontal and inclined segments for engaging and driving said belt guides at a higher speed than said conveying mechanism and a second means parallel to said lower guide track for engaging and driving said lower track rods at the same speed as said belt guides in said inclined segment whereby said conveying mechanism is contoured in a steplike manner in passing through said inclined segment to form said belt into a horizontal tread between a belt guide and the upper track rod of each repeating section.

Claim 29

A conveyor as set forth in claim 21 wherein said plurality of tracks include a pair of coplanar parallel upper guide trAcks, a pair of coplanar parallel lower guide tracks and a pair of parallel third guide tracks.

Claim 30

A conveyor as set forth in claim 21 wherein said first means and said second means each include an endless chain belt in abutment with said respective belt guides and lower track rods.