US3593862A — Interfingering endless elevator and conveyor appa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 384 words

An elevator for bundled newspapers or the like which comprises: a vertically disposed rigid frame open at the front and with a hollow interior defining an elevator shaft; vertically spaced parallel shafts journaled for rotation in the top and bottom of the frame extending transversely thereof; a pair of sprockets mounted on each shaft for rotation therewith in transversely spaced relation to one another and in vertically aligned relation to the pair on the other of said shafts; an endless sprocket chain reaved between each vertically aligned pair of sprockets; at least two flight subassemblies attached to the sprocket chains at spaced intervals throughout the length thereof, each of said subassemblies including at least one trunnion block attached alongside horizontally aligned chain links on both chains, each of said trunnion blocks having vertically spaced and aligned trunnions journaled for rotation about parallel horizontally disposed axes projecting laterally therefrom on the side remote from the chain, and a thin elongate pickup arm projecting forward horizontally from each trunnion block in transversely spaced parallel relation to one another; channel-shaped tracks opening toward the chains in spaced parallel relation to the straight runs thereof located on each side carrying a trunnion block, said tracks being positioned to guide the flight subassemblies and adapted to maintain their pickup arms essentially horizontal under load; drive means operatively connected to one of the shafts; a first roller conveyor extending transversely across the front of the frame near the lower end thereof, said conveyor including at least two pairs of adJacent spaced parallel rollers independently journaled at their rear ends so as to provide a gap positioned and adapted to pass the arms of the flight subassemblies therebetween; a second conveyor located at a higher level than said first conveyor extending transversely across the front of the elevator in spaced relation thereto at a distance such that the pickup arms pass therebetween; and, a first bundle transfer subassembly located at the level of said second conveyor between the pickup arms of the flight subassemblies, said transfer subassembly including a horizontally extendable pusher movable in a direction normal to the direction of conveyor movement, and said pusher being operative upon actuation with one of said flight subassemblies at the level of said second conveyor to effect the transfer of a bundle therebetween.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 384 words

An elevator for bundled newspapers or the like which comprises: a vertically disposed rigid frame open at the front and with a hollow interior defining an elevator shaft; vertically spaced parallel shafts journaled for rotation in the top and bottom of the frame extending transversely thereof; a pair of sprockets mounted on each shaft for rotation therewith in transversely spaced relation to one another and in vertically aligned relation to the pair on the other of said shafts; an endless sprocket chain reaved between each vertically aligned pair of sprockets; at least two flight subassemblies attached to the sprocket chains at spaced intervals throughout the length thereof, each of said subassemblies including at least one trunnion block attached alongside horizontally aligned chain links on both chains, each of said trunnion blocks having vertically spaced and aligned trunnions journaled for rotation about parallel horizontally disposed axes projecting laterally therefrom on the side remote from the chain, and a thin elongate pickup arm projecting forward horizontally from each trunnion block in transversely spaced parallel relation to one another; channel-shaped tracks opening toward the chains in spaced parallel relation to the straight runs thereof located on each side carrying a trunnion block, said tracks being positioned to guide the flight subassemblies and adapted to maintain their pickup arms essentially horizontal under load; drive means operatively connected to one of the shafts; a first roller conveyor extending transversely across the front of the frame near the lower end thereof, said conveyor including at least two pairs of adJacent spaced parallel rollers independently journaled at their rear ends so as to provide a gap positioned and adapted to pass the arms of the flight subassemblies therebetween; a second conveyor located at a higher level than said first conveyor extending transversely across the front of the elevator in spaced relation thereto at a distance such that the pickup arms pass therebetween; and, a first bundle transfer subassembly located at the level of said second conveyor between the pickup arms of the flight subassemblies, said transfer subassembly including a horizontally extendable pusher movable in a direction normal to the direction of conveyor movement, and said pusher being operative upon actuation with one of said flight subassemblies at the level of said second conveyor to effect the transfer of a bundle therebetween.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 88 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 1 in which: the drive means is operative upon actuation to move the flight subassemblies in a direction to lift bundles from the first conveyor and deliver same to said second conveyor; and, the first bundle transfer subassembly is housed inside the elevator shaft with the pusher located between the sprocket chains facing forwardly, said pusher being operative upon actuation to extend and push a bundle from the adjacent flight subassembly immediately therebeneath off onto the second conveyor alongside thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 1 in which: the pusher subassembly includes a solenoid-valve controlled servomotor connected to the pusher and operative upon actuation to extend same, a forward limit switch responsive to extension of said pusher to deenergize said servomotor controlling same, and a rear limit switch responsive to movement of the pusher and operative to deenergize the drive means when said pusher is extended.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 154 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 1 in which: each of the flight subassemblies includes a pair of trunnion blocks mounted on opposite sides of the same chain link, a connecting member bridges the gap left between said pair of trunnion blocks across the face of the link, and said pickup arms each include a pair of tines projecting from said connecting member in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, said tines of each of said arms being spaced apart a distance adapted to pass a roller of the first conveyor therebetween; the tracks comprise a pair of channel-shaped members opening toward one another positioned to receive the trunnions carried by the trunnion blocks on both sides of each chain; and, the first roller conveyor includes two rollers independently journaled at their rear ends and with gaps on both sides thereof adapted to pass the tines of the bifurcated pickup arms.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 94 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 1 in which: the second conveyor and first bundle transfer subassembly are located intermediate the top and bottom of the elevator; a third conveyor is arranged in spaced parallel relation above the second conveyor extending transversely across the elevator slightly beneath the top thereof; and, a second bundle transfer subassembly is located at the top of the elevator, said second transfer subassembly being operative upon actuation to effect the transfer of a bundle between said third conveyor and a flight subassembly horizontally aligned with the latter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 104 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 2 in which: a retractable bundle-stop subassembly is located beneath the first roller conveyor operative upon actuation to obstruct the path of a bundle moving thereacross and stop same in front of the elevator in position to be lifted by the flight subassemblies thereof, said subassembly including a plate mounted and guided for upward movement between a pair of adjacent spaced parallel rollers of the conveyor, and servomotor means connected to said plate operative upon actuation to raise same from a retracted position beneath the load-carrying surface of said conveyor to an elevated position projecting thereabOve.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 78 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 2 in which: a generally U-shaped bail is attached to the elevator frame for hinged movement about a transversely extending horizontal axis interconnecting the free ends thereof, said bail projecting out over the rising flights in position to closely encircle an unbroken properly aligned bundle supported thereon, and means responsive to lifting movement of the bail operatively connected to the drive means and adapted upon actuation to deenergize the latter.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 2 in which: a bundle-straightening subassembly is mounted alongside the first roller conveyor across from the elevator and in opposing relation thereto, said subassembly including an extendable pusher movable horizontally toward the elevator across the top of the first roller conveyor, said pusher being operative upon actuation to push a bundle located in front thereof atop the roller conveyor up snug against the elevator.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 83 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 2 in which: means comprising a safety gate is mounted at the top of the elevator for hinged movement about a transverse axis, said gate including a member extending transversely across said elevator in position to be lifted by a rising bundle about to go over the top thereof while clearing the flight subassemblies as they turn therebeneath, and means responsive to lifting of said gate member operative upon actuation to deenergize said drive means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 2 in which: the drive means includes an electric motor, electrically actuated clutch means interposed between said motor and elevator drive shaft operative upon energization to form driving connection therebetween, and an electrically actuated brake means connected to one of said elevator shafts operative upon energization to release same for rotation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 72 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 6 in which: a bundle-straightening subassembly is mounted alongside the first roller conveyor across from the elevator and in opposing relation thereto, said subassembly including an extendable pusher movable horizontally toward the elevator across the top of the first roller conveyor, said pusher being operative upon actuation to push a bundle located in front thereof atop the roller conveyor up snug against the elevator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 6 in which: the drive means includes an electric motor, electrically actuated clutch means interposed between said motor and elevator drive shaft operative upon energization to form driving connection therebetween, and an electrically actuated brake means connected to one of said elevator shafts operative upon energization to release same for rotation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 6 in which: pattern selector means having at least two positions is connected to the bundle-stop subassembly, said means being operative in one position to deactuate the servomotor means of said bundle-stop subassembly and in all other positions to actuate same.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 8 in which: the straightener subassembly includes a solenoid-valve controlled servomotor connected to the pusher operative upon energization to extend same, and a forward limit switch responsive to movement of the pusher into extended position so as to deenergize said solenoid and retract said pusher to its original position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 11 in which: switch means responsive to movement of an incoming bundle against the bundle-stop subassembly with the latter elevated into operative position is connected to the bundle-straightening subassembly and becomes operative to actuate the latter upon actuation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 132 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 12 in which: a control circuit having cycle initiating means and flight subassembly indexing means is connected to the drive means and is automatically operative to raise an incoming bundle from the first roller conveyOr to the level of the second conveyor means in position to be discharged thereon, said cycle initiating means being responsive to a bundle striking the bundle-stop subassembly when the latter is actuated into operative position so as to engage the clutch and disengage the brake of the drive means, and said flight subassembly indexing means being operatively associated with the flight subassemblies and responsive to the arrival thereof at the discharge position opposite the second conveyor means to disengage the clutch and set the brake of the drive means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 85 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 16 in which: the pusher subassembly includes a solenoid controlled servomotor connected to the pusher operative upon actuation to extend same, and a forward limit switch responsive to extension of the pusher operative upon actuation to deenergize said servomotor controlling same; and, the flight subassembly indexing means of the control circuit is connected to the solenoid-controlled servomotor of the pusher subassembly and operative upon arrival of a flight subassembly at the second conveyor means to actuate same.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 181 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 16 in which: a third conveyor means is located in vertically spaced relation above the second conveyor means so as to extend transversely across in front of the elevator at a level aligned horizontally with one of the stopping points of the flight subassemblies; a second bundle transfer subassembly is housed within the elevator facing outwardly between the chains, said subassembly including a pusher operative upon actuation to transfer a bundle resting atop a flight subassembly aligned therewith off onto the third conveyor means; and, a pattern selector means having at least three operative positions is connected to the bundle-stop subassembly and both bundle transfer subassemblies, said pattern selector means being operative in first position to deactuate the bundle-stop subassembly so as to allow a bundle to pass straight through on the first roller conveyor, in a second position to actuate the bundle-stop subassembly and the first bundle transfer subassembly, and in a third position to actuate the bundle-stop subassembly and the second bundle transfer subassembly while deactuating the first bundle transfer subassembly.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The bundle elevator as set forth in claim 18 in which: the pattern selector means is connected to the bundle-straightener subassembly and operative in first position to deactuate same while actuating said subassembly in all other positions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-07-19	1975-01-18	1975-07-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-07-19	1979-01-18	1979-07-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-07-19	1983-01-18	1983-07-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Interfingering endless elevator and conveyor apparatus

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