Sensor for in-floor conveyors

Claim 2

A sensor for a switching mechanism for an in-floor conveyor for controlling the movement of a vehicle connected to said conveyor and having a sensor actuator, the sensor having an actuator contacting element projecting above the floor, the improvement in said sensor comprising: said element having a pair of upstanding actuator contacting sections movable with respect to each other; plate means supporting said sections for vertical movement between an extended position projecting above the surface of the floor and a retracted position wherein their tops are depressed generally flush with said floor surface; mounting means for said plate means holding said plate means against movement normal to said vertical movement, one of said sections being fixed to said plate means, the other of said sections being pivotally mounted on said plate means for movement in a horizontal plane toward and away from said fixed section; means biasing said plate means and said sections into said extended position; means biasing said movable section toward said fixed section to form a passage for said actuator a portion of which is narrower than said actuator whereby movement of said actuator through said passage forces said sections apart; a switch responsive to movement of said movable section; and means connecting said movable section to said switch; said switch being fixed against vertical movement; said connecting means allowing vertical movement of said plate means with respect to said switch without actuating said switch.

Claim 3

A sensor as described in claim 1, wherein said passage is V-shaped with the end thereof upstream of the direction of movement of said conveyor being wider than the thickness of said actuator to facilitate the entry of the actuator into said passage.

Claim 4

A sensor as described in claim 1 wherein said movable section has an integrally extending arm member pivotable with said movable member about an axis generally perpendicular to the floor and wherein said connecting means is connected to said switch and said arm member.

Claim 5

A sensor as described in claim 1 and further including camming portions on said sections forming an entrance to said passage, said camming portions adapted to center and gradually engage said actuator.

Claim 6

A sensor as described in claim 4 wherein said sections include an outer surface shaped to present a blunted, gradually curved projection rising from the surface of the floor.

Claim 7

A sensor for a switching mechanism for an in-floor conveyor for controlling the movement of a vehicle connected to said conveyor and having a sensor actuator, the sensor having an actuator contacting element projecting above the floor, the improvement in said sensor comprising: said element having a pair of upstanding actuator contacting sections movable with respect to each other; plate means supporting said sections for vertical movement between an extended position projecting above the surface of the floor and a retracted position wherein their tops are depressed generally flush with said floor surface; mounting means for said plate means holding said plate means against movement normal to said vertical movement, one of said sections being fixed to said plate means, the other of said sections being pivotally mounted on said plate means for movement in a horizontal plane toward and away from said fixed section; means biasing said plate means and said sections into said extended position; means biasing said movabLe section toward said fixed section to form a passage for said actuator a portion of which is narrower than said actuator whereby movement of said actuator through said passage forces said sections apart; a switch responsive to movement of said movable section; and means connecting said movable section to said switch; each of said movable and fixed sections having ends with generally facing rounded portions forming an entrance to said passage, said generally facing rounded portions adapted to center and gradually engage said actuator.

Claim 8

A sensor for a switching mechanism for an in-floor conveyor for controlling the movement of a vehicle connected to said conveyor and having a sensor actuator, the sensor having an actuator contacting element projecting above the floor, the improvement in said sensor comprising: said element having a pair of upstanding actuator contacting sections movable with respect to each other; plate means supporting said sections for vertical movement between an extended position projecting above the surface of the floor and a retracted position wherein their tops are depressed generally flush with said floor surface; mounting means for said plate means holding said plate means against movement normal to said vertical movement, one of said sections being fixed to said plate means, the other of said sections being pivotally mounted on said plate means for movement in a horizontal plane toward and away from said fixed section; means biasing said plate means and said sections into said extended position; means biasing said movabLe section toward said fixed section to form a passage for said actuator a portion of which is narrower than said actuator whereby movement of said actuator through said passage forces said sections apart; a switch responsive to movement of said movable section; and means connecting said movable section to said switch; each of said movable and fixed sections having ends with generally facing rounded portions forming an entrance to said passage, said generally facing rounded portions adapted to center and gradually engage said actuator.