Vertical conveyor

Claim 2

The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach, at least one station along the length of said vertical reach, a carrier comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on said base, means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said means being such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, a cam on said article support, selectively actuatable actuator means adjacent said station for engaging said cam to project said article support transversely of said base, guide follower means on said article support, and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said article support is projected for guiding said support to move said article support transversely relative to the base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move the article support to its retracted position after passing said station, said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during the normal movement of said article support by said conveyor in advance of and beyond said station.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a member normally yieldingly urged into the path of said cam, and means for locking said member against said yielding movement to thereby forcibly be engaged by said cam and move said article support transversely.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam has vertically spaced actuator engaging surfaces adapted to be engaged by said member.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide follower comprises a roller on each said cam, said guide means comprising a fixed track which is engaged by said rollers to move the article support transversely to a position adjacent said station and thereafter return said article support to its retracted position relative to said base.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises an endless chain, at least one sprocket over which said chain is trained, the plane of said chain being at a right angle to the transverse movement of said article support with respect to said base.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 including an additional station adjacent another vertical reach of said conveyor and substantially identical actuator means and guide means at said station.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises an endless chain trained over sprockets, the plane of said chain being parallel to the direction of transverse movement of said article supPort relative to said base.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever in the normal path of said cam, said lever being normally moved out of its normal position by movement of said cam vertically as the conveyor carries the base and article support vertically.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever pivoted for movement and normally being in the path of said cam such that it is moved by said cam and is returned to the path of said cam, and means for engaging said lever to prevent rotation thereof such that the cam will be engaged by said lever and will be forced to move the article support transversely of said base.

Claim 11

The combination comprising a conveyor having two vertical reaches, at least one station along each reach of said conveyor such that as the conveyor is moved, one said station functions as a loading station and the other as an unloading station, a plurality of carriers comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on said base, means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said means being such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, said conveyor comprising an endless chain, at least one sprocket over which said chain is trained, the plane of said chain being at a right angle to the transverse movement of said article support with respect to said base, a cam on each said support, selectively actuable actuator means adjacent each said station for engaging said cam to project said article support transversely of said base, guide follower means on said article support, and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said article support is projected for guiding said support to move said article support transversely relative to said base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move the article support to its retracted position after passing said station, said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during the normal movement of said article support by said conveyor in advance of and beyond said station.

Claim 12

The combination comprising a conveyor having two vertical reaches, at least one station along each reach of said conveyor such that as the conveyor is moved, one said station functions as a loading station and the other as an unloading station, a plurality of carriers comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on said base, means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said means being such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, said conveyor comprising an endless chain, at least one sprocket over which said chain is trained, the plane of said chain being at a right angle to the transverse movement of said article support with respect to said base, a cam on each said support, selectively actuable actuator means adjacent each said station for engaging said cam to project said article support transversely of said base, guide follower means on said article support, and fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said article support is projected for guiding said support to move said article support transversely relative to said base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move the article support to its retracted position after passing said station, said cam and guide follower being unrestrained during the normal movement of said article support by said conveyor in advance of and beyond said station.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein each said actuator means comprises a member yieldingly urged into the path of said cam, and means for locking said member against said yielding movement to thereby forcibly be engaged by said cam and move said article support transversely.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said cam has vertically spaced actuator engaging surfaces adapted to be engaged by said member.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said guide follower comprises a roller on each said cam, said guide means comprising a fixed track which is engaged by said rollers to move the article support transversely to a position adjacent said station and thereafter return said article support to its retracted position relative to said base.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever in the normal path of said cam, said lever being normally moved out to its normal position by movement of said cam vertically as the conveyor carries the base and article support vertically.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever pivoted for movement and normally being in the path of said cam such that it is moved by said cam and is returned to the path of said cam, and means for engaging said lever to prevent rotation thereof such that the cam will be engaged by said lever and will be forced to move the article support transversely of said base.

Claim 18

The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach, at least one staTion along the length of said vertical reach, a carrier comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on said base, means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said means being such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, guide follower means on said article support, fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said article support is projected for guiding said support to move said article support transversely relative to the base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move the article support to its retracted position after passing said station, and selectively actuable actuator means adjacent said station independent of said guide means operable to engage the article support and project said article support transversely of the base into alignment with the guide means.

Claim 19

The combination comprising a conveyor having a vertical reach, at least one staTion along the length of said vertical reach, a carrier comprising a base fixed to said conveyor and an article support on said base, means for mounting said article support on said base for movement in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor to move the article support adjacent said station, said means being such that said article support is urged toward said conveyor, guide follower means on said article support, fixed guide means for engaging said follower means when said article support is projected for guiding said support to move said article support transversely relative to the base as the conveyor moves in a vertical direction such that the article support is adjacent the station when the conveyor moves the base adjacent said station and to move the article support to its retracted position after passing said station, and selectively actuable actuator means adjacent said station independent of said guide means operable to engage the article support and project said article support transversely of the base into alignment with the guide means.