US3866537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer mechanism
Assignee: ROCKFORD AUTOMATION Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-13
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1994-02-13
Abstract
Abstract The mechanism is incorporated in a conveyor system of the type which propels vehicles, or pallets, by frictional contact between a rotating drive shaft and a drive wheel carried by the vehicle. The disclosed conveyor system includes two such rotating drive shafts and associated parallel tracks. The mechanism transfers the vehicles from one set of parallel tracks to the other via concentric tracks. An upright drive shaft drives a radiallyextending pivoted arm on which is mounted an elongaged, arcuate member. The member has a downwardly inclined ramp at its front to ride over any preceding vehicle, and a depending dog at its rear to engage the vehicle and advance it. A ramp raises the arm at the outlet of the concentric tracks to disengage the vehicle, and lowers the arm to operative position at the inlet thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Joachim P C Minkwitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G35/00; B65G35/06; B65G35/063; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/12; B61B13/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A transfer mechanism for use in a conveyor system which includes a frame; first and second rotary drive shafts mounted on the frame in spaced relation to each other; means for rotating the rotary drive shafts; a first pair of tracks mounted parallel to the first rotary drive shaft; a second pair of tracks mounted parallel to the second rotary drive shaft; a pair of concentric, semicircular tracks interconnecting the first and second pair of tracks; a plurality of vehicles movably supported on the tracks; a drive wheel on each vehicle; and means mounting the drive wheel for engagement with the rotary drive shafts and at a position oblique to the axis of the rotary drive shafts to drive the vehicle as the rotary drive shafts are rotated; the transfer mechanism including: an elongate member for engaging one of the vehicles; drive means for driving the elongate member through a path concentric with the concentric tracks to move the engaged vehicle therealong; mounting means for mounting the elongate member for movement between an operative position engaged with the vehicle and an inoperative position removed therefrom; and the elongate member having means at its forward end for engaging a preceding vehicle and camming the elongate member to inoperative position; whereby the vehicles are transferred from the first pair of tracks to the second pair of tracks unless a preceding vehicle is encountered by the elongate member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A transfer mechanism for use in a conveyor system which includes a frame; first and second rotary drive shafts mounted on the frame in spaced relation to each other; means for rotating the rotary drive shafts; a first pair of tracks mounted parallel to the first rotary drive shaft; a second pair of tracks mounted parallel to the second rotary drive shaft; a pair of concentric, semicircular tracks interconnecting the first and second pair of tracks; a plurality of vehicles movably supported on the tracks; a drive wheel on each vehicle; and means mounting the drive wheel for engagement with the rotary drive shafts and at a position oblique to the axis of the rotary drive shafts to drive the vehicle as the rotary drive shafts are rotated; the transfer mechanism including: an elongate member for engaging one of the vehicles; drive means for driving the elongate member through a path concentric with the concentric tracks to move the engaged vehicle therealong; mounting means for mounting the elongate member for movement between an operative position engaged with the vehicle and an inoperative position removed therefrom; and the elongate member having means at its forward end for engaging a preceding vehicle and camming the elongate member to inoperative position; whereby the vehicles are transferred from the first pair of tracks to the second pair of tracks unless a preceding vehicle is encountered by the elongate member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means mounts the elongate member for vertical movement and the inoperative position is at a level above the operative position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the concentric tracks have a common arc center; the drive means includes a shaft having an axis at said arc center; and the mounting means includes an outwardly-extending arm to which the elongaTe member is secured, and a pivot axis cross-wise of the arm permitting swinging movement thereof in the vertical direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein the arm has a depending wheel mounted outwardly of said pivot axis for engaging the frame to position the elongate member at said operative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 4 including ramp means on the frame for engagement by the depending wheel to raise the arm and elongate member to inoperative position when the vehicle reaches the second pair of tracks, and to return the arm and elongate member to operative position adjacent the first pair of tracks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein: the concentric tracks have a common arc center; the elongate member has an arcuate outer face, a downwardly inclined cam face at its forward end for camming the elongate member to inoperative position, and a depending dog at its rear end; the vehicle has a catch extending outwardly toward the arc center for engagement by the depending dog, the catch including a roller on which the cam face rides; the drive means includes a shaft having an axis at the arc center; and the mounting means includes a radially-extending arm to which the elongate member is secured, and a pivot axis crosswise of the arm permitting swinging movement thereof in the vertical direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 2 in which the elongate member has a downwardly inclined cam face at its forward end for camming the elongate member to inoperative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein the vehicle has a catch extending outwardly therefrom toward the arc center, and on which the cam face rides; and the elongate member has a depending dog at its rear end for engaging the catch to move the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongate member has an arcuate outer surface, a cam face at its forward end for engaging a preceding vehicle and camming the elongate member to inoperative position, and a dog on the same side as the cam face for engaging the vehicle to advance it along the concentric tracks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
240 words
A transfer mechanism for use in a conveyor system which includes a frame; an elongate rotary drive shaft having a smooth exterior and mounted on the frame; a pair of parallel tracks mounted parallel to the drive shaft; a plurality of vehicles movably supported on the tracks; a drive wheel on each vehicle; means mounting the drive wheel for engagement with the rotary drive shaft and at a position oblique to the axis of the rotary drive shaft to advance the vehicle toward the outlet of the parallel tracks as the rotary drive shaft is rotated; and a pair of semicircular tracks having a common arc center and an inlet end connected to the outlet end of the parallel tracks; the transfer mechanism including: a member having means for engaging a vehicle at the inlet end of the semicircular tracks; a shaft having an axis at said arc center; a radially-extending arm operatively connected to the shaft and having an outer end to which the member is mounted, the arm having a crosswise-extending pivot axis intermediate its ends to permit swinging movement thereof in the vertical direction and, hense, movement of the member between an operative position engaged with the vehicle and an inoperative position raised therefrom; and means for moving the member from the inoperative position to the operative position at the inlet end of the semicircular tracks to engage a vehicle and advance it along the semicircular tracks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
240 words
A transfer mechanism for use in a conveyor system which includes a frame; an elongate rotary drive shaft having a smooth exterior and mounted on the frame; a pair of parallel tracks mounted parallel to the drive shaft; a plurality of vehicles movably supported on the tracks; a drive wheel on each vehicle; means mounting the drive wheel for engagement with the rotary drive shaft and at a position oblique to the axis of the rotary drive shaft to advance the vehicle toward the outlet of the parallel tracks as the rotary drive shaft is rotated; and a pair of semicircular tracks having a common arc center and an inlet end connected to the outlet end of the parallel tracks; the transfer mechanism including: a member having means for engaging a vehicle at the inlet end of the semicircular tracks; a shaft having an axis at said arc center; a radially-extending arm operatively connected to the shaft and having an outer end to which the member is mounted, the arm having a crosswise-extending pivot axis intermediate its ends to permit swinging movement thereof in the vertical direction and, hense, movement of the member between an operative position engaged with the vehicle and an inoperative position raised therefrom; and means for moving the member from the inoperative position to the operative position at the inlet end of the semicircular tracks to engage a vehicle and advance it along the semicircular tracks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 10 in hich the member is elongated, has an outer face radially spaced from the common arc center, and at its forward end has a downwardly inclined cam face for engaging a preceding vehicle and camming the elongated member to its inoperative position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 11 in which the means for engaging a vehicle is located at the Rear end of the elongated member, and the distance from said means to the cam face is at least as great as the length of a vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 11 in which the vehicle has a catch extending outwardly therefrom toward the arc center and on which the cam face rides; and the elongate member has a depending dog at its rear end for engaging the catch to advance the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a depending wheel on the arm and mounted outwardly of said crosswise-extending pivot axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a ramp on the frame for engagement by the depending wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |