Having Means To Prevent Damage To Conveyor Patents (Class 198/719)
  • Patent number: 10696483
    Abstract: A driver for use on a feed chain having elongate oval chain links that have two chain link legs. The driver is wider than the width of the chain link, so as to project beyond both sides of the chain link. The driver has a snap connector that allows the driver to be snapped onto the two chain link legs. A locking bar may be used with the driver to prevent the chain link legs from inadvertently releasing from the snap connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Franz Josef Kühlmann
  • Patent number: 10583946
    Abstract: Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth shafts, and further include a first movable shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable shaft to the second movable shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Delta Industrial Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Schiebout
  • Patent number: 10294690
    Abstract: A plurality of storage sections include one or more reference storage sections each of which is defined to be a storage section that has an occupiable area at least a portion of which extends over a same positional range along the first direction as a portion of an occupiable area in the support position. A transport device includes a projecting and retracting mechanism configured to project and retract along the first direction a holding member configured to hold an object of paying of respects, and is configured to move the holding member toward a partition wall side along the first direction when moving an object of paying of respects to a reference storage section or to the support position by means of the projecting and retracting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenobu Shinnaka, Haruhito Furuya, Wataru Kiyokawa, Hideki Sato, Yukinori Kameda, Kazuya Arima
  • Patent number: 10271700
    Abstract: A storage facility for objects of paying of respects includes a cleaning device which utilizes a dust removing member to remove dust from an outer surface of an object of paying of respects. The dust removing member is provided at a position that allows the dust removing member to act on an outer surface of an object of paying of respects that is being moved in a transport direction through transport operation by the transport system such that the dust removing member is in relative motion, in a direction opposite to the transport direction, with respect to the object of paying of respects as the object of paying of respects is moved in the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenobu Shinnaka, Haruhito Furuya, Wataru Kiyokawa, Hideki Sato, Yukinori Kameda, Kazuya Arima
  • Patent number: 9533829
    Abstract: A conveyor chain, in particular a can conveyor chain, comprises chain links, which are interconnected by a respective chain hinge, and laterally projecting transport bars, which have a damping head made of a plastic material and provided for contact with the articles to be conveyed, the damping head comprising a fastening portion, a spring section arranged on said fastening portion and a contact portion connected to the spring section and adapted to contact the articles to be conveyed. A conveyor chain is provided of this type with a simpler and less failure-prone structural design. To this end, the damping head is provided with a front-side cavity of such a nature that the spring section has an elastically deformable wall portion whose wall thickness narrows, at least sectionwise, towards the contact portion, at least said spring section being made of an elastomer having a maximum shore hardness of A90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: IWIS ANTRIEBSSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Toralf Teuber, Florian Madlener
  • Patent number: 9487358
    Abstract: A conveyor chain includes a plurality of side link assemblies and flight arm assemblies coupled together to form an elongated chain. The flight arm assemblies include a pair of opposing flight arms positioned on either side of the chain with the flight arms each including an elongated body formed with and extending from an integral base and a vertical sprocket opening formed in the integral base. The vertical sprocket opening is configured for engaging a tooth of a drive sprocket to drive the flight arm. The side link assemblies include a pair of opposing side straps positioned on either side of the chain each including a base and a pair of side strap bosses extending outwardly from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Cincinnati Mine Machinery Company
    Inventors: Randall Lee Morris, Aaron Daniel Meyer
  • Patent number: 9489339
    Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of cutting paths for a material remover, which generates a set of offsets from the perimeter of the model for each corner region of the model; creates, for each offset within each of the sets, a subset of cutting paths based upon each offset with each cutting path within the subset separated from a neighbouring cutting path within the subset by a stepover, wherein a portion of a first cutting path in one of the subsets has a distance of greater than the stepover to the last cutting path in a previous subset; joins cutting paths from within a subset at each corner region forming complete cutting paths causing a material remover to move between corner regions; and creates backfill cutting paths used to remove material from between subsets of cutting paths in the portion greater than the stepover between the subsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Delcam Limited
    Inventor: Stephen William Mackman
  • Patent number: 9079724
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic transfer system (100) having a preferably closed carrier path (20), along which a multiplicity of individually activatable induction coils (25) are arranged, and having conveying elements (30, 30a to 30e), which are arranged in a movable manner on the carrier path (20) and each have a driver element (38), which serves for conveying in each case at least one article (1) from a first conveying arrangement (11), along a conveying route (18) in the region of the transfer system (100), into a second conveying arrangement (12) arranged downstream, wherein the driver elements (38) are in abutting contact with the at least one article (1) at least along the conveying route (18), and wherein the conveying element (30, 30a to 30e) has, as drive element, at least one permanent-magnet element (31) arranged in operative connection with the induction coils (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich van de Loecht, Martin Reinisch
  • Patent number: 9027742
    Abstract: “CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND ISOLATION OF THE CONVEYED PRODUCT IN RELATION TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM”, is a conveyor for grains, seeds, fruit, granulated and ground products and similar products. The conveyor has different applications and isolates the product conveyed from the drive system. There are two or more tubes, and in each set of tubes there is a swivel with a drive system using roller chain, chain, cable, belt, et cetera. In this manner, the drive system is isolated from the product, avoiding mechanical damages, contamination, and also increasing the performance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Geraldo Rudolfo Van Arragon, Marcos Gonçalves Silva
  • Patent number: 8418837
    Abstract: A corner assembly for a tube conveyor system comprises a housing defining a wheel receiving area and a flow path with ports at opposite ends of the flow path. A wheel rotatably received in the wheel receiving area comprises a rim having an upper surface and a lower surface; a pair of spaced apart channels formed in at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the rim; and at least one flapper pivotally mounted to the wheel inside of the rim. The flapper is freely movable between a position in which it is aligned with a wall of one of the channels and a position in which it is aligned with a wall of the other of the channels. Thus, when the wheel rotates, the flapper will sweep any material in the wheel receiving area towards and through one of the channels and into the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The GSI Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Eversole
  • Patent number: 8245837
    Abstract: A corner assembly for a tube conveyor system comprises a housing defining a wheel receiving area and a flow path defining an angle and having ports at opposite ends of said flow path. A wheel is rotatably received in the wheel receiving area. The wheel comprises a rim having an upper surface and a lower surface; at least one pair of spaced apart channels formed in at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the rim; and at least one flapper pivotally mounted to said wheel inside of said rim. The flapper is freely movable between a first position in which the flapper is aligned with a wall of one of the channels and a second position in which the flapper is aligned with a wall of the other of the channels. Thus, when the wheel rotates, the flapper will sweep any material in the wheel receiving area towards and through one of the channels and into the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The GSI Group, LLC
    Inventor: Brad Eversole
  • Publication number: 20100121483
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant, in which beverage bottles are filled, closed, packed, and transported on dollies and pallets, an arrangement for transporting dollies, and a method therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Joachim JUNGHANS
  • Patent number: 7497985
    Abstract: To facilitate a trouble-free charging of scrap metal having differing constitutions, such as light and heavy scrap metal, from a lower discharge opening of a shaft-shaped charging device or a charging stock preheater (1) into a melting vessel by a pusher (13), the lateral surfaces of the pusher (13) are formed so as to converge from the upper side to the lower side and the actuating device (2) of the pusher (13) is pivotably supported in a frame structure (3) about a horizontal axis. In addition, the upper boundary of the discharge opening for the charging stock from the shaft (2) is preferably formed by a horizontal, rotatably supported roller (26), more preferably with engaging elements (30) distributed around the circumferential surface. Sections of the charging device that are severely mechanically stressed are preferably formed by steel billet sections connected to form a structural unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Fuchs Technology AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6715601
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the control of the chain drive mechanisms of underground working machines and a correspondingly equipped chain scraper conveyor. The invention proposes to filter out a detection signal (Serk), representative of the currently arising vibrations of the chain (1), from the operating data of the main and auxiliary drives (I, II) by means of a detection device (34), and to take this to an active suppressor (35), which generates a time-variable control signal (STilgung) in accordance with a suppressor function, with which, in the frequency range of the vibration of the chain, a change is effected to a control value, e.g. (Ssoll) for the closing pressure adjustment of a multiple disc clutch (6) of at least one drive unit for the suppression of vibration by the abstraction of energy from, or the introduction of energy into the chain (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: DBT Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Abel, Arno Breimhorst, Erwin Haese, Gerhard Merten, Peter Herkenrath, Nicole Kostiza, Manfred Ziegler, Ulrich Paschedag
  • Patent number: 6578703
    Abstract: A leadframe loader having a magnetic latch of predefined strength connecting a drive arm mechanism and a pusher system is the preferred embodiment of a transport loader. The amount of force applied to a pusher blade is set to a level below that where a leadframe, or other device to be pushed would be damaged by selecting the size and strength of a magnetic latch attached to the drive arm. The magnet is designed to break away from the steel coupling structure on the pusher when the force exceeds a preset value, and stops the movement before damage to the leadframe occurs. Calculated values were verified by physical testing, and a safety margin assigned to insure release of the magnet prior to bending leadframes. The system is assimilated into different pieces of semiconductor assembly equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry L. Humphrey, Peter J. Sakakini, Scott A. Delmont, Michael W. Pryor
  • Publication number: 20020195318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the control of the chain drive mechanisms of underground working machines and a correspondingly equipped chain scraper conveyor. In chain scraper conveyors with a large distance between the main and auxiliary drive stations, e.g. a distance of more than 400 m, a chain breakage in the bottom run or a shaft breakage can arise, which can be traced back to vibration phenomena in the chain. The invention proposes to filter out a detection signal (Serk), representative of the currently arising vibrations of the chain (1), from the operating data of the main and auxiliary drives (I, II) by means of a detection device (34), and to take this to an active suppressor (35), which generates a time-variable control signal (STilgung) in accordance with a suppressor function, with which, in the frequency range of the vibration of the chain, a change is effected to a control value, e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Dirk Abel, Arno Breimhorst, Erwin Haese, Gerhard Merten, Peter Herkenrath, Nicole Kositza, Manfred Ziegler, Ulrich Paschedag
  • Patent number: 6367612
    Abstract: A retractable pusher dog for an overhead power and free conveyor system is provided. The retractable pusher dog comprises a body portion formed from a rectangular cylinder with a spring and pusher member disposed within the cylinder. When a force greater than the static spring force is applied to the pusher member, the pusher member retracts into the body portion thus reducing the overall height of the pusher dog. Due to its self-actuating retraction, the retractable pusher dog of the subject invention requires no modifications to the powered and free rails or to the load trolleys. The retractable pusher dog will prevent jamming of load trolleys by allowing the pusher dog to bypass an off-timed load carrier, introduced from a different powered rail, until it is properly aligned on the main rail. Also, the body plates of the pusher dog facilitates coupling the pusher dog to the drive chain without disassembling the drive chain thus reducing downtime of the conveyor system and labor costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Erie Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Felice Dosso, Larry O'Dell
  • Patent number: 5971135
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus having a conveyor chain and at least one supporting arm used for attaching thereto objects which are to be conveyed. The supporting arm has one of its ends connected to the conveyor chain via an overload protection means. The overload protection means has a tilting joint which is provided between the supporting arm and the conveyor chain and permitting reversible tilting of the supporting arm relative to the conveyor chain in response to a predetermined load. In the structural design of the conveyor apparatus the tilting joint is acted upon by a helical tension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Joh. Winklhofer & Sohne GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dag Heinrich, Gerhard Winklhofer
  • Patent number: 5885458
    Abstract: There is provided an a wear strip assembly for use in a waste water treatment facility comprising an anchor plate secured to the bottom of a tank and a wear strip disposed around the anchor plate having a c-shaped cross section. The wear strip may be slid onto the anchor plate. There is also provided a waste water treatment system employing the wear strip assembly. There is further provided a stop plate for use in the wear strip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: United States Filter Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Wilcher, John C. Lodholz
  • Patent number: 5720587
    Abstract: An article to be inserted in a conveying arrangement is picked up by the vane of a rotating element, and pushed into the conveying device. Because the motion of the element is rotational, a high feed rate can be achieved, and the article can be contacted without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Roland Dietschi, Armin Ineichen
  • Patent number: 5573659
    Abstract: An improved filter apparatus (10) for removing debris from a free flowing water system (100) is described. The apparatus includes a rail (12) which is mounted adjacent the water supply intake opening (102) and a continuous belt (36) made of chain links (38) and connectors (44) which mounts around an upper sprocket cylinder (26) and a lower sprocket cylinder (32) spaced between the ends of the rail. Openings (42) in the belt collect debris from the water flowing through the belt. The connectors have lifters (50) which move the debris collected on the front side (36A) of the belt and are able to tilt to dump any debris of excess weight back into the water system. The belt is moved upward by a motor (54) which rotates the upper sprocket cylinder. As the belt moves upward, the debris collected on the belt and by the lifters is moved out of the water system toward the top of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald L. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5437231
    Abstract: An overhead conveyor system with rolling conveyor carriages guided on rails. The pushers provided for moving the conveyor carriages out of the main track and onto a secondary track are provided with a claw which can be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of transport (T) into an upward-swung third position. In this position, a conveyor carriage which is blocked in the region of a switch and cannot be moved out of the track can be passed by the pusher without damage to the conveyor carriages or the overhead conveyor system. When the claw is swung upward, a flap is at the same time moved out laterally, which can serve as a signal for immediately stopping the conveyor system. The outwardly swung flap may assist maintenance personnel in finding the switch at which a conveyor carriage cannot be properly moved out of the line. The pusher includes a recess which is covered by a spring-loaded plate. The claw is fastened asymmetrically in the pusher so that it swings upward into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Durkopp Adler Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Janzen, Winfried Suhling, Gerhard Schilling
  • Patent number: 5429055
    Abstract: A drive element for rail-guided load carriers of an overhead conveyor system in which the driver, which is mounted on the drive element via a hole, has a horizontal groove which extends outward from the hole. Too high a horizontal force acting on the driver causes the drive to be pulled off of the pin. Thus, the drive element which is continuously driven via a drive chain can travel past a conveyor carriage which is blocked in the direction of conveyance without the drive element or the conveyor carriage being destroyed. In order to prevent a driver that has been pulled off of the pin from doing any damage, it is secured via a wire bow which is inserted into a continuous hole provided on the driver. If the overhead conveyor system is developed with branches and a pusher is arranged on the conveyor chain behind each conveyor carriage for pushing the conveyor carriage onto a branch, the pusher claw can be developed in the same way as the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Durkopp Adler Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Schneuing, Klaus Niesen, Gerhard Schilling
  • Patent number: 5297790
    Abstract: The driver (12) comprises a carrier (14) for attachment to a conveyor, for example an endless chain. A pusher (16) made of hard-wearing material is attached to the carrier (14) in such a way that when the support moves forwards the pusher engages a rear edge of a sheet (10) to be fed. The pusher (16) is supported through at least one elastic spacer (18) on the carrier (14), in a rearwardly resilient manner. In a preferred embodiment of the driver (12), the pusher (16) comprises a flexible metal sleeve (30) which near each of its two ends rests, by way of a respective spacer (18) in the form of an electrically insulating washer, on a shaft (20) attached to the carrier (16). This makes high rates of acceleration possible when feeding thin metal sheets on a can welding machine, without the sheets being damaged by the driver (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Elpatronic AG
    Inventors: Hans-Wilhelm Hoffmann, Niklaus Portmann
  • Patent number: 5259717
    Abstract: An asphaltic mix storage system has an improved conveying apparatus including a housing which is upwardly inclined from the horizontal so as to extend from approximately ground level to the top of a storage container. The conveying apparatus also includes a drag-type conveyor in the housing comprising an endless conveyor chain having spaced apart conveying blades carried thereby with the lower edges of the conveying blades in sliding engagement with the lower wall of the housing. The forward faces of the conveying blades and the lower wall of the housing define an acute angle therebetween to prevent carryover of asphaltic mix beyond the discharge chute at the upper end of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. May
  • Patent number: 5251892
    Abstract: A paper ejecting apparatus embodied in a printing system, such as a video color printer, that is constructed to push out or eject a printed sheet of paper. The apparatus includes long guide channels formed in a panel for feeding paper toward an ejecting direction, a pusher movable along the guide channels, a rack gear member connected to the pusher, a guide support member for movably supporting the rack gear member, and a driving source for driving the rack gear member having a pinion driven by the driving source. Also, components are added to the driving source for preventing overload thereof. The operation of the apparatus is smooth, so that the paper is securely ejected without being damaged, and the apparatus is simple in structure and causes little mechanical noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-ho No, Ki-sun Jang
  • Patent number: 5232083
    Abstract: The can conveying apparatus is provided with a conveying part composed of a pin extending at a predetermined pitch from a chain, a shock absorbing member having a central hole to receive and be fitted onto the end portion of the conveying part by a stopper, a spring interposed between the bottom of the hole of the shock absorbing member and the conveying part under a certain pressure, and a space arranged between the end portion of the conveying part and the bottom of the hole to allow the shock absorbing member to longitudinally move together with the spring compressed. The hole of the shock absorbing member has a cylindrical hole to contain the spring, and a smaller-diameter hole wherein the conveying part is inserted slidably, and there is provided a clearance to permit the shock absorbing member to be biased while compressing the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Motominami, Kouji Terai, Masao Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5203669
    Abstract: An improved garbage truck is disclosed having an inlet opening leading into a tipping section, where a press reciprocally moves in the tipping section, guided along the side walls thereof, to propel garbage through an opening into a removable container. The tipping section has at least one lateral arm or wall reinforcing the side walls of the tipping section and is arranged above the press. A sensing element is arranged in the tipping section with generates a signal when there is a jam or when there are tilted or bulky objects, the signal stops the travel of the press or reverses the direction of the press to prevent damage to the garbage truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Waste Management of North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Klossek, Johannes Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 5165522
    Abstract: A collector flight attachment link configured to have increased torsional load bearing ability and for supporting a collector flight on a chain including a plurality of interconnected chain links. The collector flight attachment link comprises an elongated lower link portion adapted to be interconnected with adjacent chain links in the chain. The flight attachment link also comprises a cantilevered collector flight support portion projecting upwardly from the lower link portion and including a paddle plate extending transversely to the link portion and having spaced apart first and second plate sections interconnected at their upper ends by a web section. Stress relief notches are provided between the lower edges of the paddle plate and the lower link portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventors: Russell H. C. Uttke, John W. Quick, James H. Wiegand, Susan M. Rasper
  • Patent number: 5165519
    Abstract: A culling device for a conveyance apparatus which culling device includes cross transport apparatus carrying flexible fingers which have selected strength, position and speed to cull out selected objects being conveyed. In particular, elongated objects may be conveyed and culled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventors: Ralph L. Pund, Greg A. Krodel, Reed D. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5123518
    Abstract: A device for properly positioning upstanding vials that are exiting from or entering on to a conveyor. A guide wheel, having a plurality of identations for the vials, is driven by a coaxial propulsion wheel located beneath the guide wheel. A stationary guide adjacent to the guide wheel is spaced sufficiently to permit the vials to pass one at a time between the stationary guide and the guide wheel. The wheels are mounted via an arm at an angle to the conveyor so that one edge of the propulsion wheel rests on and is driven by the conveyor. Therefore, the rotational speed of the guide wheel matches the surface speed of the conveyor so that the vials are properly released onto the conveyor or captured from the conveyor without being upset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Ernest H. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5076418
    Abstract: An improved combine feeder assembly including a conveyor and a feeder housing which envelopes the conveyor. The conveyor is comprised of a plurality of endless driving chains and a plurality of feeder slats driven by the chains. Each feeder slat is secured at opposite ends to the chains by connectors allowing for endwise movement of the feeder slats in response to impact loading thereagainst. Moreover, each feeder slat has an outer profile providing an extended reach at the center of the slat as compared to the reach provided toward opposite ends. The feeder housing preferably includes a bottom wall configured to compliment the outer profile of the feeder slats and enhance combine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Dale R. Tanis
  • Patent number: 5040664
    Abstract: This invention relates to a shavings conveyor having a reversing contactor for protecting the drive assembly (1) of the shaving conveyor from undue wear caused by the overloading of the shavings conveyor. When the conveyor becomes overloaded, a torque support beam (12), which is attached to the housing of the drive assembly (1), is caused to rotate. A threaded rod (15) is attached at one end to the beam (12) and moves with the displacement of beam (12). An L-shaped chip (20), mounted to the opposite end of threaded rod (15) and having a control cam (21) attached thereon, is moved with the threaded rod (15) so that the control cam (21) attached thereto engages a control switch (22). As the control switch (22) is activated, it signals the motor of the drive assembly to briefly reverse the direction of movement of the shavings conveyor so as to disperse the accumulation of shavings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Gebr. Hennig GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Stohr, Alfred Rehle
  • Patent number: 5038916
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging products to be frozen onto a freezer plate comprises a conveyor arranged to place the products in front of a charging opening of a freezer, and a device for transferring the products in a translatory movement from the conveyor through the charging opening onto the freezer plate. To obtain a strong transfer force and effective control, the transferring device comprises a pusher bar arranged to engage the products to be frozen on the conveyor, a chain drive arranged to impart the translatory movement to the pusher bar engaging the products, the chain drive comprising chains to which the pusher bar is attached and driving pinions about which the chains are trained, the chains having links short enough to enable the chains to engage the pinions over about a quarter of a circle and the pinions being affixed to a rotary shaft, a reduction brake motor floatingly mounted on the rotary shaft and comprising a return arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Pierre Guerin S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Quilliou
  • Patent number: 4927002
    Abstract: A chain link conveyor having carrying members which comprise a shaft with a socket that is press fitted to a conveyor link pin and a supplemental link plate that is press fitted to the shaft and an adjacent paired link pin which supplemental link plate is held spaced from the conveyor pin link plate interconnecting the paired link pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles G. Springman
  • Patent number: 4858747
    Abstract: A conveyor is shown having an endless material transporting member running between an idler sprocket at one end and a drive sprocket at the other, both supported in a frame of the conveyor. A drive motor is used to drive the drive sprocket, and hence the conveyor. A controlling device for the motor is provided having a pivotally mounted slack sensing lever having a first rest position spaced apart beneath an upper flight of the endless material transporting member. A counterweight, resting on a stop urges the lever in position. The lever is fixed to a pivot pin, which has a trip lever attached. Upon slack in the chain deflecting the slack sensing lever, the pivot pin rotates moving the trip lever which in turn activates a microswitch controlling the motor. Upon sufficient deflection, the motor will be de-activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Strong Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Charles S. Eunson
  • Patent number: 4736833
    Abstract: An anti-fatigue mounting mechanism, which is used to join a drag bar to an endless chain in a combine feeder mechanism, is disclosed. A combine feeder mechanism typically includes a feeder housing, a feeder drum rotatably carried within the housing, and endless chains rotatably carried in the housing and used to rotate the drum about an axis of rotation. A spaced pair of the chains is typically mounted on end portions of the drum, and a third chain is preferably mounted therebetween. One of the embodiments of the present invention pivotally joins a drag bar lateral end portion to one of the end-mounted chains. The other embodiment pivotally joins facing drag bar end portions to each other and to the chain disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Dale R. Tanis
  • Patent number: 4709804
    Abstract: A self-cleaning trash rack for removing debris from a stream of water has an upright frame positioned in the path of trash carried by the stream and a plurality of endless, flexible chains carrying trash supports which engage and carry debris on the upstream side of the frame upwardly for disposal. Each chain has sufficient slack to enable any trash support on the upstream side of the frame to rock in such direction as to release debris that is too heavy to be carried upwardly by such trash support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Duperon Corporation
    Inventor: Terry L. Duperon
  • Patent number: 4673544
    Abstract: A pushing device for removing spent fuel rods from a nuclear reactor fuel assembly comprises a plurality of axially shiftable rods disposed in the same geometric pattern and with the same pitch as the fuel rods. The push rods are mounted at their upper ends to a pressure strip or plate and traverse at their lower ends bores in a guide plate fixed via guide rods to a base plate located on the other side of the pressure plate, the pressure plate being movably secured to the guide rods for linear motion between the base plate and the guide plate. A drive mounted to the base plate is connected to the pressure plate for shifting the latter, while a safety mechanism is provided for interrupting the motion of a push rod if the respective fuel rod is jammed in the fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Rohr
  • Patent number: 4573565
    Abstract: A driver for a chain conveyor which is adapted to run in a conveyor trough which has side guide walls comprises a driver arm portion having outer side edges which terminate in a polygonal pin portion which tapers inwardly in lateral and longitudinal directions toward its outer end. A guide shoe has an inner side face with a recess into which the pin portion of the arm extend and the guide shoe is pivotally supported on the arm pin portion by a pin or sleeve element. The guide shoe includes an inwardly extending nose portion which rides between side edges of a U-shaped recess of the arm portion. Surfaces of the nose portion and the U-shaped recess of the arm defining recesses and stops for limiting the pivotal movement of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Halbach & Braun
    Inventors: Ernst Braun, Gert Braun
  • Patent number: 4553659
    Abstract: An insertion apparatus is provided for inserting continuously supplied products into containers. The insertion apparatus includes an ejection device which moves parallel to products along an endless conveyor system, and a curved directrix which is adapted to guide the ejection device in a direction which effects lateral movement of the products. The directrix is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the products, and a device is provided for bypassing movement of the ejection device with respect to the directrix so that the ejection device will move independently of the movement of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Reim, Dieter Pluschow
  • Patent number: 4533039
    Abstract: A deflectable pin assembly mountable on a conveyor chain for use in transporting open ended containers comprising a first elongate sleeve for supporting an open ended container thereon; a second elongate sleeve for mounting the deflectable pin assembly on a conveyor chain; connection apparatus for seating and pivotally connecting the first elongate sleeve and the second elongate sleeve; a biasing device for biasing the first sleeve in a predetermined position relative the second sleeve; the pin assembly having a biased position wherein the first sleeve is positioned in substantially coaxial relationship with the second sleeve, and having a plurality of deflected positions wherein the first sleeve is positioned in obtuse angular relationship relative the second sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Adolph Coors Company
    Inventor: Conrad M. Grims
  • Patent number: 4462737
    Abstract: Electrical and/or electronic parts are advanced simultaneously in a plurality of magazine tubes which are arranged in a matrix of openings in a grid. A holder below the magazine matrix contains pins in guides aligned with respective magazines, the holder being movable in the direction of the grid to advance the pins into the magazines. Friction between the pins and the holder is adjustable to allow the holder to slide along pins which have pushed their respective stacks to a stop surface in the grid. Preferably, the pins are arranged in rows and a hollow tube passes between the pins, fluid pressure in the tube being varied in order to adjust the level of friction between the pins and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Jan Bouwknegt
  • Patent number: 4453872
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring tubulars between pipe racks and a drilling rig floor including a stationary trough located below and extending towards the drilling rig and a movable trough aligned with the stationary trough having one end supported on the drilling rig floor and the other end powered to move between a lower position for transferring pipe to and from the stationary through and on upper position for transferring pipe to and from the drilling rig floor. A carriage having a frictional coating and wheels which run on guide structure below the stationary trough pushes and guides the pipe along the stationary trough. An endless chain system drives this carriage along the length of the stationary trough and includes a shock absorber system for dampening the forces on the carriage and chain when a pipe impacts the carriage. Two pair of legs extending between pipe racks and the stationary trough are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Ingram Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Frias, Troy D. Cain, John J. Gallagher, Jr., William Watson
  • Patent number: 4441605
    Abstract: A flight for a chain which has sidebars, comprising a side portion adapted to lie against the outer surface of one sidebar of a chain link. A lip is attached to one end of the side portion and includes a lip portion adapted to contact the inner surface of the sidebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Rexnord Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Ronco, Robert E. Stacey
  • Patent number: 4388990
    Abstract: A conveyor chain of the type using extended chain connecting pins to carry articles has short extended connecting pins to which longer conveying pins are attached with a cylindrical coupling bushing. The pin ends are held in the bushing with a light press fit and the bushing is constructed to break away from the extended chain pins if the conveying pins or articles thereon encounter an obstruction in the path of conveyor travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Rexnord Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Michalik
  • Patent number: 4329230
    Abstract: A conveyor scraper for use in an apparatus for separating cake from liquid is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reservoir for holding cake containing liquid and a continuous conveyor inclined upward from a surface of the liquid. A plurality of outward extending scrapers are movable with the conveyor and engage are inclined wall spaced below and parallel to the conveyor to move the cake along the wall. The scraper is pivotably mounted to the conveyor to permit the scraper to pivot upon encountering an obstruction to avoid stalling or otherwise damaging the conveyor. The scraper is biased into engagement with the inclined wall permitting movement of the scraper toward the wall as wear occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Inventor: Michael J. Quin
  • Patent number: 4286705
    Abstract: A mounting for a drive mechanism of an elevator used in a carry-type earthmoving scraper wherein the elevator assists in loading material into the scraper. The drive mechanism includes provision for absorbing torsional vibrations generated by flights of the elevator striking material being loaded and, coincident therewith, axial alignment is maintained between driving and driven members of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Fiat-Allis Construction Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Boersma
  • Patent number: 4250988
    Abstract: A mechanism for transferring books or the like between work stations comprises a conveyor chain. A raceway is located along the conveyor chain and supports books thereon. A plurality of pushing devices project from the conveyor chain. Each of the pushing devices has a surface spaced above the raceway for engaging a surface of a book to push the book along the raceway. Each pushing device is attached to the conveyor chain and comprises a pusher finger construction which bends backwardly relative to the direction of movement thereof upon encountering a predetermined resistance to movement of the book pushed thereby and for passing beyond the book providing said predetermined resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard Miaskoff
  • Patent number: 4172686
    Abstract: This invention relates to a de-palletizing machine having a magazine and an elevator for receiving pallets loaded with layers of cartons containing articles which do not extend beyond the confines thereof, the elevator being capable of being raised one layer at a time whereby a pusher carriage will eject the uppermost layer of cartons from the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: The Molson Companies Limited
    Inventor: Joseph Shorthouse