Having Variable Conveying Length Patents (Class 198/812)
  • Patent number: 5645158
    Abstract: An extensible conveyor apparatus and method for a continuous haulage system and continuous conveyor belt are disclosed for carrying coal or ore discharged from a continuous miner. A top roller combination supports the coal-carrying or ore-carrying continuous conveyor belt. A holding frame for the top roller and a bottom belt return is provided by a plurality of floor-supported frame members held and secured in position by belt tension. The holding frame is capable of rapid and nimble extendable, retractable construction in the mine. Rails connect and hold adjacent frame members in position by press-fit attachment of the rails to the frame members. The rails preferably are quickly rotatable to change the top wearing surface. A top roller for supporting the mined-material-carrying belt includes a combination of rollers formed into a roller combination insert which is quickly replaceable in an underground mine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: S & S Slides, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Polka, James J. Szalankiewicz, Scott A. Walter
  • Patent number: 5637183
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for processing flat workpieces, in particular for carrying out operations between fabric pieces in superposed relationship, feeding the workpieces to a continuously operating workstation by pre-conveyors that cooperate with subsequent conveyors. The pre-conveyor and each subsequent conveyor are so arranged that, upon starting the pre-conveyor with a workpiece on its conveyor path, the conveyor path of the pre-conveyor is extended over the conveyor path of the subsequent conveyor to such an extent that the workpiece can be moved over the conveyor path of the subsequent conveyor. When that position is adopted, the conveyor belt of the pre-conveyor is stopped and the workpiece is deposited on the conveyor belt of the subsequent conveyor by shortening the path of the pre-conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Herbert Meyer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Borner
  • Patent number: 5596865
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing tablets or pills or the like issuing from a tablet or pill press and processing them further in a plurality of containers (125, 126, 127) standing cramped on a restricted area. After leaving the tablet or pill press, the tablets or pills are conveyed upwards and, by gravity alone without the application of further energy, pass from top to bottom through an oblique deburring and dust-removing station (12) and a distributing guide (15) to divide the flow of tablets or pills into two partial streams which are taken to either a metal testing device (18) or a tablet or pill testing device (19) with a sample collector (22); the tablets or pills found to be faultless are taken further by gravity to a belt conveyor (107, 112) which takes the tablets or pills to and inserts them in a predetermined container (125, 126, 127).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Norbert Kramer
  • Patent number: 5595283
    Abstract: A modularly constructed, flexible, expandable conveyor comprises a pair of flexible, expandable X-shaped link assemblies, preferably in the form of a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in order to form an X-shaped chain. Each X-shaped chain terminates in an end plate having mating bolt holes therein so that successive chains may be joined by passing bolts through the mating bolt holes in overlapped end plates. Then, knurled hand knobs are turned onto the bolts to clamp together the overlapped end plates. The end plates enable the X-shaped chain in any given module to expand or collapse independently of the X-shaped chains in other modules. The conveyor surface preferably includes a field of skate wheels mounted on rods extending between the link assemblies, at spaced locations along the length of the conveyor. The conveyor is sufficiently flexible to be able to form a curved conveyor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Axia Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry E. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 5590757
    Abstract: An extensible conveyor apparatus and method for a continuous haulage system and continuous conveyor belt are disclosed for carrying coal or ore discharged from a continuous miner. A top roller-slider combination supports the coal-carrying or ore-carrying continuous conveyor belt. A holding frame for the top roller-slider and a bottom belt return is provided by a plurality of floor-supported frame members held and secured in position by belt tension. The holding frame is capable of rapid and nimble extendable, retractable construction in the mine. Rails connect and hold adjacent frame members in position by press-fit attachment of the rails to the frame members. The rails preferably are quickly rotatable to change the top wearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: S & S Slides, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Walter, Alan R. Polka, James J. Szalankiewicz
  • Patent number: 5584376
    Abstract: A parcel conveyor having a number of rollers forming a supporting surface for the cargo to be transported is disclosed. The conveyor is divided into a number of separate roller/shaft units having the same shape which are linked together by a single, longitudinally rigid but sidewards flexible, driving device, such as a cardan chain. The units run on rollers on the floor and can be pushed or pulled centrally in a straight line or in a curve by way of the driving means. By use of such a conveyor, luggage can easily be transported on the cargo supporting rollers all the way to the end of the conveyor even as the conveyor is progressively pulled out of a cargo compartment as the cargo compartment is filled with luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: PV System ApS
    Inventor: Per Voldby
  • Patent number: 5498119
    Abstract: A turret deck for a telescopic conveyor comprises a platform which is longitudinally and translationally movable relative to the chassis of a vehicle on which it is supported. The platform supports a base plate and a supporting yoke on which the telescopic conveyor is pivotally mounted about a horizontal shaft. The conveyor is tilted by means of two hydraulic cylinders, one of which is located between the base plate and a second supporting yoke for placing the conveyor in a transport position, while the other cylinder tilts the conveyor to allow unloading. An additional hydraulic cylinder on the conveyor retracts automatically during operation of the first hydraulic cylinder in order to prevent the conveyor from interfering with obstacles or power lines while it is being placed in the transport position. The telescopic conveyor comprises devices for storing the lower band of the endless belt conveyor during the retraction of the various sections of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Jacques Faivre
  • Patent number: 5490592
    Abstract: Telescoping rigid frame/scissor conveyors. Such conveyors are formed of a plurality of telescoping frame segments which may be positioned at any number of desired nested/unnested configurations. The frame segments bear a lazy tong or scissors conveyor structure which assures uniform roller spacing, and rollers positioned at one height along the conveyor rather than at different heights for each frame segment. Counterintuitively, the increased structural complexity is more than outweighed by the benefits resulting from the uniformly positioned rollers of a uniform height, which are thus adapted to convey articles in a reliable and jam-free fashion unlike previous expandable rigid frame conveyors. Conveyors according to the present invention may contain automatic locks to prevent overextension, powered rollers and motive devices for automatic and reliable extension and retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Northstar Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Best, Bob K. Flippo, James D. Walker, Gary D. Carter
  • Patent number: 5487462
    Abstract: An extendable conveyor unit eliminates the necessity of a base unit by supporting the extendable units directly from the warehouse floor with a minimum amount of support structure. The extendable conveyor includes one or more extendable units, a stationary support for supporting the extendable units, and a conveying surface defined on an extended portion of the extendable units. The stationary support supports the extendable units between a fully extended position, wherein the extendable units extend from the support in the direction of the vehicle to be loaded and a fully retracted position in which the extendable units extend from the support in a direction opposite from the direction of the vehicle to be loaded. The conveying surface may be a gravity roller conveyor or it may be an endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Rapistan Demag Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip J. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5465830
    Abstract: A conveyor for feeding out or feeding in goods within an elongated area comprises a tower (1) movable along a path located at a long side of the elongated area, an arm (4, 5) mounted on the tower and having a free end (6) extending into the area, and a feed-out device or a feed-in device (7) mounted at the free end of the arm. The conveyor further comprises an endless conveyor belt (10) which is closed but can be opened for feeding out or feeding in the goods. Belt guides (11-13, 16, 19) guide the conveyor belt from a first terminal point of the path, along this up to the tower, up along the tower and out along the arm to the feed-out device or the feed-in device, back along the arm and the tower down to the path, further along this to the second terminal point, and in a return path back to the first terminal point. A feed-in or feed-out station (20, 21) is provided at one of the terminal points or at a point along the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Lennart Tingskog
  • Patent number: 5456348
    Abstract: A powdered, flexible, expandable conveyor comprises a pair of flexible, expandable link assemblies, preferably in the form of a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in an X-shaped chain. The conveyor surface preferably includes a plurality of individually powered rollers. The individually powered rollers are mounted between the link assemblies at spaced locations along the length of the conveyor. Each of the powered rollers is rotatably driven by a motor housed inside the roller together with an individual gear box. Each motor is electrically connected to a terminal block located outside the powered roller which in turn is connected to a power supply. The gear boxes individually associated with the various motors may have different gear ratios in order to accommodate different loading. The conveyor is sufficiently flexible to be able to form a curved conveyor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Axia Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry E. Whetsel, Leon A. Downing
  • Patent number: 5442985
    Abstract: In a work table apparatus for a plate material processing machine, a group of work supporting belts each extending in a work feed direction and divided in the direction perpendicular to the work feed direction are arranged so as to form a work table surface separated into front and rear support portions on both sides of a plate material processing section, and the work supporting belts are driven in the work feed direction in synchronism with the movement of the plate material to be processed. Therefore, no relative displacement is produced between the work support portions of the work supporting belts and the plate material to be processed. Thus, punched products of small size can be supported securely without damaging the microjoint portions of the processed products, scratching the plate material, and producing sound noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shigeru Ito
  • Patent number: 5423413
    Abstract: An extendable conveyor unit supports the extendable units directly from the warehouse floor with a minimum amount of support structure. The extendable conveyor includes one or more extendable units, a stationary support for supporting the extendable units, and a conveying surface defined on an extended portion of the extendable units. The stationary support supports the extendable units between a fully extended position, wherein the extendable units extend from the support in the direction of the vehicle to be loaded and a fully retracted position in which the extendable units extend from the support in a direction opposite from the direction of the vehicle to be loaded. The conveying surface may be a gravity roller conveyor or it may be an endless belt. When the conveying surface is an endless belt, an elevating unit may be provided with the stationary support in order to elevate the conveying member above the extendable unit at the stationary support to match up with a discharge or receiving conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Rapistan Demag Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip J. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5413213
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a first station to a remote second station has two coaxial upright helical tracks one of which extends from the first station and the other of which extends from and is at least close to the second station. One or more endless chain or belt conveyors are provided to advance the articles of the mass flow along an elongated path which is defined in part by the first and in part by the second track. The apparatus can be used as a variable-capacity first-in first-out reservoir for rod-shaped articles due to the provision of one or two bridges. If the apparatus employs a single bridge and first and second conveyors, the bridge carries a first conveying device which receives articles from the first conveyor serving to accept articles at the first station, and a second conveying device which receives articles from the first conveying device and transfers the thus received articles onto the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Korber AG
    Inventors: Peter Golz, Andreas Rinke, Jurgen Krossmann
  • Patent number: 5407061
    Abstract: The invention concerns a slat conveyor in which the extension of the pitch due to the wear of a chain can be easily adjusted without performing the construction work required for conventional conveyors. In the conveyor, slat supporting members support slats adjacent to one another in a travelling direction. Each of the slat supporting members is provided with a first connection portion and a second connection portion for connecting the adjacent slat supporting members and the second connection portion of a succeeding slat supporting member overlaps the first connection portion of a preceding slat supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Toyokanetsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okada, Takuya Eikyu, Nobuya Hishinuma
  • Patent number: 5366068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor belt/cutting head advancement mechanism (10). Mechanism (10) comprises a conveyor belt support structure (11) connected at one end to a conveyor belt gathering structure (12). The conveyor belt support structure (11) is typically interconnected at its forward end to a self advancing conveyor return end (not shown). Material removed from a mine face by the cutting implement is delivered to a conveyor belt supported by the support structure (11). Structure (11) comprises a plurality of structural elements (18) pivotally interconnected in a scissor-like configuration. The mid points of elements (18) are pivotally interconnected at a point coinciding with the mounting location of a conveyor belt return roller (16). At the upper pivotally interconnected extremities of elements (18), the conveyor belt advancing rollers are supported. Mounted at a location nearby the lower ends of elements (18) are ground engaging wheels (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Australian Longwall Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Kevin R. Hall, Gordon Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5351809
    Abstract: An extendable conveyor for conveying product having a base unit, at least two extendable units selectively nested within each other and the base unit and a conveying member supported by the base unit and any extended portions of the extendable units, each of the extendable units is supported by a cantilever support system from the next most inward extendable unit or the base unit, the cantilever support system for each extendable unit including at least one rearward support member on each extendable unit engaging the next most inward extendable unit or the base unit and at least one forward support member on the next most inward extendable unit of the base unit supporting the extendable unit, at least the rearward support members or the forward support members being laterally aligned in a vertical plane adjacent a lateral perimeter of the conveying member in order to allow a reduced range in width of the extendable units and thereby a wider conveying surface relative to the width of the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Rapistan Demag Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip J. Gilmore, Richard J. Micheletti
  • Patent number: 5322154
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a column of spaced articles has a supply belt and a downstream-adjoining removal belt. The article transfer location between the two belts is formed by belt-supporting end rollers, one defining the downstream end of the supply belt and the other defining the upstream end of the removal belt. The two rollers together define an article transfer location. The two belt-supporting end rollers are mounted on a first carriage which is movable parallel to the conveying direction and which is attached to the upper reach of an endless flexible element. A second carriage is secured to the lower reach of the flexible element. On the second carriage there are mounted two deflecting rollers about which the supply belt and the removal belt are trained, respectively. The endless flexible element is supported by end rollers and is driven by a motor connected to a regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
    Inventor: Harald Lenherr
  • Patent number: 5307917
    Abstract: Disclosed is an extendible conveyor structure (10). Structure (10) comprises a main frame (11) supported above a ground surface by way of wheels (20). Main frame (11) comprises a number of vertical members (22) and cross-members (18) extending therebetween. Main frame (11) further comprises a number of longitudinal members (23). Either fixed to main frame (11) or rollably supported thereby is a sub-frame (14) to support a conveyor belt (16). Rollably supported to sub-frame (14) is a pair of movable sub-frames (12, 13). The conveyor belt (16) spans all three sub-frames (12, 13 and 14) and is supported by rollers (15) or alternatively by troughing plates or a combination of both. The respective sub-frames (12, 13 and 14) may be manually or automatically extended between a loading zone and a discharge zone as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: MECO Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Kevin R. Hall
  • Patent number: 5280902
    Abstract: A conveying device for sheets of paper, or similar materials, with some continuous conveyor belts (8 and 9) which are led over localized drive rollers (18 and 19) and also over localized return rollers (6, 7) and then over additional mutually displaceable turn-around rollers (27, 28, 29 and 30). The supporting frame includes a supporting guide track which runs between the return rollers (6, 7) and the drive rollers (18 and 19). The drive rollers (18 and 19) are mounted in a plane lying above the supporting guide track (1). A short sliding carriage (24) is provided as an adjustable component of the supporting frame, the carriage being adjustable, in an infinitely variable manner, and fixable in position on the upper side of the supporting guide track (1) between the drive rollers (18 and 19) and the return rollers (6, 7) by guiding elements and clamping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Mathias Bauerle GmbH
    Inventor: Maximilian Helmstadter
  • Patent number: 5277297
    Abstract: A controllable length conveyor suitable for use in a packaging machine comprises a pair of conveyor belts which are continuously driven in a given direction at a selected speed. The conveyor belts are mounted on a reciprocable frame and are arranged such that the product being conveyed resides between the belts and a run of each belt firmly engages and transports the product. The belt runs engaging the product can be made to extend and retract in correspondence with the product reaching a succeeding stage of packaging such as sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignees: Ossid Corporation, Ibaraik Seiki Machinery Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5256021
    Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention safely and efficiently loads and unloads the contents of a load transport container. A manipulator mechanism such as a backhoe having a hemispherical spiked tool at the end of a manipulator arm is mounted on a telescoping conveyor belt system. Right hand and left hand 1/4 turn drive conveyors are used at the front end of the telescoping conveyor belt system to facilitate movement of cargo from the front end of the system to the discharge end. The main conveyor belt has a ribbed design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventors: James M. Wolf, Charles Keip
  • Patent number: 5228549
    Abstract: A mobile and elevatable train is used in an underground mine to extend, or shorten, a roof-mounted conveyor system. A train is comprised of a plurality of cars, each of which has independent jacks adapted to raise, or lower, each car with respect to the roof. The plurality of cars is linked together by a mechanism which allows the cars to travel together, yet allows them to pivot with respect to another and also assume different elevations with respect to another. Each one of the plurality of cars carries at least one detachable roller structure which is elevated to the position it should have in the conveyor system, after the roof supports have been attached. Each car may also carry at least one permanently attached roller structure so that the mobile and elevatable train can temporary function as the support for a moving conveyor belt, prior to its next move. The mobile and elevatable train is equally adapted to either an advancing, or retreating, belt line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Robert B. Conner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5205400
    Abstract: A transportation device for the transportation of foodstuffs in particular of cut foods consists in essence of a rack in which two rollers are arranged across from one another and over which runs a conveyor belt designed as a continuous belt. The rollers can be rotated on the free ends of end sections readily removable from the rack. This makes it possible to readily exchange the conveyor belt and to modify the length of the transportation device in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Natec, Reich, Summer GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Walter Breuss, Erwin Wolf
  • Patent number: 5203442
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle mounting a cantilevered conveyor truss for concrete and the like. An improved force balancing frame enables the vehicle to remain stable even though the truss conveyor is extended to maximum length and elevated to a high angle. Improved geometry enables the truss conveyor to be pivoted at a point above a cab mounted on a turntable of the vehicle and forward of the axis of rotation of the turntable, thereby facilitating the deposit of concrete on the conveyor. Polyethylene pads control the motion of the truss conveyors, especially when the truss conveyor is elevated to a high angle. A unique drive assembly enables a mid-section and fly section of the truss conveyor to be moved simultaneously with respect to a base section of truss conveyor such that the fly section moves at twice the rate of the mid-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Rotec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Oury, A. Steven Ledger
  • Patent number: 5201406
    Abstract: A technique for the insertion and removal of a section of belting in and from an endless belt conveyor is disclosed. The technique includes method and apparatus including a frame which may comprise the frame of the main conveyor or the chassis of a wheeled vehicle. A driven belt pulley is rotatably mounted in the frame and is engageable by an idler pinch roll. A section of belting to be removed from the conveyor is engaged between the pulley and the pinch roll so that substantially all of the belt removing tension is absorbed by the motor driving the belt pulley. The belt may then be wound onto a driven reel at a substantially constant winding torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Continental Conveyor & Equipment Co., L.P.
    Inventor: John K. Kellis
  • Patent number: 5197843
    Abstract: The ship loading and unloading installation consists of a quayside gantry 0) with a vertically slewable jib (30) which is formed by a supporting arm (130) with a supporting frame (40) and a horizontally displaceable supporting frame (50) guided within the same which, at its free end carries a vertical conveyer (60) that can be made to travel in its height with a pallet conveying device constructed as a lifting platform (162), which interacts with a supplying or delivering path (70) for goods to be conveyed arranged in the jib (30), which comprises a conveying path (170) arranged within the supporting frame (50), a conveying path (270) arranged within the supporting frame (40) and a conveying path (370) arranged between these two conveying paths (170,270), which can be made to travel out from the interspace formed between the two conveying belts (170,270) through the supporting frame (50) being displaced out from the supporting frame (40), so that loaded pallets are transported on a conveying path with continu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: ATEBA Automatisieren-Technik Bauen fur Gewerbe und Industrie GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Eckel
  • Patent number: 5193660
    Abstract: An extensible flat belt conveyor has a fixed section (1) and at least two extension sections (2) and (3). A chain (18) is carried over sprockets (21) and (22) on the portion (2) adjacent the fixed section (1), and its lower traverse is fastened to the fixed section while its upper traverse is fastened to the movable section (3). When a chain sprocket (22) is driven the movable section (3) travels twice as far and as fast as the section (2). A control module (25) is carried on the extending end of movable section (3), and is wired back to the fixed section (1) by an electrical cable (30) which extends through saddles (28) outstanding from the chain (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventors: Gary M. McKernan, Robert J. Tucker
  • Patent number: 5188218
    Abstract: A method for deploying a belt on a large conveyor belt system which extends down slope. A run of the belt is positioned at an upper position along the slope, and is engaged with a controllable brake which is configured to permit selective adjustment of the braking force which is exerted thereby on the belt. The belt is then lowered along the conveyor belt system using the weight of the run, and the rate at which the run of belt advances is controlled by selectively adjusting the braking force which is exerted by the controllable brake. The runs of belt may be lowered from adjacent high points in the conveyor belt system and spliced together where these meet in the valleys between the high points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Larry J. Kuzik
  • Patent number: 5187097
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a large composting system as well as to a new composting method for the automatic production of compost. A mobile layer rearranging unit includes a conveyor system which is changeable with respect to length can be remote-controlled so that the influx of rotting matter is optimized according to throughput and rotting time and the rot loss is compensated for by repeatedly restoring the complete rot height. The required space requirement is less than before. Any mechanical intervention has a loosening effect, particularly in that the working device comprises upwardly working digging and conveyor wheels. All important parameters for the compost ripening can be monitored via free programming as well as by control by the system maintenance personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Weber, Falko Lehrmann, Hermann Hofer, Werner Vogel, Peter Mueller
  • Patent number: 5181600
    Abstract: A conveyor structure (1.20) is disclosed that is capable of being retracted concertina fashion for transport on a trailer (42) between sites of operation. The structure comproses a plurality of H-frames each comprised of rigid supports (2A, 2B or 21,22) joined by a cross-member (3) which supports rollers (3A-D,30) upon which the conveyor belt (4) travels. Extensible links (6), and cross-braces (25,26) maintain the longitudinal and lateral rigidity of structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventors: Ian C. Chappell, Peter W. G. Matusch, Dagobert R. Matusch
  • Patent number: 5161674
    Abstract: A tentering chain is equipped with a mechanism for the stepless, continuous adjustment of the chain pitch which is the on-center spacing between two neighboring chain link journal bolts or pins. Such chains are used for this simultaneous, biaxial treatment of synthetic material films or webs. For this purpose, the chains carry tenter bodies with hooks or clamps for gripping the film edge. The tenter bodies carry guide rollers which engage guide rails along the travel path of the tentering chain. In order to dimension the tenter body with its gripping elements as small as possible, while still permitting a large shrinking or stretching of the film web, the chain link journal bolts or pins are mounted in the respective tenter body for an adjustment of the pin position in a direction of the chain travel. In all positions of the journal pin or pins these pins extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Andreas Rutz, Rudolf Langer, Hubert Becher, Klaus Buttenbender
  • Patent number: 5088592
    Abstract: A method for conveying and depositing an adhesive, flexible material by way of a flexible base in right side up position which essentially maintains it shape in a deposition station. The base is supported by a displaceable supporting device equipped with a guiding member, which imparts a direction change to the base. The supporting device at the deposition moves the base away below the material causing the material to be deposited by means of free fall. The material is positioned on the base a distance from the delivery end of the supporting device corresponding to the acceleration distance of the base. The rear end of the base is fixedly attached against displacement. The base is urged to make an abrupt direction change over a guiding member having a very small curvature radius (r) at the front end of the supporting device. The supporting device and the base are simultaneously accelerated rearwardly at an acceleration, which should be at least 1 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Institutet for Verkstadsteknisk
    Inventor: Goran Palmers
  • Patent number: 5078259
    Abstract: An apparatus for inserting sliced food into a packing machine, comprises a driven, endless conveyor belt which conveys the food from a feeding location, over a surface directed obliquely downwards in the conveying direction, to a food depositing location whence the food is delivered to the packing machine by gravity. As a structurally simple way of obtaining high quality packing, the conveyor belt is guided over a slide which can be moved backwards and forwards in a controlled manner, in the region of the depositing location, a tension adjuster being provided for the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is intermittently driven, the food being delivered to the packing machine when the belt drive is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Inventor: Gunter Honsberg
  • Patent number: 5074402
    Abstract: An extensible ammunition conveyor includes telescoping conveyor sections mounting pairs of laterally spaced sprockets adjacent the conveyor section ends. A pair of endless chains are trained about these sprockets in coextensive, transversely spaced relation with each chain having transversely lapping run portions extending along the telescoped end portions of the conveyor sections. The sprockets of each pair are mounted in angularly relation to provide an effectively V-shaped open trough for transversely confining cylindrical ammunition rounds during conveyance motivated by driving the chains in unison. Jointly braking and driving the chains in an appropriate direction produces powered extension and contraction of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bender-Zanoni, David L. Maher
  • Patent number: 5056655
    Abstract: Conveyor belt supporting modules associated with an endless conveyor belt assembly for conveying mined material from a mine bore to the mouth of the bore allows for necessary length of conveyor belt to be fed into the mine, and convey material from the mine, as the bore lengthens so that the conveyor belt always extends from adjacent the cutting site to the bore mouth. Each module has a carriage frame with a number of conveyor belt supporting return rollers extending between the frame sides, and a number of conveyor belt supporting trough roller sets mounted above the return rollers and spaced from each other from the front to the rear along the frame. The carriages have axles and wheels to allow movement into a bore, and they are connected together by couplers. The supporting trough roller sets are mounted for pivotal movement on a frame side to expose the return rollers so that the endless belt can be laid in place simply and quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Coaltex, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Justice
  • Patent number: 5046603
    Abstract: A transfer table, especially for packaging machines for stacks of paper in the paper industry comprises a plurality of rigid table elements which are linked together in the manner of a chain and are guided into a rigid transfer table configuration cantilevered on a support of the device in an extended position and capable of being guided into a zigzag or rolled-up position on the frame in a retracted position of the table. A transfer belt passes over the table and around deflection rollers mounted on the frame and defining compensating loops which contract as the table extends and expands as the table is contracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Ostma Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz F. Odenthal
  • Patent number: 4986412
    Abstract: An extensible conveyor for following a continuous tunneling or mining machine. The conveyor frame is made up of identical modules which can be added end to end at the end of the frame, the modules including return reach rollers. A separate carriage frame is independently supported on a mobile support which advances with the advance of the mining machine. The carriage frame advances over the conveying belt frame and includes a conveying belt pulley over which the conveying belt extends. The carriage frame spaces the conveying reach of the belt from the return reach thereof as the carriage is being advanced in order to allow conveying reach rollers to be placed onto the frame as the carriage frame advances. An impact plate is provided at the discharge end of a transfer conveyor, wherein the impact plate extends below the conveying reach of the belt of a first conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Walsh & Brais Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Brais
  • Patent number: 4969691
    Abstract: In a mining scheme, a mobile continuous haulage system follows a miner and transports material onto a floor mounted beltway. The beltway supports a roadway on which the haulage system is carried. The roadway has wheels captured in outboard rails on the beltway and lift cylinders on the roadway when lowered, raise the beltway off the floor so that the beltway can be advanced for a belt move to facilitate adding additional belt sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Moore, Robert Kaminsky, Peter F. Singleton
  • Patent number: 4946027
    Abstract: A boom conveyor including a cantilevered conveyor section having an operator's platform at its outer free end is disclosed. The conveyor section is mounted so that in use the outer free end is movable in a vertical plane between predetermined limits. A scissor support is disposed at or adjacent the outer free end and is passively extended by the raising of the free end of the conveyor to provide continual support to the platform. A release valve enables retraction of the support when the free end is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Sovex Marshall Limited
    Inventor: John P. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4896764
    Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for carrying, advancing and retracting a conveyor in a mine. The invention eliminates the need for separate storage of unused conveyor material and provides a conveyor which can be either advanced or retracted at will and while loaded and operating. The invention comprises a monorail fixed to the roof of a mining tunnel, an elongate truss assembly movably suspended from the monorail, and a conveyor carried by the truss assembly. The monorail defines the path of travel for the truss and the position of the conveyor can be advanced and retracted within the tunnel by advancing or retracting the truss along the monorail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Tg Soda Ash, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Neunzert
  • Patent number: 4881635
    Abstract: A method of and an arrangement for transporting piece goods and organized changing their position, include transporting goods in a plurality of substantially parallel tracks by a transporting device from a supply conveyor to a discharge conveyor spaced from one another in a predetermined direction, determining a position of the goods by sensing means at least in the region between the supply conveyor and the transporting device, supplying the goods to the transporting device with a means value of arrival and a variance of arrival therebetween, providing in the transporting device per each track at least three transporting conveyors and a transition between two neighboring one of the transporting conveyors, changing a speed of the transporting conveyors of the transporting device, and moving a respective one of the transitions in said direction to change their position, so that by changing the position of the transitions and the speed of the transporting conveyors pieces or groups of goods can change their pos
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: H. Bahlsens Keksfabrik KG
    Inventor: Hans D. Raschke
  • Patent number: 4869358
    Abstract: A conveyor system for use with a continuous mining machine in a straight line shaft includes a plurality of cable support members equally spaced along the length of the conveyor within the mine shaft and an adjustable conveyor belt storage device located externally of the shaft for adjusting the length of the conveyor belt within the shaft. Each of the support members is connected to a pair of cables at equally spaced locations, and a power operated winch unit is mounted externally of the mine shaft for paying out and retracting the cables and the support members attached thereto. The winch unit and the conveyor belt storage unit are mounted on a common platform. A first plurality of hydraulic jacks is provided for leveling the platform on uneven terrain and a second plurality of hydraulic jacks is mounted on the platform for engagement with the face of the mine on opposite sides of the shaft to align the conveyor belt in the shaft and to assist in withdrawal of the supports from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: Charles L. Chandler
  • Patent number: 4860878
    Abstract: An extensible support system for endless conveyor belts and the like has a plurality of pairs of generally transversely aligned primary and secondary interconnected members, a plurality of flexible restrictive members, such as chains, secured between successive primary and secondary members to restrict the spacing of the members at their lower ends, transverse members interconnecting portions of the generally transversely aligned pairs of primary and secondary members, and a plurality of conveyor belt and the like supporting elements supported by pairs of either the primary or secondary members. A carrier for the pluralities of primary and secondary members is provided, which includes a pair of longitudinally extending rail members on which the primary or secondary members are supported and guided during movement to and from an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: D M Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Mraz, Donald R. Skuce
  • Patent number: 4821870
    Abstract: A conveyor for handling articles is disclosed. The conveyor has an endless belt movable about rollers. The endless belt has an upstream and a downstream end. There is a fixed pivot roller located at the upstream end, whereby the conveyor is pivotable upwardly and downwardly about the fixe pivot roller. There is a first movable roller located at the downstream end which is capable of moving upwardly, downwardly and horizontally. There is a fixed position roller located between the fixed pivot roller and the first movable roller for directing the belt downwardly towards the first movable roller to provide a downward sloped nose on the downstream end of the conveyor. There is a second movable roller for receiving the belt from the first movable roller. The second movable roller is spring biased for tensioning the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Nabisco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Simelunas, Henry N. Shoiket, Celso Espejo
  • Patent number: 4771880
    Abstract: There is described an extensible belt take-up and storage device for use in an extensible belt conveyor system. The device overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by being very compact and by having a configuration such that almost all the stored belt can be let out to the conveyor system. To accomplish this first and second sets of rollers are mounted on a fixed and on a movable frame respectively and the rollers are mounted parallel to each other and inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal axis of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: DM Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Mraz
  • Patent number: 4727980
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying an article, as during a sewing operation, includes a pair of driving pulleys supported on a first support simultaneously rotatably by an electric motor and spaced apart from each other transversely of the apparatus and a pair of driven pulleys supported simultaneously rotatably on a second support and spaced apart from each other transversely of the apparatus. A pair of first fixed intermediate pulleys and a pair of first movable intermediate pulleys are supported simultaneously rotatably on the first support below the driving pulleys and between the driving pulleys and the fixed intermediate pulleys, respectively. The second support is spaced apart from the first support longitudinally of the apparatus and the first and second supports are horizontally movable to and away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Moriya Ochi, Masahiro Sahashi
  • Patent number: 4643299
    Abstract: A Telescopic conveyor comprises a fixed housing which is open at one end through which a number, as for instance two, three or more, lengthy and belt carrying units arranged above each other are extendably and retractably and slidably mounted within the housing to be slit out from the housing, whereby the lower slidable units at the outer end comprise supporting means for carrying the slidable units positioned above and whereby each of the slidable units comprise at least two belt rollers or drums of which one is positioned foremost at each of the units and whereby furthermore a telescopic drive unit is contained within the conveyor comprising one or more drive belts or drive chains with the ends of each drive belt or drive chain being connected in one end to the fixed and in the other end to the uppermost slidable unit so that at least one of the drive belts or the drive chains are driven by a drive roller or drum respectively by a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Caljan A/S
    Inventor: Kaj B. Calundan
  • Patent number: 4567824
    Abstract: An automatic sheet register control system for a printing press comprising: photocells (81-85) sensing the position of a sheet (5) relative to printing cylinder (48U); and a computer (86-89) to generate signals to actuators (75a, 75b) to adjust the length of bands (16a, 16b) which carry the sheets (5) to establish and control register of the sheet (5) relative to the printing cylinder (48U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Dahlgren Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold P. Dahlgren, John W. Gardiner, Jesse L. Lowdermilk
  • Patent number: RE35243
    Abstract: A controllable length conveyor suitable for use in a packaging machine comprises a pair of conveyor belts which are continuously driven in a given direction at a selected speed. The conveyor belts are mounted on a reciprocable frame and are arranged such that the product being conveyed resides between the belts and a run of each belt firmly engages and transports the product. The belt runs engaging the product can be made to extend and retract in correspondence with the product reaching a succeeding stage of packaging such as sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignees: Ossid Corporation, Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson