Abstract:
A conveyor such as especially a sorting conveyor having an endless conveyor belt structure comprising a plurality of juxtaposed belt links each constituted by a conveyor element provided with an endless conveyor belt mounted crosswise so as to have an exposed upper run constituting part of the article supporting surface of said conveyor belt structure, means being provided for driving any selected cross conveyor belt in order to effect diversion of an article from said conveyor belt structure at a selected place therealong said driving means such as driving rollers being arranged substantially stationarily at least relatively to said conveyor elements so as to be able to drive the cross conveyor belts without participating in the movement thereof, actuator means being provided for making said driving means operative in response to an article approaching the place in which it is wanted to be diverted from the conveyor.
Abstract:
A rail network serving a given territory has a multiplicity of transfer stations for the transshipment of freight containers between local truck routes and scheduled freight trains, as well as between trains traveling to different destinations, each train comprising a number of flatcars with transverse roller conveyors which are aligned with similar conveyors on adjoining platforms when the train halts at a station. The platforms are separated by one or more railroad tracks and by several longitudinal conveyors in the form of articulated chains whose links are also provided with transverse roller conveyors alignable with those of the platforms and the flatcars. Transversely shiftable platform sections, each of a length equaling that of the flatcars, can be advanced into contact with a standing train to complete a driving circuit for the flatcar-mounted conveyors whereby containers resting on the rollers of a platform section can be moved onto the flatcar or vice versa. The platform sections can also be shifted completely across the well of a track, in the absence of a train, to enable the movement of a container to the opposite side. The conveyors and platform shifters are all controlled by a local computer, communicating with computers of nearby stations, on the basis of available-space information from preceding computers and of destination data fed in by local shippers or by the computers of originating stations.
Abstract:
An endless conveyor having two adjacent, aligned, parallel chain loops each having two rectilinear portions. Between the loops and entrained by friction are suspended carrier members for carrying objects along the two rectilinear conveying tracks defined by the chains. A latching device comprising a spring-loaded, U-shaped member which wedges between spaced chain links thereby preventing sliding of the carrier members at the loop ends is provided to allow passage from one track to the other.
Abstract:
A carrying plate, for use in a bakery, transports formed and fermented dough products and is adapted to be transported by a conveyor means and automatically unloaded. The core plate has an acute-angled front end and the endless flexible belt is provided with laterally extending ridges. The plate is advanced on the conveyor means to an unloading station where automatically a roller swings into contact with the lower surface of the belt on the plate to rotate it and unload the dough products.
Abstract:
A conveyor for the nonforced displacement of a multiplicity of workpiece-supporting carriages along a transport path whereby the carriages can be selectively stopped and, after unloading, are returned to the starting end of the conveyor. Flanking this path there are provided upwardly-open upper channels and laterally open lower channels, each upper and lower channel on a respective side of the path receiving a roller conveyor chain so that rollers of the conveyor are supported upon the bottoms of each channel. The chain has central rollers which support the carriage along the upper stretch of the chain while the lateral rollers engage the bottom of the upper channel. On the return stretch, the central rollers support the chain on the lower channel while at least one of the lateral rollers supports the returning carriage through brackets which reach around the channels and form guides for laterally positioning the carriage with respect to both upper and lower channels. The space between the chains is free from cross bars or the like.
Abstract:
Apparatus for bunching vegetables having a stalk comprising a frame, a chain formed into an endless band, a motor mounted to the frame for recirculatingly driving the chain in a generally elongated loop, a plurality of members affixed to the chain, each member including a vegetable holding portion and a clamping portion, the holding portion being capable of supporting a plurality of heads of vegetables with their stalks extending in a direction generally normal to the plane of the loop, the clamping portion being movable between an open and a closed position such that when it is in the open position vegetables are able to be placed in the holding portion and when it is in the closed position it clamps the stalks of the vegetables in the holding portion, a cam plate connected to the frame and disposed in the path of the clamping portion for moving the clamping portion from the open to the closed position, and a rotary saw for removing portions of the stalks when the clamping portion is in the closed position, whereby when the chain is driven and after vegetables are inserted into the holding portion, the cam plate engages the clamping portion and moves it from the open to the closed position so that continued movement of the chain drives the clamped stalks past the saw which in turn removes undesired portions of the stalks so as to form the vegetables into a predetermined length and hence enables the stalks to be bound with an elastic band that serves to maintain the vegetables in a bunch, and whereby when the clamping portion moves into the open position out of engagement with the cam plate, the bunch of vegetables is capable of being removed from the holding portion, and a method therefor.
Abstract:
An overhead conveyor with an improved guide for a spray booth loop and other arcuate track portions. The guide is an annular ring which bears against the conveyor chain and which is rotatably supported for movement with the conveyor chain by a first set of rollers which contacts the undersurface of the annular ring, a second set of rollers which contacts an inner circular flange of the annular ring and a third set of rollers which contacts a top surface of the annular ring.
Abstract:
Chain or conveyor system for a machine to manufacture pile fabrics which have the blades thereof closely spaced by arranging the chain lugs on each chain in staggered relationship to the chain lugs on the next adjacent chain.
Abstract:
In a conveyance system with crossing paths, such as used in the conveyance of piled-up articles such as newpapers and the like, the improvement consisting in providing two couples of belts arranged crosswise relative to one another and equipped with a lifting mechanism capable of lifting and depressing one couple of belts relative to the other. The lifting mechanism comprises an array of idle belt-tightening rollers and fixed rollers, a few rollers being mounted in such a way as to impart a U-bend to top belt lap, the U-bend area being mounted on a special swingable arm. Appropriate linkages ensure the desired synchronization of the movement of the upper laps of the belts, so that the articles on the belts can easily be passed from a lower-level belt to a higher-level belt, and viceversa. It is also possible to select which belts are to stand at a higher or lower level as necessity demands. Such a mechanism enables the piles of sheets to be switched from a conveying path to another without disturbing the correct superposition of the articles in the heaps.
Abstract:
Wear protection for a conveyor belt is provided by metal plates detachably connected to the belt along its length and located in the central area of the belt. The plates are constructed and arranged relative to each other to prevent foreign matter from becoming lodged between the plates and the belt surface. Cleats are provided on the plates.