Article guide for an apparatus for controlling the flow of articles

• US 20030178284A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hartness International Inc. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Beesley, Robert C., Steeber, Dorian F., Duterte, Olivier P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,698,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/370.01
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5131 by relative displacement between conveyors or conveyor parts and bridging means therebetween
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/52 Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00

Abstract

A movable transport member used in an article conveying system is disposed across and movable along a space between oppositely running conveyors. The transport member has a drive member that continuously rotates as either conveyor moves. An article transfer member carried by the transport member includes an endless drive belt disposed along a transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong. The article transfer member further comprises a driven rotatable member having an article contacting surface, the transfer path defined between the drive belt and a circumferential portion of the driven rotatable member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:

a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction;

said first and second conveyors extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween;

a movable transport member disposed generally across and movable along said space, said transport member having a drive member that continuously rotates as either of said first and second conveyors moves, said transport member movable along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said first and second conveyors;

an article transfer member carried by said transport member and operably disposed relative to said conveyors to contact and transfer articles from said first conveyor to said second conveyor along a transfer path;

said article transfer member including an endless drive belt disposed along said transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong, said drive belt running in an endless path between said drive member and said article transfer member; and

said article transfer member further comprising a driven rotatable member having an article contacting surface, said transfer path defined between said drive belt and a circumferential portion of said driven rotatable member such that articles are contacted are compelled along said transfer path by said drive belt and said driven rotatable member.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive member is drivingly engaged simultaneously by said first and second conveyors so that said drive member continuously rotates as either of said first and second conveyors move, said drive belt running in an endless path between said drive member and said article transfer member and drivingly engaged by a belt drive wheel mounted on and driven by said drive member.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said driven rotatable member comprises a wheel, said article contacting surface defined by a circumferential surface of said wheel.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a drive mechanism configured between said drive member and said driven rotatable member.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a belt drive.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said belt drive comprises a belt disposed around a drive pulley assembly configured on and driven by said drive member and a pulley assembly rotationally coupled with said driven rotatable member.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drive mechanism is disposed above said conveyors such that articles are compelled along said transfer path below said drive mechanism.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drive member is carried by a front support and said article transfer member is carried by a rear support, said front and rear supports pivotally mounted relative to each other at a common pivot point, said drive mechanism comprising a flexible drive element that allows for pivotal movement between said front and rear supports.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a belt drive.

10. An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:

a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles thereon in said first direction, and a second conveyor driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction to convey articles thereon in said second direction;

said first and second conveyors extending side-by-side and parallel with a space defined therebetween;

a movable transport member disposed generally across and movable along said space, said transport member having a drive member simultaneously engaged by said first and second conveyors so as to continuously rotate as either of said first and second conveyors moves, said transport member movable along said space if a relative speed difference exists between said first and second conveyors;

an article transfer member carried by said transport member and operably disposed relative to said conveyors to contact and transfer articles from said first conveyor to said second conveyor along a transfer path;

said article transfer member including an endless drive belt disposed along said transfer path so as to contact and move articles therealong, said drive belt running in an endless path between said drive member and said article transfer member;

said article transfer member further comprising a driven rotatable member having an article contacting surface, said transfer path defined between said drive belt and a circumferential portion of said driven rotatable member such that articles are contacted and compelled along said transfer path by said drive belt and said driven rotatable member; and

a drive mechanism operable disposed between said drive member and said driven rotatable member such that rotational movement of said drive member is transferred to said driven rotatable member.