Conveyor system for two or more troughs

• US 20060157324A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conveyor Dynamics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Conveyor Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Chauvin, Fred T., Didion, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/753
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 27/34 comprising a series of co-operating units

Abstract

A right angle conveyor has a first trough and a second trough to move product by reciprocating motion with the second trough at an angle to the first trough. Rocker arms and corresponding reactor springs joined to a chassis form the first and second troughs. The first trough has a motor upon the chassis, eccentric cam, and a linkage to induce reciprocating motion into the conveyor. To induce reciprocation, the first trough has a first bracket connected to a yoke upon a trunnion joined to the chassis, a yoke connected to a slave drive spring bracket, a slave spring connected to the slave drive spring bracket and to a second bracket, the slave spring connected to a second bracket beneath the second trough. The yoke has three pinned connections to permit rotation. Thus, reciprocal movement of the first trough transmits through the first bracket to the first pin, rotates the yoke upon the trunnion, moves the second pin, transmits movement to the slave drive spring bracket and the slave spring and then to the second bracket, thus moving product upon the second trough perpendicular to the first trough. In an alternate embodiment, the yoke has ball and socket connections and a trunnion upon a pivoting base so the second trough moves at any angle to the first trough.

Claims

1. A conveyor system having a first trough and a second trough reciprocating to move product, said second trough at an angle to said first trough, said first trough and said second trough attached to a plurality of rocker arms and cooperating reactor springs, said rocker arms and said reactor springs joined to a chassis, said first trough having a motor upon said chassis, an eccentric cam connected to said motor, and a linkage from said cam to said first trough, wherein the improvement comprises:

a first bracket joined beneath said first trough proximate to said second trough;

a slave drive spring bracket joined to said second trough proximate to said first trough;

a slave drive spring connected to said slave drive spring bracket;

a second bracket joined beneath said second trough proximate to said first trough and connected to said slave drive spring; and

,

a yoke having an arcuate shape, a first pin connected to said first bracket, an opposite second pin connected to said second bracket, and a centrally located trunnion connecting to said chassis of said first trough;

whereby, reciprocal movement of said first trough transmits through said first bracket to said first pin, rotates said yoke upon said trunnion, moves said second pin, transmits movement to said slave drive spring bracket and said slave spring and then to said second bracket, thus moving product upon said second trough at a substantial angle to said first trough.

2. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said second trough is perpendicular to said first trough.

3. The conveyor system of claim 2 further comprising:

said first bracket having a first part and an adjacent second part, said first part having two generally triangular plates oriented parallel to said yoke receiving said yoke between said plates and holes in said plate to receive said first pin, said second part having a plate of generally parallelogram shape with an orthogonal cap at one end to join said fork and an opposite cap to connect with a reactor spring upon said first trough, said first part joining to said first trough;

said slave drive bracket having a fore plate, an aft plate, and a spring plate arranged in a slanted inverted substantially U shape, said fore plate having a tapered end with a hole to admit said second pin and a square opposite end to join said spring plate, said spring plate having a generally rectangular shape and connecting to said slave drive spring, said aft plate having a greater length than said fore plate, a location parallel and spaced apart from said fore plate, a tapered end with a hole to admit said second pin and an opposite square end to join said spring plate; and

,

said second bracket having two generally parallel mutually spaced apart substantially triangular plates joined to said second trough and a cross plate spanning said triangular plates, said slave drive spring connecting to said cross plate.

4. The conveyor system of claim 3 wherein said aft plate of said slave drive bracket has an opening.

5. The conveyor system of claim 3 further comprising:

said yoke having a generally triangular shape of three sides with the hypotenuse being arcuate and the other two sides being straight, a first end proximate to said first trough, an opposite second end proximate to said second trough and a vertex generally midway between said first end and said second end, upon said first end said first pin connects with said plates of said first bracket, upon said second end said second pin connects with said fore and said aft plates of said slave drive bracket, upon said vertex a third pin connects with said trunnion;

said trunnion having a generally triangular shaped plate with a hole to admit said third pin and a cover generally rectangular in shape centered upon and perpendicular to said plate, said cover connecting to said chassis of said first trough; and

,

said chassis of said second trough has a cutout sized to admit said trunnion and said yoke.

6. The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said yoke has two openings, between said first end and said vertex and said second end and said vertex.

8. The conveyor system of claim 6 further comprising:

ball and socket joints cooperating as said first joint and said second joint; and

,

a pivoting base upon said trunnion and beneath said yoke having a round shape upon bearings whereby said yoke rotates relative to said chassis of said first trough permitting reciprocating motion of said second trough at various angles to said first trough.

9. The conveyor system of claim 6 further comprising:

one or more pins cooperating with holes as said first joint and said second joint; and

,

a pivoting base upon said trunnion and beneath said yoke having a round shape upon bearings whereby said yoke rotates relative to said chassis of said first trough permitting reciprocating motion of said second trough at various angles to said first trough.

7. A conveyor system having a first trough and a second trough reciprocating to move product, said second trough at a substantial angle to said first trough, said first trough and said second trough attached to a plurality of rocker arms and cooperating reactor springs, said rocker arms and said reactor springs joined to a chassis, said first trough having a motor upon said chassis, an eccentric cam, and a linkage to said first trough, wherein the improvement comprises:

a first bracket joined beneath said first trough proximate to said second trough;

a slave drive spring bracket joined to said second trough proximate to said first trough; and

,

a yoke having an arcuate shape, a first joint pivotally connected to said first bracket, an opposite second joint pivotally connected to said second bracket, and a centrally located trunnion pivotally connecting to said chassis of said first trough;

whereby, reciprocal movement of said first trough transmits through said first bracket to said first joint, rotates said yoke upon said trunnion, moves said second joint, transmits movement to said slave drive spring bracket and said slave spring and then to said second bracket, thus moving product upon said second trough at an angle to said first trough.