CONVEYOR AND SORTING SYSTEM

• US 3,848,728 A
• Filed: 02/01/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nick H. Terry, Peter Leibrick
• Original Assignee: Nick H. Terry, Peter Leibrick
• Inventors: Leibrick, Peter, Terry, Nick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/328,655
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 198/38,129,203,145,146,155 214/11R,60,62A,62R 46/216,218,40 104/88R 403/58
• US Class Current: 198/370.04
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 9/00 Tramway or funicular systems with rigid track and cable traction haulage clips B61B12/12
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 9/00 Tipping wagons
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/38 Chains or like traction elements drive chains F16G13/00; Connections between traction elements and load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles

Abstract

An endless closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system particularly adapted for use between areas of different vertical elevation. The system includes an endless track, contiguous receptacle means forming an endless conveyor mounted on said track for movement therealong and in-line omit drive means adapted to sequentially engage each of said receptacle means imparting movement to said conveyor. Additionally, universal coupling means between each receptacle means are provided to assure conformity with the contour of said endless track during travel. Deflecting means are associated with at least some of said receptacle means for discharge of contents thereon.

Claims

1. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system comprising an endless track means encompassing a horizontal area, a plurality of receptacle carriage means contiguously mounted on said track, coupling means uniting each of said receptacle carriage means one to the other forming an endless conveyor to ride on said endless track;

each of said receptacle carriage means including guide wheels associated with said track portion to prevent lateral displacement, a pivotable receptacle portion forming a part of at least some of said receptacle carriage means, each of said pivotable receptacle portions being independently pivotal one from the other, and energizable linear actuators on said receptacle carriage means associated with said pivotable receptacles to tilt said receptacles normal to the line of travel and gravitationally discharge parcels thereon;

in-line power means positioned on said track portion;

two sets of friction contact means having flat surfaces thereon, the flat surfaces of the contact means of one set being adapted for engagement with the flat surfaces of the contact means of the other set, the contact means of said one set being part of said power means and the contact means of said other set being connected with said receptacle carriage means to sequentially translate power to effect forward movement of each of said receptacle carriage means and in turn move the entire contiguous endless conveyor around said endless track.

2. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 1 wherein portions of said track means are vertically elevated above an adjacent portion, and said coupling means include universal joints including a vertical moveable block portion pivotally mounted on one of said receptacle carriage means, a horizontal tongue member fixedly mounted on an adjacent receptacle carriage means, a pivot pin passing vertically through said block portion and said tongue portion whereby said tongue portion may pivot horizontally about said pivot pin and said block portion may simultaneously pivot vertically so that each of said receptacle carriage means may conform to any portion of said track means.

3. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 1 wherein electrical conduit strips are provided on said track means which can be energized, and wherein an electrical bus bar is provided on said receptacle carriage means connected to said linear actuator and said bus bar is slidingly engageable with said conduit strips whereby electrical energy may pass to said linear actuator at a predetermined place along said track to effect tilting of said receptacle.

4. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 1 wherein said in-line power means includes a motor, an endless sprocket chain of connected links mounted thereon and having a portion interposed between said track means and said receptacle carriage means for movement parallel to the movement of said endless conveyor, and said friction contact means of said one set includes a plurality of separate friction pads secured to said links of said chain, said friction contact means of said other set including an elongated mateable friction pad positioned beneath each of said receptacle carriage means and vertically aligned above said friction pads of said one set and engageable thereby to impart positive anti-slip sequential movement to said receptacle carriage means.

5. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein the leading edge of each of saiD plurality of separate friction pads is downwardly curved whereby binding between said pads and said strip is prevented upon engagement.

6. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein a plurality of said separate friction pads may engage a single receptacle carriage means elongated mateable friction pad for a predetermined period of time.

7. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein there are two endless sprocket chains synchronized for parallel spaced apart movement each of which is replete with friction pads and wherein each of said receptacle carriage means includes two spaced apart elongated friction pads.

8. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein said endless sprocket chain extends through said track means and a chain guide means mounted on said track maintains said interposed chain portion in an engageable position.

9. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein said friction pads are removably mounted on said connected links.

10. A closed loop parcel sorting conveyor system as defined in claim 4 wherein said elongated strip is removably mounted on each of said receptacle carriage means.

11. A conveyor system comprising an endless track wherein portions of said track are vertically elevated above an adjacent portion and said track encompasses a horizontal area;

a plurality of independent receptacle carriage means each mounted on rollers and contiguous one to the other in linear series, said carriage means being mounted on said track for movement therearound;

universal coupling means connecting said receptacle carriage means one to the other;

fixed electrical power means; and

two sets of positive generally planar anti-slip contact means having flat surfaces thereon, the flat surfaces of the contact means of one set being adapted for engagement with the flat surfaces of the contact means of the other set, the contact means of said one set being connected with said power means and the contact means of said other set being connected with said receptacle carriage means to act as a braking force for such carriage means and to simultaneously translate forward movement sequentially to each receptacle carriage means as it comes adjacent said fixed electrical power means.

12. A conveyor system as defined in claim 11 wherein at least some of said receptacle carriage means include pivotally mounted bin portions for carrying material and electrically energizable linear actuators on said carriage means are united with said bin portions whereby when energized said bin portions may be pivoted normal to the line of travel for gravitational discharge of said material;

and electrical connector means on said carriage means tied to said linear actuators which connector means is adapted to engage a source of electrical energy on said track at selected intervals.