Sortation conveyor tip-up and mounting apparatus
First Claim
1. In a sortation conveyor of the type having a plurality of tiltable tray assemblies and an extended track along which such assemblies are conveyed, improved tip-up apparatus for engaging and tilting said tray assemblies at preselected locations along said track, said improved tip-up apparatus comprising:
- an elongated support angle mounted beneath said track and having a horizontal leg attached thereto, said support angle extending outwardly of said track;
at least one upstanding mounting angle having a lower end mounted on an end of said support angle and said mounting angle extending upwardly alongside said track;
said mounting angle having two legs and an apex pointing away from said track such that said legs open toward said track and form approximate 45°
angles with the direction of extension of said track;
a U-shaped channel mounting bracket mounted on one leg of said mounting angle, said bracket including a web and two opposed legs, said web being mounted on said one leg of said mounting angle;
a crank arm pivotally mounted on said mounting bracket;
a roller on one end of said crank arm; and
means for pivoting said crank arm to move said roller into interfering position with said tray assemblies to cause a selected tray to tilt toward an opposite side of said track, said crank arm pivoting in a plane at an angle with respect to the direction of conveyance of said tray assemblies,said pivoting means having an end mounted to said mounting bracket.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tip-up and mounting apparatus in a sortation conveyor includes a support angle, upstanding mounting angles, mounting brackets, and a tray engaging roller mounted on crank arms pivoted to the mounting brackets. The mounting angles are disposed with their apices facing outwardly of the conveyor, thus providing a mounting surface at 45° to the conveyor'"'"'s machine direction for the mounting bracket. The crank arms are pivoted to the mounting bracket, and this configuration provides an in and out component of motion to the rollers during their movement to and away from sortation tray engagement, thereby maintaining a short roller dwell time in tray interfering position. Adjustable construction of the components, together with a self-aligning actuating cylinder mounted within the mounting bracket reduces bulk and provides a highly tunable and smoothly operating tip-up apparatus.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a sortation conveyor of the type having a plurality of tiltable tray assemblies and an extended track along which such assemblies are conveyed, improved tip-up apparatus for engaging and tilting said tray assemblies at preselected locations along said track, said improved tip-up apparatus comprising:
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an elongated support angle mounted beneath said track and having a horizontal leg attached thereto, said support angle extending outwardly of said track; at least one upstanding mounting angle having a lower end mounted on an end of said support angle and said mounting angle extending upwardly alongside said track; said mounting angle having two legs and an apex pointing away from said track such that said legs open toward said track and form approximate 45°
angles with the direction of extension of said track;a U-shaped channel mounting bracket mounted on one leg of said mounting angle, said bracket including a web and two opposed legs, said web being mounted on said one leg of said mounting angle; a crank arm pivotally mounted on said mounting bracket; a roller on one end of said crank arm; and means for pivoting said crank arm to move said roller into interfering position with said tray assemblies to cause a selected tray to tilt toward an opposite side of said track, said crank arm pivoting in a plane at an angle with respect to the direction of conveyance of said tray assemblies, said pivoting means having an end mounted to said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Tip-up apparatus for a sortation conveyor including:
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an elongated support means adapted for connection to a sortation conveyor; at least one upstanding angle means having a lower end mounted on said support means, said angle means having an apex directed outwardly of a sortation conveyor when assembled thereto, and legs opening toward said conveyor; a U-shaped channel mounting bracket having two opposed legs and a web mounted on one of said angle means legs; a crank arm pivoted to said bracket; an actuating roller mounted on one end of said crank arm; and actuating means connected to said crank arm for pivoting said crank arm and said roller into operative position with respect to said sortation conveyor, said crank arm pivoting in a plane at an angle to said sortation conveyor when assembled thereto, said actuating means having an end mounted to said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a sortation conveyor of the type having a plurality of tiltable tray assemblies and an extended track along which such assemblies are conveyed, improved tip-up apparatus for engaging and tilting said tray assemblies at preselected locations along said track, said improved tip-up apparatus comprising:
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an elongated support angle mounted beneath said track and having a horizontal leg attached thereto, said support angle extending outwardly of said track; at least one upstanding mounting angle having a lower end mounted on an end of said support angle and said mounting angle extending upwardly alongside said track; said mounting angle having two legs and an apex pointing away from said track such that said legs open toward said track and form approximate 45°
angles with the direction of extension of said track;a U-shaped channel mounting bracket mounted on one leg of said mounting angle, said bracket including a web and two opposed, parallel legs, said web being mounted on said one leg of said mounting angle; a mounting pin mounted in said parallel bracket legs, said pin being parallel to said web and said one leg of said mounting angle and having an axis disposed at about 45°
to the direction of extension of said track;a crank arm pivotally mounted on said pin in said mounting bracket; a roller on one end of said crank arm; and means for pivoting said crank arm to move said roller into interfering position with said tray assemblies to cause a selected tray to tilt toward an opposite side of said track, said crank arm pivoting in a plane at an angle with respect to the direction of conveyance of said tray assemblies, said pivoting means having an end mounted to said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. In a sortation conveyor of the type having a plurality of tiltable tray assemblies and an extended track along which such assemblies are conveyed, tip-up apparatus for engaging and tilting said tray assemblies at preselected locations along said track, said tip-up apparatus comprising:
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an elongated support angle mounted beneath said track and having a horizontal leg attached thereto, said support angle extending outwardly of said track; at least one upstanding mounting angle having a lower end mounted on an end of said support angle and said mounting angle extending upwardly alongside said track; said mounting angle having two legs and an apex pointing away from said track such that said legs open toward said track and form approximate 45°
angles with the direction of extension of said track;a mounting bracket mounted on one leg of said mounting angle; a crank arm pivotally mounted on said mounting bracket; a roller on one end of said crank arm; and means for pivoting said crank arm to move said roller into interfering position with said tray assemblies to cause a selected tray to tilt toward an opposite side of said track, said pivoting means having an end mounted to said mounting bracket.
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Specification