Article handling apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising conveying means for moving a multiplicity of articles along a path and means defining a convergent portion of said path and comprising a side guide unit along one side of said convergent portion, said side guide unit comprising a fixed frame;
- an elongate, non-resilient, joggling member extending along one side of said unit;
means mounting the joggling member on the frame for limited longitudinal movement;
first actuating means coupled to the joggling member for reciprocating it back and forth longitudinally by an amount substantially smaller than the length of the joggling member;
the improvement comprising, in combination, a rigid side guide rail;
means mounting said guide rail on said frame generally parallel to the joggling member so that the guide rail extends along the same side of the unit;
second actuating means coupled to the side guide rail for reciprocating the side guide rail in a direction transverse to the joggling member between an operative position in which the side guide rail lies outwardly of the unit with respect to the joggling member and a retracted position in which the joggling member lies outwardly of the unit with respect to the side guide rail; and
control means responsive to the progress of articles along said path and adapted to cause said first and second actuating means to operate when said progress is halted by articles becoming jammed in the convergent portion of said path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor combiner has a side guide unit, for relieving jammed articles being carried by the conveyor, the unit comprising a longitudinally reciprocating frame carrying an array of freely rotatable rollers which nudge jammed articles free but which are normally kept out of contact with the articles by a retractable side guide rail.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising conveying means for moving a multiplicity of articles along a path and means defining a convergent portion of said path and comprising a side guide unit along one side of said convergent portion, said side guide unit comprising a fixed frame;
- an elongate, non-resilient, joggling member extending along one side of said unit;
means mounting the joggling member on the frame for limited longitudinal movement;
first actuating means coupled to the joggling member for reciprocating it back and forth longitudinally by an amount substantially smaller than the length of the joggling member;
the improvement comprising, in combination, a rigid side guide rail;
means mounting said guide rail on said frame generally parallel to the joggling member so that the guide rail extends along the same side of the unit;
second actuating means coupled to the side guide rail for reciprocating the side guide rail in a direction transverse to the joggling member between an operative position in which the side guide rail lies outwardly of the unit with respect to the joggling member and a retracted position in which the joggling member lies outwardly of the unit with respect to the side guide rail; and
control means responsive to the progress of articles along said path and adapted to cause said first and second actuating means to operate when said progress is halted by articles becoming jammed in the convergent portion of said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- an elongate, non-resilient, joggling member extending along one side of said unit;
- 4. Apparatus for relieving jams which may occur among articles moving along a convergent path of travel comprising a side guide unit adapted to be disposed contiguous to and in part defining a convergent path of travel for a plurality of article, said side guide unit including an elongated side guide rail and an elongated joggling member, said elongated side guide rail and elongated joggling member having respective longitudinal axes, said elongated side guide rail and said elongated joggling member being disposed adjacent each other with their longitudinal axes in general parallel relationship, first means responsive to article jamming for reciprocating said elongated joggling member generally parallel to its longitudinal axis, and second means responsive to article jamming for moving said elongated side guide rail transverse to its longitudinal axis.
Specification