Intermediate storage station
First Claim
1. A storage station for receiving workpieces from a loading conveying means and for sending workpieces to an unloading conveying means, said station having a plurality of spaced rotary platforms mounted on a common rotatable shaft, and means for adjusting the vertical position relative to said rotary platforms of the ends of said conveying means which are proximal to said station, the improvement wherein:
- (a) a first guide means is provided for each platform for directing workpieces riding on the outer radial region of the respective platform toward the inner radial region of that platform when said first guide means is in a first position, said first guide means being pivotally mounted at a point overlying the radially outer region of the respective platform and positioned downstream of the proximal end of said loading conveying means, and a movable end of said first guiding means being displaceable from a relatively inner radial position corresponding to said first position of said first guide means toward a relatively outer radial position when said first guide means swings radially outwardly from said first position to a second position, and(b) a means for resisting but not preventing radially outward swinging of said first guide means is provided for each platform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage station for receiving workpieces from a loading conveyor belt and for sending workpieces to an unloading conveyor belt. The station has a plurality of spaced platforms mounted on a common rotatable shaft, and apparatus for adjusting the vertical position relative to the rotary platforms of the ends of the loading and unloading conveyor belts which are proximal to the station. A first guide is provided for each platform for directing workpieces riding on the outer radial region of the respective platform toward the inner radial region of that platform when the first guide is in a first position. The first guide is pivotally mounted at a point overlying the periphery of the respective platform and positioned downstream of the proximal end of the loading conveyor belt, and a movable end of the first guide is displaceable from a relatively inner radial position corresponding to the first position toward a relatively outer radial position when the first guide swings radially outwardly from the first position to a second position as the platform is filled with workpieces. A mechanism is provided for each first guide for resisting the radially outward swinging of the first guide during loading. A second guide is provided for each platform for directing workpieces from the respective platform to the proximal end of the unloading conveyor belt.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A storage station for receiving workpieces from a loading conveying means and for sending workpieces to an unloading conveying means, said station having a plurality of spaced rotary platforms mounted on a common rotatable shaft, and means for adjusting the vertical position relative to said rotary platforms of the ends of said conveying means which are proximal to said station, the improvement wherein:
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(a) a first guide means is provided for each platform for directing workpieces riding on the outer radial region of the respective platform toward the inner radial region of that platform when said first guide means is in a first position, said first guide means being pivotally mounted at a point overlying the radially outer region of the respective platform and positioned downstream of the proximal end of said loading conveying means, and a movable end of said first guiding means being displaceable from a relatively inner radial position corresponding to said first position of said first guide means toward a relatively outer radial position when said first guide means swings radially outwardly from said first position to a second position, and (b) a means for resisting but not preventing radially outward swinging of said first guide means is provided for each platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification