Floor conveyor junction seal gap closure

• US 5,033,394 A
• Filed: 10/06/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mid-West Conveyor Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mid-West Conveyor Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Summa, Gareth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/417,912
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 104/96, 104/100, 104/102, 104/103, 104/104, 104/106, 104/130, 104/140, 104/141, 104/172.2, 104/307, 104/172.3
• US Class Current: 104/307
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 10/04 with vehicles rolling trackless on the ground

Abstract

A floor conveyor junction seal gap closure includes a closure member pivotally mounted on and resiliently connected to a bracket extending upward from a conveyor switch mechanism. The floor conveyor includes a main line and a diverging branch line, both adapted to carry load trolleys connected by posts to load carriers positioned above the floor level. Floor slots are provided to clear the connection posts, and the slots are closed by split resilient seals. The seals are opened by the connection posts moving through them and resiliently close behind the posts. A seal gap is formed at the area of divergence of the branch slot from the main slot. The closure plate is positioned below the seal gap to normally close the seal gap. The resilient mounting of the closure plate allows it to be deflected to allow a connection post to pass through the seal gap and afterward returns the closure plate to its neutral position to close the seal gap.

Claims

1. A seal gap closure for a conveyor including a main line and a branch line connected with said main line, load trolley means supported below a floor level, a load carrier positioned above said floor level, a carrier support member connected between said trolley means and said carrier, seal means comprising components positioned at said floor level and normally closing elongated openings above said main line and said branch line and resiliently separable to permit passage of said support member therealong, and a seal gap occurring among said components of said seal means at a junction of said main line and said branch line, switch means located proximates said junction said seal gap closure comprising:

(a) a seal gap closure member spaced from said switch means and positioned in normally closing relation to said seal gap; and

(b) means permitting said closure member to yield in response to engagement by said support member, allowing movement of said support member therepast.

2. An inverted power and free conveyor comprising:

(a) a conveyor track positioned below a floor level and including a main track and at least one branch track diverging from said main track at a switch junction switch means located proximate said junction;

(b) a load trolley supported on said tracks and movable therealong;

(c) a load carrier supported above said floor level by pin means connected to said trolley;

(d) seal means comprising components positioned at said floor level, normally closing elongated openings above said tracks, and resiliently separable by said pin means to permit passage of said pin means therealong;

(e) a seal gap among said components of said seal means at said switch junction;

(f) a seal gap closure member spaced from said switch means and positioned in normally closing relation to said seal gap; and

(g) means permitting said closure member to yield in response to engagement by said pin means, allowing movement of said pin means therepast.

3. An inverted power and free conveyor comprising:

(a) a conveyor track positioned below a floor level and including a main track and at least one branch track diverging from said main track at a switch junction;

(b) a load trolley supported on said tracks;

(c) a load carrier supported above said floor level by pin means connected to said trolley;

(d) seal means closing elongated openings above said track and resiliently separable by said pin means upon passage of said pin means therealong;

(e) a switch mechanism including a switch member positioned below said floor level at said switch junction and selectively movable between a main position to allow said trolley to remain on said main track and a branch position to switch said trolley to said branch track;

(f) a seal gap among components of said seal means above said switch member at said switch junction; and

(g) a seal gap closure member resiliently connected to said switch member, positioned in lower closing relation to said seal gap, and yielding in response to engagement by said pin means to allow movement of said pin means therepast.

4. A conveyor as set forth in claim 3 and including:

(a) conveyor frame means;

(b) said switch member being pivotally mounted on said conveyor frame means;

(c) bracket means connected to said switch member and extending thereabove;

(d) said closure member being pivotally connected to said bracket means; and

(e) resilient means connecting said closure member to said bracket means whereby said pin means urges said closure member out of closing relation to said seal gap to permit said pin means to move therepast and said resilient means urges said closure member back into said closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means therepast.

5. A conveyor as set forth in claim 3 wherein said closure member includes:

(a) a main deflecting cam surface engageable by said pin means in said main position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said pin means through said gap in movement along said main track;

(b) a branch deflecting cam surface engageable by said pin means in said branch position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said pin means through said gap upon switching of said carrier onto said branch track;

(c) a main return cam surface engageable by said pin means in said main position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member back into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means past said gap; and

(d) a branch return cam surface engageable by said pin means in said branch position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member back into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means past said gap.

6. A closure as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

(a) said deflecting cam surfaces of said closure member are arcuate similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the body of a fish; and

(b) said return cam surfaces diverge angularly from said deflecting cam surfaces similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the tail of a fish.

7. In an inverted power and free conveyor including a track positioned below a floor level and supporting load trolley means movable along said track, a load carrier supported above said floor level by pin means connected to said load trolley means, seal means closing an elongated opening above said track and separable by said pin means, and a switch mechanism including a switch member positioned below said floor level and selectively movable between a main position and a branch position to switch said load carrier between a main track and at least one branch track, and a seal gap occurring among components of said seal means above said switch member where said branch track connects with said main track, the improvement comprising:

(a) bracket means connected to said switch member and extending thereabove;

(b) a switch gap closure member connected to said bracket means and positioned in lower closing relation to said seal gap; and

(c) resilient means connecting said closure member to said bracket means whereby said pin means urges said closure member out of closing relation to said seal gap to permit said pin means to move therepast and said resilient means urges said closure member back into said closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means therepast.

8. A seal gap closure for a conveyor including a main line and a branch line connected with said main line, load trolley mains supported below a floor level, a load carrier positioned above said floor level, a carrier support member connected between said trolley means and said carrier, a switch member selectively pivotable between a main position to maintain said carrier on said main line and a branch position to switch said carrier onto said branch line, seal means positioned at said floor level and normally closing elongated openings above said main line and said branch line a d resiliently separable to permit passage of said support member therealong, and a seal gap occurring among components of said seal means at a junction of said main line and said branch line, said seal gap closure comprising:

(a) a seal gap closure member mounted on said switch member and positioned in normally closing relation to said seal gap; and

(b) means permitting said closure member to yield in response to engagement by said support member, allowing movement of said support member therepast.

14. A closure as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

(a) said closure member is positioned immediately below said components of said seal means and in lower closing relation to said gap.

9. A closure as set forth in claim 9

(a) said closure member is resiliently mounted on said switch member.

10. A closure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said closure member includes:

(a) a main deflecting cam surface engageable by said support member in said main position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said support member through said gap in movement along said main line; and

(b) a branch deflecting cam surface engageable by said support member in said branch position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said support member through said gap upon switching of said carrier onto said branch line.

11. A closure as set forth in claim 10 wherein said closure member includes:

(a) a main return cam surface engageable by said support member in said main position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member back into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said support member past said gap; and

(b) a branch return cam surface engageable by said support member in said branch position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member back into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said support member past said gap.

12. A closure as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

(a) said closure member is planar and has a plan form generally similar to the periphery of a fish.

13. A closure as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

(a) said deflecting cam surfaces of said closure member are arcuate similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the body of a fish; and

(b) said return cam surfaces diverge angularly from said deflecting cam surfaces similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the tail of a fish.

15. An inverted power and free conveyor comprising:

(a) a conveyor track positioned below a floor level and including a main track and at least one branch track diverging from said main track at a switch junction;

(b) conveyor frame means;

(c) a switch member pivotally mounted on said conveyor frame means to switch between a main position to maintain said carrier on said main track and a branch position to switch said carrier onto said branch track;

(d) bracket means connected to said switch member and extending thereabove;

(e) a load trolley supported on said tracks and movable therealong;

(f) a load carrier supported above said floor level by pin means connected to said trolley;

(g) seal means positioned at said floor level, normally closing elongated openings above said tracks, and resiliently separable by said pin means to permit passage of said pin means therealong;

(h) a seal gap among components of said seal means at said switch junction;

(i) a seal gap closure member positioned in normally closing relation to said seal gap; and

(j) means permitting said closure member to yield in response to engagement by said pin means, allowing movement of said pin means therepast, and including;

(1) said closure member being pivotally connected to said bracket means; and

(2) resilient means connecting said closure member to said bracket means whereby said pin means urges said closure member out of closing elation to said seal gap to permit said pin means to move therepast and said resilient means urges said closure member back into said closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means therepast.

16. A conveyor as set forth in claim 15 and including:

(a) a switch mechanism positioned at said switch junction and including said switch member which is selectively pivotable between said main position to maintain said carrier on said main track and said branch position to switch said carrier onto said branch track; and

(b) said closure member being resiliently mounted on said switch member.

17. A conveyor as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure member includes:

(a) a main deflecting cam surface engageable by said pin means in said main position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said pin means through said gap in movement along said main track; and

(b) a branch deflecting cam surface engageable by said pin means in said branch position of said switch member to urge said closure member out of closing relation to said gap to allow passage of said pin means through said gap upon switching of said carrier onto said branch track.

18. A closure as set forth in claim 17 wherein said closure member includes:

(a) a main return cam surface engageable by said pin means in said main position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member tack into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means past said gap; and

(b) a branch return cam surface engageable by said pin means in said branch position of said switch member to positively urge said closure member back into closing relation to said gap upon movement of said pin means past said gap.

19. A closure as set forth in claim 18 wherein:

(a) said deflecting cam surfaces of said closure member are arcuate similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the body of a fish; and

(b) said return cam surfaces diverge angularly from said deflecting cam surfaces similar to upper and lower peripheral surfaces of the tail of a fish.

20. A closure as set forth in claim 15 wherein:

(a) said closure member is positioned immediately below said components of said seal means and in lower closing relation to said gap.