Vertical lift conveyor

• US 5,050,726 A
• Filed: 10/15/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cristopher H. Flagg, Flagg, Rodger H.
• Original Assignee: Cristopher H. Flagg, Flagg, Rodger H.
• Inventors: Flagg, Rodger H., Flagg, Cristopher H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US07/597,330
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 198/475.1, 198/799, 198/800
• US Class Current: 198/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/123 arranged to keep the load-carriers horizontally during at least a part of the conveyor run
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles

Abstract

An improved vertical lift conveyor for moving articles between different heights, in a generally rectangular path of travel, utilizing at least one cantilevered platform. A first drive is rotatably secured to a support structure, and a second drive of equal length, is rotatably secured to the opposite side of the support structure, in parallel, vertically offset alignment. The first and second drive are secured to side supports by a plurality of rotating devices which define a generally rectangular path of travel. Channel are aligned with the first and second drive and secured to the support structure. First and second mounting brackets are secured on opposite sides of the cantilevered platform, in vertically offset alignment. The first and second mounting brackets are preferably adjustably secured for ease of alignment at asssembly. First and second horizontal pins are secured to the respective first and second drive in alignment with the first and second mounting brackets. First and second rollers are secured in axial alignment with the respective first and second horizontal pins adjacent to the first and second drive. The first and second rollers are guided in the channel along a vertically offset, rectangular path of travel; and a power means is secured to the support structure, and coupled to the vertically offset first and second drive to move the cantilevered platform horizontally, along the vertically offset, rectangular path of travel.

Claims

1. An improved vertical lift conveyer apparatus, for moving articles between different heights, comprising:

a) a support structure having opposed first and second sides disposed in parallel, spaced relation, with cross braces extending between the first and second sides;

b) a first drive means secured by a plurality of rotating means to the first side of the support structure; and

a second drive means secured by a plurality of rotating means to the second side of the support structure;

the first and second drive means each forming a rectangular path of travel of equal length, in a vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance;

c) at least one cantilevered platform having at least three spaced, horizontal supports secured to a rear support;

d) a first, mounting bracket secured to the cantilevered platform on one side in proximity to the rear support; and

a second, mounting bracket secured to the cantilevered platform on the opposite side in proximity to the rear support, the first and second mounting brackets secured to the cantilevered platform in a vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance substantially equal to the offset alignment of the first and second drive means;

e) a first horizontal pin secured to the first drive means and positioned to rotatably engage the first mounting bracket, and a second horizontal pin secured to the second drive means and positioned to rotatably engage the second mounting bracket, in vertical offset alignment of a pre-determined distance substantially equal to the vertical offset alignment of the first and second drive means;

f) a first roller rotatably secured adjacent to the first drive means in axial alignment with the first horizontal pin; and

a second roller rotatably secured adjacent to the second drive means in axial alignment with the second horizontal pin;

g) a first channel having a base and sides, the base secured to the first side of the support structure, substantially in alignment with the rectangular path of travel of the first drive means;

a second channel having a base and sides, the base secured to the second side of the support structure substantially in alignment with the rectangular path of travel of the second drive means;

the first and second channels sized to freely receive the respective first and second rollers therein; and

h) a power means secured to the support structure, and positioned to rotate the first and second drive means at equal speeds, about the vertically offset, rectangular path of travel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second mounting brackets is adjustably secured to the cantilevered platform, to proide an adjustable means of alignment of the cantilevered platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the first side of the support structure, and at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the second side of the support structure, to provide a means for tensioning the respective first and second drive means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sides of the first channel are sized to at least partially enclose the first drive means substantially along the entire rectangualar path of travel, and the sides of the second channel are sized to at least partially enclose the second drive means substantially along the entire rectangular path of travel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inlet conveyer is positioned to convey articles from the inlet conveyer to an inlet conveying means positioned in a direction selected from the left, right or front of the vertical conveyer, and the outlet conveyer is positioned to receive articles from the cantilevered platform to an outlet conveying means, and to convey the articles from the outlet conveying means to an outlet conveyer positioned in a direction selected from the left, right and back of the vertical conveyer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one restricted access means in controlled by at least one sensing means to limit access of articles onto each cantilevered platform as the cantilevered platform follows a rectangular path of travel between the inlet and outlet conveying means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power means comprises a prime mover rotatably secured to the inlet of a variable speed transmission having an outlet rotatably secured to a drive shaft, with a third drive means rotatably coupled between the drive shaft and the first drive means, and a fourth drive means rotatably coupled between the drive shaft andd the second drive means in offset vertical alignment of a pre-determined distance substantially equal to the offset vertical alignment of the first and second drive means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second rollers are at least partially made of ultra high weight molecular polyethylene.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance is selected from a range of six inches to 48 inches.

10. A vertical conveyer apparatus, which comprises:

a) a support structure having first and second side supports and opposing cross braces;

b) a first drive means rotatably secured in a rectangular path of travel to the first side support, and a second drive means rotatably secured in a rectangular path of travel to the second side support;

the first and second drive means being of equal length and disposed in vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance;

c) a cantilevered platform having spaced horizontal supports secured to a rear support;

with first and second mounting brackets secured on opposite side of the cantilevered platform in proximity to the rear support in vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance substantially equal to the vertically offset alignment of the first and second drive means;

d) a first horizontal pin rotatably disposed in alignment with the first mounting bracket, with one end of the first horizontal pin secured to the first drive means, and a first roller disposed adjacent to the first drive means in axial alignment with the first horizontal pin; and

a second horizontal pin rotatably disposed in horizontal alignment in the second mounting bracket, with one end of the second horizontal pin secured to the second drive means, and a second roller disposed adjacent to the second drive means in axial alignment with the second horizontal pin;

e) a first channel secured to the first side of the support structure and positioned to receive the first roller and at least a portion of the first drive means therein, substantially along the rectangular path of travel of the first guide means; and

a second guide channel secured to the second side of the structure and positioned to receive the second roller and at least a portion of the second drive means therein, substantially along the rectangular path of travel of the second guide means;

f) an inlet conveyer having an adjacent, spaced inlet conveying means, and an outlet conveyer having an adjacent, spaced outlet conveying means, with spaced horizontal supports on the cantilevered platform positioned to pass between a plurality of spaced, inlet conveying means and a plurality of spaced outlet conveying means;

g) a power means secured to the support structure, the power means having at least a prime mover;

a drive shaft responsive to movement of the prime mover;

a third drive means in rotational engagement between the drive shaft and the first drive means;

a fourth drive means in rotational engagement between the drive shaft and the second drive means; and

The power means selectively rotates the first and second drive means at equal speeds, to vertically raise the cantilevered platform horizontally through the spaced, inlet conveying means, and to lower the cantilevered platform horizontally through the spaced, outlet conveying means, as the cantilevered platform traverses the rectangular path of travel of the vertically offset first and second drive means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the first and second rollers are made of ultra high weight molecular polyethylene.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second mounting brackets is adjustably secured to the cantilevered platform, to provide an adjustable means for alignment of the cantilevered platform in relation to the first and second drive means.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the first side of the support structure, and at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the second side of the support structure, to provide a means for tensioning the first and second drive means.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance is selected from a range of six inches to 48 inches.

15. A improved conveyer apparatus, for moving articles between inlet and outlet conveyers of different heights, comprising:

a) a support structure having a first side support and an opposed, spaced, parallel second side support;

b) first and second drive means of equal length, rotatably secured to the support structure in a spaced, rectangular path of travel;

the first and second drive means disposed in parallel, vertically offsec alignment of a pre-determined distance;

c) a channel secured to the support structure, substantially in alignment with the respective first and second drive means;

d) at least one cantilevered platform with at least three spaced horizontal supports secured to a rear support, with first and second mounting brackets secured on opposite sides of the cantilevered platform in proximity to the rear support in vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance substantially equal to the vertically offset alignment of the first andd second drive means;

e) a first horizontal pin secured to the first drive means and positioned to rotatably engage the first mounting bracket;

a second horizontal pin secured to the second drive means and positioned to rotatably engage the second mounting bracket;

f) a first roller rotatably secured adjacent to the first drive means in axial alignment with the first horizontal pin; and

a second roller rotatably secured adjacent to the second drive means in axial alignment with the second horizontal pin;

the first and second rollers sized to be received within the respective channels;

g) an inlet conveying means with spaced, horizontal supports, disposed adjacent to the inlet conveyer, and an outlet conveying means with spaced, horizontal supports, disposed adjacent to the outlet conveyer;

the cantilevered platform positioned to pass between the spaced horizontal supports of the inlet and outlet conveying means; and

h) a power means to selectively rotate the first and second drive means at equal speeds, about the rectangular path of travel of the first and second drive means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second mounting brackets is adjustably secured to the cantilevered platform, to provide an adjustable means for alignment of the cantilevered platform.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the first side of the support structure, and at least one rotating means is adjustably secured to the second side of the support structure, to provide a means for tensioning the first and second drive means.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sides of the first channel are sized to at least partially enclose the first drive means substantially along the entire rectangular path of travel, and the sides of the second channel are sized to at least partially enclose the second drive means substantially along the entire rectangular path of travel.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second rollers are at least partially made of ultra high weight molecular polyethylene.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vertically offset alignment of a pre-determined distance is selected from a range of six inches to 48 inches.