Accumulator for conveyor system
First Claim
1. An accumulator for movably supporting an article comprising:
- a frame;
a wheel rotatably supported upon said frame, said wheel defining a radius;
means for selectively rotating said wheel;
a member engaged with said wheel for movement when said wheel is rotated;
a link carried on said member for movement therewith, said link having at least one aperture formed therethrough and at least one slot formed therethrough, said aperture and said slot having first edges which define a straight line and having second edges which define a radius which is substantially equal to said radius defined by said wheel, said link further including a pair of tabs extending therefrom; and
means secured to each of said tabs of said link for supporting an article thereon for movement with said link and said member when said wheel is rotated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An accumulator for storing rows of articles thereon includes a frame having upper and lower shafts rotatably supported thereon. A plurality of sprockets are mounted on each of the upper and lower shafts for rotation therewith. Each of the sprockets defines a radius. An electric motor is provided for selectively rotating the shafts and the sprockets mounted thereon. A plurality of roller chains are mounted on associated pairs of the upper and lower sprockets for movement when the shafts and sprockets are rotated. Each of the roller chains includes a plurality of spaced apart pins. A plurality of link are carried on each of the roller chains for movement therewith. Each of the links has a pair of apertures formed therethrough and a pair of arcuate slots formed therethrough. The apertures and the slots having respective first edges which define a straight line and respective second edges which define a radius. The radius defined by each of the links is substantially equal to the radius defined by each of the sprockets. Lift rails and lift finger subassemblies are secured to each of the links which define shelf positions for supporting rows of articles thereon. The lift finger subassemblies are oriented at a small angle relative to the links to retain the articles on each of the shelf positions.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An accumulator for movably supporting an article comprising:
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a frame; a wheel rotatably supported upon said frame, said wheel defining a radius; means for selectively rotating said wheel; a member engaged with said wheel for movement when said wheel is rotated; a link carried on said member for movement therewith, said link having at least one aperture formed therethrough and at least one slot formed therethrough, said aperture and said slot having first edges which define a straight line and having second edges which define a radius which is substantially equal to said radius defined by said wheel, said link further including a pair of tabs extending therefrom; and means secured to each of said tabs of said link for supporting an article thereon for movement with said link and said member when said wheel is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification