Accumulation table

• US 7,441,645 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garvey Corporation (Columbus Mckinnon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Garvey Corporation (Columbus Mckinnon Corporation)
• Inventors: Paquin, Claude G., Brzeszkiewicz, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble; Mark A
• Application Number:
  US11/821,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 198/347.1, 198/347.4, 198/452, 198/453, 198/443, 198/447, 198/580, 198/601, 198/606
• US Class Current: 198/347.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5145 with recirculation means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/684 with recirculation of articles forming a buffer

Abstract

An accumulation table is disclosed. The accumulation table includes a frame, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and an adjustable discharge chute. Each conveyor has a U-shaped product carrying section on the top of the frame and an arcuate return section located on the bottom of the frame. Some embodiments further include non-linear tracks located between two conveyor chains to direct one of the conveyor chains towards the adjustable discharge chute. The accumulation table can be formed with three or more aligned modular sections, two arcuate sections, and one or more intermediate, straight center sections. Tracks located on each section are aligned to form the complete accumulation table.

Claims

1. A modular accumulation table comprising:

a. a first section having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first section having straight frame portions, said straight frame portions having a top and a bottom, a plurality of spacers mounted on said top of said straight frame portions, and a plurality of tracks mounted to said plurality of spacers;

b. a second section comprising an arcuate frame portion, said second section mounted adjacent to said first section at said first end, said arcuate frame portion having a top and a bottom, a plurality of spacers mounted to said top of said arcuate frame portion, and a plurality of arcuate tracks mounted to said plurality of spacers;

c. a third section comprising an arcuate frame portion, said third section mounted adjacent to said first section at said second end, said arcuate frame portion having a top and a bottom, a plurality of spacers mounted to said top of said arcuate frame portion, and a plurality of arcuate tracks mounted to said plurality of spacers;

d. at least one other section adapted for mounting intermediate said first section and said third, said other section having a plurality of tracks; and

e. product conveying chains mounted within the tracks of all said sections.

2. The modular accumulation table according to claim 1 wherein the first section, second section, third section, and said at least one other section are aligned to form a continuously operable product conveyor and accumulation system.

3. A modular accumulation table comprising:

a. a first modular section having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first section having opposing straight sides and a plurality of tracks extending the length of the section;

b. an arcuate shaped second modular section, said second section mounted adjacent to said first section at said first end, said second section having a plurality of tracks extending the length of the section, said tracks being aligned with the tracks of the first section;

c. an arcuate shaped third modular section, said third section mounted adjacent to said first section at said second end, said third section having a plurality of tracks extending the length of the section, said tracks being aligned with the tracks of the first section;

d. at least one other modular section adapted for mounting intermediate said first section and said second section, said other section having a plurality of tracks; and

e. product conveying claims mounted within the tracks of all said sections.

4. The modular accumulation table as in claim 3 wherein the first section, second section, third section, and said at least one other section are aligned to form a continuously operable product conveyor and accumulation system.