US3666082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system for a container
Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract Improved conveyor system for transferring containers and in particular lightweight aluminum cans between stations in a container production plant and the like wherein novel means are provided for holding the container in firm engagement with a conveyor belt element at all times, including periods when the container''s direction of travel is sharply or gradually changed during its passage between stations.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton D Riggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:01
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2045; B65G21/2063; B65G21/2072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
In a conveyor system for transporting successive lightweight and contiguously arranged containers from one station to another and along a selected path of travel that includes a container supporting belt means having an arcuate segment for receiving and transporting the containers, means for driving said belt means, guard rail means disposed along said path of travel adjacent to and on opposite sides of said belt means and above the level of the bottoms of the containers for slidably contacting the walls of the containers and restraining said containers against excessive tilting during the advancement of said belt means along with the containers, a sheave means disposed adjacent to the arcuate segment of the path of travel of the belt means and engageable with said belt means, said sheave means including a portion that terminates at the outer periphery thereof in an offset upwardly facing concave groove portion having a radius approximating that of the belt means for receiving the belt means at said arcuate segment of the said path of travel, said arcuate segment also constituting a point of directional change of the belt means, and the cross-sectional dimension of the belt means being greater than the height of the groove portion of the sheave means whereby the belt means will overfill the top of said groove portion and project upwardly above the said groove portion and whereby a container in engagement with said belt means at said point of directional change will be elevated relative to the underlying portion of the sheave means so that the belt means can remain the primary mover of a container through said point of directional change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
In a conveyor system for transporting successive lightweight and contiguously arranged containers from one station to another and along a selected path of travel that includes a container supporting belt means having an arcuate segment for receiving and transporting the containers, means for driving said belt means, guard rail means disposed along said path of travel adjacent to and on opposite sides of said belt means and above the level of the bottoms of the containers for slidably contacting the walls of the containers and restraining said containers against excessive tilting during the advancement of said belt means along with the containers, a sheave means disposed adjacent to the arcuate segment of the path of travel of the belt means and engageable with said belt means, said sheave means including a portion that terminates at the outer periphery thereof in an offset upwardly facing concave groove portion having a radius approximating that of the belt means for receiving the belt means at said arcuate segment of the said path of travel, said arcuate segment also constituting a point of directional change of the belt means, and the cross-sectional dimension of the belt means being greater than the height of the groove portion of the sheave means whereby the belt means will overfill the top of said groove portion and project upwardly above the said groove portion and whereby a container in engagement with said belt means at said point of directional change will be elevated relative to the underlying portion of the sheave means so that the belt means can remain the primary mover of a container through said point of directional change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1 including a bridge and guide means interposed between said sheave means and said belt means adjacent the point of tangential engagement of said belt means with the groove portion of said sheave means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conveyor systEm as set forth in claim 2 in which a section of said bridge and guide means is disposed in general alignment with the top surface of said belt means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 3 including means for adjusting said bridge and guide means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1 in which said rail means is covered with a relatively friction-free coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 2 in which said bridge and guide means includes a relatively friction-free coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1 in which the stepped portion of said sheave means is provided with a relatively friction-free coating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1 in which said belt means is comprised of a core made up of a multistrand, helically wound cable and a tubular sleeve of plastic material surrounding said core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 2 in which said bridge and guide means is comprised of an approximately triangular-shaped guide plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said belt means comprises a circular cable-like member in cross-section so arranged between said guard rail means as to engage the bottom of a container in a bisecting fashion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the top surface of the bridge and guide means is offset upwardly from the stepped portion of the sheave means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2740515A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US3425610A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |