# US 11,305,941 B2 · Transportation apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,941 B2 - Document ID: US11305941B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/616,081 - Filed: 2018-05-30 - Published: 2020-05-07 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-31 - Assignees: Hs Products Ltd - Applicants: Hs Products Limited - Inventors: Simon Spinks; David Clare - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305941B2 ## CPC - B65G 17/46: Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic - B65G 15/42: having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections - B65G 15/58: with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic - B65G 17/36: having concave surfaces, e.g. buckets - B65G 47/82: Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} - B68G 9/00: Placing upholstery springs in pockets; Fitting springs in upholstery - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B68G: METHODS, EQUIPMENT, OR MACHINES FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING; UPHOLSTERY NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A conveyor (400) for transporting articles, such as coils springs, is described. The conveyor comprises a substrate (420) for supporting articles during transportation, and a plurality of retaining members (520) located on the substrate for retaining the articles during transportation. The retaining members (520) each comprise a mounting portion (530) for mounting to the substrate (420). A containment portion (540) comprises proximal and distal parts (540a) and (540b) define a space therebetween for receiving a coil spring (100) under compression. Slots (550a) and (550b) in the containment parts are aligned for receiving pushers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor for transporting coil springs, the conveyor comprising a substrate for supporting springs during transportation, and a plurality of retaining members located on the substrate for retaining the springs on the substrate during transportation, wherein the retaining members each comprise a mounting portion for mounting to the substrate and a containment portion having proximal and distal parts defining a space therebetween for receiving at least a part of a spring under compression, and the retaining members are arranged such that each spring is held by a pair of adjacent retaining members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the retaining members are arranged in use to at least partly enclose the springs as they rest on the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises at least one slot, for receiving a displacement device, such as a mechanical pusher, arranged in use to displace the spring from the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of retaining members spaced apart on the substrate along its axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A conveyor according to claim 4, wherein at least parts of adjacent retaining members are separated by a gap that is selected to accommodate depositing apparatus for depositing springs on the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the retaining members is attached to the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the retaining members is substantially integrally formed with the substrate, for example by moulding. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an endless belt or a chain. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein at least one coil spring is arranged to be retained in a retaining member such that coils at opposed ends of the spring are axially offset. ### Claim 10 A method of transporting coil springs, the method comprising retaining the springs on a conveyor comprising a substrate for supporting the springs and a plurality of retaining members on the substrate, each retaining member comprising a mounting portion for mounting to the substrate and a containment portion having proximal and distal parts defining a space therebetween for receiving at least a part of a spring under compression, and the method includes retaining each spring by a pair of adjacent retaining members.