Dynamic spider guide
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJimmy D. Whitten, Anthony T. Burns, Jeffrey T. Allison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer device for use with a conveying apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, including a first conveyor and a second conveyor. The transfer device is disposed generally across and movable along the first and second conveyors. The transfer device includes a belt guide attached to the transfer device. The belt guide includes a base configured to attach to an actuating frame of the transfer device and a tension roller that slideably engages with a portion of the base to aid in conveying articles between the first conveyor and second conveyor.
Claims21
An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles, comprising:
- a first conveyor driven in a first direction to convey articles in the first direction;
- a second conveyor driven in a second direction to convey articles in the second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction;
- a transfer device disposed generally across and movable along the first and second conveyors, the transfer device having an actuating frame adapted to pivot about the first and second conveyors, a drive member rotatably mounted to the actuating frame and drivingly engaged by the first and second conveyors, and an outer guide and an inner guide configured to define a transfer path for a plurality of articles to travel across the actuating frame between the first conveyor and the second conveyor so that, the drive member continuously rotates as either of the first and second conveyors move and the transfer device travels along the first and second conveyors if a speed difference exists between the first and second conveyors;
- and
- a belt guide attached to the transfer device, the belt guide including a base configured to attach to the actuating frame of the transfer device downstream of the drive member and a tension roller that slideably engages with a portion of the base.
A transfer device for transferring a flow of articles from an infeed conveyor drivable in a first direction to convey articles in Me first direction to an outfeed conveyor substantially parallel to the inked conveyor and drivable in a second direction opposite the first direction to convey articles in the second direction, the transfer device comprising:
- a frame having a first section, a second section and a third section wherein the third section is pivotally mounted to the second section and the second section is pivotally mounted to the first section, and wherein the frame is pivotally mounted in a space between a portion of the infeed and outfeed conveyers;
- a wheel rotatably mounted to the second section of the frame and drivingly engaged simultaneously by the inked and outfeed conveyors, the wheel being rotated relative to the frame when at least one of the infeed and outfeed conveyors moves so that the frame travels along the infeed and outfeed conveyors if a relative speed difference exists between the infeed and outfeed conveyors;
- an inner belt guide rotatably mounted around the wheel;
- and
- an outer belt guide spaced from the inner bolt guide defining between them a transfer path across the spare between the portion of the inked and outfeed conveyors wherein the transfer path conveys articles between the infeed and outfeed conveyors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.