US 4,396,111 AGranted

Overload detector and interrupt for conveyor chain

AssigneeWestern Electric Company, Inc.

InventorWilliam C. Kent

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A conveyor system that may be driven in a forward or a reverse direction is provided with jam detectors that are effective to interrupt the operation of the conveyor chain (10) upon encountering a jam condition in either direction of drive. The chain (10) is driven about idler sprockets (19 and 53) mounted in housings (21 and 51) that are slidably mounted on a T-bar frame (22). When the chain is driven in a forward direction A, a jam condition causes housings (21) to slide and operate a switch (23) to interrupt power to a motor (18). When the direction of drive is reversed, housing (21) is held from movement by a lock (47), and a lock (54) associated with housing (51) is released to allow the housing (51) to shift in response to a jam condition to operate a switch (58) to again interrupt the power applied to the motor (18).

Claims6

Dependent claims

A conveyor system, which comprises:

a frame bar;
a first generally U-shaped housing having a first arm provided with a guideway for receiving a top portion of a first end section of said frame bar and slidably mounting said first housing on the top of a first end section of said frame bar, and a second arm member in sliding engagement with the bottom of said first end section;
first resilient means engaging and pressing against said first housing to position the bight of said U-shaped housing beyond said first end of said frame bar;
a first idler means mounted rotatably in the bight of the first U-shaped housing;
a second generally U-shaped housing having a first arm provided with a guideway for receiving a top portion of a second opposite end section of said frame bar slidably mounting said second housing on the top of a second end section of said frame bar, and a second arm member in sliding engagement with the bottom of said first end section;
second resilient means engaging and pressing against said housing to position the bight of said U-shaped housing beyond said second end of said frame bar;
a second idler means mounted rotatably in the bight to the second U-shaped housing;
a conveyor means passing around a substantial portion of both of said idler means and running along one side of the frame bar;
means for selectively driving the conveyor means in an opposite first and second directions relative to said one side of the frame bar;
a first switch operated by said first housing moving relative to said frame bar in response to a jamming of said conveyor means running along said one side of the frame bar for interrupting operation of said driving means when said conveyor is driven in the first direction;
and
a second switch operated by said second housing moving relative to said frame bar in response to a jamming of said conveyor means for interrupting operation of said driving means when said conveyor means is driven in the second direction.

9 more elements

A conveyor overload and interrupt system, which comprises:

a support bar;
a first housing mounted for sliding movement along a first end section of said bar;
a first sprocket mounted in said first housing;
first means for biasing said first housing toward said first end of said bar so that a portion of said first housing with said first sprocket extends beyond said support bar;
a second housing mounted for sliding movement along a second end section of said bar;
a second sprocket mounted in said second housing;
second means for biasing said second housing toward said second end of said bar so that a portion of said second housing with said second sprocket extends beyond said support bar;
a conveyor passing around substantial portions of said first and second sprockets;
means for driving said conveyor in either a first direction whereupon interference with the movement of the conveyor moves the first sprocket against the effects of the first biasing means, or in a second direction whereupon interference with the movement of the conveyor moves the second sprocket and the housing against the effect of said biasing means;
a first lock member mounted for movement into blocking position to block movement of said second housing against said first biasing means;
means for moving said first lock member into blocking position when said conveyor is driven in the first direction;
a second lock member mounted for movement into blocking position to block movement of said first housing against said second biasing means;
means for moving said second lock members into blocking position when said conveyor is driven in the second direction;
and
means responsive to a predetermined movement of either housing against its associated biasing means for interrupting operation of said driving means.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.