US 4,723,660 AGranted

Apparatus for advancing and sorting objects

OwnerSven E. Sjoberginventor

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Abstract

An apparatus for advancing and sorting objects in respect of their size comprises a plurality of juxtaposed, endless conveyor belts (10) and gaps (9) between adjacent conveyor belts, each conveyor belt consisting of a plurality of hinged segments or chain elements (11) and a system (23, 24) for driving the conveyor belts. To obtain an advancement of the objects which is as lenient and noiseless as possible, the conveyor belts (10) are combined with and guided by guide rails (30) which extend substantially along the entire run of the belt which advances the objects. The guide rails are so arranged and designed, that the gap (9) between mutually adjacent conveyor belts continually increases along at least the major part of said belt run. Each belt segment (11) comprises a bridge portion which as seen in a cross section forms an inverted V and the ends of which are moveable with respect to each other in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the advancement direction of the belt and are each connected to an individual base portion (13) which embraces and is guided by the two longitudinal edges of the guide rail (30).

Apparatus for advancing and sorting objects with respect to their size, comprising a plurality of juxtaposed, endless conveyor belts (10) running over individual driving wheels and idle wheels, and means (23, 24) for driving the conveyor belts, substantially in synchronism with each other, each conveyor belt (10) comprising a plurality of chain or belt elements or segments (11) which are hingedly interconnected, each segment having a pair of mutually interconnected base members (13) which during their travel are guided by and in slide contact with a common guide rail (30), which is comprised in a set of juxtaposed guide rails, as well as a bridge portion (12, 12) cooperating with the objects and interconnecting the base members of the respective pairs and having two sides (12) which are turned away from each other and are united with each other along a common edge or line (14) which is parallel to the direction of advancement and is located at that end of each chain element which is remote from the base members (13) of the respective chain elements (11), characterized in that those ends of the two sides (12) of each chain element which are located nearest to the respective base members (13) are movable with respect to each other in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of advancement, and in that the guide rails (30) have two grooves, edges or similar guide means (32, 34;

37, 38;
43, 44. FIG. 20) provided for cooperation with the chain elements and extending along the guide rails, the mutual distance between said guide means being larger in the vicinity of that end of the apparatus at which the objects to be sorted are introduced into the apparatus than it is at the opposite end thereof, said guide means being arranged for deflecting the sides (12) of the respective bridge portions from each other in such a manner, that the gap (9) between the advancing run of each of any two adjacent conveyor belts (10) is smaller at that end of said belt runs at which the objects to be sorted are introduced into the apparatus than it is in the vincinity of the other end of said belt runs.

Abstract

Claims13