US 5,178,258 AGranted

Inertial conveyor system

OwnerAlfred E. Smalley, Joseph C. Gundlachinventors

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Abstract

An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles from one position to another, the system having minimal detrimental vibrations. During a forward stroke of a tray of the system, the tray moves at a first acceleration whereby the frictional contact between the articles and the tray moves the articles in the same direction as the tray. Then during a return stroke, of an equal distance, the tray moves at a second acceleration generally greater than the first acceleration such that the articles continue to move by inertia on the tray while the tray is moving backward. In the preferred embodiment, the system is provided with a counterweight system having a counterweight element that moves in an opposite direction to the direction of motion of the tray to offset the reaction force produced by the moving tray. Elimination of undesirable vibrations is achieved through the use of the counterweight system and by having the tray system and the counterweight system to be substantially the same mass and have centers of mass that move along substantially the same line of action. In the preferred embodiment, the simultaneous movement of the tray system and counterweight system is achieved by cam followers in contact with cam surfaces of selected contours on a single rotatable cam member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles therewith, said conveyor system having reduced detrimental vibration, said conveyor system comprising:

a frame member;
a conveyor tray means, including a tray member, adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said frame member and mounted on said frame member, said tray member for support and movement of said articles, said conveyor tray means for moving said tray member in a forward longitudinal stroke of a first selected distance at a first acceleration for a first selected time period whereby said articles move in a forward direction with said tray member, and for moving said tray member in an opposite return longitudinal stroke of said first selected distance during a selected second time period at a second acceleration in an opposite direction greater than said first acceleration whereby said articles continue to move in said forward direction on said tray member by inertia while said tray member moves in said opposite direction;
counterweight means associated with said frame member for offsetting reaction force and rotational force produced by movement of said conveyor tray means during said forward and return strokes of said tray member, said counterweight means including a counterweight element, said counterweight means adapted for longitudinal movement during movement of said tray member in a second distance an in a direction opposite to said forward stroke of said tray member during said first selected time period, and in said second distance and in a direction opposite to said return stroke of said tray member during said second selected time period;
means for longitudinally moving said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means in opposite directions relative to said frame member;
and
wherein said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means have equal centers of mass that move along a common line of action during movement of said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means thereby offsetting said reaction force and rotational force of said conveyor tray means.

3 more elements

An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles therewith, said conveyor system having reduced detrimental vibration, said conveyor system comprising:

a frame member;
a conveyor tray means, including a tray member and cam follower means attached to said tray member, adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said frame member and mounted on said frame member, said tray member for support and movement of said articles, said conveyor tray means for moving said tray member in a forward longitudinal stroke of a first selected distance at a first acceleration for a first selected time period whereby said articles move in a forward direction with said tray member, and for moving said tray member in an opposite return longitudinal stroke of said first selected distance during a selected second time period at a second acceleration in an opposite direction greater than said first acceleration whereby said articles continue to move in said forward direction on said tray member by inertia while said tray member moves in said opposite direction;
and
counterweight means associated with said frame member for offsetting reaction forces produced by movement of said tray member during said forward and return strokes, said counterweight means including a counterweight element and cam follower means attached to said counterweight element, said counterweight means adapted for longitudinal movement during movement of said tray member in a second distance and in a direction opposite to said forward stroke of said tray member during said first selected time period, and in said second distance and in a direction opposite to said return stroke of said tray member during said second selected time period;
means for longitudinally moving said conveyor tray means including a cam member having a first cam surface in contact with said cam follower means of said conveyor tray means and means for continuously rotating said cam member in a selected direction;
and
means for longitudinally moving said counterweight means in a direction opposite said moving of said conveyor tray means including said cam member having a second cam surface in contact with said cam follower means of said counterweight means;
said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means having equal centers of mass that move along a common line of action during movement of said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means whereby said conveyor system has reduced detrimental vibration.

5 more elements

An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles therewith, said conveyor system having reduced detrimental vibration, said conveyor system comprising:

a frame member;
a conveyor tray means, including a tray member and a first pair of cam follower means attached to said tray member, adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said frame member and mounted on said frame member, said tray member for support and movement of said articles, said conveyor tray means for moving said tray member in a forward longitudinal stroke of a first selected distance at a first acceleration for a first selected time period whereby said articles move in a forward direction with said tray member, and for moving said tray member in an opposite return longitudinal stroke of said first selected distance during a selected second time period at a second acceleration in an opposite direction greater than said first acceleration whereby said articles continue to move in said forward direction on said tray member by inertia while said tray member moves in said opposite direction;
and
counterweight means associated with said frame member for offsetting reaction forces produced by movement of said tray member during said forward and return strokes, said counterweight means including a counterweight element and a second pair of cam follower means attached to said counterweight element, said counterweight means adapted for longitudinal movement during movement of said tray member in a second distance and in a direction opposite to said forward stroke of said tray member during said first selected time period, and in said second distance and in a direction opposite to said return stroke of said tray member during said second selected time period;
a cam member having a first pair of equally spaced-apart cam surface in contact with said first pair of cam follower means of said conveyor tray means and second pair of equally spaced-apart cam surfaces in contact with said second pair of cam followers of said counterweight means;
and
means for continuously rotating said cam member in a selected direction to move said first and second pairs of cam followers and thereby longitudinally move said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means in opposite directions;
said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means having equal centers of mass that move along a common line of action during movement of said conveyor tray means and said counterweight means whereby said conveyor system has reduced detrimental vibration.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.