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US 6,598,728 B1Granted
Apparatus for transporting articles, in particular cigarette groups
AssigneeFocke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
InventorsHeinz Focke, Burkard Roesler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For transporting sensitive articles, in particular cigarette groups, an endless conveyor (19,20) in the form of a toothed belt (21) is provided, carry-along elements (30) for gripping in each case one article being arranged on the same. The carry-along elements (30) are positively controlled such that, when an article is received and/or the movement direction is changed abruptly, an in particular rearwardly directed compensating movement of the carry-along elements takes place.
Claims19
Apparatus for transporting articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a track plate for supporting the articles on top of said track plate;
- a conveyor disposed underneath said track plate;
- carry-along elements secured to said conveyor for tilting movement relative to said conveyor, wherein said carry-along elements are disposed for engaging the articles supported on top of said track plate and moving the articles along said track plate as said conveyor moves said carry-along elements in a conveying direction,
- each said carry-along element including a transverse support structure having a convex abutment surface abutting an outer surface of said conveyor;
- and
- stationary guides for cooperating with said support structures of said carry-along elements as said carry-along elements move in the conveying direction to tilt said carry-along elements on their respective abutment surfaces parallel to the conveying direction, said stationary guides causing each said carry-along element to make a temporary compensating tilting movement counter to the conveying direction as an article is initially contacted by said carry-along element and a subsequent return tilting movement in the conveying direction.
3 more elements
Apparatus for transporting articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a track plate for supporting the articles on top of said track plate;
- an endless conveyor disposed underneath said track plate;
- carry-along elements secured to said conveyor for tilting movement relative to said conveyor, wherein said carry-along elements are disposed for engaging the articles supported on top of said track plate and moving the articles along said track plate as said conveyor moves said carry-along elements in a conveying direction,
- each said carry-along element including a transverse support structure having opposed ends;
- and
- opposed stationary guide grooves extending along an entire path of movement of said carry-along elements for respectively receiving said opposed ends of said support structures of said carry-along elements along the entire path as said carry-along elements move in the conveying direction, said guide grooves being shaped to cause each said carry-along element to make a temporary compensating tilting movement counter to the conveying direction as an article is initially contacted by said carry-along element and a subsequent return tilting movement in the conveying direction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.