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US 6,629,690 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for conveying a product
AssigneeGunther International, Ltd.
InventorWilfred S. Viens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for high-speed conveying of product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed utilize six primary assemblies: outer rail assembly, inner rail assembly, pusher assembly, strap-ramp assembly, hold-down strap assembly and stop finger assembly. Insert feeders spaced above the conveyor system to feed inserts onto the conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path. The insert feeders are pivotally mounted adjacent the product conveyor path to provide easy access to the product conveyor path for the operator.
Claims148
An apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a pusher device having first and second pushers for engaging a trailing end of the product to propel the product along the product conveying path, the first and second pushers being spaced from one another transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being moveable between first and second positions transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being closer to one another in the first position than in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and
- (b) a mechanism for moving said pusher device so that said first and second pushers move along the product conveying path to propel the product engaged at the trailing end thereof by said first and second pushers along the product conveying path.
An apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of inner opposed rails being adjustable between at least two distinct positions to permit conveying products of different widths;
- and
- (b) a pair of outer opposed rails cooperating with said pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of outer opposed rails being adjustable relative to and independent of said pair of inner opposed rails to permit conveying of products of different widths, each of said outer opposed rails having a base portion for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path and an upstanding portion for guiding the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path.
An apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a strap support device having first and second straps for supporting the product being propelled along the product conveying path, said first and second straps being spaced from one another transversely across the product conveying path, said first and second straps being moveable between first and second positions, said first and second straps being located to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the first position and being located not to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and
- (b) a mechanism for moving said first and second straps of said strap support device between said first and second positions.
A hold down assembly for an apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the hold down assembly comprising:
- (a) a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path, said hold down support device is cantilevered over the product conveying path from one side thereof;
- and
- (b) a t least one strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device for holding the product flat on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product.
A hold down assembly for an apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the hold down assembly comprising:
- (a) a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path, said hold down support device has a shaft with a slot therein;
- and
- (b) at least one strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device for holding the product flat on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product, said at least one strap being removably attached into said slot in said shaft.
A stop finger assembly for an apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the stop finger assembly comprising:
- (a) a stop finger support device cantilevered over the product conveying path;
- (b) at least one stop finger removeably mounted on said stop finger support device for stopping the product following an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (c) a mechanism for moving said stop finger support device so that said at least one stop finger moves into the product conveying path to engaged the product at a leading end thereof following an indexing movement of the product and moves out of the product conveying path to begin an indexing movement of the product.
1 more element
An apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a conveyor system for conveying the product along the product conveying path;
- and
- (b) an insert feeder spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path, said insert feeder is pivotally mounted adjacent the product conveyor path whereby said insert feeder can be rotated between an operative position spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path and a raised inoperative position spaced farther from the product conveyor path to provide access to the product conveyor path.
An apparatus for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the apparatus being adjustable to convey products of different widths, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a conveyor system for conveying the product along the product conveying path, the conveyor system comprising:
- (i) a pusher device having first and second pushers for engaging a trailing end of the product to propel the product along the product conveying path, said first and second pushers being spaced from one another transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being moveable between first and second positions transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being closer to one another in the first position than in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and a mechanism for moving said pusher device so that said first and second pushers move along the product conveying path to propel the product engaged at the trailing end thereof by said first and second pushers along the product conveying path;
- (ii) a pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of inner opposed rails being adjustable between at least two distinct positions to permit conveying products of different widths;
- (iii) a pair of outer opposed rails cooperating with said pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of outer opposed rails being adjustable relative to and independent of said pair of inner opposed rails to permit conveying of products of different widths, each of the outer opposed rails having a base portion for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path and an upstanding portion for guiding the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path;
- (iv) a strap support device having first and second straps for supporting the product being propelled along the product conveying path, said first and second straps being spaced from one another transversely across the product conveying path, said first and second straps being moveable between first and second positions, said first and second straps being located to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the first position and being located not to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths, and a mechanism for moving said first and second straps of said strap support device between said first and second positions;
- (b) a hold down assembly comprising:
- (i) a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path;
- and
- (ii) at least one hold down strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device for holding the product flat on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product;
- (c) a stop finger assembly comprising:
- (i) a stop finger support device cantilevered over the product conveying path;
- (ii) at least one stop finger removeably mounted on said stop finger support device for stopping the product following an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (iii) a mechanism for moving said stop finger support device so that said at least one stop finger moves into the product conveying path to engaged the product at a leading end thereof following an indexing movement of the product and moves out of the product conveying path to begin an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (g) an insert feeder spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path, said insert feeder is pivotally mounted adjacent the product conveyor path whereby said insert feeder can be rotated between an operative position spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path and a raised inoperative position spaced farther from the product conveyor path to provide access to the product conveyor path.
14 more elements
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a pusher device having first and second pushers for engaging a trailing end of the product to propel the product along the product conveying path, said first and second pushers being spaced from one another transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being moveable between first and second positions transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being closer to one another in the first position than in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and
- (b) moving said pusher device so that said first and second pushers move along the product conveying path to propel the product engaged at the trailing end thereof by said first and second pushers along the product conveying path.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a pair of inner opposed rails supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of inner opposed rails being adjustable between at least two distinct positions to permit conveying products of different widths;
- and
- (b) providing a pair of outer opposed rails cooperating with said pair of inner opposed rails supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of outer opposed rails being adjustable relative to and independent of said pair of inner opposed rails to permit conveying of products of different widths, each of the outer opposed rails having a base portion for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path and an upstanding portion for guiding the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a strap support device having first and second straps for supporting the product being propelled along the product conveying path, said first and second straps being spaced from one another transversely across the product conveying path, said first and second straps being moveable between first and second positions, said first and second straps being located to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the first position and being located not to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and
- (b) moving said first and second straps of said strap support device between said first and second positions.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path using a hold down assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path, said hold down support device is cantilevered over the product conveying path from one side thereof;
- and
- (b) using at least one strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device to hold the product flat-on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path using a hold down assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path, said hold down support device has a shaft with a slot therein;
- and
- (b) using at least one strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device to hold the product flat on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product, said at least one strap being removably attached into said slot in said shaft.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path using a stop finger assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a stop finger support device cantilevered over the product conveying path;
- (b) using at least one stop finger removeably mounted on said stop finger support device for stopping the product following an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (c) moving said stop finger support device so that said at least one stop finger moves into the product conveying path to engaged the product at a leading end thereof following an indexing movement of the product and moves out of the product conveying path to begin an indexing movement of the product.
1 more element
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a conveying system conveying the product along the product conveying path;
- and
- (b) using an insert feeder spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path, said insert feeder is pivotally mounted adjacent the product conveyor path whereby said insert feeder can be rotated between an operative position spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path and a raised inoperative position spaced farther from the product conveyor path to provide access to the product conveyor path.
A method for conveying a product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a conveyor system for conveying the product along the product conveying path, the conveyor system comprising:
- (i) a pusher device having first and second pushers for engaging a trailing end of the product to propel the product along the product conveying path, said first and second pushers being spaced from one another transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being moveable between first and second positions transversely across the conveying path, said first and second pushers being closer to one another in the first position than in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths;
- and a mechanism for moving said pusher device so that said first and second pushers move along the product conveying path to propel the product engaged at the trailing end thereof by said first and second pushers along the product conveying path;
- (ii) a pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of inner opposed rails being adjustable between at least two distinct positions to permit conveying products of different widths;
- and
- (iii) a pair of outer opposed rails cooperating with said pair of inner opposed rails for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path, said pair of outer opposed rails being adjustable relative to and independent of said pair of inner opposed rails to permit conveying of products of different widths, each of the outer opposed rails having a base portion for supporting the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path and an upstanding portion for guiding the product as it is propelled along the product conveying path;
- (iv) a strap support device having first and second straps for supporting the product being propelled along the product conveying path, said first and second straps being spaced from one another transversely across the product conveying path, said first and second straps being moveable between first and second positions, said first and second straps being located to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the first position and being located not to support the product being propelled along the product conveying path in the second position thereby being adjustable to convey products of different widths, and a mechanism for moving said first and second straps of said strap support device between said first and second positions;
- (b) using a hold down assembly comprising:
- (i) a hold down support device extending over the product conveying path;
- and
- (ii) at least hold down one strap removeably mounted on said hold down support device to hold the product flat on the conveyor path and helping decelerate the product at an indexing movement of the product;
- (c) using a stop finger assembly comprising:
- (i) a stop finger support device cantilevered over the product conveying path;
- (ii) at least one stop finger removeably mounted on said stop finger support device to stop the product following an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (iii) moving said stop finger support device so that said at least one stop finger moves into the product conveying path to engaged the product at a leading end thereof following an indexing movement of the product and moves out of the product conveying path to begin an indexing movement of the product;
- and
- (g) using an insert feeder spaced above said conveyor system to feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path, said insert feeder is pivotally mounted adjacent the product conveyor path whereby said insert feeder can be rotated between an operative position spaced above said conveyor system for feeding at least one insert onto said conveyor system so as to be combined with the product as the product is conveyed along the product conveyor path and a raised inoperative position spaced farther from the product conveyor path to provide access to the product conveyor path.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.