GB744297A - Conveyor systems - Google Patents

Abstract

744,297. Endless-chain conveyers. BURGH, A. R. DE. July 8, 1952, No. 17220/52. Class 78 (1). In a conveyer of the kind in which loadsupporting pallets 4 are propelled along parallel roller tracks 1, 2 by pushers 11 mounted on a horizontally and vertically flexible endless chain 5, means is provided for effecting close packing of the pallets along a portion of the track, e.g. that within an oven 23, by withdrawing the pushers from driving engagement. Withdrawal is effected by deflecting the chain 5 downwardly by guides 24, Fig. 2, from its normal plane of travel between the tracks. Upward guides 26 restore the chain to the driving position at the delivery end of the oven. Each pusher 11 is a U-shaped clip, Fig. 5, which engages a pin 12 depending from a pallet. The pallets may be packed side-by-side as at 28, Fig. 1, instead of end-to-end by providing a side guide 29a at a relatively sharp right-angled turn in the track. Friction members 30 in the form of spring clips are provided beyond the turn to ensure complete turning. The pallets are restored to the original position by a guide 32a. When the conveyer passes from a higher level to a lower one, Fig. 8, running away of the pallets from the pushers is prevented either by locking or braking the rollers 3 on the inclined section or by covering them by the horizontal flange 44, Fig. 9, of a channel-iron member 41. The rollers 3 at the receiving-end of the lower level are arranged more closely together to prevent the forward edge of a pallet coming into locking engagement with one of them. Such engagement may also be prevented by extending the flange 44 over these rollers or by disposing endless belts around a pair of spaced rollers, e.g. 3a and 3b. Pallets may be turned through a right angle at any point by covering the rollers at one side of the track by a flange 48, Fig. 10, and replacing the rollers at the other side by castor wheels 49. Spring clips 50 ensure the correct positioning of the pallets. Shunt sections 18, 19, 20 are provided for the temporary storage of a pallet. Each includes conveying track sections la, 2a parallel to the main track and short connecting sections 1b, 2b and 1c, 2c.