Abstract:
A wet-blast machine (1) with a closed-cycle re-use system (2) incorporates apparatus (3) for conveying loose particulate (abrasive) wet-blast material (4) present in a body of water (5). The apparatus (3) comprises a longitudinally extending trough (6), for containing the water (5) and particulate material (4), a support structure (7) movable in a reciprocating manner within the trough (6), and a row of longitudinally spaced flap members (8) attached to and depending from the support structure (7). When the support structure (7) is reciprocated, wave motions are created in the water (5), which move the loose particulate material (4) in a predetermined direction along the trough (6), namely toward a collection point provided by a chute (10).
Abstract:
A discharge apparatus for an article handling system receives a group of articles in a facewise stacked condition and delivering the group of articles to an outfeed apparatus wherein the articles are arranged in a continuous flow. The discharge apparatus comprises a first stage station wherein groups of articles are received; an elongate discharge station having an incoming end and an outgoing end, the outgoing end being adjacent an outfeed apparatus, and the incoming end being spaced apart from the first stage station. An article carrying lane extends from the first stage station through the discharge station. A shuttle is bidirectionally movable between the first stage station and the discharge station for transporting a group of articles along the article carrying lane from the first stage station to the discharge station and returning to the first stage station to receive a subsequent group of articles. A discharge carriage is bidirectionally movable between the incoming end and the outgoing end of the discharge station for advancing articles along the article carrying lane to the outfeed apparatus in a continuous flow. Operating control operates the shuttle to transport a leading end of a group of articles into engagement with a trailing end of articles previously transported to the discharge station to make up a continuous flow of articles in the discharge station and thereafter operates the discharge carriage for advancing the articles toward the outgoing end of the discharge station.
Abstract:
A bi-directional ratchet conveyor is shown including a carrier bar slideably mounted centrally of a frame and operated by a power cylinder. The carrier bar has a first plurality of gravity dogs pivotally secured along a first side thereof, and a second plurality of gravity dogs secured along a second side thereof oriented in an opposite direction from the first plurality of gravity dogs. Dog operating rods are slideably secured to each side of the carrier bar for independently operating the first and second plurality of dogs between active and neutral positions. Each dog operating rod is operated by a separate pneumatic cylinder. When the first plurality of dogs are maintained in an active position, the second plurality of dogs are maintained in a neutral position, thereby providing for movement of goods in one direction along the conveyor through repeated extension and retraction of the power cylinder. Conversely, when the second plurality of dogs are maintained in an active position, and the first plurality of dogs are maintained in a neutral position, the products are moveable in the opposite direction along the conveyor.
Abstract:
An apparatus for conveying loose material includes a chute with static bottom shaped like a trough, adapted to accommodate the material to convey, and a series of conveyance members mounted to move back and forth on a movable frame. Each conveyance member includes at least two juxtaposed blades, extending up to a different depth inside the chute, and in that the depth up to which the superimposed blades extend inside the chute decreases from the front blade (facing the conveyance direction of the material) to the rear blade (opposite the conveyance direction of the material).
Abstract:
A tray accumulator for storing and moving trays between a load area and an unload area including a tray conveyor extending from load to unload area, a tray operated control switch at the load end of the conveyor for turning on and operating the conveyor to move a tray along the conveyor when the tray is placed at the load end of the conveyor, control switches at the unload end of the conveyor for deactivating the conveyor when fully loaded with trays and for cycling the conveyor during the unload mode of operation responsive to sequential removal of trays from the unload end, and a fluid operated power and control system connected with the conveyor and the control switches to reciprocate the conveyor and control the conveyor during the load and unload phases.
Abstract:
An accumulator conveyor having a load support frame defined by side rails each having a series of idler wheels, the load support frame defining a load support plane adapted to support a series of loads along its length. A shuttle frame is reciprocable relative to, and preferably supported by, the load support frame. The shuttle frame carries a series of pusher bars spaced one from the other to define a series of load stations along the conveyor's length. A novel drive mechanism reciprocates the shuttle frame, and therefor the pusher bar assemblies, relative to the stationary load support frame, for indexing any load on the load support frame from an upstream station to an adjacent downstream station. The conveyor also includes a novel station lock out system which causes the pusher bar of a station to be latched down beneath the support plane of the load in that station when loads are parked in all stations downstream therefrom. And further, the station lock out system includes novel structure which permits any one or more pusher bars to be latched down substantially beneath the load support plane if the load parked in any one station has a bottom surface that is deformed beneath that load support plane.
Abstract:
A rake conveyor (A) for incrementally advancing containers on an article loading machine is disclosed which includes a linkage assembly (34) having a pair of generally parallel linkage bars (36,38) between which a plurality of pivotal dogs (C, 44, 44a) are carried. An air cylinder (58) actuates the rake linkage assembly (36, 38) by a connector (66) connecting the piston rod (60) of the air cylinder to the linkage bars (36, 38). The linkage bar (38) moves relative to the bar (36) at the onset of the forward stroke of the rake to cause the dogs (44) to pivot outward to a container engaging position prior to their forward movement. Motion limiting elements (80, 82) limit the pivoting movement of dogs (44) on the return stroke to a linear movement. Positioning elements (E) are provided in the form of positioning blocks (90, 92, 94, 98) which stop the containers at selected positions along the conveyor as is necessary for processing and loading the containers. Advancement by the rake conveyor (A) imparts a sufficient force to the containers that the positioning blocks are pivoted to a release position allowing advancement of the containers past the positioning blocks on the forward advance stroke of the rake conveyor.
Abstract:
A conveyor for transporting an elongated workpiece in a normal horizontal transport direction and generally perpendicular to the workpiece has a rail extending horizontally in the normal transport direction. A carriage rides on the rail in the transport direction and pivotally carries a pair of end links at respective generally parallel support axes extending horizontally generally perpendicular to the transport direction and spaced apart in the transport direction. A lifting member is pivoted on the end links at respective member axes generally parallel to and offset from the support axes. A lower link pivoted on the end links below the lifting member forms with the lifting member and end links a parallelogrammatic linkage which is movable between a raised position with the member projecting above the rail and a lowered position with the member below the upper rail surface. A spring urges the linkage into the upper position. A stop pawl is pivotal on one of the links in the lowered position of the linkage between an up position projecting upward beyond the upper rail surface and a down position below the upper rail surface. This stop pawl lies below the upper rail surface in the raised position of the linkage. Thus on movement of the carriage along the rail opposite to the transport direction with the linkage in the lowered position the pawl can be deflected against the force of its spring into its down position so the carriage can pass under a workpiece and on movement in the transport direction the stop pawl engages a workpiece sitting on the upper rail surface without such downward deflection and can push it.
Abstract:
A continuous rack support apparatus utilizing the gravity feed principle and in which goods to be stored are supported on rolling vehicles comprises thrust rods which are formed as motional impulse generators and arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the center of a track. Pawls are associated with the thrust rods for acting upon the rolling vehicles. Each thrust rod has a locking member for holding it in a locked position following a displacement against the action of a spring. The locking member can be disengaged by the foremost rolling vehicle when the latter is removed. Along the thrust rods are wedges with which the pawls come into contact upon displacement of the thrust rods against the action of the spring to cause the wedges to swivel into a rest position below the track.
Abstract:
A conveyor is composed of a series of L-shaped sections arranged end-to-end to define a conveying floor surface with a side wall at one side opposite the mineral face so as to allow material to fall onto the floor surface. The side wall has a slot or gap therein through which extends entrainment devices capable of extending across the floor surface or being stowed inwards towards the side wall. Where the conveyor is constructed as a shuttle conveyor the entrainment devices are allowed to pivot automatically between these alternate positions as they are driven back and forth along the floor surface by a reciprocating traction means. The traction means runs outside the side wall and the devices are pivotably mounted to the traction means which preferably also performs a guide function.