Abstract:
The apparatus for sequentially advancing a plurality of articles across a feed table to a work station includes an input station for receiving articles deposited on the feed table, a reciprocating pusher assembly adapted to engage and advance the articles across the feed table from the input station when driven in a forward direction and to disengage from the article when driven in reverse, and an air cylinder-piston drive mechanism for the pusher assembly whereby the length of stroke of the piston and the pusher assembly is selectively variable. The pusher assembly includes a plurality of removable pushers each of which is relocatable at varying intervals along the longitudinal axis of the pusher assembly, and a mechanism for laterally adjusting the position of the pusher assembly to maintain an in-line feed mode regardless of the width of the articles being advanced along the feed table.
Abstract:
A conveyor apparatus particularly for intra-plant conveyance in the garment industry comprises conveyor tracks, carrier units travelling on the conveyor tracks and having each at least one stirrup member straddling a conveyor track from below and provided with rollers resting on the top surface of the track, and at least one drive unit for actively conveying the carrier units. The drive unit comprises a conveying bar actuatable to reciprocate along a track section and carrying a plurality of drive transmitting members for engagement with the carrier units. The drive transmitting members are mounted so that they are operative to convey in one working stroke direction, while being able to pass said carrier units without engagement therewith in the return stroke direction. The drive transmitting members are adjustable to reverse the conveying direction of the working stroke. Each drive transmitting member, in the form of a pawl, is pivotally attached to the conveying bar, and its pivotal movement in one direction is limited by engagement with a stop, while pivotal movement in the opposite direction is permitted against a resilient biasing force.
Abstract:
An improved manure handling apparatus of the flow-through piston or plunger type. The apparatus has a passageway, vertically mounted in the floor of a barn with a plunger slidably mounted within the passageway. The plunger has a pair of swinging doors for opening or closing the passageway. First means move the plunger up and down within the passageway to push manure therethrough. Second means move the doors open or closed depending on the direction the plunger is moved.
Abstract:
A shuttle conveyor for moving articles fore and aft on a cargo support, such as the baggage area in an aircraft cargo compartment, comprises a trolley assembly moved fore and aft by a cable means travelling in downwardly canted tracks and a means to raise and lower selectively one of two cargo-engaging pawls adapted to move cargo forward or aft of the compartment and operated by cable or chain operators.
Abstract:
A conveyor arrangement for carrying a continuous row of component parts from a container or supply to an automatic assembling machine. A feeder chute is provided for feeding the component parts to a guide or feeder track which is operatively connected with a supply chute or hose connected to the assembling machine. A device is provided for maintaining the component parts in the guide or feeder track and an advancing mechanism is provided for advancing the component parts from an end of the guide track to an entrance of the supply chute or hose. Pawls are provided at the advancing mechanism and the supply chute for facilitating the advancement of the component parts and preventing return of advanced component parts from the supply chute or hose to the guide track.
Abstract:
This invention is conerned with conveyors using reciprocating flights to convey material along the length of the conveyor. The conveyor consists essentially of a bed of articulated plates, a track constraining a chain adjacent a first longitudinal edge of the bed, spaced flights attached to the chain and located to extend across the bed and means for reciprocating the chain along the track. The chain is preferably made of rigid members of substantially uniform cross-section and the flights are shaped bars having one end adapted to be pivotally attached to the chain and are reduced in their height towards their free ends with the trailing edges of each flight tapered downwardly towards their bottom surfaces and inclined towards the leading edges at their free ends which ends are chamfered. The flights include stops to limit their rotational movement over the bed and reciprocating means comprises a piston and cylinder assembly which may be connected to the chain through a flexible member passed over a system of pulleys to increase the effect of the working stroke of the assembly on the chain.
Abstract:
An accumulating type conveyor having a plurality of article supporting stations spaced therealong and pusher member for transferring the articles in step-by-step progression along the conveyor and into a processing machine or the like. The conveyor includes a control system including article position sensors and article movement sensors, together with a cam member for each pusher member selectively operable to shift the pusher member to its non-article engaging position, whereby the flow of articles to the processing machine is automatically controlled.
Abstract:
A MANURE SCRAPER HAVING A PAIR OF SAPCED SUPPORT FRAMES WITH A SCRAPER BLADE PIVOTABLY MOUNTED THEREBETWEEN. RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO EACH END OF AND PIVOTABLE WITH THE SCRAPER BLADE IS A RIGID PANEL ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY ABUT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT. THE PANEL IS CIRCULAR IN PERIPHERAL CONFIGURATION SUCH THAT IT CAUSES THE BLADE TO PIVOT TO A NON-WORKING POSITION WHEN THE DEVICE IS PULLED IN A FIRST DIRECTION AND TO A WORKING POSITION WHEN THE DEVICE IS PULLED IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION.