ES363211A1 - Conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

In a continuously moving conveyer comprising a series of rectangular vehicles 4 (Fig. 1) moving with constant orientation side-by-side in a loading/unloading zone 22 and end-to-end at a higher speed in a transport zone 31, each vehicle is provided with a fixed connection member, e.g a pin 44 (Fig. 4), a movable connection member, e.g. a pierced arm 45 engageable with the fixed member of the preceding vehicle, anddrivetransmitting means, e.g. a chain 47 moved around the periphery of the vehicle by a roller 50 in a groove 10 in a supporting surface, to move the movable connection member as the vehicle is pushed laterally, and thus cause the preceding vehicle to slide longitudinally relative thereto. Longitudinal sliding is initiated by guides 61, 73 bringing the arm 45 into engaging position, the pin being moved to enter or leave the hole therein by a ramp in the path of its head. Movement of the roller and arm is produced in the loading and transport zones by driven toothed belts 11, 12, 13. A second embodiment comprises three screws 16, 17, 19 (Fig. 9) on each vehicle, geared together by conical pinions, or a sliding chain 54 (Fig. 13), again moved by a roller in a groove, and thus moving a slide 29 or 59 which can engage a dog 15 projecting from the preceding vehicle. In a third embodiment (Figs. 15, 17) a similar slide 71A is driven along a vehicle by a screw 65 rotated by a toothed wheel 67 engaging channels in a supporting surface. A disc-shaped projection 151 of the dog 15 is engaged by the slide 29, 59 or 71A in a groove 28, 63 or 72A along the edge of the vehicle, between an abutment 292 and a pivoted sector 293 displaceable into a recess 283 in the groove.