US3283880A

US3283880A - Powered cube turntable

Info

Publication number: US3283880A
Application number: US339210A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Harry F Cruzen
Original assignee: Besser Co
Current assignee: Besser Co
Priority date: 1964-01-21
Filing date: 1964-01-21
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08

Description

NOV. 8, 1966 CRUZEN, JR 3,283,880

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Harry F. Cruzen, Jr.

W ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 H. F. CRUZEN, JR 3,283,880

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hurry F. Cruzen,.Jr.

ATTORNEY 1966 H. F. CRUZEN, JR

POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 I NVENTOR.

Hurry F. Cruzen, Jr.

BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,283,880 Patented Nov. 8, 19:66

3,233,880 POWERED CUBE TURNTABLE Harry F. Cruzen, Jr., Besser Company, Alpena, Mich. Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,210 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-21) This invention relates to conveyors and turntables in general and more particularly, to a powered cube turntable for handling cubed concrete block from a cu-bing station in various angular directions to a storage depot.

Heretofore, in the handling of cubed block, after being processed into a cube at a cubing station, the cubed block have been taken by a fork lift truck to a yard for storage. In order to mechanize this operation and save on multiple manual handling of the cubes, it is proposed to utilize a novel turntable mounted upon a conveyor for automated processing of the cubes from the cubing station to a run-out conveyor for removal to a storage yard.

Accordingly a principal object of the present invention is the provision of a novel turntable, adapted to be incorporated in a right-angled conveyor system, which has a powered conveyor mounted on top of it at the apex to receive and pass on a cube of block in timed sequence of admission in one direction and exit in another direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a powered cube turntable which gently handles cubed block carried thereon and automatically shifts the load from one direction of travel to another through a novel chain and sprocket drive and interrelated switches and timer for movement of the cube and return of the empty turntable to receive a successive cube.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an angularly rotatable turntable, incorporated in a right-angled conveyor system, which is self contained, has a free-wheeling and powered roller conveyor novelly mounted thereon that is simple in design, construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction location and general arrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the following specifications, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and as fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, like reference characters refer to similar parts in the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally isometric or perspective view of a right-angled conveyor system incorporating one embodiment, at its apex, of a powered turntable and conveyor thereon illustrating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the powered turntable and conveyor mounted thereon of FIGURE 1 on an en larged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the drive means for the powered conveyor and roller means of the powered turntable;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view, on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, of a switch and timer means to trigger and sequentially turn, move off the block cube and return the turntable to its initial position.

Now referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a right-angled conveyor system comprising an input portion 10, and an output portion 11, with a powered conveyor turntable generally designated 12 at its apex or junction point. The input and output portions 10, 11 each has a block cube C thereon, leaving the conveyor turntable exposed for better viewing. The conveyor turntable '12 has an angular or generally circular base portion 14, upon an upper surface of which is mounted a series of eight support rollers 16 around the periphery thereof,

radially disposed from a central pivot 18.

Side rails

20, 20 and place 21 for-m the frame for the powered conveyor turntable 12 mounted on said support rollers 16 thereunder. Mounted between said

side rails

20, 20 are a series of rollers journalled therein, such as idler rollers 25, and powered rollers 26, driven by sprockets on the ends thereof through chain 27 and gearhead motor 30, as shown in FIGURE 3. The combination of powered and idler rollers provides better control over movement of the cubed block in that the block are stabilized during rotational movement of the turntable and available for instantaneous movement to the run-out conveyor when the the destination is reached.

Rotation of turntable 12 is accomplished through reversible gearhead motor 35 and chain 36 trained thereon and through sprocket and slack takeup means 3 7. The chain 36 has anchor block means 40 fastened at opposite ends to turntable 12. Cam limit switch means 45, 46 control starting and stopping, respectively, of the turntable as it arrives at the run-out conveyor and again as it returns to its initial position in line with the input conveyor for a new cube of block.

As a cube of block C moves onto turntable 12, from input conveyor 10, powered rollers 26 advance the cube to roller 28 which has a spring biased lever 50, extended from its journal through side rail 20, and contacting a limit switch 52, mounted by bracket 53 on plate 21, all as shown in FIGURE 4. Weight of the cube on roller 28 thus triggers switch 52 when entire cube C is on turntable and rotates table degrees, or any other desired amount, into alignment with output conveyor 11. Switches 45, 46 control starting and stopping of turntable at each location. After cube weight has left turntable and the switchtimer has timed out, the turntable returns to its initial position for a successive block cube.

From the foregoing it will now be apparent a novel device has been disclosed enumerating the objects and advantages aforementioned. It will be understood, of course, that the invention i susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time by those skilled in this art, and having this disclosure, without any departure from the general principles or real spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted to be used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed block handling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable :base, sup port rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface of said turntable base, a roller conveyor section carried by the support rollers of said turntable base, said conveyor section being coextensive and in alignment with an input end of said right-angled gravity fed conveyor system in one position and coextensive and in alignment with an output end of said conveyor system in a second position, switch means to selectively position cubed block received on said powered conveyor section, power means comprising a chain section anchored at opposite ends to underside of roller conveyor section, a sprocket trained in said chain section and carried by said turntable base, a gearhead motor operatively journalled to said sprocket to drive same, said switch means coupled with a timer means to initiate and rotate said turntable to said output position of the conveyor system and advance the cubed block thereto, and means including said timer means to return said conveyor section and powered turntable to its initial position for succeeding cubed block.

2. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted to be used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed block handling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable base, support rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface of said turntable base, a roller conveyor assembly rotatably carried by the support rollers of said turntable base, said conveyor section being an extension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angled gravity fed conveyor system in one position and an extension of and in alignment with an output end of said conveyor sysitem in a second position, chain and sprocket means to drive certain rollers of said powered conveyor section, idler roller means in said conveyor section including a switch-timer means located in a journal portion of the idler roller means subject to be activated by weight loading of cubed block thereon for advancement of the cubed block and rotation of the powered turntable to an output position of the conveyor section, and said timer means coupled with other means to return said conveyor section and powered turntable to its initial position for succeeding cubed block.

3. A powered conveyor device mounted upon a powered turntable adapted to be used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed block handling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable base, support rollers spaced around and carried on an upper surface of said turntable base, a roller conveyor section rotatably carried by the support roller of said turntable base, said conveyor section being an extension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angled conveyor system in one position and an extension of and in alignment with an output end of said conveyor system in a second position, switch-timer mean mounted adjacent a journal end of a roller on said roller conveyor section arranged to be activated by contact with cubed block thereon to initiate rotation of the powered turntable to an output position of the conveyor section, first limit switch means on said turntable arranged to halt said turntable at the output position, said timer means arranged to timeout passage of cubed block onto output end of conveyor section and initiate return of turntable, and second limit switch means on said turntable to arrest return of turntable in its initial position for succeeding cubed block.

4. A powered conveyor turntable adapted to be used in a right-angled gravity fed conveyor system for cubed block handling comprising in combination, a generally circular turntable base, a roller conveyor section rotatably mounted on the turntable base, powered roller conveyor means journalled at opposite angles in side rails constituting a portion of said roller conveyor section, other idler roller conveyor means journalled at opposite ends in side rails constituting the balance of said roller conveyor section, said roller conveyor section being an extension of and in alignment with an input end of said right-angled conveyor system in one position of rotation and an extension of and in alignment with an output end of said conveyor system in a second position of rotation, switchtimer means mounted adjacent a journalled end of an idler roller on said roller conveyor section arranged to be activated by contact with cubed block thereon to initiate rotation of the powered turntable to said output position of the conveyor section, first limit switch means on said turntable arranged to halt said turntable at the output position, said switch-timer means arranged to timeout passage of cubed block from output end of conveyor section to right angled conveyor system and initiate return of turntable, and second limit switch means on said turntable to arrest return of turntable at it initial position for succeeding cubed block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,832 8/1932 Absmeier 198-727 X 2,708,995 5/1955 Saliba 19836 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LABORDE, Examiner.

Claims

1. A POWERED CONVEYOR DEVICE MOUNTED UPON A POWERED TURNTABLE ADAPTED TO BE USED IN A RIGHT-ANGLED GRAVITY FED CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR CUBED BLOCK HANDLING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A GENERALLY CIRCULAR TURNTABLE BASE, SUPPORT ROLLERS SPACED AROUND AND CARRIED ON AN UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TURNTABLE BASE, A ROLLER CONVEYOR SECTION CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT ROLLERS OF SAID TURNTABLE BASE, SAID CONVEYOR SECTION BEING COEXTENSIVE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH AN INPUT END OF SAID RIGHT-ANGLED GRAVITY FED CONVEYOR SYSTEM IN ONE POSITION AND COEXTENSIVE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH AN OUTPUT END OF SAID CONVEYOR SYSTEM IN A SECOND POSITION, SWITCH MEANS TO SELECTIVELY POSITION CUBED BLOCK RECEIVED ON SAID POWERED CONVEYOR SECTION, POWER MEANS COMPRISING A CHAIN SECTION ANCHORED AT OPPOSITE ENDS TO UNDERSIDE OF ROLLER CONVEYOR SECTION, A SPROCKET TRAINED IN SAID CHAIN SECTION AND CARRIED BY SAID TURNTABLE BASE, A GEARHEAD MOTOR OPERATIVELY JOURNALLED TO SAID SPROCKET TO DRIVE SAME, SAID SWITCH MEANS COUPLED WITH A TIMER MEANS TO INITIATE AND ROTATE SAID TURNTABLE TO SAID OUTPUT POSITION OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND ADVANCE THE CUBED BLOCK THERETO, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID TIMER MEANS TO RETURN SAID CONVEYOR SECTION AND POWERED TURNTABLE TO ITS INITIAL POSITION FOR SUCCEEDING CUBED BLOCK.