US3848727A

US3848727A - Stow roller train for cargo

Info

Publication number: US3848727A
Application number: US00416504A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Gebhardt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-02-16
Filing date: 1973-11-16
Publication date: 1974-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-19
Also published as: CH554787A; AT330656B; DK132213C; IT993596B; DE2307700A1; ES417755A1; FR2218262B1; DD106608A5; DE2307700B2; FR2218262A1; BE809582A; DK132213B; BR7307531D0; NL181645C; NO140792B; SE380232B; ATA605573A; JPS49112379A; NL7310445A; GB1409966A

Abstract

Stow roller train for storing and conveying piece goods or cargo without stowing pressure, with rotatably mounted article-bearing rollers which are selectively drivingly coupled by intermediate rollers, with a constantly rotating traction means supported by supporting rollers. The intermediate rollers are adjustably coupled in groups. Each group of intermediate rollers is connected by means of a linkage with a feeler or probe engageable by the cargo and is thereby moved between a driving and an idling position. Respectively one intermediate roller and one supporting roller are mounted to a pivotably disposed lever. The bearing of the intermediate roller is axially fixed and radially movable with respect to the rotational axis of the intermediate roller. The supporting roller is positioned on said lever such that it automatically and simultaneously presses the traction means against the intermediate roller when said intermediate roller is being moved by the linkage toward the driving position thereof.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Gebhardt Nov. 19, 1974 STOW ROLLER TRAIN FOR CARGO [76] Inventor: Richard Gebhardt, l-l. Thomastrasse 10, 6920 Sinsheim, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 416,504

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant ExaminerRichard K. Thomson Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [5 7] ABSTRACT Stow roller train for storing and conveying piece goods or cargo without stowing pressure, with rotatably mounted article-bearing rollers which are selectively drivingly coupled by intermediate rollers, with a constantly rotating traction means supported by supporting rollers. The intermediate rollers are adjustably coupled in groups. Each group of intermediate rollers is connected by means of a linkage with a feeler or probe engageable by the cargo and is thereby moved between a driving and an idling position. Respectively one intermediate roller and one supporting roller are mounted to a pivotably disposed lever. The bearing of the intermediate roller is axially fixed and radially movable with respect to the rotational axis of the intermediate roller. The supporting roller is positioned on said lever such that it automatically and simultaneously presses the traction means against the intermediate roller when said intermediate roller is being moved by the linkage toward the driving position thereof.

25 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures STOW ROLLER TRAIN FOR CARGO BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a stow roller train for storing and conveying cargo without stowing pressure, with rotatably mounted articleor load-bearing rollers which are selectively drivingly coupled by intermediate rollers with a constantly rotating traction means supported by supporting rollers. The intermediate rollers are adjustably coupled in groups, wherein group of intermediate rollers is connected by means of a linkage with a feeler operable or engageable by the cargo and is thereby moved between a driving position and an idling position. My co-pending application Ser. No. 191,028 filed Oct. 20, 1971, describes a stow roller train of the general type contemplated by the present invention. The disclosure of said co-pending application is incorporated by reference herein as an aid to the understanding of the present disclosure.

Stow roller trains have been contemplated wherein the supporting rollers are mounted to the frame profile. In the driving position, the intermediate roller is introduced between the thus-mounted traction means and the load-bearing roller. Since the traction means moves in the conveying direction of the cargo to be transported, the intermediate roller, with increasing resistance on the load-bearing roller, tends to force itself increasingly between the load-bearing roller and the traction means. This results in a kind of jammed coupling of the intermediate roller between the load-bearing roller and the traction means which can be released only with considerable expenditure of force. A high torque transmission is essential for a smooth conductance of the conveying operation. High acceleration forces effect a strong jamming of the intermediate rollers, which then retain their position during the uniform conveying speed in spite of reduced torque transmission. The great forces expended in releasing the jammed components interfere in the uniform movement of the cargo. Therefore, the control of the drive means for the loadbearing rollers is cumbersome and sluggish.

The present invention contemplates an improved stow roller train arrangement which avoids the abovediscussed disadvantages and which render the adjustment of the intermediate rollers fluid and sensitive, while maintaining high acceleration forces for conveying the articles on the load-bearing rollers.

The present invention further contemplates mounting both an intermediate roller and a supporting roller on a pivotably mounted lever such that the supporting roller presses the traction means against the intermediate roller when the intermediate roller is moved to the driving position thereof. The intermediate roller is mounted at the lever so as to be axially fixed and radially movable with respect to the axis of rotation of the intermediate roller. The radial movability of the intermediate roller is provided to accommodate monor adjusting movements of the intermediate roller with the linkage in a relatively fixed driving position.

A particularly simple mounting of the lever results, in a further development of the invention, by arranging the lever to be freely pivotable on the axle of the load bearing roller.

The advantages attained by the present invention reside especially in that the intermediate roller, by the simultaneous automatic movement of the supporting roller, may be pressed vigorously between the loadbearing roller and the traction means when in the driving position and also be easily and rapidly released into the idling position because no jamming takes place. The interruption of the driving connection from the traction means to the load-bearing roller consequently requires only minor adjusting forces. Corresponding considerations apply regarding the adjustment into the driving position. The adjusting or control motions furthermore can be made without jerks and thus are relatively noiseless. Also, the stow roller train of my invention can be used equally well for heavy piece goods and for more lightweight cargo because of the abovediscussed reduced jamming tendencies. Since the transport is accomplished smoothly and securely, independently of the weight of the cargo, the stow roller train of the invention can be used universally with equally high switching accuracy and drive transmission.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view taken along line ll of FIG. 2 and showing a stow roller train constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the drive system of the stow roller train according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional side view showing an enlarged illustration of the drive system of a load-bearing roller of the stow roller train according to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 which shows an enlarged illustration of a drive system for a load-bearing roller constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The stow roller train of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes two frame profiles l, disposed side-by-side in parallel (FIG. 2 only showing half of the train width and one of profiles l). A plurality of load-bearing rollers 2 are arranged spaced from one another in the conveying direction (arrow in FIG. 1). and rotatably supported about axles 6 in frame profiles 1. A traction means 3 in the form of an endless belt (a flat belt or a a V-belt) extends underneath the load-bearing rollers 2. At the respective opposite ends (not shown) of the stow roller train, this traction means 3 is disposed on reversing guide wheels, one of which is drivingly connected to a motor such that said traction means 3 can be continuously moved.

Intermediate rollers 4 roll along the traction means 3, respectively one being associatd with each loadbearing roller 2. Each intermediate roller 4 is mounted on an axle 5 so that it is axially fixed but has a radial play with respect to the axle S. The axle 5 is attached to a lever 7 disposed freely pivotable on the axle 6 of the load-bearing roller 2. The lever 7 extends to underneath the traction means 3 and at that point carries, on an axle 8, a freely rotatable supporting roller 9 in contact with the bottom of the traction means 3. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the lever 7 is of such a configuration, and the intermediate roller 4 and the supporting roller 9 are arranged so that the lever 7 tends to maintain the intermediate roller 4 in contact with the load-bearing roller 2 by the force of gravity. That is, the center of gravity of the lever 7 and attached rollers is such as to effect a gravity induced pivotal movement of lever 7 to the position shown in dash lines in FIG. 3.

The load-bearing rollers 2 can be coupled to and uncoupled from the traction means 3 in groups. For this purpose, each group of rollers has a common linkage 10 connected to the associated levers 7 and/or to the axles of the intermediate rollers 4. Between the loadbearing rollers 2, a feeler 12 is pivotably attached to the frame profiles 1 in front of a group of rollers, as seen in the conveying direction of the cargo 11. (FIG. 1). This feeler 12, in the rest position, extends beyond the load-bearing rollers 2, i.e., into the path of motion of the cargo 11, and is pivoted by the cargo while the latter moves over the feeler. The linkage of the associated group of rollers is coupled to an arm 13 of the feeler 12.

It can be seen that the cargo 11 pivots the feeler 12 and thereby the levers 7 coupled thereto in the counterclockwise direction. The axles 5 contact the wall of the inner bore 14 of the intermediate roller 4, which bore has a larger diameter, and press the intermediate roller 4 from the driving position into the idling position (in FIG. 3, the driving position is shown in dash lines and the idling position in solid lines). Simultaneously with the pivoting of the levers 7, the supporting rollers 9 drop downwardly and release the intermediate roller 4 from the driving position between the loadbearing roller 2 and the traction means 3 by relieving the upward pressure in the traction means 3. After release of the feeler 12 by the cargo 11, the lever 7 pivots in the clockwise direction under the effect of gravity and resets the intermediate roller 4 again into the driving position.

Due to the radial play between the axle 5 and the inner bore 14, the intermediate roller 4 can freely adjust itself in its driving position and can force itself to a greater or lesser extent between the load-bearing roller 2 and the traction means 3, depending on the drive power to be transmitted. The supporting roller 9 prevents too forcibly an intoduction of the intermediate roller; this supporting roller 9 lifts the traction means 3 and thereby reduces the spacing between the traction means 3 and the load-bearing roller 2 so that the traction means 3 is pressed against the intermediate roller 4 in order to effect a high degree of force transmission of the driving force from the traction means to the intermediate roller 4. This arrangement also limits the depth of penetration of roller 4 with respect to the space between roller 2 and traction means 3. The intermediate roller 4 has a free radial adjustability, within limits, due to the difference in size of axle 5 and bore 14. This radial adjustability is still further increased by providing that the linkage 10 surrounds the axle 5 with a cutout 19 having a lateral play, as indicated in FIG. 3.

Another embodiment of the intermediate roller mounting is illustrated in FIG. 4. The intermediate roller 4 and the supporting roller 9 are here mounted to a lever 15 disposed pivotably at the profile frame 1 on as illustrated and carries a counterweight 17 at the upper, angled end, so that the lever 15 retains the position shown in FIG. 4 in response to gravity forces thereon. The axle 5 of the intermediate roller 4 extends into a bore 18 in the lever 15, which bore has a larger diameter, and thus the axle 5 likewise has radial play for the independent adjustment in the driving position. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the linkage 10 can be articulated directly to the axle 5 or also with a clearance to the lever 15. The function thereof corresponds to that described hereinabove for the FIG. 3 arrangement.

The intennediate roller 4 consists suitably and preferably of an elastic material, for example of rubber. Spring 20 is provided to assist in the support of the maintenance of the driving position of the linkage 10. Spring 20 is thus effective on the intermediate rollers 4 in the radial direction for biasing same into driving engagement between traction means 3 and rollers 2. Similar spring arrangements can also be utilized in con- 20 junction with the other illustrated embodiment.

an axle 16 beside the axle 6 of the load-bearing roller 6 2 (axle 16 is spaced from axle 6 in a direction opposite the conveying direction). The lever 15 is of bent shape While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stow roller train comprising:

a plurality of conveying roller sets spaced from one another in a conveying direction for sequentially conveyingly engaging articles to be conveyed,

a continuously movable traction means extending adjacent said plurality of conveying roller sets,

each of said conveying roller sets including an articlecarrying roller and an intermediate roller at one side of said traction means and a support roller at the other side of said traction means,

article position detecting means for detecting the position of an article on said article-carrying rollers,

linkage means connected to said detecting means and to respective ones of said intermediate rollers for automatically effecting movement of said intermediate rollers between driving positons with the respective intermediate roller drivingly connecting the traction means with the respective associated article-carrying roller of the same conveying roller set and idling positions with the respective intermediate roller out of driving connection with the traction means and the respective associated articlecarrying roller of the same conveying roller set in dependence on the position of said article,

and supporting roller mounting means interconnecting a supporting roller and intermediate roller of a given conveying set such that movement of said intermediate roller from an idling to a driving position thereof automatically results in movement of said supporting roller against the traction means to thereby press the traction means in a direction toward the intermediate roller.

2. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein said supporting roller mounting means for each conveying-roller set includes a lever and means for rotatably supporting both the intermediate roller and the support roller for a respective conveyor set on said lever, and wherein said lever is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis spaced from the respective rotational axes of said support roller and intermediate roller supported thereon.

3. A stow roller train according to claim 2, wherein the means for rotatably supporting the intermediate roller at said lever includes means for preventing movement of said intermediate roller in the direction of its rotational axis and means permitting relative movement of said intermediate roller and lever in a radial direction with respect to said rotational axis so that said intermediate roller can adjust radially to driving conditions with a given position of said lever.

4. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein, for each conveying roller set, said supporting roller is positioned with respect to said article-carrying roller and intermediate roller such that said movement of said supporting roller against the traction means effects a reduction in the distance between engagement points of the intermediate roller at the traction means and the article-carrying roller, whereby the tendency of said intermediate roller to jam between said traction means and article-carrying roller is reduced.

5. A stow roller train according to claim 3, wherein for each conveying roller set, said supporting roller is positioned with respect to said article carrying roller and intermediate roller such that said movement of said supporting roller against the traction means effects a reduction in the distance between engagement points of the intermediate roller at the traction means and the article-carrying roller, whereby the tendency of said intermediate roller to jam between said traction means and article-carrying roller is reduced.

6. A stow roller train according to claim 19, wherein said linkage means and detecting means include a common linkage and detector for a plurality of said conveying roller sets with several such common linkages and detectors being provided for respective separate groupings of said conveying roller sets and being operable separately from one another to control the respective conveying roller sets of the respective groupings.

7. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes feeler means positioned in the path of articles being conveyed, said feeler means being mechanically connected to said linkage means.

8. A stow roller train according to claim 2, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the lever is pivotably mounted at an axle which rotatably supports the article-carrying rollers.

9. A stow roller train according to claim 5, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the lever is pivotably mounted at an axle which rotatably supports the article-carrying rollers.

10. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the supporting roller mounting means and the connection of the linkage means and intermediate roller is such that, in the absence of an article at the detecting means, the intermediate roller is held in the driving position by gravity.

11. A stow roller train according to claim 5, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the supporting roller mounting means and the connection of the linkage means and intermediate roller is such that, in the absence of an article at the detecting means, the intermediate roller is held in the driving position by gravity.

12. A stow roller train according to claim 11, wherein said linkage means and detecting means include a common linkage and detector for a plurality of said conveying roller sets with several such common linkages and detectors being provided for respective separate groupings of said conveying roller sets and being operable separately from one another to control the respective conveying roller sets of the respective groupings.

13. A stow roller train according to claim 8, wherein. for each conveying roller set, the supporting roller mounting means and the connection of the linkage means and intermediate roller is such that. in the absence of an article at the detecting means, the intermediate roller is held in the driving position by gravity.

14. A stow roller train according to claim 2, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the supporting roller mounting means and the connection of the linkage means and intermediate roller is such that, in the absence of an article at the detecting means, the intermediate roller is held in the driving position by gravity.

15. A stow roller train according to claim 14, wherein a counter weight is provided on said lever to counteract the gravity forces exerted on said lever by said supporting roller.

16. A stow roller train according to claim 14, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the lever is pivotably mounted at an axle which is spaced from the rotational axis of said article-carrying roller.

17. A stow roller train according to claim 16, wherein a counterweight is provided on said lever to counteract the gravity forces exerted on said lever by said supporting roller.

18. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the intermediate roller has an axle and an inner bore which has a larger diameter than the axle, and wherein said axle is disposed in a larger cutout in said linkage means.

19. A stow roller train according to claim 3, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the intermediate roller has an axle and an inner bore which has a larger diameter than the axle, and wherein said axle is disposed in a larger cutout in said linkage means.

20. A stow roller train according to claim 5, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the intermediate roller has an axle and an inner bore which has a larger diameter than the axle, and wherein said axle is disposed in a larger cutout in said linkage means.

21. A stow roller train according to claim 2, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the intermediate roller has an axle which is disposed in a bore of said lever which has a larger diameter than said axle.

22. A stow roller train according to claim 16, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the intermediate roller has an axle which is disposed in a bore of said lever which has a larger diameter than said axle.

23. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein said traction means is an endless flexible belt.

24. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein each of said intermediate rollers are constructed of an elastic material.

25. A stow roller train according to claim 1, wherein spring means are provided for assisting in normally maintaining said intermediate rollers in respective driving positions.

Claims

1. A stow roller train comprising: a plurality of conveying roller sets spaced from one another in a conveying direction for sequentially conveyingly engaging articles to be conveyed, a continuously movable traction means extending adjacent said plurality of conveying roller sets, each of said conveying roller sets including an articlecarrying roller and an intermediate roller at one side of said traction means and a support roller at the other side of said traction means, article position detecting means for detecting the position of an article on said article-carrying rollers, linkage means connected to said detecting means and to respective ones of said intermediate rollers for automatically effecting movement of said intermediate rollers between driving positons with the respective intermediate roller drivingly connecting the traction means with the respective associated article-carrying roller of the same conveying roller set and idling positions with the respective intermediate roller out of driving connection with the traction means and the respective associated article-carrying roller of the same conveying roller set in dependence on the position of said article, and supporting roller mounting means interconnecting a supporting roller and intermediate roller of a given conveying set such that movement of said intermediate roller from an idling to a driving position thereof automatically results in movement of said supporting roller against the traction means to thereby press the traction means in a direction toward the intermediate roller.

13. A stow roller train according to claim 8, wherein, for each conveying roller set, the supporting roller mounting means and the connection of the linkage means and intermediate roller is such that, in the absence of an article at the detecting means, the intermediate roller is held in the driving position by gravity.