초록 ▼

A conveyor of product units has mounting brackets extending laterally from endless chains. The mounting brackets rotatably mount two spools having axes parallel to the conveying path. The mounting brackets are displaced longitudinally one from another. Consequently, a central elongate cavity is defi

A conveyor of product units has mounting brackets extending laterally from endless chains. The mounting brackets rotatably mount two spools having axes parallel to the conveying path. The mounting brackets are displaced longitudinally one from another. Consequently, a central elongate cavity is defined along the conveying path between laterally adjacent spools. Further, lateral concavities are presented between rollers on individual spools and between rollers on separate spools. Pivotally mounted off-loading elements can be articulated to lift product units positioned on the conveying system for off-loading laterally from the conveyor. A laterally articulated actuator is located below the principal conveyor. The actuator includes laterally slidable slats which frictionally engage the overlying rollers associated with each mounting bracket. Guides are then arranged to move the slats laterally with motion of the conveyor. With lateral motion of the slats, the rollers are caused to rotate. Through control of the slats, product units may be rotated by one-half, one-third or even one-quarter of a revolution. Successive movements of the slats will provide further segments to be viewed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A conveyor of product units, comprisinga support structure;an elongate conveying element movably mounted on the support structure and defining a conveying path;first rollers rotatably mounted on the elongate conveying element about first axes of rotation extending in the

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A conveyor of product units, comprisinga support structure;an elongate conveying element movably mounted on the support structure and defining a conveying path;first rollers rotatably mounted on the elongate conveying element about first axes of rotation extending in the elongate direction of the conveying element, the first rollers being spaced one from another along the elongate conveying element, defining first concavities between adjacent first rollers;second rollers rotatably mounted on the elongate conveying element about second axes of rotation extending in the elongate direction of the conveying element, the second rollers being spaced one from another along the elongate conveying path, defining second concavities between adjacent second rollers, the first rollers being adjacent and parallel to the second rollers, respectively, to define a continuous elongate concavity between the first and the second rollers fully along the conveying path, the first and the second concavities extending laterally of the conveying path from the elongate concavity;off-loading elements pivotally mounted on the conveying element and extending to the elongate concavity at the concavities between adjacent rollers, respectively, the off-loading elements having paths of pivotal travel through the concavities, respectively, to off-load product units laterally of the conveying path;a laterally articulated actuator including a second elongate conveying element movably mounted on the support structure below at least one of the first and the second rollers and driven to move with the elongate conveying element along a portion of the conveying path, slats slidably mounted on the second conveying element to move laterally of the conveying path and be in friction engagement with at least one of the first and the second rollers along the portion of the conveying path where the second conveying element is to move with the elongate conveying element, a guide on the support structure along the portion of the conveying path where the second conveying element is to move with the elongate conveying element and having a guide surface extending into the path of travel of the slats to move the slats laterally on the second conveying element.