Patent ID: 6443296
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B65G,F16D

Abstract:
A conveyor ratcheting apparatus for advancing a conveyor in one direction in discrete steps, the apparatus comprising:a frame; a first ratchet arm pivotally supported on the frame for movement relative to the frame between first and second radially-spaced positions and configured to be driven between the first and second positions by a ratchet actuator; a ratchet wheel rotatably supported on the frame; at least two circumferentially spaced teeth formed in the ratchet wheel, the ratchet arm configured to sequentially engage each of the teeth and cause the ratchet wheel to rotate in one direction each time the ratchet arm engages one of the teeth and moves toward the second position from the first position, the ratchet arm configured to disengage each time the ratchet arm moves from the second position to return to the first position; a first ratchet wheel stop detent formed in the ratchet wheel; a detent engagement member movably supported on the frame in a position to be moveable into engagement with the first ratchet wheel stop detent when the first ratchet arm is in the second position, the detent engagement member being configured to positively hold the ratchet wheel when engaged with the first ratchet wheel stop detent and to allow ratchet wheel rotation out of the second position only after being disengaged from the ratchet wheel stop detent; an actuator operatively connected to the detent engagement member and configured to disengage the detent engagement member from the ratchet wheel stop detent before the ratchet wheel is rotated out of the second position, the actuator being configured to disengage the detent engagement member from the ratchet wheel stop detent in response to ratchet arm movement.