Patent ID: 6161483
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B61B,B62D

Abstract:
In a conveyor system having a carrier for articles to be conveyed, a driven conveyor element carrying drive dogs, a trolley supporting said carrier and riding on a track, and an arm on the trolley having a trolley dog and pivotal on the trolley about an arm pivot axis between a trolley drive position wherein the trolley dog is engaged by a drive dog to drive the trolley and a release position wherein the trolley and drive dogs are disengaged, an actuator mechanism comprising:an actuator lever mounted on the trolley for pivotal movement about a first axis offset from the arm pivot axis, said lever being engageable upon approaching a preceding carrier to be pivoted by the preceding carrier about said first pivot axis from a first position to a second position;a pivot plate mounted on the trolley for pivotal movement about a second axis offset from said first axis and from the arm pivot axis;a cam arrangement operative to effect camming interaction between said actuating lever and pivot plate in a manner to pivot said plate about said second axis from a first position to a second position in response to pivotal movement of the actuating lever from the first position thereof to the second position thereof; andsaid pivot plate being coupled with said arm in a manner to move said arm to the release position when said pivot plate is pivoted to the second position thereof.