Abstract:
A combiner conveyor arrangement for conveying articles of product has a first longitudinal conveyor for urging a plurality of the articles of product in parallel in a predetermined direction of travel. First and second bilateral guide ways urge the articles translongitudinally. A switching arrangement selects articles of product from between the first and second bilateral guide ways. A plurality of actuatable fingers block or open the first and second bilateral guide ways synchronously. A switching arrangement directs a product being conveyed to a selectable conveyance pathway, and has a gate that is pivotally displaceable between first and second positions in response to the conveyance of the product. A first spring applies a position restoration force and locking arrangement locks the gate. In a dual gate arrangement, a further pivotable gate has applied thereto a spring that is stronger than the first spring.

Description:
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/781,965 filed Mar. 13, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to conveyor systems and arrangements, and more particularly, to a combining conveyor arrangement. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Articles are often supplied to a conveyor arrangement in batches without any specific organization at the input of the conveyor arrangement. It is desired that the articles be discharged from the conveyor arrangement in an organized single file. In this manner, the articles can efficiently be supplied to other equipment for continued processing. 
   If the articles are not organized at the discharge end of the conveyor arrangement, jamming will result and production efficiency will greatly be reduced. Jamming generally occurs when articles are discharged side-by-side, and become wedged. Such wedging can cause the articles to become reoriented, or a blocking bridge formed at the discharge end, and ultimately the discharge of product articles is precluded. Moreover, exit blockage will result in massive accumulation of the articles requiring total system shutdown. 
   It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a combiner conveyor arrangement that converts a batch feed of a plurality of articles of product arranged substantially in parallel into a single file discharge. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a combiner conveyor arrangement that converts a single file feed of a plurality of articles of product into a parallel discharge. 
   It is also an object of this invention to provide a combiner conveyor arrangement that prevents wedging and bridging of the articles of product. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides a combiner conveyor arrangement for conveying articles of product. In accordance with an apparatus aspect of the invention, the combiner conveyor arrangement is provided with a first longitudinal conveyor for urging a plurality of the articles of product substantially in parallel in a predetermined direction of travel. First and second bilateral guide ways urge the articles of product translongitudinally in response to the urging of the articles of product by the first longitudinal conveyor. Additionally, a switching arrangement for selecting articles of product from between the first and second bilateral guide ways. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a second longitudinal conveyor for urging the articles of product serially in the predetermined direction of travel, the second longitudinal conveyor beings arranged in the vicinity of the switching arrangement. 
   In a further embodiment, the switching arrangement includes a plurality of actuatable fingers for selectably blocking and opening the first and second bilateral guide ways. The plurality of actuatable fingers are arranged to operate synchronously. 
   In a highly advantageous embodiment, the first and second bilateral guide ways each include laterally outer and inner guide ways. 
   The combiner conveyor arrangement of the present invention can be operated to combine the articles of product into a single file discharge, or to convert a single file of articles of product into plural parallel ranks. When employed to combine the articles of product into a single file discharge, the predetermined direction of travel of the first longitudinal conveyor is in a direction of convergence of the first and second bilateral guide ways. In such an embodiment, there is further provided a discharge conveyor for receiving the articles of product in single file arrangement downstream of the switching arrangement. Of course, when the combiner conveyor arrangement is operated to convert a single file of articles of product into plural parallel ranks, the discharge conveyor functions as an input conveyor. 
   In accordance with a method aspect of the invention, there are provided the steps of: 
   first urging the articles of product in substantially parallel relation to one another in a longitudinal direction of travel; 
   guiding the articles of product along first and second bilateral paths toward a region of convergence in response to the step of first urging; and 
   switching between the first and second bilateral paths to form the single file discharge of articles of product. 
   In one embodiment of this method aspect of the invent, the step of switching includes the further step of actuating a plurality of fingers. In a further embodiment, the step of actuating a plurality of fingers includes the further step of actuating the plurality of fingers synchronously. 
   In accordance with a further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided a switching arrangement in a switching station of a conveyor for directing a product being conveyed to a selectable one of plurality of selectable conveyance pathways. The switching arrangement is provided with a gate disposed in the vicinity of the intersection of the selectable conveyance pathways, the gate being pivotally displaceable about a pivot point from a first position to a second position in response to the conveyance of the product being conveyed. Additionally, a locking arrangement locks the gate in a predetermined position. 
   In a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking arrangement is an electromagnet. 
   In a further embodiment, the gate is provided with a lobe portion for communicating with the product being conveyed. 
   A resilient biasing element restores the gate to the first position. Preferably, the resilient biasing element is a spring. 
   In an advantageous dual gate arrangement, there is further provided a further gate disposed in the vicinity of the intersection of the selectable conveyance pathways, The further gate is pivotally displaceable about a pivot point from a respective first position to a respective second position. A further resilient biasing element for restores the further gate to the respective first position. As was the case with the resilient biasing element associated with the first gate, the further resilient biasing element may be in the form of a spring, and is configured to apply a stronger resilient biasing force to the further gate than is applied by the first resilient biasing element to the first gate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic isometric representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the inventive combiner conveyor arrangement; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic top plan representation of the combiner conveyor arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic side plan representation of the combiner conveyor arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic end plan representation of the combiner conveyor arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified enlarged schematic top plan representation of the combiner portion of the combiner conveyor arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective representation of a controllable product path switching arrangement constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
       FIGS. 7(   a ),  7 ( b ), and  7 ( c ) are plan representations of respective product path redirection conditions responsive to corresponding switching states of the controllable product path switching arrangement of  FIG. 6 ; and 
       FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ),  8 ( c ), and  8 ( d ) are plan representations of respective switching states of a further specific illustrative embodiment of the switching system aspect of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic isometric representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of an inventive combiner conveyor arrangement  100  constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. As shown in this figure, combiner conveyor arrangement  100  is provided with a support chassis  102  on which is installed a longitudinal conveyor that is generally designated  104 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, longitudinal conveyor  104  is operated as a single file to multi-lane system in the direction of arrow  105 . In other embodiments, however, the combiner conveyor arrangement can be operated in the opposite direction, as herein described. 
   Longitudinal conveyor  104  is shown to be driven by a motor  108  that is coupled to the longitudinal conveyor by a drive  110 . In this embodiment, conveyor elements  112  are driven by a chain  114  continuously about an axle  115 . For sake of clarity of the depiction, not all of the conveyor elements are shown. The operation of the combiner conveyor arrangement is controlled by a controller  116 . 
   In addition to the foregoing,  FIG. 1  shows bilateral guide ways  120  and  122  that are shown to be directed toward divergence in the direction of arrow  105 . 
     FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic top plan representation of combiner conveyor arrangement  100 . Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. There are additionally shown inner guide ways  126  and  128 . As is the case with guide ways  120  and  122 , the inner guide ways are directed toward divergence in the direction of arrow  105 . Guide ways  120  and  122 , as well as inner guide ways  126  and  128 , converge toward a combiner portion  140  of combiner conveyor arrangement  100 . 
     FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic side plan representation of combiner conveyor arrangement  100 . Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. This figure shows that the alignment of axle  115  (shown in end view in this figure) is adjustable by actuation of a threaded alignment arrangement  132 . 
     FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic end plan representation of combiner conveyor arrangement  100 . Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. This figure illustrates that conveyor elements  112  are circulated beneath axle  115 . 
     FIG. 5  is a simplified enlarged schematic top plan representation of combiner portion  140  of combiner conveyor arrangement  100 . Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. There are shown in this figure a plurality of switching fingers  151 ,  152 ,  153 ,  154 , and  155 . As depicted, the switching fingers are deployed to enable passage of articles of product (not shown) that are conveyed along guide ways  120  and  126 . Any articles of product (not shown) that are conveyed along guide ways  122  and  128  are blocked by switching fingers  151  and  153 . The switching fingers are actuatable to reverse position (not shown in this figure) whereby the articles of product (not shown) that are conveyed along guide ways  120  and  126  are blocked by switching fingers  151  and  153 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, switching fingers  151  and  153  are actuated in synchrony, as are switching fingers  152 ,  154 , and  155 . 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective representation of a controllable product path switching arrangement  200  constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this figure, there are shown three switching stations that are generally designated  210 ,  230 , and  250 . The switching stations select from among several alternative product pathways for a conveyed product (not shown in this figure). The selectable pathways include a central product path  202 , and product pathways  211 , 231 , and  251 , associated with respective ones of the switching stations. Central product path  202  is disposed in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention substantially longitudinally along product path switching arrangement  200 . Product pathways  211 ,  231 , and  251  constitute, in this embodiment, selectable diversions from central path  202 . 
   Referring to switching station  210 , the conveyed product enters central product path  202  and first encounters a gate system having a rotatably displaceable gate  214 , that in this figure is additionally identified as a type “A” gate. Gate  214  has rotatable positions that are locked in place by a locking electromagnet  216  that is itself controlled by the application of electrical energy at electrical leads  215 . In addition, gate  214  is urged in the counter-clockwise direction by a resilient biasing element, which in this embodiment is a spring  218 . 
   There is additionally provided in the gate system shown in this figure a further gate  220 , that is characterized as a type “B” gate, and in this embodiment is free in that it is not controlled by an electromagnet. Gate  220  is urged in the clockwise direction by a further resilient biasing element, specifically a spring  222 . 
   The gate system is shown in this figure to be in a condition wherein product (not shown) is diverted from the central path. More specifically, if electromagnet  216  is energized so as to lock gate  214  in the position shown, conveyed product is directed by gate  214  from central path  202  to pathway  211 . As the product passes between gates  214  and  220 , gate  220 , which is not locked, but instead is substantially free, is urged against the resilient force of spring  222 , thereby permitting the product to be redirected to pathway  211 . 
   Alternatively, gate  214  can, in some embodiments, be locked by electromagnet  216  in the clockwise position whereby it is nested against spring  218  in the recess (not specifically designated) shown in the figure. In this condition, which is not the condition shown in the drawing, the conveyed product would continue along central path  202  to switching station  230 . At switching station  230 , type “A” gate  234  is shown in a clockwise position and, if locked in that position by the application of electrical energy at electrical leads  235  to energize an associated electromagnet (not shown), the product will be diverted to pathway  231 . 
   In a further embodiment, at each of the switching stations, as will be described below in relation to  FIG. 7 , the springs that bias the type “B” gates are stronger than the springs that bias the type “A” gates. More specifically, in the case of switching station  210 , spring  222  applies a stronger resilient force than spring  218 . Similarly, in switching station  230 , spring  242  applies a stronger resilient force than spring  238 . Thus, referring once again to the condition of switching station  210 , if gate  214  is not locked by electromagnet  216 , the product will displace gate  214 , because it is urged by weaker spring  218 , and the product therefore will continue along central path  202  rather than be diverted to pathway  211 , as hereinabove described. This embodiment, which uses springs of differing strengths, advantageously requires locking of the type “A” gates in only one position. More specifically, when the type “A” gate is locked, the product is diverted, and when it is not locked, the product is not diverted. 
     FIGS. 7(   a ),  7 ( b ), and  7 ( c ) are plan representations of respective product path redirection conditions responsive to corresponding switching states of controllable product path switching arrangement  200 , shown in  FIG. 6 . Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated in this figure. In  FIGS. 7(   a ),  7 ( b ), and  7 ( c ), only switching stations  210  and  230  are shown. There are additionally shown in this figure a plurality of products to be conveyed  301 ,  302 ,  303 ,  304 , and  305 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, each such product may be a puck pin. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7(   a ), gate  214 , which is a type “A” gate, is in a locked condition by operation of electromagnet  216  (not shown in this figure), Gate  220  is rotated counter-clockwise by the passage of conveyed product  302 , as indicated by the associated arrow. More specifically, as conveyed product  302  passes between gates  214  and  220 , gate  220  is maintained in the position shown by operation of the electromagnet, notwithstanding that, as previously described, spring  218  is weaker than spring  222 . Thus, as noted, gate  220 , which is a type “B” gate, is rotated and product to be conveyed  302  is directed onto pathway  211 . 
   The conveyance of product along central path  202  is continued until, as shown product to be conveyed  304  is conveyed between gates  234  and  240 . Here, gate  234  is not locked, i.e., the associated electromagnet (not shown) is not energized, and accordingly, the passage of product to be conveyed  304  between gates  234  and  240  causes gate  234 , which has the weaker associated spring, to be displaced counter-clockwise. This permits product to be conveyed  304  ro continue along central path  202 , as shown in  FIGS. 7(   b ) and  7 ( c ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7(   b ) and  7 ( c ), product to be conveyed  301  is urged between gates  214  and  220 . In these figures, gate  214  is not locked, and therefore this gate, because of its weaker biasing spring, is rotatively displaced in the clockwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 7(   c ). Thus, product to be conveyed  301  continues along central path  202 . In addition to the foregoing, product to be conveyed  303 , which is shown in  FIG. 7(   b ) to be in central path  202 , is conveyed between gates  234  and  240  in  FIG. 7(   c ). In  FIG. 7(   c ), gate  234  is in locked condition by operation of its associated electromagnet (not shown), whereby gate  240  is rotated clockwise to enable product to be conveyed  303  to be conveyed onto pathway  231 . 
     FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ),  8 ( c ), and  8 ( d ) are plan representations of respective switching states of a further specific illustrative embodiment of the invention designated as switching station  400 . As shown in this figure, switching station  400  has a central path  402  that extends longitudinally along the shown length of switching station  400 . There is additionally provided a diverted pathway  404  in switching station  400 . A gate  410  has a lobe  412  and is arranged to be pivotable about a pivot point  414 . An electromagnet  420  (shown schematically in phantom) serves to lock gate  410  in a predetermined position, as will be described in detail hereinbelow. 
   In  FIG. 8(   a ), products to be conveyed  501  and  502 , which may be puck pins in some embodiments of the invention, are being conveyed along central path  402  in the direction of the arrow shown in this figure. In  FIG. 8(   b ), product to be conveyed  502  is urged against lobe  412  whereupon gate  410  is rotated counter-clockwise about pivot point  414  against the resilient biasing force exerted by a resilient biasing element in the form of a spring  416 . Once fully displaced rotatively, gate  410  is locked in the displaced condition by operation of electromagnet  420 . Such locking causes product to be conveyed  502  to be diverted onto pathway  404 , as shown in  FIG. 8(   c ). 
     FIG. 8(   d ) shows the condition where product to be conveyed  503  has been urged against lobe  412 , gate  410  becomes displaced counter-clockwise, as shown in  FIG. 8(   c ), but electromagnet  420  is not engaged. Therefore, gate  410  is restored to its original position (as in  FIG. 1) , by operation of a resilient biasing element in the form if spring  416 , in this embodiment. Thus, since electromagnet  420  is not engaged, product to be conveyed  503  is not diverted to pathway  404 , but instead continues to be conveyed along central path  402 . 
   Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art may, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.