The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 28, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1995
David W Bogle, Mandeville, LA (US);
Timothy J Hicks, Hammond, LA (US);
Clinton T Favre, Bel Air, MD (US);
The Laitram Corporation, , LA (US);
Abstract
An article removal platform assembly with laterally movable finger plate is provided particularly suitable for abutting a conveyor belt as it passes over a sprocket wheel to remove glass articles and broken glass fragments from the belt. The generally rectangular finger plates are mounted in a lateral sliding configuration to a planar platform by at least three fasteners extending through mounting apertures through the finger plates 50, spaced to prevent lateral or longitudinal tilt. The mount has elongated fastening members adjustably aligned to let fingers mate in a conveyor belt and freely slide laterally a limited amount in either direction. Thus, the finger plates can slide side-to-side to follow belt wander when the fasteners engage ridges of the apertures through the finger plates. Also provided are snap-in caps for the apertures for maintaining a planar discharge surface having a constant coefficient of sliding friction that does not accumulate residue. The conveyor belt outer surface is formed by ribs defining channels for receiving the finger plate fingers disposed adjacent to the sprocket wheel to form therewith a co-planar discharge route. The fingers are stubby plates with upwardly slanted pointed ends positioned to scoop residue including glass fragments out of the belt channels and contoured lower surfaces for mating peripherally about the path of the conveyor belt where it bends over the sprocket wheel. Brittle plastic fingers, if overloaded by glass fragments wedging under the fingers would snap off for discharge onto co-planar discharge surface.