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:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 25, 2001
Mark C. Garvey, Hammonton, NJ (US);
William J. Fox, Williamstown, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
A product conveying and accumulation system is provided for use with products of various sizes, shapes, and stability characteristics. The system comprises multiple moving conveyors, including a first conveyor which transports product from an upstream location. This same conveyor or another conveyor delivers product to a downstream location. An accumulator conveyor, traveling at a substantially similar speed or a designated variable speed as the first conveyor or conveyors, is aligned in the same plane as, is adjacent to, and may mate with the first conveyor at a predetermined location for contiguous movement in the same direction as the first conveyor at this predetermined location. A product guide is provided which allows for the movement of product from the upstream to downstream locations during normal operation and directs product to the accumulator section of the second conveyor when there is a disruption or malfunction downstream. Any product which cannot be accepted downstream is thus accumulated in a designated area and such products are re-circulated to that area and ultimately to the downstream location when the downstream disruption or malfunction is remedied.