Conveyor systems including awareness flag mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11772900-B2
Application number	US-202117562134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2021
Priority date	Dec 27, 2021
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A conveyor system includes at least one conveyor table and an awareness flag mechanism. The awareness flag mechanism includes a support rod mounted to the at least one conveyor table and extending outwardly therefrom in a cross-conveying direction. A counterweight assembly includes a support shaft pivotally connected to the support rod. The support shaft has a resiliently flexible portion. Aa counterweight is located at a lower end of the support shaft. Aa flag is located at an opposite, upper end of the support shaft. The counterweight biases the counterweight assembly toward an upright, awareness configuration where the flag is located above a conveying surface of the at least one conveyor table.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor system comprising:
at least one conveyor table; and
an awareness flag mechanism comprising:
a support rod mounted to the at least one conveyor table and extending outwardly therefrom in a cross-conveying direction;
a counterweight assembly comprising a support shaft pivotally connected to the support rod, the support shaft having a resiliently flexible portion;
a counterweight at a lower end of the support shaft; and
a flag at an opposite, upper end of the support shaft, the counterweight biasing the counterweight assembly toward an upright, awareness configuration where the flag is located above a conveying surface of the at least one conveyor table.

2. The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight assembly is pivotally connected to a pivot rod that extends outward from the support rod in a conveying direction.

3. The conveyor system of claim 2 , wherein the support shaft includes a rigid portion that is formed by a metal rod, the rigid portion being pivotally connected to the pivot rod.

4. The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight assembly pivots toward a down configuration with the flag at least partially below the conveying surface.

5. The conveyor system of claim 1 comprising a pair of conveyor tables, the support rod mounted to both of the conveyor tables.

6. A method of providing an indication of a need to load a conveyor system, the method comprising:
mounting a support rod to a side of a conveyor table, the support rod extending outwardly from the side of the conveyor table in a cross-conveying direction;
mounting a counterweight assembly comprising a counterweight to a lower end of a support shaft;
mounting the support shaft having a resiliently flexible portion to the support rod such that the counterweight assembly pivots between an upright, awareness configuration and a lowered, down configuration,

the support shaft having a flag at an opposite, upper end of the support shaft, the counterweight biasing the counterweight assembly toward the upright, awareness configuration where the flag is located above a conveying surface of the at least one conveyor table.

7. The method of claim 6 pivotally connecting the counterweight assembly to a pivot rod that extends outward from the support rod in a conveying direction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the support shaft includes a rigid portion that is formed by a metal rod, the method comprising pivotally connecting the rigid portion to the pivot rod.

9. The method of claim 6 comprising pivoting the counterweight assembly pivots toward a down configuration with the flag at least partially below the conveying surface.

10. The method of claim 6 comprising a pair of conveyor tables, the method comprising mounting the support rod to both of the conveyor tables.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Essex Stephen R

Classifications

• B65G43/00 Primary

  Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting · CPC title

• B65G41/006

  with the conveyor not adjustably mounted on the supporting frame or base · CPC title

• B65G2203/0208

  relating to the transported articles · CPC title

• B65G2203/04

  Detection means · CPC title

• B65G43/08 Primary

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title