CA2102008C - Conveyor - Google Patents
ConveyorInfo
- Publication number
- CA2102008C CA2102008C CA 2102008 CA2102008A CA2102008C CA 2102008 C CA2102008 C CA 2102008C CA 2102008 CA2102008 CA 2102008 CA 2102008 A CA2102008 A CA 2102008A CA 2102008 C CA2102008 C CA 2102008C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- elongated
- frame
- conveyor
- defining
- guide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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- Chain Conveyers (AREA)
- Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
A conveyor which utilizes a roller chain to carry a product includes guide slots, clips for covering spaces in the top surface of the chain, removable support rails, a bladder-operated stop, and a special drive housing which is easily removable and which includes guide slots aligned with the guide slots in the conveyor frame.
Description
~, 2~2~8 CONVEYOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~he present invention relates to oonveyors, and, in particular, to conveyors which utilize a roller chain for carrying the articles to be conveyed.
It is known to use roller chains for conveying articles alon~ a conveyor. However, there have been ~everal shortcomings with these conveyors.
Flrst, debris can fall into the chain from above, causing the rollers to jam and stop rotating, which greatly increases the friction and eliminates the benefit~ of usin~ a roller chain.
Second, when articles that are being conveyed are stopped, an additional friction load is placed on the conveyor drive.
Third, the construction of a conveyor frame is usually quite expensive. A big part of the expense is that epecial guides must be constructed and mounted to the conveyor frame f or guiding the articles to be conveyed.
Fourth, there has been no convenient way for attaching air hoses, wires, and other tubular-shaped items to the conveyor frame.
Fifth, it is often difficult to match up a drive to the conveyor frame, and guides typically must stop at the : drive, so there is a space in which the articles are not : guidsd.
Sixth, it is of~t~n difficult to remove drives for maintenance purpose ost drives require clearance at : 30 the end of the conveyor, which conflicts with the frequent need to place the end of the conveyor up against another conveyor ox piece of equipment.
Seventh, in some case~ it is desirable to be able to make the support surface or rail out of a different material from the frame. For sxample, it may be desirahle to make the rails out of a harder material or a higher friction makerial, and to change from one material 2~2~8 to another depending upon the product~ to be carried. It is possible to make removable rails which can be made out of any desi.red material. However, in the prior art, the removable rails had to have a special shap~ in order to be mounted on the conveyor frame, and the rails could only be installed or removed from the end of the conveyor frame, meaning that the frame had to be disassembled in order to change the rails. That meant that changing out worn rails or changing the material of the rails to set up the conveyor to carry a new type of product was very time consuming and ~xpensive, both because it took a lot of labor to take the conveyor apart and chan~e the rails and because the conveyor was shut down and unable to function duxing that whole time~ thereby shutting down a warehouse or a production ~acility during that entire period of time.
SUMMARY OF T~E lNv~ lON
The present invention solves many of the problems of the prior art. For example, the present invention provides a modular conveyor frame construction with guide slots into which inexpensive guides can easily be attached. The-modular frame con~truction al60 provide~
convenient means for attaching air hoses, wire~, and other tubular-shaped items to the frame.
The present invention also provides a clip which can be inserted between~adjacent rollers of the roller chain ; in order ko prevent debris from getting into the chain and jamming the rollers.
: The pre~ent invention also provides a conveyor stop attachment which lifts the articles up off o~ the conveyor chain, thereby eliminating any load on the drive when articles are accumulated on the conveyor.
The conveyor stop attachment is made to hQok directly onto the conveyor frame, which eliminates alignment problems between the attachment and the , ., .
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conveyor frame.
The present invention also provides a drive housing which is readily attached to the modular frame and which has an exterior shape that conforms to the modular frame.
The drive housing include6 the guide slQt, so the ~uide ca~ extend to the end of the conveyor, and the driv~ housing is mounted on the conveyor frame in such a way that it can be removed by lifting it up vertically --requiring no clearance at the end o~ the conveyor.
The drive housing also includes an opening, which permits debris on the top of the chain to fall off th~
chain, without being wedged in the chain or housing.
: The present invention provides a frame with removable ~ails that are made out of plain bar ~tock, ~5 requiring no specially-formed rail~.
The present invention also provides removable rail~
which can be removed from the top of the frame, meaning that the frame does not have to be disassembled in order to remove and replace the rails. This saves labor and means that the rail6 can be changed out very quickly, avoiding expensive s~ut-downs of the ronveyor.
: ~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a conveyor made in accordance with the present invention;
Figuxe 2 is a sectional view taken along the section :: 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the conveyor of Figure 1, with horizontal guides installed on the conveyor; ~ -Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view o~ one side of the stop mechanism shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of the control arrangement ~or the stop of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an alternative em~od~ ?nt of the stop tread o~ Figure 4;
Figure 7 is an enlarged per6pective view of a clip .:'' '~ . , ,' ,~
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which is used in the chain of the conveyor of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a broken-away top view of the chain of the conveyor o~ Figure 1, with the clips of Figure 7 installed on the chain;
Figure 9 is a slde sectional view of the chain shown in Figure 8S
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the chain shown in Figure ~;
Figure 11 is a perspective vie~ of the drive portion of one side of the conveyor shown in Figure 1 with the drive portion exploded away;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the drive portion of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a schematic side sectional view of the conveyor of Figure 1, showing the driva end and the idler end;
Figure 14 i5 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the drive end of the conveyor;
Figure 15 is a perspec~ive view of one of the connec~or strips which connects the drive housing o~
Figure 14 to the conveyor ~rame;
Figure 16 is a right side view of the drive of Figure 13;
::; Figure 17 is a ri~ht slde view of the drive o~
Figure 13, with a drive gear box installed on the outside of the drive housing and with the drive housing removed from the conveyor frame;
Figure 18 is a sectional view through the portion of the conveyor frame shown in Figure l~; -Figure 19 i8 a top ~iew of the le~t half of the drive shown in Figure 14;
Figure 20 i6 the same view as Figure 3 but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the support track is removable;
Figure 21 is an enlarged view o~ the right frame portion of ~igurP 20j partially in section, with one o~
the rail retaining crews removed;
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2~02~8 Figure 22 i8 a view o~ the top portion of ~igure 21, DartiallY in section. before the riaht retainina ~crew hole has been drilled out and before the rails have been installed; and Figure 23 is a perspective view of the frame of Figure 21 with the rails removed.
D~SCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The conveyor 10 of the present invention, as shown in the figures described abovie, includes a drive shaft 12, which connects together two parallel sats of drive sprockets 16. At the other end of the conveyor, there are two parallel sets of idler sprockets 14. The drive sprockets I6 on the left side of the conveyor are used to drive a left chain 18 t and the drive sprockets 16 on the right side of the conveyor are used to drive a right chain 20~
: The left and xight chains 18, 20 run parallel to each other in parallel left and right frame portions 22, 24, respectively. The left and right frame portions are preferably modular extruded parts which can be fastened together to make the conveyor 10 cany desired size. These : : modular extruded paxts 22, 24 define an upper ch.-her 26, which receives.the upper run of the ~hain 18 or 20, and a : lower chamber 28, which receives t,he lower run o~ the : 25 chain.
The chains 18, 20 are available on the market. One such chain is sold under the name of Tsubaki Double Plus :
chain. The chain~ 18, 20 are made up of a plurality of links 2I, with each link 21 made up of a forward large roller 30 flanked by two small~r rollers 34 connected kogether by a chain pin 27, a rear large roller 30 flanked by two smaller rollers 34 connected toyether by a chain pin 27, and a pair of inner side bars 29 connected ko said forward rollers and rear rollers by means of the chain pin~i 27. The forward set of rollers 30,34 and rear iset of rollers 30, 34 for~ the ~ront and back ends o~ a 2~ ~2~
rectangl~, and the sides o~ the rectangle are formed by the inner side bars 29. The link~ 21 are connected together by outer side bar~ 31, which are fastened to the rear of one link and the front of the next adjacent link by means of the chain pins 27.
The lower chambers 2B of both frame portions 22, 24 are completely enclosed on the top, bo~tom, left and right sides. The upper chambers 26 are enclosed on the left and right sides and on the bottom, and are partially enclosed on the top, with only the large central roller 30 of the chain 18, 20 projecting above the top surface of the frame portions 22, 24 for contacting the pallet or other article to be conveyed. Both the upper and lower chambers 26, 28 provide raised rails 32 for supportinq the ~maller-sized rollers 34 in rolling engagement. As can be seen from the drawings, the le~t and right frame portion~ 22, 24 are mirror images of each other. To achieve the mirror image~, identical extrusions are simply run in opposite directions.
As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the le~t and right ~rame members 22, 24 define a rectangular vertical ~lot 36 opening outward from their upper surface 38 adjacent their outsidP edge 40. The vertical slots 36 are taller than they are wide and are used to ~upport guide rails 42. The height of the vertical slots is preferably at lea6t two times the width. The width o~ the vertical slots 36 is preferably some ~tandard size, such as 1/4", or 3/8" so that it can accept a standard, off-the-shelf piec~ of bar ~tock.
Unlike prior art designs, in which the yuide rails must be spe¢ially made to bolt to the conveyor ~rame, these vertical 510ts can receive any available bar stock.
For example, a 1/4"-wide guide slot might receive a l/4"
bar made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or steel. In this manner, guide rails 42 are simple, inexpensive, and can be placed ~n any locakion or locations along khe conveyor as needed. In order to ,:
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~ecure the guide rail on the frame, holes (not ~hown~ may be drilled through the frame and screws (not shown) inserted through the holes and into the bar stock, or other known f astening means may be used. These screws or other fastening means are inserted at regular intervals along the length of the guide rail, such a~ at 18-inch intervals. The ~ertical ~uide rail slots 36 are continued into the housing 44 for the drive sprocXets 16 and into the identical housing 44 for the idler sprockets lo 14, so that the guide ra;ls 42 may extend along the hou6ings 44 as well, providing a continuous guide sur~ace along the entire length of the conveyor.
~ach frame portion 22, 24 also has a horizontal guide slot 46 defined in the inwardly-facing side 4~ of the frame portion 22, 24 adjacent to the upper surface 38. These horizontal guide slots 46 are rectangular and are at least ~s wide as they are tall. As ~hown in Figure 3, thesa slots 46 are adapted to receive standard bar stock 50, which ~erves a~ an inexpensive horizontal guide ~urface for guîding along a downw~rdly projecting cam roller 52 on the underside of a pallet 54. Again, the guide material is fastened to the frame with screws or other known fastening means at regular intervals (not shown).
In the section of the conveyGr shown in Figure 3, an insert strip 55 has been placed between the rails 32 in both of the upper chambers 26. The insert strips 55 may be u~ed in a part of the conveyor where better traction is reguired. These insert strips 55 contact the large central rollers 30 and are thick enough to lift the small ~ide rollers 34 slightly off the rails 32, so that the chain 18, 20 is rolling along wi~h the large rollers 30 supporting the weight o~ the product on the insert strip 55.
This yives a more positive drive and better traction than when the small rollers 34 are riding on the rails 32. At the same time, it carries the produat along at a , . . . , , .- , -, . .. .~
-2~2~8 somewhat slower rate than when the small rollers 34 support the load, so it is generally used only when greater traction is required. With the desi~n shown in these drawings, when the small rollers 34 support the load, they cause the large rollers 30 to rotate and carry the articles along at 2~5 times the chain ~pePd. When the large rollers 30 carry the load, the products are carriPd at t~o kimes the chain speed.
The frame portions 22, 24 also have T-shaped slots 56 in their left, right, and lower surfaces for attaching items to the frame portions 22, 24, for attaching the frame portions 22, 24 to vertical supports 58, and ~o ~orth, by means of bolts with T-shaped heads (no~ ~hown but known in the art). The bottom surfaces of the frame members 22, 24 define left and right tu~ular slots 62 which have a rounded internal cross-sectional shape and which have an opening width 64 that is smaller than the diameter 66 of the rounded internal portion. These tubular slots 62 are intended to be used for receiving air hoses, wires, and other tubular-shaped items which run along the conveyor. The narrower opening 64 prevents these items from faIling out of the slot 62 once they are inserted. It is also possible to use the tubular slots 62 to receiv~ a downwardly-projecting guard sheet (not shown)O
Figure 2 shows two stop attachments Ç8 mounted opposite each other on the inside surfaces of the left and right frams portions 22, 24. Each of the stop attachments 68 includes an extruded, elongated frame 70 which defines an elongated hook 72 along its outer edge.
The hook 72 fits into the upper inside T-slot 56 of the ~rame portion and hangs on the ~rame port1On. ThQ stop frame 70 also has T shaped slots 56 in its lower surface.
Pxeferably, an angle bracket (not shown) is mounted on sach end of the stop frame 70 and receives T-shaped bolts, which fit into the T-shaped slots of the conveyor fr~me. If the sides o~ the pallets 54 extend past the , . . .
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' 2 ~2~8 sides of the left and right frames 24, 26, the stop frames 70 may be mounted on the outside o~ the frames 24, .
Each stop frame 70 defines an elongated bladder chamber 76 with a lower portion 78 having an inverted T-shaped cross-section. The stop chamber 76 is clo~ed on the bottom and sides and open on the top, with the ch~ hPr tapering inwardly toward the top. An elongated bladder 80 with a bottom portion having an inverted T
shaped cross-sectio~ slides into the chamber 76 of the stop, with the T-shaped bottom 82 of the bladder 80 fitting into the T-shaped lower portion of the stop chamber 76~ The main body of the bladder 80 projects above the T-shaped slot 78. A tread 84 lies in the stop chamber 76 on top of the bladder 80. The tread 84 shown in Figures 2 and 4 has a wide base and taper~ upward, so that the upper portion of the tread 84 can pro~ect upwardly through the top opening of the stop frame, while the wide ba6e portion is too wide to pass through the narrow top op~ning, thereby retaining the tread 84 on th~
stop frame 70. An alternative tr~aad 84A is shown in Figure 6. This tread 84A has a w:ide base and a rectangular cross-section upper portion. Again, the upper portion fits through the top opening of the bladder chamber 7~ while the ba~e i~ too wide to pas~ through the top opening of the bladder chA~h~r and i~ thereby retained. The tread 84A also has chamfered forward and rear top edges 85 to provide a smooth transition from the stop to the conveyor chain. The tread 84A also has a tread design 87 molded:into it~ top surface, which helps the tread 84A cut through oil and grease.
By using a tread member 84 or 84A which is ~eparate from the bladder 80, the most euitable materials may be selected for the tread 84 and bladder 80, and materials may be chang2d from one application to another ~ithout changing the design. The bladder material should be something with high elastlcity, while the tread material . : ~ . . , .- , : : . . I
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should be durable and have a high coefficient of friction.
Figure 5 shows the control mechanism for the stops.
A sensor 86 senses the presence of a pallet over the ~top mechanism. This causes the valve 88 to be moved to the position shown in Figure 5, with pressurized air entering the parallel bladders 80 causing the treads 84 to shift upwardly, lifting the pallet up off of the frames 24, 26.
To release the pallet, the valve 88 is shifted to iks second position, shutting off communication with the pressurized air source and permitting the air to be vented from the bladders 80 to the atmosphere. The bladders 80 preferably have a total travel o~ about 3/8 of an inch, so that the tread ~4 normally lies lt8 inch below the top o~ the large rollers 30, and, when the bladders 80 are inflated, the tread 84 lies 1/4 inch above the top of the large rollers 30. In any case, the bladders ~0 should at least have 1/4 inch of travel. The air hoses 90 which control the bladders 80 run in the tubular ~lots 62 o~ the frame portions 22, 24 and in the circular recess ~2 o~ the stop frame 70. The hoses 90 terminate at the respective openings 94 in the bladders 80 with a sealed fit.
:~s shown in Figure 1, a pallet: ~arts out on the right of the conveyor, moves to he left until it reache~
: the stop 6~, an~ then, if the stop 68 is triggered, the pallet 54 i8 lifted up off the ronveyor. When the stop is re~eased, the weight of the pallet 54 pushes the air out of the bladder 80, putting the pallet 54 back down on the moving roller chains 18, 20 so it can be carried off ~o the left, as ~hown.
Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the sprocket housing6 44 at each end of the conveyor 10 are identical to each other and are made to conform to the shape of the frames 22, 24. The hou6ings 44 include side projections 96 which extend into the side T-slot~ 56 on the frame members and have hole~ for receiving T-bolts to lock the .
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housings 44 on the frames 22, 24. The housings 44 al80 include lower projections 98 which lie below-the frame 22, 24 and have holes that align with the T-slots in the bottom of the ~rame 22, 24.
The inner surfaces of the housings 44 continue the horizo~tal guide slot 46 of the frame, so that horizontal gul~es can ex~enu a1mosl ~o ~ne ena or ~ne conveyor. Tne upper surfaces of the housings 44 continue the vertical guide slot 36 of the frame, so that vertical guides can extend the entire length of the conveyor.
Inside the housings 44 are chain guides 100, 102 which provide rails 32 for receiving the small side rollers 34 while enclosing all but the top surface of the chain~on its upper run. The idler sprockets 14, and drive sprockets 16 are double sprockets, adapted to straddle the center roIler 30 and contact kha small side rollers 34.
As shown in Figure 13, there is a drive sprocket chain stripper 103 in the housing 44 for the dr~ve sprockets 16, which 8it5 between the sprockets 16 and is bolted to the housing 44. The drive sprocket chain stripper 103 provides a guide surface 107 for peeling the chain 18 or 20 off of the drive sprockets 16. In the prior art, it was necessary to make the chain very long ~o that a lon~ loop of chain (a catenary) extended from the drive sprockets 16 toward the floor in order to prevent the chain from txying to wrap up on the sprockets : I6. The drive sprocket chain stripper 103 permits the chain to be just lonq enough to go around the drive sprockets 16 and the idler sprockets:14 and eliminates that catenary chain.
There i8 also an idler ~procket chain stripper 105 in the housing 44 at the idler end of the conveyor, which keeps the chain in line as it goes over the top of the idler sprocket~ 14. The idler sprocket chain stripper 105 sits between the idler sprockets 1~ in the housing 44 and is bolted to the housingO It provides a guide .:
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12 2 ~ 8 surface 109 which guides the chain 18 or 20 from the idler sprockets 14 onto the rails 32 of the frame 22 or 24. The two housing halves 44A, 44B ~re bolted together in both the idler sprocket housing and the drive sprocket 5 housing.
Clips 104, as shown in Yigure 7, are inserted between adjacent large rollers 30 in order to prevent debris from entering the spaces in the chains 18, 20 and jamming the rollers. The clips 104 have a flat top lO surface 106 with three downwardly-projecting legs 108, 110. The outer legs 108 curve forward, and the inner leg 110 curves backward. Between the top sur~ace 106 and the : legs 108, 110 are curved forward and rear sides 112, 114, re6pectively. The curved forward side 112 and forward 15 leg 108 wrap partially around the forward large central roller 30 with a clearance ~it, and the curved rear ~ide 114 and rear legs 110 wrap partially around the rear : large central roller 30 with a clearance fit. From the point where the top ~urfac2 106 of the clip touche~ the 20 roller 30 to the bottom of the legs 108, 110 covers approximately 45 degxees tor one-fourth o~ the circum~erence) of the roller. The front-to-back length of the top surface 106 of the clip 104 is ~hort enough that it permit~ a portion o~ the center roller 30 to 25 project above the clip 104 to carry the pallets but long enough that it rests on the large central rollers 30 at both ends. The front-to-back length of the clip top 106 must be less than the center-to-center distance between the forward and rear rollers. When an article is carried 30 on top of the center rollers 30, that article does not touch the clips 104, which lie below.
~he width of the flat top surface 106 is the same as the width of the central roller 30. The clip 104 also has two flat wings 116 projecting outwardly a~ a lower 35 height than the top surface 106 to cover the gap between the two adjacent ~mall 6ide rollers 34. The win~s 116 are longer than the top 8ur~ace 106 in order for the ., . ~ - . .: . .; : .,, ,.",, : :
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13 ~2~8 front and back of each wing to span the gap ~etween its respective front and rear small roller 34. The wings 116 are approximately the same width as the small side rollers. By closing off the gaps in tha chain, the clips 104 prevent debris from falling down into the chain, thereby eliminating a serious problem wi~h roller chains.
In order to install the clips 104 on the chain, the bottoms of the front and rear legs 108, 110 are squeezed together, until t~e leys 108, 110 can fit through the narrowest portion of the gap between adjacent rollers 30.
Then, the legs 108, 110 snap back to their original : shape, wrappin~ around the front and rear adjacent rollers 30 with a clearance fit so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rollers but are retained on the chain.
The drive housings 144 ~hown in Figures 14~ ~6, 17, and 19 are substantially identical to the drivs housing 44 shown in Figures 11 and 12, except that they include T-slots 56A which ar~ alignèd with the T-slots 56 in the frame members 22, 24, and T-slots 57, which are used for mount~ng a gearmotor ~rive 120. l~hey do not include the projections 96 which are on the housings 44. A~ is shown in Figure 17, the gearmotor drive 120 is mounted on the ~ outside of the right drive housinq 1i4. The gearmotor drive 120 i6 simply slid over the keyed drive sha~t 12, and the torque arm 122 of the drive 120 is mounted to one of the T slots 57 by means of a screw in order to prevent the drive 120 from spinning relative to the drive housing 144. This means that the gearmotor drive 120 can be removed by removing a single screw or bolt. The gearmotor drive 120 could alternatively be mounted on the other side of the right drive housin~ 144 or on either side of the left drive housing 144, depending on which location i~ most convenient.
The drive housings 144 are mounted to their respective frame members 22, 24 by means of mounting ~trip~ 124. The mounting strips 1~4 may have a T-shaped ,, . ~ ., , :~:
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cross-section conforming to the cross-section o~ the T-shaped slots 56, 56A, or they may simply be flat ~trips (not shown). The mounting strips 124 are slid into their respecti~e T-slots 56 or 56A, the drive housings 144 are aligned with their respective frame members 22, 24 until the respective T-slots 56 and 56A are aligned with each other, and the mounting strips 124 are then slid so that they bridge the gap between the respective frame member 22, 24 and drive housing 144. With the connecting strips 124 extending into the housing 144 and into the respective frame member 22, 24, so as to align the housing and frame member with each other, the set screws 126 are tightPned, wedging the connecting strips 124 in place against the T-slots, thereby mounting the drive housings 144 on their respective frame members 22, 24.
To install or remove the drive housing 144 ~rom its respective frame member 22, 24, the drive housing 144 can be moved vertically into or out of position, as shown by the arrows in Figures 14 and 17. This means that the drive housings 144 can be installed and removed without any hori~ontal clearance at the end of the conveyor.
As shown in Figure 16, the two housing halves 144A
and 144B are connected together at three points 130, and there are ~pacers at each of the connèction poin$s 130, so as to maintain a gap between the left and right housing halv~s 144A and 144B. Where the chain passe~
over the drive ~procket 16, there is an unobst~ucted vertical gap 128 between the left and right housing portions 144A and 144B, which permits debris 132 to fall o~f the chain 18, 20, through the gap 128, and out of the housing 144.
Figure 16 shows that this alternative drive housing 144 includes the same chain guides 100, 102 and stripper 103 as the drive housing shown in Figures 11 and 12.
Figure 18 shows a cross sectional view of the right frame member 24 with the connector strips 124 located in the T~
slots ~6. Figure 19 shows a top ~iew of the drive 144 .
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In this alternative embodiment, the idler housings (not shown) are identical to the drive housings 144, except that no drive shaft passes through them, and no gear drive is mounted on them. The idler housings also can be installed and removed with only vertical movement, requiring no horizontal clearance.
Figures 20-23 are the ~ame as the embodiment o~ the 'J
invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, except that the embodiment of Figures 20-23 includes removable support rails or tracks 232. In Figures 20-23, the parts which are the same as those described earlier will be given the same numbers as they had in the previous embodiment or will be left unnumbered, and the new or changed parts will be given new numbers.
As in the previous embo~; ~nt, the left and right frame portions are pre~erably modular extruded parts which can be fastened together to make the conveyor 10 any desired size. These mod~lar extruded parts 222, 224 have an exterior side 11 and an interior side 13 and define an upper chamber 2~, which receives the upper run of the chain 18 or 20l and a lower chamber 28, which receives the lower run o~ the chain.
The chains ~8, 20 shown in this embodiment o~ the invention ar~ the same as in the previous embodiment.
The upper chambers 2~ differ from the previous embodiment in that they provide removable rails 232, which fit into elongated, top-opening slots 236 for supporting the smaller-sized rollers 34 on the ~orward, conveying run.
The removable rails 232 are made from o~ the-shelf, rectangular cross-section bar stock. The top-opening ~lots 236 are also generally rectangular-shaped. 5et screws 238 are installed at intervals along the conveyor frame at an angle to push the bar stock inwardly and downwardly in order to retain the bar stock rail~ in place. In order to facilitate the installation of the set screws 238, left and right inclined, elongated ,.:, , ,':,;, . . :' , ', ,', , 2~
pockets 240, 242 are extruded in the conveyor frame inside their respective left and right T-slots 244, 246.
Figure 22 shows the riyht pocket 242 before it has been drilled out to receive a set screw, and it shows the left pocket 240 after it has been drilled and tapped for the installation of a set screw 238. The pockets 240, 242 lie between their respective T-slots 244, 246 and their respective rail-receiving slots 236, and there are webs of material separating the pockets 240, 242 from their respective T-slots and rail-r~ceiving slots.
The left and right set screw pockets 240, 242 run the length of the frame and have a smaller width than the diameter of the set screws 238. It is necessary, at intervals along the conveyor frame, to drill through the webs of matexial separating the pockets from their respective slots and to tap the holes to form threads to receive the set screws 238. The purpose of the set screw pockets is to reduce the amount of material that has to be removed by drilling (in order to speed up the installation) and to provide a pilot so that the an~le and direction of the drilled hole will be correct.
As can be seen on the right side of Figure 22, the T-slot 246 is formed with an indicator notch 250, which indicates where to begin drilling the hole. Once the holes have been drilled and ~apped and the set screws 238 installed, the removable rails 232 are secured in the conveyor frames, with the set screws pushing the rails inwardly and downwardly.
To remove the removable rails 232, the set screws are removed, the chain 18 or 20 is removed from the upper run of the conveyor, and the remo~able rails 232 can then be lifted up out of the top opening of the conveyor frame, without disassembling the conveyor frameO New removable rails 232 can be inserted down through the top opening of the conveyor frame, inserted into their respective top-opening rail slots 236, and then the set screws 238 can be inserted again, to hold the new rails -2~2~8 232 in place.
As can be seen from the drawings, the left and right ~rame portions 222, 224 are mirror images of each other.
To achieve the mirror images, identical extrusions are simply run in opposite directions.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~he present invention relates to oonveyors, and, in particular, to conveyors which utilize a roller chain for carrying the articles to be conveyed.
It is known to use roller chains for conveying articles alon~ a conveyor. However, there have been ~everal shortcomings with these conveyors.
Flrst, debris can fall into the chain from above, causing the rollers to jam and stop rotating, which greatly increases the friction and eliminates the benefit~ of usin~ a roller chain.
Second, when articles that are being conveyed are stopped, an additional friction load is placed on the conveyor drive.
Third, the construction of a conveyor frame is usually quite expensive. A big part of the expense is that epecial guides must be constructed and mounted to the conveyor frame f or guiding the articles to be conveyed.
Fourth, there has been no convenient way for attaching air hoses, wires, and other tubular-shaped items to the conveyor frame.
Fifth, it is often difficult to match up a drive to the conveyor frame, and guides typically must stop at the : drive, so there is a space in which the articles are not : guidsd.
Sixth, it is of~t~n difficult to remove drives for maintenance purpose ost drives require clearance at : 30 the end of the conveyor, which conflicts with the frequent need to place the end of the conveyor up against another conveyor ox piece of equipment.
Seventh, in some case~ it is desirable to be able to make the support surface or rail out of a different material from the frame. For sxample, it may be desirahle to make the rails out of a harder material or a higher friction makerial, and to change from one material 2~2~8 to another depending upon the product~ to be carried. It is possible to make removable rails which can be made out of any desi.red material. However, in the prior art, the removable rails had to have a special shap~ in order to be mounted on the conveyor frame, and the rails could only be installed or removed from the end of the conveyor frame, meaning that the frame had to be disassembled in order to change the rails. That meant that changing out worn rails or changing the material of the rails to set up the conveyor to carry a new type of product was very time consuming and ~xpensive, both because it took a lot of labor to take the conveyor apart and chan~e the rails and because the conveyor was shut down and unable to function duxing that whole time~ thereby shutting down a warehouse or a production ~acility during that entire period of time.
SUMMARY OF T~E lNv~ lON
The present invention solves many of the problems of the prior art. For example, the present invention provides a modular conveyor frame construction with guide slots into which inexpensive guides can easily be attached. The-modular frame con~truction al60 provide~
convenient means for attaching air hoses, wire~, and other tubular-shaped items to the frame.
The present invention also provides a clip which can be inserted between~adjacent rollers of the roller chain ; in order ko prevent debris from getting into the chain and jamming the rollers.
: The pre~ent invention also provides a conveyor stop attachment which lifts the articles up off o~ the conveyor chain, thereby eliminating any load on the drive when articles are accumulated on the conveyor.
The conveyor stop attachment is made to hQok directly onto the conveyor frame, which eliminates alignment problems between the attachment and the , ., .
2 ~
conveyor frame.
The present invention also provides a drive housing which is readily attached to the modular frame and which has an exterior shape that conforms to the modular frame.
The drive housing include6 the guide slQt, so the ~uide ca~ extend to the end of the conveyor, and the driv~ housing is mounted on the conveyor frame in such a way that it can be removed by lifting it up vertically --requiring no clearance at the end o~ the conveyor.
The drive housing also includes an opening, which permits debris on the top of the chain to fall off th~
chain, without being wedged in the chain or housing.
: The present invention provides a frame with removable ~ails that are made out of plain bar ~tock, ~5 requiring no specially-formed rail~.
The present invention also provides removable rail~
which can be removed from the top of the frame, meaning that the frame does not have to be disassembled in order to remove and replace the rails. This saves labor and means that the rail6 can be changed out very quickly, avoiding expensive s~ut-downs of the ronveyor.
: ~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a conveyor made in accordance with the present invention;
Figuxe 2 is a sectional view taken along the section :: 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the conveyor of Figure 1, with horizontal guides installed on the conveyor; ~ -Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view o~ one side of the stop mechanism shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of the control arrangement ~or the stop of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an alternative em~od~ ?nt of the stop tread o~ Figure 4;
Figure 7 is an enlarged per6pective view of a clip .:'' '~ . , ,' ,~
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which is used in the chain of the conveyor of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a broken-away top view of the chain of the conveyor o~ Figure 1, with the clips of Figure 7 installed on the chain;
Figure 9 is a slde sectional view of the chain shown in Figure 8S
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the chain shown in Figure ~;
Figure 11 is a perspective vie~ of the drive portion of one side of the conveyor shown in Figure 1 with the drive portion exploded away;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the drive portion of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a schematic side sectional view of the conveyor of Figure 1, showing the driva end and the idler end;
Figure 14 i5 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the drive end of the conveyor;
Figure 15 is a perspec~ive view of one of the connec~or strips which connects the drive housing o~
Figure 14 to the conveyor ~rame;
Figure 16 is a right side view of the drive of Figure 13;
::; Figure 17 is a ri~ht slde view of the drive o~
Figure 13, with a drive gear box installed on the outside of the drive housing and with the drive housing removed from the conveyor frame;
Figure 18 is a sectional view through the portion of the conveyor frame shown in Figure l~; -Figure 19 i8 a top ~iew of the le~t half of the drive shown in Figure 14;
Figure 20 i6 the same view as Figure 3 but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the support track is removable;
Figure 21 is an enlarged view o~ the right frame portion of ~igurP 20j partially in section, with one o~
the rail retaining crews removed;
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: ; .:
2~02~8 Figure 22 i8 a view o~ the top portion of ~igure 21, DartiallY in section. before the riaht retainina ~crew hole has been drilled out and before the rails have been installed; and Figure 23 is a perspective view of the frame of Figure 21 with the rails removed.
D~SCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The conveyor 10 of the present invention, as shown in the figures described abovie, includes a drive shaft 12, which connects together two parallel sats of drive sprockets 16. At the other end of the conveyor, there are two parallel sets of idler sprockets 14. The drive sprockets I6 on the left side of the conveyor are used to drive a left chain 18 t and the drive sprockets 16 on the right side of the conveyor are used to drive a right chain 20~
: The left and xight chains 18, 20 run parallel to each other in parallel left and right frame portions 22, 24, respectively. The left and right frame portions are preferably modular extruded parts which can be fastened together to make the conveyor 10 cany desired size. These : : modular extruded paxts 22, 24 define an upper ch.-her 26, which receives.the upper run of the ~hain 18 or 20, and a : lower chamber 28, which receives t,he lower run o~ the : 25 chain.
The chains 18, 20 are available on the market. One such chain is sold under the name of Tsubaki Double Plus :
chain. The chain~ 18, 20 are made up of a plurality of links 2I, with each link 21 made up of a forward large roller 30 flanked by two small~r rollers 34 connected kogether by a chain pin 27, a rear large roller 30 flanked by two smaller rollers 34 connected toyether by a chain pin 27, and a pair of inner side bars 29 connected ko said forward rollers and rear rollers by means of the chain pin~i 27. The forward set of rollers 30,34 and rear iset of rollers 30, 34 for~ the ~ront and back ends o~ a 2~ ~2~
rectangl~, and the sides o~ the rectangle are formed by the inner side bars 29. The link~ 21 are connected together by outer side bar~ 31, which are fastened to the rear of one link and the front of the next adjacent link by means of the chain pins 27.
The lower chambers 2B of both frame portions 22, 24 are completely enclosed on the top, bo~tom, left and right sides. The upper chambers 26 are enclosed on the left and right sides and on the bottom, and are partially enclosed on the top, with only the large central roller 30 of the chain 18, 20 projecting above the top surface of the frame portions 22, 24 for contacting the pallet or other article to be conveyed. Both the upper and lower chambers 26, 28 provide raised rails 32 for supportinq the ~maller-sized rollers 34 in rolling engagement. As can be seen from the drawings, the le~t and right frame portion~ 22, 24 are mirror images of each other. To achieve the mirror image~, identical extrusions are simply run in opposite directions.
As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the le~t and right ~rame members 22, 24 define a rectangular vertical ~lot 36 opening outward from their upper surface 38 adjacent their outsidP edge 40. The vertical slots 36 are taller than they are wide and are used to ~upport guide rails 42. The height of the vertical slots is preferably at lea6t two times the width. The width o~ the vertical slots 36 is preferably some ~tandard size, such as 1/4", or 3/8" so that it can accept a standard, off-the-shelf piec~ of bar ~tock.
Unlike prior art designs, in which the yuide rails must be spe¢ially made to bolt to the conveyor ~rame, these vertical 510ts can receive any available bar stock.
For example, a 1/4"-wide guide slot might receive a l/4"
bar made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or steel. In this manner, guide rails 42 are simple, inexpensive, and can be placed ~n any locakion or locations along khe conveyor as needed. In order to ,:
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~ecure the guide rail on the frame, holes (not ~hown~ may be drilled through the frame and screws (not shown) inserted through the holes and into the bar stock, or other known f astening means may be used. These screws or other fastening means are inserted at regular intervals along the length of the guide rail, such a~ at 18-inch intervals. The ~ertical ~uide rail slots 36 are continued into the housing 44 for the drive sprocXets 16 and into the identical housing 44 for the idler sprockets lo 14, so that the guide ra;ls 42 may extend along the hou6ings 44 as well, providing a continuous guide sur~ace along the entire length of the conveyor.
~ach frame portion 22, 24 also has a horizontal guide slot 46 defined in the inwardly-facing side 4~ of the frame portion 22, 24 adjacent to the upper surface 38. These horizontal guide slots 46 are rectangular and are at least ~s wide as they are tall. As ~hown in Figure 3, thesa slots 46 are adapted to receive standard bar stock 50, which ~erves a~ an inexpensive horizontal guide ~urface for guîding along a downw~rdly projecting cam roller 52 on the underside of a pallet 54. Again, the guide material is fastened to the frame with screws or other known fastening means at regular intervals (not shown).
In the section of the conveyGr shown in Figure 3, an insert strip 55 has been placed between the rails 32 in both of the upper chambers 26. The insert strips 55 may be u~ed in a part of the conveyor where better traction is reguired. These insert strips 55 contact the large central rollers 30 and are thick enough to lift the small ~ide rollers 34 slightly off the rails 32, so that the chain 18, 20 is rolling along wi~h the large rollers 30 supporting the weight o~ the product on the insert strip 55.
This yives a more positive drive and better traction than when the small rollers 34 are riding on the rails 32. At the same time, it carries the produat along at a , . . . , , .- , -, . .. .~
-2~2~8 somewhat slower rate than when the small rollers 34 support the load, so it is generally used only when greater traction is required. With the desi~n shown in these drawings, when the small rollers 34 support the load, they cause the large rollers 30 to rotate and carry the articles along at 2~5 times the chain ~pePd. When the large rollers 30 carry the load, the products are carriPd at t~o kimes the chain speed.
The frame portions 22, 24 also have T-shaped slots 56 in their left, right, and lower surfaces for attaching items to the frame portions 22, 24, for attaching the frame portions 22, 24 to vertical supports 58, and ~o ~orth, by means of bolts with T-shaped heads (no~ ~hown but known in the art). The bottom surfaces of the frame members 22, 24 define left and right tu~ular slots 62 which have a rounded internal cross-sectional shape and which have an opening width 64 that is smaller than the diameter 66 of the rounded internal portion. These tubular slots 62 are intended to be used for receiving air hoses, wires, and other tubular-shaped items which run along the conveyor. The narrower opening 64 prevents these items from faIling out of the slot 62 once they are inserted. It is also possible to use the tubular slots 62 to receiv~ a downwardly-projecting guard sheet (not shown)O
Figure 2 shows two stop attachments Ç8 mounted opposite each other on the inside surfaces of the left and right frams portions 22, 24. Each of the stop attachments 68 includes an extruded, elongated frame 70 which defines an elongated hook 72 along its outer edge.
The hook 72 fits into the upper inside T-slot 56 of the ~rame portion and hangs on the ~rame port1On. ThQ stop frame 70 also has T shaped slots 56 in its lower surface.
Pxeferably, an angle bracket (not shown) is mounted on sach end of the stop frame 70 and receives T-shaped bolts, which fit into the T-shaped slots of the conveyor fr~me. If the sides o~ the pallets 54 extend past the , . . .
:
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' 2 ~2~8 sides of the left and right frames 24, 26, the stop frames 70 may be mounted on the outside o~ the frames 24, .
Each stop frame 70 defines an elongated bladder chamber 76 with a lower portion 78 having an inverted T-shaped cross-section. The stop chamber 76 is clo~ed on the bottom and sides and open on the top, with the ch~ hPr tapering inwardly toward the top. An elongated bladder 80 with a bottom portion having an inverted T
shaped cross-sectio~ slides into the chamber 76 of the stop, with the T-shaped bottom 82 of the bladder 80 fitting into the T-shaped lower portion of the stop chamber 76~ The main body of the bladder 80 projects above the T-shaped slot 78. A tread 84 lies in the stop chamber 76 on top of the bladder 80. The tread 84 shown in Figures 2 and 4 has a wide base and taper~ upward, so that the upper portion of the tread 84 can pro~ect upwardly through the top opening of the stop frame, while the wide ba6e portion is too wide to pass through the narrow top op~ning, thereby retaining the tread 84 on th~
stop frame 70. An alternative tr~aad 84A is shown in Figure 6. This tread 84A has a w:ide base and a rectangular cross-section upper portion. Again, the upper portion fits through the top opening of the bladder chamber 7~ while the ba~e i~ too wide to pas~ through the top opening of the bladder chA~h~r and i~ thereby retained. The tread 84A also has chamfered forward and rear top edges 85 to provide a smooth transition from the stop to the conveyor chain. The tread 84A also has a tread design 87 molded:into it~ top surface, which helps the tread 84A cut through oil and grease.
By using a tread member 84 or 84A which is ~eparate from the bladder 80, the most euitable materials may be selected for the tread 84 and bladder 80, and materials may be chang2d from one application to another ~ithout changing the design. The bladder material should be something with high elastlcity, while the tread material . : ~ . . , .- , : : . . I
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should be durable and have a high coefficient of friction.
Figure 5 shows the control mechanism for the stops.
A sensor 86 senses the presence of a pallet over the ~top mechanism. This causes the valve 88 to be moved to the position shown in Figure 5, with pressurized air entering the parallel bladders 80 causing the treads 84 to shift upwardly, lifting the pallet up off of the frames 24, 26.
To release the pallet, the valve 88 is shifted to iks second position, shutting off communication with the pressurized air source and permitting the air to be vented from the bladders 80 to the atmosphere. The bladders 80 preferably have a total travel o~ about 3/8 of an inch, so that the tread ~4 normally lies lt8 inch below the top o~ the large rollers 30, and, when the bladders 80 are inflated, the tread 84 lies 1/4 inch above the top of the large rollers 30. In any case, the bladders ~0 should at least have 1/4 inch of travel. The air hoses 90 which control the bladders 80 run in the tubular ~lots 62 o~ the frame portions 22, 24 and in the circular recess ~2 o~ the stop frame 70. The hoses 90 terminate at the respective openings 94 in the bladders 80 with a sealed fit.
:~s shown in Figure 1, a pallet: ~arts out on the right of the conveyor, moves to he left until it reache~
: the stop 6~, an~ then, if the stop 68 is triggered, the pallet 54 i8 lifted up off the ronveyor. When the stop is re~eased, the weight of the pallet 54 pushes the air out of the bladder 80, putting the pallet 54 back down on the moving roller chains 18, 20 so it can be carried off ~o the left, as ~hown.
Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the sprocket housing6 44 at each end of the conveyor 10 are identical to each other and are made to conform to the shape of the frames 22, 24. The hou6ings 44 include side projections 96 which extend into the side T-slot~ 56 on the frame members and have hole~ for receiving T-bolts to lock the .
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housings 44 on the frames 22, 24. The housings 44 al80 include lower projections 98 which lie below-the frame 22, 24 and have holes that align with the T-slots in the bottom of the ~rame 22, 24.
The inner surfaces of the housings 44 continue the horizo~tal guide slot 46 of the frame, so that horizontal gul~es can ex~enu a1mosl ~o ~ne ena or ~ne conveyor. Tne upper surfaces of the housings 44 continue the vertical guide slot 36 of the frame, so that vertical guides can extend the entire length of the conveyor.
Inside the housings 44 are chain guides 100, 102 which provide rails 32 for receiving the small side rollers 34 while enclosing all but the top surface of the chain~on its upper run. The idler sprockets 14, and drive sprockets 16 are double sprockets, adapted to straddle the center roIler 30 and contact kha small side rollers 34.
As shown in Figure 13, there is a drive sprocket chain stripper 103 in the housing 44 for the dr~ve sprockets 16, which 8it5 between the sprockets 16 and is bolted to the housing 44. The drive sprocket chain stripper 103 provides a guide surface 107 for peeling the chain 18 or 20 off of the drive sprockets 16. In the prior art, it was necessary to make the chain very long ~o that a lon~ loop of chain (a catenary) extended from the drive sprockets 16 toward the floor in order to prevent the chain from txying to wrap up on the sprockets : I6. The drive sprocket chain stripper 103 permits the chain to be just lonq enough to go around the drive sprockets 16 and the idler sprockets:14 and eliminates that catenary chain.
There i8 also an idler ~procket chain stripper 105 in the housing 44 at the idler end of the conveyor, which keeps the chain in line as it goes over the top of the idler sprocket~ 14. The idler sprocket chain stripper 105 sits between the idler sprockets 1~ in the housing 44 and is bolted to the housingO It provides a guide .:
~: ::
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12 2 ~ 8 surface 109 which guides the chain 18 or 20 from the idler sprockets 14 onto the rails 32 of the frame 22 or 24. The two housing halves 44A, 44B ~re bolted together in both the idler sprocket housing and the drive sprocket 5 housing.
Clips 104, as shown in Yigure 7, are inserted between adjacent large rollers 30 in order to prevent debris from entering the spaces in the chains 18, 20 and jamming the rollers. The clips 104 have a flat top lO surface 106 with three downwardly-projecting legs 108, 110. The outer legs 108 curve forward, and the inner leg 110 curves backward. Between the top sur~ace 106 and the : legs 108, 110 are curved forward and rear sides 112, 114, re6pectively. The curved forward side 112 and forward 15 leg 108 wrap partially around the forward large central roller 30 with a clearance ~it, and the curved rear ~ide 114 and rear legs 110 wrap partially around the rear : large central roller 30 with a clearance fit. From the point where the top ~urfac2 106 of the clip touche~ the 20 roller 30 to the bottom of the legs 108, 110 covers approximately 45 degxees tor one-fourth o~ the circum~erence) of the roller. The front-to-back length of the top surface 106 of the clip 104 is ~hort enough that it permit~ a portion o~ the center roller 30 to 25 project above the clip 104 to carry the pallets but long enough that it rests on the large central rollers 30 at both ends. The front-to-back length of the clip top 106 must be less than the center-to-center distance between the forward and rear rollers. When an article is carried 30 on top of the center rollers 30, that article does not touch the clips 104, which lie below.
~he width of the flat top surface 106 is the same as the width of the central roller 30. The clip 104 also has two flat wings 116 projecting outwardly a~ a lower 35 height than the top surface 106 to cover the gap between the two adjacent ~mall 6ide rollers 34. The win~s 116 are longer than the top 8ur~ace 106 in order for the ., . ~ - . .: . .; : .,, ,.",, : :
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13 ~2~8 front and back of each wing to span the gap ~etween its respective front and rear small roller 34. The wings 116 are approximately the same width as the small side rollers. By closing off the gaps in tha chain, the clips 104 prevent debris from falling down into the chain, thereby eliminating a serious problem wi~h roller chains.
In order to install the clips 104 on the chain, the bottoms of the front and rear legs 108, 110 are squeezed together, until t~e leys 108, 110 can fit through the narrowest portion of the gap between adjacent rollers 30.
Then, the legs 108, 110 snap back to their original : shape, wrappin~ around the front and rear adjacent rollers 30 with a clearance fit so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rollers but are retained on the chain.
The drive housings 144 ~hown in Figures 14~ ~6, 17, and 19 are substantially identical to the drivs housing 44 shown in Figures 11 and 12, except that they include T-slots 56A which ar~ alignèd with the T-slots 56 in the frame members 22, 24, and T-slots 57, which are used for mount~ng a gearmotor ~rive 120. l~hey do not include the projections 96 which are on the housings 44. A~ is shown in Figure 17, the gearmotor drive 120 is mounted on the ~ outside of the right drive housinq 1i4. The gearmotor drive 120 i6 simply slid over the keyed drive sha~t 12, and the torque arm 122 of the drive 120 is mounted to one of the T slots 57 by means of a screw in order to prevent the drive 120 from spinning relative to the drive housing 144. This means that the gearmotor drive 120 can be removed by removing a single screw or bolt. The gearmotor drive 120 could alternatively be mounted on the other side of the right drive housin~ 144 or on either side of the left drive housing 144, depending on which location i~ most convenient.
The drive housings 144 are mounted to their respective frame members 22, 24 by means of mounting ~trip~ 124. The mounting strips 1~4 may have a T-shaped ,, . ~ ., , :~:
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cross-section conforming to the cross-section o~ the T-shaped slots 56, 56A, or they may simply be flat ~trips (not shown). The mounting strips 124 are slid into their respecti~e T-slots 56 or 56A, the drive housings 144 are aligned with their respective frame members 22, 24 until the respective T-slots 56 and 56A are aligned with each other, and the mounting strips 124 are then slid so that they bridge the gap between the respective frame member 22, 24 and drive housing 144. With the connecting strips 124 extending into the housing 144 and into the respective frame member 22, 24, so as to align the housing and frame member with each other, the set screws 126 are tightPned, wedging the connecting strips 124 in place against the T-slots, thereby mounting the drive housings 144 on their respective frame members 22, 24.
To install or remove the drive housing 144 ~rom its respective frame member 22, 24, the drive housing 144 can be moved vertically into or out of position, as shown by the arrows in Figures 14 and 17. This means that the drive housings 144 can be installed and removed without any hori~ontal clearance at the end of the conveyor.
As shown in Figure 16, the two housing halves 144A
and 144B are connected together at three points 130, and there are ~pacers at each of the connèction poin$s 130, so as to maintain a gap between the left and right housing halv~s 144A and 144B. Where the chain passe~
over the drive ~procket 16, there is an unobst~ucted vertical gap 128 between the left and right housing portions 144A and 144B, which permits debris 132 to fall o~f the chain 18, 20, through the gap 128, and out of the housing 144.
Figure 16 shows that this alternative drive housing 144 includes the same chain guides 100, 102 and stripper 103 as the drive housing shown in Figures 11 and 12.
Figure 18 shows a cross sectional view of the right frame member 24 with the connector strips 124 located in the T~
slots ~6. Figure 19 shows a top ~iew of the drive 144 .
.
. . . , ~. ', ~ r' ~, ~2~8 mounted on the left frame member 22.
In this alternative embodiment, the idler housings (not shown) are identical to the drive housings 144, except that no drive shaft passes through them, and no gear drive is mounted on them. The idler housings also can be installed and removed with only vertical movement, requiring no horizontal clearance.
Figures 20-23 are the ~ame as the embodiment o~ the 'J
invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, except that the embodiment of Figures 20-23 includes removable support rails or tracks 232. In Figures 20-23, the parts which are the same as those described earlier will be given the same numbers as they had in the previous embodiment or will be left unnumbered, and the new or changed parts will be given new numbers.
As in the previous embo~; ~nt, the left and right frame portions are pre~erably modular extruded parts which can be fastened together to make the conveyor 10 any desired size. These mod~lar extruded parts 222, 224 have an exterior side 11 and an interior side 13 and define an upper chamber 2~, which receives the upper run of the chain 18 or 20l and a lower chamber 28, which receives the lower run o~ the chain.
The chains ~8, 20 shown in this embodiment o~ the invention ar~ the same as in the previous embodiment.
The upper chambers 2~ differ from the previous embodiment in that they provide removable rails 232, which fit into elongated, top-opening slots 236 for supporting the smaller-sized rollers 34 on the ~orward, conveying run.
The removable rails 232 are made from o~ the-shelf, rectangular cross-section bar stock. The top-opening ~lots 236 are also generally rectangular-shaped. 5et screws 238 are installed at intervals along the conveyor frame at an angle to push the bar stock inwardly and downwardly in order to retain the bar stock rail~ in place. In order to facilitate the installation of the set screws 238, left and right inclined, elongated ,.:, , ,':,;, . . :' , ', ,', , 2~
pockets 240, 242 are extruded in the conveyor frame inside their respective left and right T-slots 244, 246.
Figure 22 shows the riyht pocket 242 before it has been drilled out to receive a set screw, and it shows the left pocket 240 after it has been drilled and tapped for the installation of a set screw 238. The pockets 240, 242 lie between their respective T-slots 244, 246 and their respective rail-receiving slots 236, and there are webs of material separating the pockets 240, 242 from their respective T-slots and rail-r~ceiving slots.
The left and right set screw pockets 240, 242 run the length of the frame and have a smaller width than the diameter of the set screws 238. It is necessary, at intervals along the conveyor frame, to drill through the webs of matexial separating the pockets from their respective slots and to tap the holes to form threads to receive the set screws 238. The purpose of the set screw pockets is to reduce the amount of material that has to be removed by drilling (in order to speed up the installation) and to provide a pilot so that the an~le and direction of the drilled hole will be correct.
As can be seen on the right side of Figure 22, the T-slot 246 is formed with an indicator notch 250, which indicates where to begin drilling the hole. Once the holes have been drilled and ~apped and the set screws 238 installed, the removable rails 232 are secured in the conveyor frames, with the set screws pushing the rails inwardly and downwardly.
To remove the removable rails 232, the set screws are removed, the chain 18 or 20 is removed from the upper run of the conveyor, and the remo~able rails 232 can then be lifted up out of the top opening of the conveyor frame, without disassembling the conveyor frameO New removable rails 232 can be inserted down through the top opening of the conveyor frame, inserted into their respective top-opening rail slots 236, and then the set screws 238 can be inserted again, to hold the new rails -2~2~8 232 in place.
As can be seen from the drawings, the left and right ~rame portions 222, 224 are mirror images of each other.
To achieve the mirror images, identical extrusions are simply run in opposite directions.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.
~ ' '
Claims (37)
1. A conveyor frame for a chain-driven conveyor, comprising:
an elongated frame member having an exterior side and an interior side and defining elongated upper and lower chambers, said upper chamber defining a top opening and defining a pair of parallel, upwardly-opening, rail-receiving slots lying in said upper chamber below said top opening;
a pair of elongated rail members having a substantially rectangular cross-section, said rail members being received in said respective upwardly-opening slots and projecting upwardly out of said slots, said rail members being adapted to serve as a support surface for the rollers of a roller chain;
wherein said rail members can be installed on said elongated frame member and removed from said elongated frame member by lifting them up out of said rail-receiving slots and passing them through said top opening.
an elongated frame member having an exterior side and an interior side and defining elongated upper and lower chambers, said upper chamber defining a top opening and defining a pair of parallel, upwardly-opening, rail-receiving slots lying in said upper chamber below said top opening;
a pair of elongated rail members having a substantially rectangular cross-section, said rail members being received in said respective upwardly-opening slots and projecting upwardly out of said slots, said rail members being adapted to serve as a support surface for the rollers of a roller chain;
wherein said rail members can be installed on said elongated frame member and removed from said elongated frame member by lifting them up out of said rail-receiving slots and passing them through said top opening.
2. A frame as recited in Claim 1, and further comprising:
a pair of inclined, elongated pockets extending adjacent to said pair of upwardly-opening slots, said inclined, elongated pockets being adapted to serve as pilots for directing retaining screws, such that retaining screws extending through said inclined, elongated pockets would contact their respective rail members and push downwardly and inwardly on their respective rail members.
a pair of inclined, elongated pockets extending adjacent to said pair of upwardly-opening slots, said inclined, elongated pockets being adapted to serve as pilots for directing retaining screws, such that retaining screws extending through said inclined, elongated pockets would contact their respective rail members and push downwardly and inwardly on their respective rail members.
3. A frame as recited in Claim 2, and further comprising a plurality of retaining screws, said retaining screws extending down through said elongated pockets at intervals along said pockets and contacting their respective rails so as to secure said rails on said frame.
4. A frame as recited in Claim 2, wherein said frame members define T-slots in their outer surface and wherein said elongated pockets lie between a T-slot and a rail-retaining slot.
5. A frame as recited in Claim 2, wherein there are webs of material between said elongated pockets and the outside of said conveyor frame and between said elongated pockets and their respective rail-retaining slots, and wherein the outside of said conveyor frame defines an indicator notch which indicates where to drill through the web in order to reach the pocket.
6. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 1, wherein said top surface defines a vertical guide slot adjacent to the exterior side of said frame adapted to receive a rectangular piece of bar stock to serve as a guide.
7. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 6, wherein said interior side defines a horizontal guide slot adjacent to the top surface adapted to receive a rectangular piece of bar stock to serve as a guide.
8. A conveyor frame for a chain-driven conveyor, comprising:
an elongated frame member having an exterior side and an interior side and defining elongated upper and lower chambers, said upper chamber defining a top opening and defining a pair of parallel, upwardly-opening, rail-receiving slots lying in said upper chamber below said top opening;
a pair of elongated support rails having a substantially rectangular cross-section, said support rails being received in said respective rail-receiving slots and projecting upwardly out of said slots, said rails being adapted to serve as a support surface for the rollers of a roller chain;
wherein said rails can be installed on said elongated frame member and removed from said elongated frame member by lifting them up out of said rail-receiving slots and passing them through said top opening;
a pair of inclined, elongated pockets extending adjacent to said pair of rail-receiving slots, said inclined, elongated pockets being adapted to serve as pilots for directing retaining screws, such that retaining screws extending through said inclined, elongated pockets would contact their respective rail members and push downwardly on their respective rail members;
said top surface defining a vertical guide slot adjacent to the exterior side of said frame adapted to receive a rectangular cross-section piece of bar stock to serve as a guide;
and said interior side defining a horizontal guide slot adjacent to the top surface adapted to receive a rectangular cross-section piece of bar stock to serve as a guide.
an elongated frame member having an exterior side and an interior side and defining elongated upper and lower chambers, said upper chamber defining a top opening and defining a pair of parallel, upwardly-opening, rail-receiving slots lying in said upper chamber below said top opening;
a pair of elongated support rails having a substantially rectangular cross-section, said support rails being received in said respective rail-receiving slots and projecting upwardly out of said slots, said rails being adapted to serve as a support surface for the rollers of a roller chain;
wherein said rails can be installed on said elongated frame member and removed from said elongated frame member by lifting them up out of said rail-receiving slots and passing them through said top opening;
a pair of inclined, elongated pockets extending adjacent to said pair of rail-receiving slots, said inclined, elongated pockets being adapted to serve as pilots for directing retaining screws, such that retaining screws extending through said inclined, elongated pockets would contact their respective rail members and push downwardly on their respective rail members;
said top surface defining a vertical guide slot adjacent to the exterior side of said frame adapted to receive a rectangular cross-section piece of bar stock to serve as a guide;
and said interior side defining a horizontal guide slot adjacent to the top surface adapted to receive a rectangular cross-section piece of bar stock to serve as a guide.
9. A conveyor frame for a chain-driven conveyor, comprising:
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length, with the length being at least equal to the width, said guide-receiving slot being adapted to receive an off-the-shelf piece of sheet material to be used as a guide for guiding products as they are carried along the conveyor;
and further comprising a drive housing for enclosing the drive shaft and drive sprocket of the conveyor, said housing having a top and left and rights sides aligned with the top and left and right sides of said conveyor frame and defining a guide-receiving slot which is aligned with the guide-receiving slot of said frame member.
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length, with the length being at least equal to the width, said guide-receiving slot being adapted to receive an off-the-shelf piece of sheet material to be used as a guide for guiding products as they are carried along the conveyor;
and further comprising a drive housing for enclosing the drive shaft and drive sprocket of the conveyor, said housing having a top and left and rights sides aligned with the top and left and right sides of said conveyor frame and defining a guide-receiving slot which is aligned with the guide-receiving slot of said frame member.
10. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 9, wherein said frame member defines an elongated T-shaped cross-section slot in its side, and wherein said drive housing defines an elongated T-shaped cross-section slot in line with the corresponding slot in said frame member.
11. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 10, wherein said frame member and said drive housing each define at least two of said T-shaped cross-section elongated slots in their left side and at least two of said T-shaped cross-section elongated slots in their right side, with the slots in the frame member being aligned with the corresponding slots in the drive housing.
12. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 10, and further comprising a connector strip which lies in the T-shaped cross-section slot of said frame member and in the corresponding T-shaped cross-section slot of said drive housing, 80 as to connect the frame member and drive housing together and keep them in alignment and such that if said connector strip is slid away from the joint between said frame member and said drive housing, said drive housing may be moved vertically in order to remove said drive housing from said frame member.
13. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 12, wherein said connector strip defines holes which receive screws to fasten said connector strip to said housing and to said frame member.
14. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 11, wherein each of the two sets of left elongated T-shaped slots and each of the two sets of right elongated T-shaped slots receive a connector strip which extends into the conveyor frame member and the drive housing so as to connect the frame member and drive housing together and keep them in alignment and such that, when said connector strips are slid away from the joint between said frame member and said drive housing, the drive housing can be moved vertically to be disengaged from the frame member.
15. A conveyor, comprising:
a frame member, defining left, right, and top surfaces and defining at least one elongated, T-shaped slot in its left and right surfaces;
a drive housing, defining left, right, and top surfaces aligned with the left, right, and top surfaces of said frame member and defining at least one elongated, T-shaped slot in its left and right surfaces, said left and right T-shaped slots in said drive housing being aligned with the corresponding left and right T-shaped slots in said frame member to form two pairs of aligned T-shaped slots; and a connector member for each of said pairs of aligned, T-shaped slots, each connector member being adapted to slide along its respective slot so as to extend into the corresponding T-shaped slots in the drive housing and the frame member, connecting those members together and keeping them in alignment.
a frame member, defining left, right, and top surfaces and defining at least one elongated, T-shaped slot in its left and right surfaces;
a drive housing, defining left, right, and top surfaces aligned with the left, right, and top surfaces of said frame member and defining at least one elongated, T-shaped slot in its left and right surfaces, said left and right T-shaped slots in said drive housing being aligned with the corresponding left and right T-shaped slots in said frame member to form two pairs of aligned T-shaped slots; and a connector member for each of said pairs of aligned, T-shaped slots, each connector member being adapted to slide along its respective slot so as to extend into the corresponding T-shaped slots in the drive housing and the frame member, connecting those members together and keeping them in alignment.
16. A conveyor as recited in Claim 15, wherein said drive housing includes left and right housing members; and further comprising:
a drive sprocket contained inside said housing and lying completely inside said top, left and right surfaces of said drive housing; and wherein said drive housing defines a vertical gap between said left and right housing members such that, when a chain passes over said drive sprocket, debris on the chain can fall through said vertical gap.
a drive sprocket contained inside said housing and lying completely inside said top, left and right surfaces of said drive housing; and wherein said drive housing defines a vertical gap between said left and right housing members such that, when a chain passes over said drive sprocket, debris on the chain can fall through said vertical gap.
17. A conveyor as recited in Claim 16, and further comprising mounting means for receiving a drive gearbox on said drive housing, wherein said mounting means provides the option of mounting said drive gearbox on either the left housing member or the right housing member.
18. A conveyor as recited in Claim 17, and further comprising a drive gearbox mounted on said drive housing.
19. A conveyor, comprising:
a conveyor frame, defining a top surface and left and right side surfaces;
a drive housing having a top surface and left and right outer side surfaces;
said drive housing being mounted on said conveyor frame such that said drive housing can be installed on and removed from said conveyor frame by moving solely in a vertical direction and such that the outer left side surface of said drive housing is in line with the left side surface of said conveyor frame; the outer right side surface of said drive housing is in line with the right side surface of said conveyor frame; and the top surface of said housing is in line with the top surface of said conveyor frame.
a conveyor frame, defining a top surface and left and right side surfaces;
a drive housing having a top surface and left and right outer side surfaces;
said drive housing being mounted on said conveyor frame such that said drive housing can be installed on and removed from said conveyor frame by moving solely in a vertical direction and such that the outer left side surface of said drive housing is in line with the left side surface of said conveyor frame; the outer right side surface of said drive housing is in line with the right side surface of said conveyor frame; and the top surface of said housing is in line with the top surface of said conveyor frame.
20. A conveyor as recited in Claim 19, and further comprising:
a gear drive mounted on said drive housing such that it can be removed from said housing by removing only a single bolt from the housing.
a gear drive mounted on said drive housing such that it can be removed from said housing by removing only a single bolt from the housing.
21. A conveyor frame, comprising:
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from its top, for receiving a vertical guide member, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length;
and the height of said guide-receiving slot is at least twice its width.
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from its top, for receiving a vertical guide member, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length;
and the height of said guide-receiving slot is at least twice its width.
22. A conveyor frame, comprising:
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines an elongated, guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from one of said sides for receiving a horizontal guide member;
said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section.
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines an elongated, guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from one of said sides for receiving a horizontal guide member;
said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section.
23. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 22, wherein there are two of said elongated, rectangular cross-section guide-receiving slots, one opening upwardly in the top of said frame for receiving a vertical guide member, and one opening away from said frame on one of sides for receiving a horizontal guide member.
24. A conveyor frame as recited in claim 22, and further comprising an elongated, outwardly-opening tube-receiving slot, having a substantially circular cross-section, with the width of the opening being less than the diameter of said substantially circular cross-section, said tube-receiving slot being adapted to receive and retain tubular elements used with conveyors, such as air hoses and wires.
25. A conveyor frame for a chain-driven conveyor, comprising:
an elongated frame member defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length said guide-receiving slot being adapted to receive an off-the-shelf piece of bar stock material to be used as a guide for guiding products as they are carried along the conveyor, and further comprising a housing for enclosing the drive shaft and drive sprocket of the conveyor, said housing having a top and left and right sides aligned with the top and left and rights sides of said conveyor frame.
an elongated frame member defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length said guide-receiving slot being adapted to receive an off-the-shelf piece of bar stock material to be used as a guide for guiding products as they are carried along the conveyor, and further comprising a housing for enclosing the drive shaft and drive sprocket of the conveyor, said housing having a top and left and right sides aligned with the top and left and rights sides of said conveyor frame.
26. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 25, wherein said housing has at least one guide slot aligned with the guide slot of said conveyor frame.
27. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 25, wherein said housing for enclosing the drive shaft and drive sprocket includes a chain stripper which defines a guide surface for guiding the chain away from its drive sprocket as the chain leaves the sprocket.
28. A conveyor frame, comprising:
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length, with the length being at least equal to the width; and an elongated piece of rectangular bar stock lying in said guide slot and projecting outwardly from said frame so as to serve as a product guide.
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein said frame defines at least one elongated guide-receiving slot which opens outwardly from either its top or one of its sides, said guide-receiving slot having a substantially rectangular cross-section with a length in the direction in which it opens and a width at substantially right angles to the length, with the length being at least equal to the width; and an elongated piece of rectangular bar stock lying in said guide slot and projecting outwardly from said frame so as to serve as a product guide.
29. A clip for covering the gaps in a roller chain, comprising:
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers while leaving the top surface of the rollers free to carry product; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain, wherein the weight of said clip is supported entirely by the rollers.
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers while leaving the top surface of the rollers free to carry product; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain, wherein the weight of said clip is supported entirely by the rollers.
30. A clip as recited in Claim 29, and further comprising:
a chain link which is substantially rectangular, with a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the front of the rectangle, a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the rear of the rectangle, and a pair of sidebars interconnecting the front and back of the rectangle to form the sides of the rectangle, thereby defining a gap between the front and rear rollers;
wherein the legs of said clip wrap partially around the front and rear large center rollers, and said clip top is the width of said large center rollers, the length of said clip top is long enough that front and rear ends of the clip top rest on the forward and rear rollers, respectively, but short enough that the large rollers project above the clip top.
a chain link which is substantially rectangular, with a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the front of the rectangle, a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the rear of the rectangle, and a pair of sidebars interconnecting the front and back of the rectangle to form the sides of the rectangle, thereby defining a gap between the front and rear rollers;
wherein the legs of said clip wrap partially around the front and rear large center rollers, and said clip top is the width of said large center rollers, the length of said clip top is long enough that front and rear ends of the clip top rest on the forward and rear rollers, respectively, but short enough that the large rollers project above the clip top.
31. A clip for covering the gaps in a roller chain, comprising:
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain, and further comprising:
a chain link which is substantially rectangular, with a larger center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the front of the rectangle, a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the rear of the rectangle, and a pair of sidebars interconnecting the front and back of the rectangle to form the sides of the rectangle, thereby defining a gap between the front and rear rollers;
wherein the legs of said clip wrap partially around the front and rear large center rollers, and said clip top is the width of said larger center rollers, the length of said clip top is long enough that front and rear ends of the clip top rest on the forward and rear rollers, respectively, but short enough that the large rollers project above the clip top; and left and right wings projecting from said clip, said left and right wings being at a lower height than the clip top, each of said wings extending between an adjacent pair of smaller rollers.
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain, and further comprising:
a chain link which is substantially rectangular, with a larger center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the front of the rectangle, a large center roller flanked by two smaller rollers forming the rear of the rectangle, and a pair of sidebars interconnecting the front and back of the rectangle to form the sides of the rectangle, thereby defining a gap between the front and rear rollers;
wherein the legs of said clip wrap partially around the front and rear large center rollers, and said clip top is the width of said larger center rollers, the length of said clip top is long enough that front and rear ends of the clip top rest on the forward and rear rollers, respectively, but short enough that the large rollers project above the clip top; and left and right wings projecting from said clip, said left and right wings being at a lower height than the clip top, each of said wings extending between an adjacent pair of smaller rollers.
32. A clip for covering the gaps in a roller chain, comprising:
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain;
wherein said clip is adapted to be supported entirely by the rollers of the roller chain.
a top having a length and width sufficient to cover the gap between rollers; and at least two legs projecting downwardly from said top, one of said legs curving forward and the other of said legs curving backward so that, when said legs are squeezed together, they can enter into a gap in the roller chain, and, when the legs are released, they return to their original shape so as to wrap partially around the forward and rear adjacent rollers of the roller chain;
wherein said clip is adapted to be supported entirely by the rollers of the roller chain.
33. A conveyor stop, comprising:
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, so that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said stop frame defines a bladder cavity which retains said bladder and said tread said bladder cavity defining an upward stop opening which has a width that is less than the width of said tread, so as to retain said tread on said stop frame.
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, so that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said stop frame defines a bladder cavity which retains said bladder and said tread said bladder cavity defining an upward stop opening which has a width that is less than the width of said tread, so as to retain said tread on said stop frame.
34. A conveyor stop, comprising:
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, so that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said bladder cavity tapers toward said upward stop opening, so as to keep said tread centered on said stop frame.
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, so that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said bladder cavity tapers toward said upward stop opening, so as to keep said tread centered on said stop frame.
35. A conveyor stop, comprising:
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, 80 that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said tread has the cross-sectional dimensions of a standard V-belt, so that said tread can be made by cutting a standard V-belt to the proper length.
a stop frame, defining an elongated chamber having left and right sides and a bottom and defining a top opening;
an elongated bladder lying in said elongated chamber and defining an opening for receiving fluid; and an elongated tread member lying in said elongated chamber on top of said elongated bladder, such that, when said bladder is deflated, said elongated tread member lies substantially inside said elongated chamber, and, when said bladder is inflated, it lifts said elongated tread member upwardly, 80 that said tread member projects substantially above the top of said stop frame, wherein said tread has the cross-sectional dimensions of a standard V-belt, so that said tread can be made by cutting a standard V-belt to the proper length.
36. A conveyor frame for a chain driven conveyor, comprising:
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein one side of said frame defines an outwardly-opening, elongated slot, having a T-shaped cross-section;
and further comprising a hook-on stop attachment, comprising a stop frame which defines an elongated hook, sized to fit into said T-shaped slot on the side of said frame, and further comprising an elongated bladder member and a separate elongated tread member lying on top of said bladder member in said stop frame, such that, when said bladder member is inflated it lifts said tread member up above the top of said frame, so as to lift an article being carried by the conveyor up off of the conveyor, thereby stopping it and reducing chain tension, where said stop frame defines a bladder cavity which retains said bladder and said tread, said bladder cavity defining an upward stop opening which has a width that is less than the width of said tread, so as to retain said tread on said stop frame.
an elongated frame member, defining parallel, elongated upper and lower chambers, each of said chambers including a pair of rails for receiving a chain, and each of said chambers defining left and right sides, a top, and a bottom, wherein the top of said upper chamber defines an elongated opening;
and wherein one side of said frame defines an outwardly-opening, elongated slot, having a T-shaped cross-section;
and further comprising a hook-on stop attachment, comprising a stop frame which defines an elongated hook, sized to fit into said T-shaped slot on the side of said frame, and further comprising an elongated bladder member and a separate elongated tread member lying on top of said bladder member in said stop frame, such that, when said bladder member is inflated it lifts said tread member up above the top of said frame, so as to lift an article being carried by the conveyor up off of the conveyor, thereby stopping it and reducing chain tension, where said stop frame defines a bladder cavity which retains said bladder and said tread, said bladder cavity defining an upward stop opening which has a width that is less than the width of said tread, so as to retain said tread on said stop frame.
37. A conveyor frame as recited in Claim 36, wherein said bladder cavity tapers toward said upward stop opening, so as to keep said tread centered on said stop frame.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/968,584 US5314059A (en) | 1992-10-29 | 1992-10-29 | Conveyor frame for chain conveyor |
| US07/968,584 | 1992-10-29 | ||
| US08/032,617 US5311983A (en) | 1992-10-29 | 1993-03-17 | Conveyor frame with drive housing |
| US08/032,617 | 1993-03-17 | ||
| US08/108,326 | 1993-08-18 | ||
| US08/108,326 US5328020A (en) | 1992-10-29 | 1993-08-18 | Conveyor frame with removable tracks |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2102008A1 CA2102008A1 (en) | 1994-04-30 |
| CA2102008C true CA2102008C (en) | 1998-06-16 |
Family
ID=27364172
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2102008 Expired - Fee Related CA2102008C (en) | 1992-10-29 | 1993-10-29 | Conveyor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2102008C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105564889A (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2016-05-11 | 罗伯特·博世有限公司 | Conveyor module with cast raceway component |
-
1993
- 1993-10-29 CA CA 2102008 patent/CA2102008C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105564889A (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2016-05-11 | 罗伯特·博世有限公司 | Conveyor module with cast raceway component |
| CN105564889B (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2019-11-05 | 罗伯特·博世有限公司 | The delivery module of steering assembly with casting |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2102008A1 (en) | 1994-04-30 |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |
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