GB1566397A - Roller conveyor including a portion ofr changing the direction of movement of an article - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN A ROLLER CONVEYOR INCLUDING A PORTION FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF AN ARTICLE (71) We, CONVEYOR MANUFAC TURING COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company, of Unit 4, Block D, Woden Road West, Wednesbury, West Midlands, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a roller conveyor including a portion capable of changing the direction of movement of an article being transfered by the said conveyor.

It is well known in the conveyor art that it is often desirable but not simple to turn an article conveyed along one conveyor through an angle such as right angle or two right angles and re-direct it for example to another conveyor. Again, it is often desirable but not simple to direct an article conveyed along one conveyor into a 'crank' motion or to merge the path of articles conveyed along two parallel conveyors of a given width into one conveyor of the width of one conveyor alone. Alternatively, it is often desirable to close the conveying path of a simple wide conveyor into a single conveyor having a conveying path of a lesser width.

These desiderata are acheived according to the present invention by means of a roller conveyor including a portion capable of changing the direction of an article being transported by the said conveyor, said portion including a support means wherein two groups of rollers are mounted in juxtaposition, each roller being journalled with its rolling surface above the level of said support means and the rolling surfaces of each group of rollers lying in substantially the same plane, the individual rollers in each group being arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to each other to define respective pass-lines substantially perpendicular to said axes of rotation. said support means comprising a frame having two parallel sides and divided into two portions, one group of rollers being journalled into one said portion with their axes of rotation parallel to said side of said frame and the other juxtaposed group of rollers being journalled into the other said portion with their axes of rotation at an angle to the axes of rotation of said one group such that the respective pass-lines of each group intersect at an angle of less than 90 .

Preferably the axes of rotation of the two groups of rollers intersect at an angle of 45 .

Preferably also each roller in each group is driven.

The invention will be more fully understood from the description given below. by way of example only, of a live roller conveyor, reference being made to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in oblique perspective of a portion of a live roller conveyor including the present invention Figures 2, 3. 4, 5 and 6 are schematics showing a portion of a conveyor including the present invention in use.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a single live roller driven by a belt, Figure 8 is a schematic showing a portion of a conveyor similar to that of Figure 2 with line shafts, Figure 9 is a schematic showing portions of two conveyors similar to that of Figure 2 for turning an article that is conveyed through 1to".

Figure 10, and 10B are schematics showing a portion of a conveyor in operation.

Figure 11 is a schematic showing a portion of a conveyor with a third group of rollers and Figure 12 is a schematic showing an oblong frame containing two groups of juxtaposed rollers.

In the drawings the multiple arrows asso ciated with a group of rollers identifies the pass-line of that group of rollers.

Referring now to Figure 1, a portion of a live conveyor shown generally at 10 is of square form in plan and has two groups of rollers, group A, group B, comprising rollers Al, A2, A3 A4 A5 A6 and rollers B1, B2, B. B4 B5 and B6.

The axes of rotation of the rollers A1 to A6 are substantially parallel to each other as are the axes of rotation of the rollers B1 to B6.

The axis of any roller in group A is inclined to the axis of any roller in group B at approximately 45 degrees of arc in a plane parallel to the single plane C, D, E, F, which plane contains all the rolling surfaces of the rollers of the two groups A and B.

The drive to the rollers of both groups is generally by means of looped belts 11 from a line shaft 12 running beneath the rollers but it may be any other method such as inter alia a chain, a friction roller or by gearing.

Referring now to Figure 2, articles con veved in the direction of multiple arrow X enter a conveyor portion 10 which may be a live conveyor with all rollers driven or a live conveyor with some rollers driven and some dead' or free running rollers. The articles are turned in the direction of multiple arrows Y, the pass-line of the rollers of group B, by means of the rollers B1. B2 etc.

of group B; the articles then enter the rollers of group A and emerge from the conveyor 10 in the direction of multiple arrows Z, the pass-line of the rollers of group A. The articles entering at X leave the conveyor at Z and have been transferred through a right angle.

Two conveyors portions 1OA 10B placed as in Figure 3 provide means for changing the direction of an article through two right angles. Articles entering at multiple arrows X1 move across rollers of group B of conveyor portion 10A on to the rollers of group A and then on to the rollers of group B of conveyor portion 10B. The articles then move on to the rollers of group A to leave the conveyor portion 10B, as shown by the multiple arrows Z1.

Referring now to Figure 4, articles entering a conveyor portion 10A may be caused to take a crank' path, involving two changes in direction and leave via a conveyor portion 1011. The 'crank' path is shown by the sequence of multiple arrows X. Y,, Z. Xq Y3 Z3.

Referring now to Figure 5, a parallel double conveyor 13AZ 13B feeds articles shown bv the multiple small arrows Fl and multiple large arrows F2 on to a conveyor portion 10. The articles shown by arrows F1 pass to rollers of group B. move to the rollers of group A and leave the conveyor portion 10 on conveyor 14. The articles shown by arrows F2 pass to rollers of group A and leave directly on conveyor 14. The two groups of articles F1, F2 entering the conveyor portion 10 via two conveyors (13A, 13B) are now combined on to a single conveyor 14.

In a not dissimilar fashion (Figure 6), a wide single conveyor 15 of width dl may be replaced by a conveyor 16 of lesser width d2 (d2 < d1).

Figure 7 shows a single live roller driven at one end; in a preferred construction of live conveyor each roller may be driven in this manner. The roller 10 is provided with a part 11 which co-operates with a figure-ofeight belt 12 and a line shaft 13. This construction simplifies the drive to the two groups of rollers (A and B, Figure 1) as is clearly shown in Figure 8, where the two groups of rollers A and B of the conveyor portion are each provided with a line shaft AL and BL respectively.

In use, two conveyors portions of the invention may provide an arrangement as shown in Figure 9. In such an arrangement, articles being conveyed may be assisted in their path of movement by means of a freely journalled wheel W, placed as shown with its axis of rotation normal to the single plane CDEF of Figure 1.

The direction of rotation of the rollers of the two groups, groups A and B, is generally such that an article such as a package entering the conveyor portion onto rollers A as shown by arrow C in Figure 10A is transferred as shown by arrow D2, that is to say it enters a conveyor D via rollers B and continues in the line of the direction Dl D2 given to it by rollers B, the package having been turned through a right angle.It is to be understood that a reversal of the direction of rotation of the rollers A and B produces, as shown in Figure 10fez a movement of an article such as a package entering the conveyor portion in the direction of arrow E that continues along a second inline conveyor F directly over the rollers B; if, however, the article is in contact with rollers A it is transferred to a conveyor G having been turned through a right angle.

It is to be made clear that the angle of the axes of the rollers in one group to the axes of the rollers in the other group may be any suitable angle provided that their pass-lines intersect at an angle of less than 90" to impart the correct orientation to the article or package that is to be transferred as it passes over the two groups of rollers. If the change of direction is to be a right angle then the respective pass-lines of the two groups of rollers will intersect at an angle of 45".

A conveyor portion of the invention may conveniently take the form shown in Figure 11, one or more extra plurality of rollers such as rollers Cl, C2, C3 being added to form an integral part thereof.

A conveyor portion of the invention may take the form shown in Figure 12, where the frame is that 6n an oblong, that is to say rectangular with the adjacent sides unequal and divided into two equal rectangular parts 12A, 12n each part containing a group of journalled rollers, A1 to A10 and B1 to B9 respectively.

The axis of any one roller of one group is inclined at an angle to the axis of any one roller of the other group which angle is shown as the angle B, which is also the angle at which the respective pass-lines intersect.

The individual rollers of each groups have their axes substantially parallel to one another.

The rollers of the conveyor are generally parallel sided right cylindrical rollers of circular cross section.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A roller conveyor including a portion capable of changing the direction of an article being transported by the said conveyor, said portion including a support means wherein two groups of rollers are mounted in juxtaposition, each roller being journalled with its rolling surface above the level of said support means and the rolling surfaces of each group of rollers lying in substantially the same plane, the individual rollers in each group being arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to each other to define respective pass-lines substantially perpendicular to said axes of rotation, said support means comprising a frame having two parallel sides and divided into two portions, one group of rollers being journalled into one said portion with their axes of rotation parallel to said side of said frame and the other juxtaposed group of rollers being journalled into the other said portion with their axes of rotation at an angle to the axes of rotation of said one group such that the respective pass-lines of each group intersect at an angle of less than 90".

2. A conveyor according to- claim 1 wherein the respective pass-lines of the two groups of rollers intersect at 45".

3. A conveyor according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the ends of the rollers from one said group adjacent the ends of the rollers from the other said group being journalled in a common frame member perpendicular to the sides of the said frame.

4. A conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein each roller of each group is driven.

5. A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the drive means is a belt-drive.

6. A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the drive means is by a chain. a friction roller or by gearing.

7. A conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein the article being transferred is assisted in its change of path by a wheel having is axis of rotation normal to the said plane.

8. A roller conveyor including a portion constructed an arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawing.

9. A roller conveyor according to claim 1 whenever used as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 1ova, 10B, 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. such as rollers Cl, C2, C3 being added to form an integral part thereof. A conveyor portion of the invention may take the form shown in Figure 12, where the frame is that 6n an oblong, that is to say rectangular with the adjacent sides unequal and divided into two equal rectangular parts 12A, 12n each part containing a group of journalled rollers, A1 to A10 and B1 to B9 respectively. The axis of any one roller of one group is inclined at an angle to the axis of any one roller of the other group which angle is shown as the angle B, which is also the angle at which the respective pass-lines intersect. The individual rollers of each groups have their axes substantially parallel to one another. The rollers of the conveyor are generally parallel sided right cylindrical rollers of circular cross section. WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. A roller conveyor including a portion capable of changing the direction of an article being transported by the said conveyor, said portion including a support means wherein two groups of rollers are mounted in juxtaposition, each roller being journalled with its rolling surface above the level of said support means and the rolling surfaces of each group of rollers lying in substantially the same plane, the individual rollers in each group being arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to each other to define respective pass-lines substantially perpendicular to said axes of rotation, said support means comprising a frame having two parallel sides and divided into two portions, one group of rollers being journalled into one said portion with their axes of rotation parallel to said side of said frame and the other juxtaposed group of rollers being journalled into the other said portion with their axes of rotation at an angle to the axes of rotation of said one group such that the respective pass-lines of each group intersect at an angle of less than 90".

2. A conveyor according to- claim 1 wherein the respective pass-lines of the two groups of rollers intersect at 45".

3. A conveyor according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the ends of the rollers from one said group adjacent the ends of the rollers from the other said group being journalled in a common frame member perpendicular to the sides of the said frame.

4. A conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein each roller of each group is driven.

5. A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the drive means is a belt-drive.

6. A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the drive means is by a chain. a friction roller or by gearing.

7. A conveyor according to any preceding claim wherein the article being transferred is assisted in its change of path by a wheel having is axis of rotation normal to the said plane.

8. A roller conveyor including a portion constructed an arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawing.

9. A roller conveyor according to claim 1 whenever used as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 1ova, 10B, 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.