GB2078643A - Conveyor systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A tubular slotted track (12) supports article-carrying devices and houses an endless chain conveyor. The article-carrying devices are conveyed along the track by projections (22) which are secured to the chain and extend through the slot in the track to abut the article- carrying devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveyor systems The present invention relates to conveyor systems.

Conveyor systems of the type in which a conveyor is guided around a closed path conveying articles from a loading station to an unloading station possibly through a number of operating stations are generally of the type known as overhead conveyors. Carriages or the like on which the articles are carried depend from the conveyor which may, for example, be in the form of an endless chain extending around the closed path. One of the disadvantages with this type of conveyor system is that, while the carriages must be securely attached to the chain to avoid the possibility of their becoming detached from the chain while they are conveying articles from one location to another, it should be possible to engage the carriages with the chain and disengage the carriages from chain easily and quickly to allow rapid loading and unloading of articles.This becomes all the more important with fast moving conveyor systems.

The present invention provides a conveyor system comprising a track defining a conveyor path and arranged to guide a conveyor along said path, said track serving for supporting thereon article carrying means, and wherein the conveyor has at least one projection arranged to abut the article carrying means and convey the article carrying means along said conveyor path during movement of the conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the track is a substantially tubular track in which an endless conveyor in the form of a chain or the like is guided. The conveyor has a number of projections which extend through a slot in the track and abut article carrying means supported on the track.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a conveyor system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of a portion of an article carrying means; Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a further form of conveyor system according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow B of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a view of a modified form of article carrying device for the conveyor system of the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates part of a conveyor system 10 which comprises a substantially tubular track 12 which supports an article carrying device 14. In this example the article carrying device 14 comprises a rail 1 6 which is supported by way of brackets 1 8 and rollers 20 on the track 12. The rollers 20 are rotatably secured to the brackets 1 8.

The tubular track 12 contains a chain (not shown in the drawings) which carries a number of projections 22. These projections 22 project through a slot 24 which runs the length of the tubular track 12. In practice the tubular track 12 wili be formed from flat metal strip with the seam left open to provide the slot 24.

The conveyor track 1 2 preferably extends around a closed path with the chain being an endless chain. During operation the chain is driven along the conveyor path and the projections 22 carry the device 14 with the chain along the track 12.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the mounting of a roller 20 on a bracket 18. As can be seen, the roller 20 is rotatably mounted to the bracket 1 8 on an axle 26 which in its simplest form is a screwthreaded member such as a bolt which engages in a screw-threaded hole in the bracket 1 8. The roller 20 is retained in a cage 28 which provides abutment surfaces 29 for the projections 22. The projections 22 may of course abut directly onto the roller 20 with conveniently a suitable low friction material on the roller or the projections.

Figures 4 and 5 are two views showing a modified form of article carrying device engaged on a conveyor system according to the present invention. Those parts which are identical or similar to parts illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals.

As can be seen in Figure 4 each projection 22 carries two rollers 30 and 32 on opposing sides of the projection 22. The peripheries of the rollers 30 and 32 are chamfered to provide a firm engagement with the roller 20. Of course, although two rollers are illustrated here conveniently only one roller may be provided on either side of the projection 22. Alternatively, the single roller may be substantially cylindrical and extend through the projection 22 being rotatably mounted thereon. The exact form of the roller or rollers mounted on the projection 22 is not critical.

The article carrying device 14 illustrated in Figure 1 is primarily intended for carrying relatively heavy loads. Where relatively light loads are concerned the rail 1 6 may be omitted with oniy one bracket 18 and roller 20 serving as the device. In this event the device may conveniently be in the form illustrated in Figure 6 where the article carrying device 34 includes a bracket which is basically a length of cylindrical rod formed with a hook-like portion at one end, the other end portion of which serves as an axle for the roller 20.

A suitable securing device such as a spring clamp may be attached to the roller end portion of the device 34 for supporting an article.

As wili be appreciated the described conveyor system enables rapid mounting and dismounting of article carrying devices such as the device 14 without compromising the security of the manner in which the device 14 is mounted in the conveyor system. A major advantage of the system is also its relative inexpensiveness and simplicity compared with other known conveyor systems.

In view of the fact that no engagement of the projections with an article carrying device is necessary other than mere abutment to push the article carrying device along the track 12 the article carrying device may be of any suitable form adapted to be supported on the track 12. For example, the article carrying device may be mounted on the track 12 by means of a simple hook and in instance where a hook or the like is a feature of an article no additional article carrying device is required. One very simple form of article carrying device would be a coathanger or the like which is especially useful where the articles to be conveyed are articles of clothing such as dresses.

Claims (9)

1. A conveyor system comprising a track defining a conveyor path and arranged to guide a conveyor means along said path, said track serving for supporting thereon article-carrying means, and wherein the conveyor means has at least one projection arranged to abut the articlecarrying means and convey the article-carrying means along said conveyor path during movement of the conveyor.

2. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveyor track is a slotted tubular track in which said conveyor means is guided, the or each projection extending through the slot in the track for abutment with article-carrying means supported on the track.

3. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said conveyor means comprises an elongate flexible member guided in said tubular track.

4. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said conveyor means comprises a chain guided in said track.

5. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the or each projection rotatably mounts at least one roller for abuttment with an article-carrying means.

6. A conveyor system as claimed in any of ciaims 2 to 5 wherein said slot extends along the upper portion of the tubular track at a location angularly spaced from the vertical by between 0 and 450.

7. A conveyor system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 including at least one article-carrying means wherein the or each projection is arranged to abut the or each article-carrying means by way of a low friction abutment.

8. A conveyor system as claimed in any of calms 1 to 7 including an article-carrying means wherein said article-carrying means comprises an article-support member and a roller means rotatably mounted on said article-support member, said roller means being engageable on said track such that said member depends below said track.

9. A conveyor system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.