JP3461515B2 - Conveyor equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor apparatus used primarily in processing products such as applying liquids such as dyestuff by means of a patterned application of a moving stream of dye, having a first planar portion and an endless flexible element adjacent said first planar portion and a second planar portion adjacent said endless flexible element, where said flexible element has a series of slats mounted thereon that precisely coordinate the processed item underneath the processing element such as an element that provides patterned application of dye in order to achieve precise repeatable results. <IMAGE>

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to conveyor systems,
And more particularly to a conveyor device for use in patterning tile rugs with dyes or other liquids, among others.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the main problems with current conveyors used for this application is when they are sprayed by electronically controlled spray bars in the formation of complex patterns. The result is that the rug tiles cannot be properly aligned on the conveyor so that the correct pattern can be repeatedly generated. One reason for this is the use of double strands on both sides of the conveyor to align and position the rug tiles on the conveyor. These chains stretch and become misaligned, which causes the slats to no longer be perfectly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, thereby making it more than necessary to repeat the exact pattern on the rug tile. Either early or late is patterned.

The present invention solves the above and other problems in a manner not disclosed in the known prior art.

[0004]

Conveyor device that is mainly used when processing products by texturing with dynamic flow of a dye such as using a liquid such as a dye Means for Solving the Problems], the better the default
A first plane portion extending in a direction and the first plane portion
Adjacent, extending in said default direction and in said default direction
A movable first endless flexible element;
1 adjacent to the endless flexible element and extending in the predetermined direction
An existing second planar portion and the first endless flexibility
At least one slider removably attached to the element
A slat, the slat including the first planar portion and the front
The second plane portion intersects each of the extending directions and
Extending across one flat portion and said second flat portion
And said slats are said first endless flexible elements.
Transports the product with the movement of the product in the predetermined direction.
Is set to accept it in the correct position in order to
And the product is said to move during the movement in the predetermined direction.
First planar portion, said first endless flexible element and front
Note that the second plane portion and the slat are held and
The process of the product is accurately repeated under the dye-patterned treatment element so that it is in contact with the
It is equipped with a series of slats that allow the product to be precisely adjusted.

An advantage of the present invention, to maintain the material or substrate is processed in a fixed position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in order to be able to repeat the exact process, for example rugs tiles, the It is a point that can be done.

Another advantage is that it removes material processed by the lifter and unload conveyor so that there is no load on the alignment slats.

These and other advantages will be in part apparent and will be in part pointed out below.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Throughout the drawings, all reference numbers are common.

With particular reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a side view of an overall apparatus for delivering material in accordance with the present invention. As shown and will be described later, the device is particularly adapted for delivering pile rug material that is treated by applying dyes in the formation of patterns. However, it will be appreciated that the conveyor system could be used in a wide variety of applications to carry a variety of materials. All mechanical attachments of the present invention can be obtained with any of a wide variety of conventional hardware, adhesives and the like.

The conveyor arrangement shown in FIG. 1 comprises a main conveyor arrangement generally designated by the reference numeral 1 together with the conveyor mechanism itself designated by the reference numeral 10. Here, the main support frame device 14 is identical on both the left and right sides and comprises a base I-beam support 56 which supports the upper horizontal rail 18 by vertical I-beam supports 9 and 16, respectively. Here are two auxiliary vertical supports 1
There are 5,13, which are also horizontal base I beam supports 5
Connect 6 to upper horizontal rail 18. Auxiliary vertical support 13
Has two transverse members 20 extending from its lower portion on both sides to an upper horizontal rail 18. Where the horizontal support member
362 is the transverse member to the right of the auxiliary vertical support 13 in FIG.
It extends between 20 and the vertical I-beam support 9. The conveyor mechanism 10 has a support system, which is designated by the reference numeral 11. The support system 11 comprises two horizontal support I-beams 22 which together with a long rear vertical support member 24 and a short front vertical support member 26 form a carriage for a welded assembly. The lateral support members 568 now extend between the upper portions of the vertical support members 24 and 26. Both vertical support members 24 and 26 have a leveling pad adjustment mechanism 28 attached to the conveyor mechanism 10. The leveling pad adjusting mechanism 28 is composed of a combination of a hexagonal cap screw attached to the angle support bracket, a hexagonal lock nut, and a washer, and is used for leveling the conveyor mechanism 10. Conveyor mechanism support system 11 and main support frame assembly 14 are generally designated
Interconnected with the rail system shown at 30. The rail system 30 comprises a carrying I-beam track 99. Orbit 99
Are located on the left and right side of the main conveyor device 1,
It runs longitudinally along its length and is attached to vertical I-beam supports 9 and 16 by support brackets 98. Cylindrical rails 31 are attached to each of the carrying I-beam tracks 99 by rail support spacers 34. The conveyor mechanism support system 11 is movable along a cylindrical rail 31 by four Thomson ™ pillow block bearings 36. The Thomson Pillow Block Bearing 36 is, in essence, an open-ended linear bearing, designed by Thomson Industries of Port Washington, New Y.
Commercially available from Ork, it surrounds and rides on a cylindrical rail 31 and is located on each side of the main conveyor system 1. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, one of the Thomson pillow block bearings 36 is mounted below and outside the horizontal support I-beam 22 and below and outside the rear vertical support member 24. The other is mounted below the horizontal support I-beam 22 and below and outwardly from the front vertical support member 26.
A dye-like liquid, generally designated 40, is applied to the article.
The attaching device, that is, the dyeing device, is the main dye applicator support frame.
Supported by 42. Here, the main dye device front tilt support member 96 includes a relatively long rear dye device vertical support member.
97 and a relatively short front dye vertical support member 100 are attached. The front dye vertical support member 100 is attached to a horizontal base I-beam support 56 at the base of the main conveyor system 1. The rear dye device vertical support 97 is also attached to the carrying I-beam track 99 by a support bracket 98. The horizontal support beam 360 now extends between the rear dye device vertical support 97 and the vertical I-beam support 9. The dyeing device 40 is composed of U.S. Patents 3,393,411, 3,894,413, and
No. 3,942,343, No. 4,019,352, No. 4,202,189, No.
4,033,154, 4,034,584, 4,116,626, 4,
309,881, 4,434,632 and 4,584,854. As a result, the subject matter disclosed in each of the eleven US patent specifications identified above is incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

A plurality of dye applicator members or spray bar devices 44 are positioned on the main conveyor mechanism 10 and spaced along its length. They extend in a parallel spaced relationship across the width of the conveyor mechanism 10. There are handrails 46 on either side of the spray bar device 44, supported by vertical members 47 and having a central support member 33 parallel to itself. Different dyes are supplied to each spray bar device 44 for applying a colored pattern to the broad woven rug for pattern dyeing. The length of the conveyor can vary depending on the number of spray bar devices used. here,
There is an access platform 48 attached to the main dye device tilt support means by vertical brackets 39 and angle brackets 49. Two transverse strut members (not shown) are at the rear of the main conveyor device to the support.

Referring to FIG. 2 with the conveyor mechanism 10 taken out alone, the main carrier of the present invention is an endless conveyor plate 86 connected by pin joints 88 that rotate in a hinge-like manner to provide flexibility. Is a loop. The main part of the conveyor mechanism 10 is the upper layer 434 and the intermediate layer 13
2 and the lower layer 135. Here, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 15, there is a transport link return guide 66 on the underside of the conveyor to maintain the conveyor plate 86 in lateral alignment along the longitudinal axis. 2, 3, and 4
And as shown in FIG. 9, slats 402 are spacedly attached to conveyor plate 86 and are movable along a slat support runner 68 with connected channel plates under the conveyor. Eight "U" shaped support brackets 78 hold the slat support runners in place. The main conveyor mechanism 10 is stabilized by upper and lower interconnect stabilizers designated by 83 and 82, respectively. The stabilizer is attached by some attachment means such as a hex cap screw located at 101 and a flat washer and lock washer. Conveyor mechanism
Each of the ten opposing longitudinal ends has an upper and lower pinwheel 72 and 73, respectively. Each pin wheel 72,73 has seven sides and each shaft 7 rotates in each pillow block linear bearing 60,61.
It is installed at 0,71. Pillow block linear bearing 60
Is mounted on the mounting bracket device 74, while the pillow block linear bearing 61 is mounted directly on the front of the conveyor mechanism 10. The upper pinwheel 72 has a stand-off
Protected from access by guard 62. The pin wheels 72, 72 are the conveyor mechanism 10
Guide and rotate a conveyor plate 86 that moves longitudinally longitudinally through the lateral center of the.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 15, on both sides of the moving conveyor plate 86 there is a first planar portion and a second flat portion.
There are two flat portions or panels 90. These panels
90 is EI du Pont de Nemours & Company of Wilmingto
n, made from a product called CORIAN ™ manufactured by Delaware. It is usually used as a material for the top surface of a pedestal and can be categorized as a type of plastic. However, a wide variety of materials can be used as the surface of the conveyor, as well as a surface such as 1 inch 1/4 aluminum can be used below. These panels are attached to the top of conveyor mechanism 10 by bolts 92 or other attachment means. The moving conveyor plate 86 has pillow block linear bearings 105, 106 mounted beneath it. They are shown in Figure 4.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is mounted on and surrounded by the cylindrical shafts 103 and 104. Longitudinal shafts 103, 104 include support rails 10 extending longitudinally with said shafts 103, 104.
It is attached to 7,108. Conveyor plate 86 is a plug
It has multiple threaded holes with 401's. plate
86 has one or more slats 402 affixed thereon, which extends across the width of the conveyor mechanism 10 and is capable of adjusting a variety of products of varying lengths, namely rug tiles. You can

Upper and lower pin wheels 72 and 73
Each has two parallel plates 53 and 57 separated by a cylindrical spacer 58 attached by a screw and nut joined together. As shown in FIG. 4, there is an internal connection member 351 between adjacent spacers 58. At each end of the conveyor mechanism 10 located at the rear and front of each conveyor mechanism, a pinwheel support bar 37
There are 4,375. Also for the upper pin wheel 72,
There is a left mounting bracket 380 and a right mounting bracket 381. As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal shaft 10
Under each 3,104 are located both a left drip shield 390 and a right drip shield 391. At the rear of the conveyor mechanism 10, a slat protector 342 and a mounting angle member 343 are arranged.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the elongated fingers.
That mechanical lifter 110 is a means for Knuckles object from the end of the bottom end of the conveyor mechanism 10. Lifter
110 is connected to shaft 114 by a mounting mechanism 112. Mounting mechanism 112 is Fenner Manheim of Manheim, Pennsy
It is called the Trantorque ™ unit manufactured by lvania and is connected to the shaft 114. The attachment mechanism 112 will rotate into position about the shaft 114 if resisted by a torque greater than 1800 inches / pound. With this, even if the lifter
The lifter 110 will be protected if the 110 contacts any slat 402 mounted on the conveyor plate 86. Shaft 114 is held in a fixed position by the combination of two pieces of clamp collar 121 and thrust bearing 126. Shaft 114 is rotatably mounted within a sleeve bearing 120 having the trademark Rulon. Sleeve Bearing 120 is a Dixon Industries Corporation o
f Bristol, manufactured by Rhode Island, intermediate horizontal
At 132, a series of four bolts 426 connect to a mounting bracket 122 attached to the conveyor mechanism 10.
The conveyor mechanism 10 includes a vertical support member 133 to provide the intermediate layer 13
2 has a lower layer 135 connected to it. The U-shaped member 128 with the rectangular block 134 attached to it is attached to the top of the intermediate layer 132 as a unit. Panel on top of 1/4 inch aluminum as shown in FIG.
Note that the top layer 434 composed of 90 is not shown in FIGS. Here, the flat cover plate 130 hides the central portion of the shaft 114.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 15, a fiber optic sensor device, generally designated 532, is a conveyor.
It comprises a fiber optic sensor 145 which is used to detect the presence of objects such as rug tiles on the 10 edges. The sensor 145 is connected to the mounting plate 146 by a hexagon cap screw and washer, which plate 146 is connected to a spacer 149, which is attached to the conveyor mechanism 10 by a socket head cap screw. Mounting plate by recessed socket set screw here
An adjustment rod 148 attached to 146 moves within an adjustment block 150 mounted on the side of conveyor 10 by means of a hex cap screw and washer. This allows the sensor to be positioned by positioning the hex nut 151 in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 7, the mechanical lifter 110 is preferably actuated by a cylinder 137 having a 11/2 inch hole and a 2 inch stroke. Cylinder 137
Is pivotally attached to the end of conveyor mechanism 10 by mounting bracket 139 and pivot pin 141. The lifter 110 is attached to the cylinder 137 by a U-link 143 using a hexagonal lock nut.

As shown in FIG. 8, the conveyor system base, generally indicated at 155, has two dual longitudinal support members 56 between end members 158 and 159. Conveyor mechanism support system 11 with interacting transverse beam 161
Allows the conveyor mechanism 10 to move away from and below the blast bar device 44. Figure 1
This movement is actuated by a motor 162, as also shown. The motor 162 works in cooperation with a c-face, three-step deceleration, 129: 1 ratio parallel reducer,
1 hp 1750r.pm, 240 volt dc motor, 2
It has a carrying pulley 163 which winds and unwinds a cable 164 which is stretched between two cable clips 165 and 166. Air cylinder 15 attached to cable clip 165
2 is fixed to the longitudinal support member 56 by a bracket 153. Shock absorbers 260 and 261 are
Mounted on L-shaped mounting brackets and located at each end of the relative travel of the conveyor support system 11. Two
Two members 167 and 168 are interconnected to and perpendicular to the longitudinal support member 56. Also, the three support members 170,171 and 172 are interconnected to the members 168 and 159, and the horizontal support beam 360 is interconnected to and perpendicular to the lateral support members 167 and 158.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, a take-out conveyor is shown generally at 174, similar to FIGS. 1 and 15, where the take-out conveyor is aligned with the end of the conveyor mechanism 10 with an L-shaped mounting bracket 502. Is installed by. The tiles are sensed by a fiber optic sensor 145 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 and mounted on a pick-up conveyor 174 by a mechanical lifter 110 associated with a triangular tile transfer bar 501. The lifter 110 is actuated by a cylinder 137 that is tightly mounted on the end of the conveyor by a mounting bracket 139. The pin wheels 72, 73 are arranged around the conveyor mechanism 10 at the connecting pin joints 88.
Guide the endless loop of the conveyor plate 86 with. The take-out conveyor 174 has an angled bracket 51.
1/4 mounted on the front end of the conveyor mechanism by 8
Powered by a pulley 175 driven by a horsepower, 3-125 rpm, 90 volt DC motor (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pulley
175 drives another pulley 177 by a continuous belt 176. Pulley 177 runs across the width of take-out conveyor 174,
It is connected to a drive shaft 178 which is held in place by flange bearings 179 and 180 which are held in place by side plates 181 and 182, respectively. A flat surface idler 184 is used to hold the pressure on the belt 176 and is attached to the shaft by fasteners (not shown). . Flange bearings 185 and 18
6 The idler shafts 183, which are each held so that they can rotate in place, point towards the center of the side plates 181 and 182. Positioned on each side of the idler shaft 183 is a positioning rod 187 which extends between the side plates 181 and 182 and which is mounted only by bolts and not by bearings. At the end of the unload conveyor 174 is a belt pull shaft 188 which is also mounted on side plates 181 and 182, respectively, and held in place by bearings 189 and 190. Second endless
There are eight flexible elements or continuous belts 191 for the shaft 18
Shafts 178 and 188 rotate around pick conveyor 174 while 3 rotates. 8 support ribs 192
Are longitudinally positioned along the width of the take-out conveyor 174. From left to right on both the front and rear of take-out conveyor 174, belt spacers 202, 193, 194,
There are 195,196,197,198,199,200 and 201. This allows the continuous belt 191 to move in a predetermined path.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the conveyor mechanism 10 includes a conveyor mechanism support system 11
Can be adjusted to handle rug tiles of various heights by moving the slab to a number of defined locations below the sloping spray bar device 44 by a securing device generally indicated at 461. it can. The conveyor mechanism support system 11 includes a Thomson ™ pillow block linear bearing 36 mounted on a cylindrical rail 31 attached to a rail support spacer 34 connected to a carrying I-beam track 99.
A vertical support member 24 and 26 mounted on a horizontal support I-beam 22 connected to the. The main component of the fixing device 461 is a helical gear reducer 203 operated by a handle wheel 209. The spiral gear reducer 203 is connected to a hydraulic lubricating fitting and is a bar.
The locking cam 205 is controlled by encircling the bearing 207 attached to the 206 by a hexagonal lock nut 278. The conveyor mechanism support system 11 is locked in place by surrounding the bearing 207. Figure
As shown at 14, the locking cam 205 has a raised rim 208 around its circumference for about 3/4 of the circumference. The locking cam is attached to the helical gear reducer by the recessed socket set 220. The cam lock switch target 234 is attached to the side of the lock cam 205 by two socket head cap screws.

The spiral gear reducer 203 has a Tho
The mson ™ pillow block linear bearing 211 is attached to the main cover mounting angle 210 to which it is attached.
The angle 210 is mounted on two index shafts 222 which are held in place on each side by a length of 3 inches by a support block 212 attached to the index block 213. The index block 213 is attached to an L-shaped index base 214 connected to a lateral index support member 283 which connects the vertical I-beam support 16 and the auxiliary vertical support 15. The external index block 225 has 15 individual positions for rugs of different heights or other items to be processed,
It is connected to a hole in the internal index block 226 by an adjusting pin 223 which holds the fixing device 461 in a fixed position relative to 222.

The sensor 270 is activated when the transport sensor switch target 217 passes by it. The transport sensor switch 217 is connected to the bar 206 and comprises a spacer and socket head cap screws. Sensor 27
0 is the mounting post 26 connected to the lateral index support member 283.
Attached to mounting bracket 267 attached to mounting plate 265 which connects to 6. The signal from sensor 270 is
Moving to a control system that regulates by decelerating motor 162 in FIG. Closer to the spiral gear reducer 203, which is also a sensor switch target 21 for transport.
There is another sensor 271 activated by 7. However, at this time, the control system stops the rotation of the motor 162.

Here, the cam fixing release sensor 272 is arranged to the right of the fixing cam 205 in FIG.
Looking to 5 The cam fixation release switch target 291 is attached to the fixation cam 205 that activates the sensor 272. The cam fixing release sensor 272 is installed at the mounting angle 21.
It has a mounting bracket 253 attached to 0. Sensor 27
Mounting bracket 254 for 1 is mounting bracket 253
Attached to. The cam lock sensor 273 is located to the left of the locking cam 205, faces the cam, and is activated by the cam lock switch target 234. The cam fixing sensor 273 is mounted on the mounting bracket 286.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 15 and 16, a carrier link return guide 66 is disclosed. Within it are two double wheels 230 on the underside of the conveyor mechanism 10 to hold the conveyor plate 86 in horizontal alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor mechanism 10. Wheel 230
Both are mounted on the wheel guide base plate 307. Each wheel 230 has a bearing housing 310
It has a shaft 309 therein and a bearing device 231 attached to the base plate 307 by bolts 311. The guide wheel base plate 307 is attached to the conveyor mechanism 10 by a bolt and nut combination 312. Here two ball bearings 316 and 314
Is present and the ball bearing 314 has a retaining ring 31
Held on each side by 3 and 315. At the top of conveyor mechanism 10 is a series of five guide rollers (not shown) for maintaining longitudinal alignment of conveyor plate 86. FIG. 16 also shows the conveyor plate 86 with the connected slats 402 aligned by the wheels 230.

3, FIG. 15, FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19 and FIG.
Referring to FIG. 3, a series of screws and washers 388 are mounted under the conveyor mechanism 10 and are held underneath the conveyor mechanism 10 by a capping device 341 clamped and connected.
Held in place by each side of the conveyor and directed upwards to detect the presence of rug tiles or any other object to be processed, thereby providing this information to the control system of the processing equipment. There is a pair of effector switch sensors 240. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 15,
The placement of the sensor 240 is oriented towards the rear of the conveyor mechanism 10. A print initiation sensor device, generally designated 250, operates to enable a computerized dyeing process. This print initiation sensor device 250 utilizes a fast reflection sensor 382, has a surrounding guard 299 to protect itself, and attaches to a mounting bracket 298 by conventional hardware 344 such as shoulder bolts and / or cap screws. It is mounted on the conveyor mechanism 10 by the combined base and clamp 345. The mounting bracket 343 has an oval hole through which shoulder bolts and cap screws are connected to the conveyor mechanism 10. Mounting bracket
343 is the adjustment rod screwed to the adjustment block 346
Can be positioned by 347. Adjustment block 346 is bolted to the side of conveyor mechanism 10.
The adjusting rod 347 is connected to the extension of the mounting bracket by a set screw 348. Nuts on each side of the adjustment rod 347 change the position of the mounting bracket 343.

The conveyor plate 86 moves along a path defined along the center of the longitudinal path of the conveyor mechanism 10. As shown in FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, the conveyor plate includes a number of aligned inserts 401 for attachment of slats 402 at various locations depending on the size of the rug tile being processed. Shown in detail, with threaded holes. The longitudinal rows of rounded corner set screws 503 are slightly offset from the center to the right on the conveyor plate 86, and in FIG.
Holds on the underside of 86. There is a pair of pillow block linear bearings 105, 106 previously disclosed in FIG.
Here again, the retainer 505 is held in place by a hexagon screw and washer or equivalent. Here also the interlocking and projecting interconnect 504 is held in place by the indented socket set screw and the interlocking pin joint
Acts to interconnect conveyor plates 86 by 88. The rack gear 507 is an integral part of the drive means for the conveyor mechanism 10.

23 and 24, the conveyor plate 86 is positioned toward the rear of the conveyor mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 2 and interconnected with the rack gear 507 to drive the conveyor mechanism 10 to power. Powered by gear 520. The drive gear 520 is tightly attached to the drive shaft 522 by the retaining ring 521. A pair of bearings 523 are mounted in bearing housings 524 on each side of drive gear 520. Housing 52
The 4 is bolted to the intermediate horizontal plane 132 of the conveyor by bolts 534 or equivalent means. Bearing 52
3 is lubricated by a series of conduits 526 that pass from bearing housing 524 to a grease nipple, generally designated 525, which includes block 527 and male connector 528. The drive shaft 522 also includes a rawhide seal 530 and an encoder seal 531 from left to right as shown in FIG.
Connected to an optical incremental encoder 529 with and. The encoder 529 also has a mounting bushing 561 and cover.
It has a 533 and a torque arm 535. The opposite side of shaft 522 has a 60: 1 ratio and has protective bracket 542.
And bolt 541 for conveyor mechanism 10 and gear reducer 54
3 is connected to a gear reducer 543 with a lower mounting bracket 540 attached to the. Preferably 240 volts,
Motor 550, which is an electric motor of 2hp, 1750r.pm,
It is connected to the gear reducer 543 by an adapter 551 and is partially housed within the main drive cover 552.

Referring to FIG. 24, the optical encoder 529 is
It has a mounting base 570 and an O-ring 560 for mounting on it. The encoder 529 has a spring stud 562 attached thereto and with a spring 563 connected to and controlling the torque arm 595. Also present here are encoder junction boxes 565 and torque arm studs 535.

The conveyor device of the present invention is a single endless
The drive chain is driven by being driven only by the flexible element.
Up to a conventional conveyor device such as one on each side of the conveyor
Tend to be due to irregularities in the elongation of both drive chains.
Position of the product on top, due to a small bend in the ya
Conveyor that eliminates irregularity and puts products on it
The upper surface of the two parts of the first plane portion and the second plane portion
Of the endless flexible element (driving chain) by dividing into
The upper surface can be exposed to the upper surface of the conveyor,
Attaching the hood directly to hold the position of the product accurately
The objects of the present invention are thereby achieved. The scope of the invention herein is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated. Rather, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conveyor apparatus of the present invention used in applying a dye to pattern a textile material.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a conveyor mechanism and two support members taken out independently.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conveyor mechanism.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lifter mechanism.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the take-out conveyor device.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the transportation fixing device.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a fixing device for transportation.

FIG. 13 is a right side view of the fixing device for transportation.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIG.

16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a partial plan view of a conveyor device including a partial tile missing detector sensor device and a processing start sensor device.

18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a conveyor plate.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG.

22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 of FIG.

23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIG.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main conveyor device, 10 ... Conveyor device, 11 ... Support system, 31 ... Cylindrical rail, 40 ... Dyeing device, 44 ... Spray bar device, 86 ... Conveyor plate, 137,152 ... Cylinder, 174 ... Take-out conveyor, 402 ... Slat .

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 60-78659 (JP, A) JP 50-55068 (JP, A) JP 56-147495 (JP, A) JP 62- 74822 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B05B 12/00-13/06 B65G 17/00-17/48 B65G 47/00-47/20

Claims (41)

(57) [Claims] 1. A conveyor device (10) for transporting articles in a predetermined direction, comprising: (a) a first flat surface portion (90) extending in the predetermined direction.
(B) a first endless flexible element adjacent to the first planar portion (90), extending in the predetermined direction and movable in the predetermined direction, (c) A second planar portion (90) adjacent the first endless flexible element and extending in the predetermined direction; and (d) at least one releasably attached to the first endless flexible element. Slats (402),
The at least one slat (402) intersects the extending direction of each of the first flat portion (90) and the second flat portion (90) and intersects with the first flat portion (90) and the first flat portion (90). Extending across two planar portions (90), the at least one slat (402) for carrying the article with movement of the first endless flexible element in the predetermined direction. It is set to receive the article in the correct position,
Here, the article is in the first direction during movement in the predetermined direction.
Said flat portion (90), said first endless flexible element and said second flat portion (90) and said at least one slat (402) being retained and in direct contact with said at least one A slat (402), the conveyor device (10) comprising: 2. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first endless flexible element comprises a series of plates arranged side by side and pivotally interconnected. 3. The conveyor device (10) has a longitudinal axis and first and second parts at both ends of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor device (10), A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, comprising means (110,174) for removing articles from one of the. 4. The conveyor device (10) has a longitudinal axis and first and second portions at both ends of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor device (10), wherein A conveyor system as claimed in claim 2, comprising means (110,174) for removing articles from one of the. 5. Means for removing said article (110, 17)
4. Conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein 4) comprises a second endless flexible element (191). 6. Means for removing said article (110, 17)
Conveyor device according to claim 4, wherein 4) comprises a second endless flexible element (191). 7. The second endless flexible element (191).
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said encircles a pair of shafts (178,188). 8. The second endless flexible element (191).
A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the encircles a pair of shafts (178,188). 9. The second endless flexible element (191).
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said encircles a plurality of shafts (178,188,183). 10. The second endless flexible element (19)
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein 1) surrounds a plurality of shafts (178,188,183).
The conveyor device described. 11. Means for removing said article (110,1)
A conveyor system according to claim 3 wherein 74) comprises a single elongated finger (110) that moves between a first position and a second position. 12. Means for removing said article (110,1)
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 4, wherein 74) comprises a single elongated finger (110) that moves between a first position and a second position. 13. Means for removing said article (110,1)
74. 74) comprises one elongate finger (110) moving between a first position and a second position and comprises a corresponding second endless flexible element (191). Conveyor equipment. 14. Means for removing said article (110,1)
4. The conveyor apparatus of claim 3, wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) that move between a first position and a second position. 15. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The conveyor apparatus of claim 4, wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) that move between a first position and a second position. 16. Means for removing said article (110,1)
A conveyor as in claim 3 wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) that move between a first position and a second position and a corresponding plurality of second endless flexible elements (191). apparatus. 17. The conveyor system of claim 11, wherein said fingers (110) are moved by cylinders (137). 18. The conveyor system of claim 13, wherein said fingers (110) are moved by a cylinder (137). 19. A means for moving and transporting a substrate within a predetermined path , the first planar portion (90) being adjacent to the first planar portion (90) in the direction of the path. Extended and
A first endless flexible element One is movable in the direction of the path, adjacent to said first endless flexible element
A second planar portion (90) extending in the direction of the path ;
Removably attached to the first endless flexible element
At least one slat (402)
Both of the slats (402) are the first flat portion (90) and
And the direction of the path of each of the second planar portions (90).
In addition, the first flat surface portion (90) and the second flat surface portion (9)
0) extending across the at least one slat (4
02) is the path of the first endless flexible element
In order to convey the substrate with the movement toward
It is set to receive in the correct position, where
The substrate is in the first plane during movement in the direction of the path
A portion (90), the first endless flexible element and the second
The flat portion (90) of said at least one slat (40
2) held in and in direct contact with said at least
Conveyor device (10) with one slat (402 )
A spray bar device means (44) having a row of outlets extending across the substrate path for discharging liquid in a row corresponding to the moving substrate and positioned above the substrate path. An apparatus (40) for applying a liquid to a moving substrate, comprising: 20. The conveyor apparatus (10) of claim 19 wherein said first endless flexible element comprises a series of plates (86) arranged side by side and pivotally interconnected. Equipment (40). 21. A conveyor apparatus (1) in which a slat (402) is removably attached to the first endless flexible element and across the first and second planar portions (90). 20. The device (4) according to claim 19, comprising:
0). 22. A conveyor system having a plurality of parallel slats (402) removably attached to said first endless flexible element (90) across said first and second planar portions. 20. The device (4) according to claim 19, comprising:
0). 23. A conveyor system (40) in which a slat (402) is removably attached to the first endless flexible element and across the first and second planar portions (90). 21. The device (4) according to claim 20, comprising
0). 24. A conveyor system having a plurality of parallel slats (402) removably attached to said first endless flexible element and across (90) said first and second planar portions. 21. The device (4) according to claim 20, comprising
0). 25. A conveyor device (10) having a longitudinal axis and first and second portions at both ends of said longitudinal axis, wherein an article is fed from one of said portions. Said conveyor device with removing means (110,174)
20. The device (40) of claim 19, comprising (10). 26. A conveyor device (10) having a longitudinal axis and first and second portions at both ends of said longitudinal axis, wherein an article is fed from one of said portions. 24. Apparatus (40) according to claim 23, comprising said conveyor device (10) having means (110,174) for removing. 27. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 25, wherein 74) comprises a second endless flexible element (191). 28. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 26, wherein 74) comprises a second endless flexible element (191). 29. The second endless flexible element (19).
The device (40) of claim 27, wherein 1) surrounds a pair of shafts (178,188). 30. The second endless flexible element (19)
29. The device (40) of claim 28, wherein 1) surrounds a pair of shafts (178,188). 31. The second endless flexible element (19).
1) Enclosing a plurality of shafts (178,188,183)
7. Device (40) according to 7. 32. The second endless flexible element (19)
1) Enclosing a plurality of shafts (178,188,183)
8. Device (40) according to item 8. 33. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 25, wherein 74) comprises an elongated finger portion (110) that moves between a first position and a second position. 34. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 26, wherein 74) comprises one elongated finger portion (110) that moves between a first position and a second position. 35. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The apparatus (40) of claim 25, wherein 74) comprises an elongated finger (110) moving between a first position and a second position and a second endless flexible element (191). . 36. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 25, wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) that move between a first position and a second position. 37. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 26, wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) that move between a first position and a second position. 38. Means for removing said article (110,1)
The device (40) of claim 25, wherein 74) comprises a plurality of elongated fingers (110) moving between a first position and a second position and a second endless flexible element (191). 39. The device (40) of claim 33, wherein said fingers (110) are moved by a cylinder (137). 40. The device (40) of claim 35, wherein said fingers (110) are moved by a cylinder (137). 41. For moving and transporting a substrate within a predetermined path, comprising a series of plates (86) pivotally interconnected with a first planar portion (90). A first endless flexible element having a plurality of parallel slats (402) removably mounted thereon and adjacent to the first planar portion (90); and the first endless A conveyor device (10) comprising a second planar portion (90) adjacent to the flexible element, and means for removing said moving substrate from said conveyor device (10), said moving substrate Is lifted onto the second endless flexible element (191) by a pair of elongated fingers (110),
Means for removing the moving substrate comprising a second endless flexible element (191) surrounding a pair of shafts (178,188), and discharging liquid in a row corresponding to the moving substrate. Spray bar apparatus means (44) having a row of positioned liquid outlets extending across the substrate path for positioning and positioned above the substrate path. Device for wearing (4
0).