MXPA97008826A - Rail supports of transport machine guide - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the guide rail support according to claim further characterized in that said retaining means include said elongated member, and wherein said elongated member is received on said support means for longitudinal sliding movement, said means of fastening including means for engaging said elongate member to lock said elongated member against longitudinal movement when said fastening means is in its first position and in h said elongate member disengages under movement of said fastening means to its second position.

Description

GUIDE RAIL SUPPORTS TRRNSPORTRDORR MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to machines + ranßμort decorators and very particularly to conveyor rail guide supports »The conveyors, and particularly the ones used for. transporting food containers such as bottles and cans, usually include a moving band or chain, on which containers are transported from one site to another. The guide rails are located along the sides of the conveyor belt to prevent containers from falling from the conveyor belt when transported, as the containers move along the conveyor machine, a A substantial lateral force is exerted against the guide rails which results in an equal and opposite reaction force on the container. Accordingly, it is desirable that the guide rails are located at an optimum height relative to the container so that the containers remain upright when being transported. In the case of relatively higher containers, two or more guiding rails, fidernas, are commonly used for bottles that have a reduced diameter neck, often used guide rails specially configured above and generally within the guide rails that hook the body of the container. The position of the guide rails can also be determined * by the location of the paper labels in the container *. If the transporter is changed from one type of container to another that has a different size and shape, it is often necessary to relocate the guide rails. Conventional guide rail supports generally include threaded fasteners to secure the guide clamps to the brackets mounted on the conveyor machine. As a result, these fasteners should be released and retightened when necessary to relocate the guide rails. This is a product that consumes time and intense work since a large number of such supports must be relocated on conveyors that are usually several meters long. An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved support for guide rails of conveyor machines - Another object of the invention is to provide a guide rail support for conveyor machines that allows the quick and accurate relocation of the guide rails without the use of tool These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the same tornado together with the accompanying drawings.

In general terms, the invention comprises a guide rail support assembly for use with a conveyor machine having transportation means for transporting items from one site to another. The guide rail support comprises the combination of guide rail retaining means for retaining a guide rail adjacent to the conveying means of a conveyor machine, supporting means for supporting the guide rail retaining means and means for transporting the guide rail. fastening mounted on one of the retaining means and the support means and having a first position for securing the retaining means against movement in relation to the support means and a second position in which the retaining means can move freely in relation with the support means so that the movement of the clamp means between the first and second positions allows a quick relocation of the guide rail in relation to the transport means of a conveyor without the use of tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conveyor machine incorporating a guide rail support according to the invention, - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the guide rail support shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a first alternate mode of expiration; the threads 4fl and B are perspective views of a second embodiment at the end of the invention; Figure 5 is a front view of the guide rail holder shown in Figures 4fi and 413; and Figure 6 is a top view of the field.

DESCRIPTION DETRLLRDR OF LRS PREFERRED MODALITIES Figure 1 shows a portion of a conveyor assembly 10 incorporating a guide rail support 12 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. The conveyor assembly 10 includes a frame assembly 14 for supporting a conveyor belt or chain 16 on which the products being transported are carried, although any suitable band or chain may be used, in the illustrated example, the chain 16 has a plurality of links 18, only two of which are shown, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of said links are formed in an endless chain. the links are coupled to one another at their opposite ends by hinge pins (not shown). The chain 16 is moved on the guide rail support 12 by a drive chain and sprockets coupled to a power source (not shown), although only a single guide rail support is shown, a plurality of guide rails will be seen. guide 20 located on guide rail supports 12 spaced adjacent to and on opposite sides of the chain 16 to prevent products being transported from falling into the conveyor assembly 10. The illustrated conveyor assembly 10 is only an example, it being understood that the invention can also be used with other types of conveyor assemblies. Because the frame assembly 14 of the conveyor machine, the chain 18 and the chain drive are conventional, they will not be described in more detail for brevity purposes. A first embodiment of the guide rail support assembly 12 is shown in Figure 2 to include a bracket member 30, a cam lever 32, and a bar 34 carrying a guide rail bracket assembly 36 at its end. upper and which in turn supports the guide rail 20. The bracket member 30 and the cam lever 32 releasably secure the bar 34 against vertical movement. The bracket 30 includes a back plate 36 having an elongated slot 38 that extends vertically so that the bracket 30 can be secured to the frame assembly 14 in a suitable manner such as by means of a pin 40. A fixed part 42 is disposed at the upper end of the backing plate 36 and comprises an upper plate 44 and a lower plate 45 respectively defining parallel spaced surfaces 46 and 47. The side plates 48 and reinforcements 49 support the par-te fi 42 on the backing plate 36. aligned rows 50 and 51 are formed on the plates of part 44 and 45, especially to receive the bar 34. The cam lever 32 includes a round section 52 defined by an outer periphery. annular 53 and opposed parallel surfaces 54 and 55 that are separated such that the round section 52 fits loosely between the surfaces 4b and 47 of the fixed part 42. Furthermore, a hole 56 is formed eccentrically to through the round section and is directed to slidably receive the bar 34. A handle 57 extends integrally from one side of the round section 52 and has a neck portion 58 that extends from the round section 52 outwards. The center of the hole 56 is displaced from the center of the round section 52 and towards the side thereof opposite the handle 57. An arched front wall 59 is provided on the fixed part 42 and between the plates 44 and 45. The radius of the arc which is defined by the front wall 59 is slightly larger than that of the round section 52 of the cam lever 32. The side plates 45 extend tangentially outward from the front wall 59 as seen in figures 4fi and 4B. There is also a circular inner wall 60 extending between the side walls 48 and defining a cavity 61 with the front wall 59 and the surfaces 46 and 47. The space between the surfaces 46 and 47 defines the thickness of the cavity 61., and the radii of curvature of the front and rear walls 59 and 60 are such that the round section 52 of the cam lever 30 is loosely received in the cavity 61. A slot 62 is formed in the front wall 59 so that when the r-edged section 52 of the cam lever 32 is in the cavity 61, the handle 57 extends outwardly. The width of the groove 62 is slightly larger than the neck portion 58 of the handle adjacent to the round section 52 whereby the cam lever is resisted against tilting in the cavity 61. On one side of the groove 62 is an portion 64 of the width increased so that when the cam lever 32 is located with the handle in the increased wide portion 64, the lever is movable inward relative to the cavity 61. Again reference is made to Figure 1 which shows the guide rail support 12 to also include means for supporting * the guide rail 20 on the bar 34 and allowing the guide rail 20 to be located adjacent the conveyor chain 16. In the embodiment illustrated, the means of Guide rail supports include a transverse clamp 70 mounted on the upper end of the bar 34. The transverse clamp 70 is conventional and will not be described in detail for brevity purposes. To understand the invention, it will suffice to establish that the transverse clamp 70 includes a cylindrical body portion 72 secured to the upper end of the bar 34. A second bar 74 is disposed in a transverse hole 76 formed in the body portion 72 and it has a clamp 78 at one end for supportingly engaging the guide rail 20. The upper end of the body portion 72 has an axial threaded hole 80 which intersects the transverse hole 7b. A threaded locking member 82 is threadedly received within the bore 80 to engage by engagement with the bar 74. A knob 84 is attached to the upper end of the locking member 82 to rotate the member 82 inwardly and outwardly from engagement with the bar 74. Furthermore, a nut 86 fixed to the knob 84 is provided to tighten and release the locking member-82. When the elevating lever 32 is positioned in such a manner that the handle 57 is located within the wide position 64 of the groove. 62, the hole 56 in the lift lever 32 can be aligned with the holes 50 and 51 in the plates 44 and 45, respectively. This allows the pin 34 and the guide rail 20 to be moved vercally. When the guide rail 20 is positioned at the appropriate height in relation to the products being transported, the lift lever 32 is rotated in the direction of the ramp as shown in Figures 1 and 4 which moves the handle to the narrow portion of the slot 60. As the handle moves from the concentric portion of the slot 60 towards the tangential portion, the round section 32 is forced to rotate substantially around its geometric center by the configuration of the cavity 61 so that the hole 56 is moved outwardly aligned with the holes 50 and 51 in the fork 44. This forces the margin of the hole 56 against one side of the bar 34 and the opposite side of the bar towards gathering with the pep fair of the holes 48 and 50. This jams bar 34 in its place. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the cam lever 32 also includes a second vertical cam 90 formed on the upper surface 92 of the round portion 52. The second cam 90 is located on one side j the junction between round portion 52 and lever 57 and is generally cuffed and slightly arched. The inclined surface 94 of the cam 90 and the hole 56 are located one in relation to the other to operate in combination, so that the cam lever 32 is rotated, the eccentric hole 56 begins to hold the bar. After further rotation of the cam lever 32, the second cam 90 starts to take effect. The cam 90 is located in relation to the eccentric hole 54 such that the first cam action applies a small force to the bar which is insufficient to lock the bar in place. The second cam begins to act on the bar 34 in the vertical or axial direction thus using the normal force of the first cam action to supply a second force to the bar in the axial directionAs the cam lever 32 is fully rotated, the first cam action becomes dominant due to the geometry and locks the bar in position.

THE Figures 4fi, 4B, 5 and 6 show a second alternative embodiment of the invention to include a blade 130 and a cam lever 132. The bracket 130 includes a back plate 136 secured to a conveyor machine by a bolt 140 which it extends through a slot 138. A fork 142 is disposed at the upper end of the plate 136 and includes a top plate 144 and a bottom plate 145, which respectively define separate surfaces. 146 and 147. The fork is supported by side plates 148. [0062] Faces 149 and 150 are formed respectively on the upper * and lower plates 144 and 145 respectively, and each one extends inward towards the cavity 161. The highlights 149 and 150 have aligned central holes 151 and 152, respectively, and each has arched front and rear ends 152 and 153 and parallel sides 154. The cam lever 132 includes a round section 155 having depressions 156 and 157 formed respectively on its upper and lower surfaces 158 and 160. The depressions 156 and 157 are generally circular and have a space at their front ends 162 to receive the lifts 149 and 150.

Furthermore, the diameter of the depressions 156 and 157 is slightly larger than the distance between the arcuate ends 152 and 153 of the lugs 149 and 150 and the width of the spaces 162 is slightly larger than the distance between the sides 154 of the lugs. This allows the cam lever to be inserted between the lugs 140 and 150 and rotated to its position shown in L1. the 1-? gu? a b. The cam lever 132 also includes an eccentric opening 164 biased relative to the pivot axis of the lever 132 on the side opposite the handle 166 in the same manner as in the embodiment of Figure 2. When the handle 132 is located with its centerline along the line 168 of Figure 6, allows the lever to be moved relative to the fork 142, so that the hole 164 can be located coaxially in relation to the holes 151 and 152, so that bar 34 can be moved vertically. The rotation of the lever 132 in the dextro-direction as shown in Figure 6 moves the hole 164 in the cam lever 132 outwardly from the holes 151 and 152, so that the bar 34 is located in its position. The system according to the invention locks the bar in position without the use of normal threaded fasteners that require tools to move, adjust or unlock the barrel 34. In addition, the bracket can apply a vertical load to prestress the bar when used a bar that has a wedge or lip. The cam levers 32 and 132 are preferably formed of a hard plastic material. This allows the eccentric hole to deform when the rod 34 is locked. If the rod 34 is threaded, the eccentric holes 56 are autorrese when they are tightened thereby increasing the force of L2. retention of the cam lever on the bar and allows the transfer of axial forces on the bar by coupling the second cam 90. The natural rotation of the cam in the dextror direction as shown in figure 2 acts to help apply a axial load to a threaded rod 34. Under complete rotation of the cam, the first cam action becomes dominant locking the threaded rod into position with the pretension. Eßto is achieved without the requirement of tools. Figure 4fi also shows a further feature of the invention where the bar 134 includes a separate position marker 170 along the bar 134. This allows the operator to position the guide rail 20 for different sized containers that are being transported without the requirement of any additional measuring device. Although only a few embodiments of the invention are shown and described, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the specific embodiments shown, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A guide rail support assembly to be used with a conveyor that has transport means for transporting articles from one place * to another, said guide rail support comprising the combination of track retaining means guide for retaining a guide rail adjacent to the transport means of a conveyor machine, and support means for supporting the retention means of the guide rail, said guide rail retaining means being on the support means, said support means being constructed and arranged to be mounted on a conveyor machine and adjacent to the transport means, fastening means mounted on one of the retaining means and support means having a first position for securing * the retaining means against movement in relation to said support means and a second position wherein said retaining means are released for movement in relation to the s means of support, whereby the movement of the fastening means between its first and second positions allows a rapid relocation of the guide rail in relation to the means of transporting a conveyor without the use of tools.

2. - The guide rail support according to claim 1, further characterized in that said retaining means includes an elongate member received on said support means for longitudinal sliding movement said securing means including means for engaging the elongate member to lock the member elongated contr-a longitudinal movement when said fastening means are in their niñe to position and in which unhooks the elongated member under movement of the fastening means to its second po ición.

3. The guide rail support according to claim 2, further characterized in that said elongated member includes a plurality of separate position markers to indicate the position of the guide rail retaining means relative to said support.

4. The guide rail support according to claim 2, further characterized in that said clamping means comprise cam means operable under movement from its first position to its second position to wedge * the elongated member against longitudinal movement and release said elongated member for movement under movement to its second position.

5. The guide rail support according to claim 4, further characterized in that said cam means are mounted on the support for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to a longitudinal ee of the alarged member, said cam means. having an opening therein that is eccentric in relation to the pivot axis, said support means having an opening formed in the same pair to receive the elongate member and adjacent the cam member, said elongate member extending through of the openings in said support means and said cam member, the axis of the opening in the support means being coaxial with the pivot axis.

6. The guide rail support according to the indication 5, further characterized in that said cam means comprises a member having a round portion defined by opposing flat surfaces, the opening in the cam member extending between said surfaces , said support including spaced apart support surfaces to define a space for receiving the round portion of said cam member, The opening in the support means comprising coaxial openings formed in the support surfaces for receiving the elongate member, said supporting surfaces supporting the cam member for pivotal movement about the pivot axis.

7. The guide rail support according to claim 6, further characterized in that it includes a handle formed on said cam member and extending outwardly from between the support plates whereby said cam member can be rotated pivotally. 8.- The guide rail support according to the Ib claim 7, further characterized in that said elongated member includes a plurality of separate position markers to indicate the position of the guide rail retaining means in relation to said support. 9. The guide rail support according to claim 6, further characterized in that it includes a second cam formed on one of the opposite surfaces of said cam member for engaging one of the support plates under pivotal movement of said guide. Leg or Cam from its second to first position to impart * a cam force parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 10. The guide rail support assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that it includes means mounted on one end of said elongate member for releasably supporting a guide rail for movement in a lateral direction relative to the direction of the Longitudinal sliding movement. 11. The guide rail support according to claim 10, further characterized in that said elongated member includes a plurality of separate position markers to indicate the position of the guide rail retaining means relative to said support 12. - The guide rail support assembly for use with a conveyor machine having means of transport for transporting articles from one place to another, said guide rail support comprising The combination of media L7 guide rail retainer for retaining a guide rail adjacent to the conveying means of a conveyor machine, and support means for supporting the guide rail retaining means, said guide rail retaining means being movable in relation to the support means, said support means being constructed and arranged to be mounted on a conveyor machine and adjacent to the conveying means, cam means mounted on one of the retaining means and support means, said means of cam having a first position for securing the means of retention against relative movement with said support means and a second position wherein the cam means is released for movement relative to the support means, because the movement of the cam means between its first and second positions allows the rapid relocation of the guide rail in relation to the means of transport for a tra nsportadora without the use of tools. 13. The guide rail support according to claim 12, further characterized in that the retaining means includes a member received on said support means for movement in relation thereto, said cam means including means for engaging said member to lock the limb against movement when the cam is in its first position and that is bent from said limb under movement of the cam means to its second position. 14.- The guide rail support in accordance with 10 rei indication 13, further characterized in that said support means has a first opening formed therein to receive said member, the cam means being mounted on the support for pivotal movement about an axis paral to the axis of the first opening, said cam means having a second opening formed in the rnLsrnoß which is eccentric in relation to the pivot ee. 15. The guide rail support according to claim L4, further characterized in that said cam member comprises a round portion defined by opposing flat surfaces, the opening in said cam member extending between the surfaces, said support including separate support surfaces to define a space for receiving the round portion of the cam member, said first opening comprising coaxial openings in the support surfaces for receiving * said member, said supporting surfaces supporting the cam member for pivotal movement around the pivot axis. 16. The guide rail support according to claim 15, further characterized in that it includes a second cam formed on one of the opposite surfaces of said cam member for engaging one of the ßopor-te surfaces under pivotal movement of said cam member from ßu second to first position to impart a cam force perpendicular to the axis of the support surfaces. 17. The guide rail support according to claim 16, further characterized in that it includes a handle formed on said cam member and extending outwardly from between the support points whereby said cam member can be rotated. pivotally 1

8. The guide rail support assembly according to claim 15, and includes enhancement means extending from at least one of the support surfaces, and a depression formed at least one of the flat surfaces. , said means of enhancement and said depressions having additionally engageable arcuate portions whose centers of curvature are coaxial with the axis of said openings in the supporting surfaces.