US2338015A - Sheet bowing support for oven conveyers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1943. c, H. wH-lTAKl-:R

SHEET BOWING ASUPPORT FOR OVEN CONVEYERS Filed Sept. 14, 1942 Dec. 28, 1943. c, H. WHITAKER i l SHEET BOWING SUPPORT FOR OVEN CONVEYERS Filed Sept. 14, 1942 2 SheeitS-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 28, 1943 SHEET BOWING SUPPORT FOR OVEN CONVEYERS Charles H. Whitaker, Evanston,

Continental Can C ompany, Inc.,

Ill., assigner to New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,272

13 Claims.

The invention relates generally to oven structures wherein provision is made for baking or drying lacquer or enamel or other protective or decorative coatings on the metal sheets from which can bodies or ends are to be formed, and it primarily seeks to provide certain new and useful improvements in conveyer structures employed in conveying the sheets through the oven structure.

In ovens of the character stated the sheets to be dried or baked are conveyed through the oven chamber on an endless conveyer, travelling in generally parallel spaced relation supported by bail-like members carried by the conveyer. Incidental to the travelling of the conveyer over the supporting devices in the oven the bail-like sheet supporting and spacing members are caused to vibrate in greater or lesser degree according to the degree of speed and unevenness of travel of the conveyer, and since the ilexible sheets lie against the vibrating bail-like supporting members the surfaces thereof which contact said members become objectionably marred by these vibratory contacts. It is the purpose of the invention to provide in a conveyer of the character stated, novel means for supporting the sheets in a slightly bowed condition effective to render them relatively rigid and not freely subject to vibration, and also to cause said bowed sheets to avoid contact with the bail-like supports or frame structures along any lines of extended length.

In its more detailed nature, the invention resides in providing a conveyer structure for ovens of the character stated which includes novel upstanding sheet supporting frames arranged to support the sheets in generally parallel spaced relation, each said frame having thereon two outwardly disposed sheet edge rests and a centrally disposed sheet edge deflector placed a distance out of transverse alignment with the rests so as to cause the engaging sheet edge to bow in a manner for causing the sheet to be supported in relatively rigid fashion with the contacts between the sheet and the supporting frame being made at the outer edges only of the sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide conveyer structure of the character stated in which the sheet edge rests are formed to provide V-shaped edge seating crotches, and the edge deflector takes the form of a downwardly ascending wedge having its high point or crest disposed at about the same level as the bottoms of the crotches and out of transverse 'alignment therewith.

With the above and other objects in view that supporting will 'hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical cross section of one flight of a conveyer chain embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the chain structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3--3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the frame shown in Figure l, the bowing of a sheet as related to its frame being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary face view illustrating a slightly modied form of frame structure.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the conveyer structure shown in Figure 6, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the sheet edge deilector members.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the sheet edge rest elements shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, 5 designates the cross supports, and the longitudinal conveyer tracks of .a conventional form of oven structure. The tracks B serve as supports for the effective ight of an improved endless conveyer structure designed to convey coated sheets through the oven in generally parallel spaced relation for the purpose of having the freshly applied coating thereon of lacquer or enamel, or other protective or decorative coating, dried or baked. This conveyer includes bail-like supports or frame structures against which the sheets rest and which serve to support them in proper erect, spaced relation, and it is to the improvement of this form of supporting frame and the connection thereof in the endless chain structure to which the present invention is directed.

Each sheet supporting frame structure includes a bottom cross bar l and two side standards 8 upstanding from said bar. The standards preferably are formed of square bar metal and are welded or otherwise secured at their lower ends to the cross bar 1 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. A top bar 9 is riveted or otherwise secured as at I0 across the tops of the side standards 8, and it will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings thatend 'portions of this bar are extended laterally beyond the side standards 3 and are bent slightly out of the transverse line of the main body of the bar t for a purpose that will later become apparent. Auxiliary extension bars l2 are secured as at l to the sire standards 8 in spaced relation beneath the extensions l l, and these extensions also are bent out of 'the transverse line of the main body of the top bar ll and serve as supporting means when short sheets are being conveyed which do not extend up far enough to properly contact the top bar 9, ll.

A central standard lil is provided intern-iodiately of the side standards 8, and is bent upwardly and laterally as at l to form a Y with a companion brace member it which is secured as at il to the central standard, said brace member and the upwardly and laterally bent portion l5 of the central standard being secured as at lil to the top bar d in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

An edge rest member lll is welded or otherwise secured as at 2Q to the bottom bar 'l' beside each standard G in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures l and l of the drawings, and it will be observed by reference to Figure Il that each of the members lil is angled upwardly and in the direction ci the length of the conveyor, and in diverging spaced relation to the adjacent portion of the side standards t2 to form a sheet edge seating crotch 2l.

A wedge delector plate E2 is welded or otherwise secured to the central standard ifi in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures l and 3, the widest portion or crest of this plate being disposed at approximately the level of the bottom of the edge rest crotches 2l and out of transverse alignment therewith so that a sheet having its bottom edge resting in the two crotches 'fil and engaging the crest 23 will be bowed in the inanner clearly illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5 so as to make the sheet relatively rigid. it will be observed by reierence to Figures l and 5 oi the drawings that this manner of supporting each sheet not only serves to bow the sheet and make it relatively rigid, but also provides for point contact of the sheet in the two crotches El and against the deiiector plate crest at and also at the two points 2li, 2:3 on the top bar 9, il, or 25, 25 on the auxiliary extension pieces it, according to the size of sheet being conveyed.

It is well known that ilexible sheets lying directly against conventionally formed supporting bails are objectionably marred by vibrational contact with said balls during movement of the conveyer. By constructing the bail-like supports or frames in the manner hereinabove described and resting the sheets thereon in the manner described which provides for sheet edge contacts only with the frames, this objectionable marring o1" the sheets is avoided. It will be obvious by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings that the bending of the bar extension portions ll or l2 greatly aids the purpose of providing sheet edge contact only between the travelling sheets and the bail-like frames which support them while they are travelling through the oven.

In order to provide for proper connection of the sheet supporting frames in the endless conveyer structure, each bottom cross bar l has a bracket 26 welded or otherwise secured at each laterally projected end thereof in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Each side bracket 2E has a horizontal leg El to which a U-shaped hinge link member 28 is secured as at 2t. Each hinge link element 28 is opposed by an L-shaped link side member 3s, the elements 28 and 3G comprising each link set being secured in spaced relation in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings by cross pins 3 l. The cross pins 3l are equipped with rollers adapted to roll over the conveys-r supporting rails or tracks t, and the link sets are connected by connecting links 33 so as to form an endless conveyer structure.

In Figures G, 7 and 8 of the drawings there is illustrated a niodied form of the invention in which the main body of each sheet supporting frame is constructed substantially in the manner hereinbeiore described and in which the manner connecting the frames in the endless conveyor is modified.

In this modiiied construction the bottom or base cross bar may be eliminated and each conveyer linlr may be constructed to comprise a 'il-shaped side member 35 opposed in spaced relation by an l..-shaped side .member said members 35 and being secured in spaced relation by cross pins 3l having antifriction rollers mounted thereon. Suitable connecting links Sill join the units in the formation oi the comn plete endless conveyor structure.

lThe link side members have their opposed parallel horizontal leg portions apertured and the lower ends of the side and central. standard rods lil are extended downwardly through the apertures and are split and spread as at lll beneath the members 35i so as to retain the assenibly.

The sheet edge supporting side crotches are formed between the upwardly and longitudinally inclined rest elements d2, each said element having a base i3 which is notched as at irl to straddle the respective upright or standard lill, and being welded or otherwise secured to the respective link member 35.' The wedge rest base or plate l5 is welded or otherwise secured to the central standard just above the link member 3b and cooperates with the rest crotch rnernbers in bowing the supported sheets in the same manner hereinb-efore described,

lt is of course to be understood that the details of structure and the arrangement oi' parts may be variously changed and modiied Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A conveyor for conveying sheets through a treating oven and including a conveying body, said sheets being rectangular and presenting top and bottom and side edge portions, and individual transverse supporting frames mounted on and upstanding in generally parallel spaced relation from said conveying body, each frame having thereon means engageable with a sheet at its bottom edge only at at least three points two of which lie in a common upright transverse plane and the other intermediately of the two and disposed out oi said plane in the general line of travel of the conveyor thereby to bow the sheet about an imaginary upright center for making the sheet more rigid while being conveyed than it normally is.

2. A conveyer chain for conveying sheets through a treating oven and formed or connected links, said sheets being rectangular and presenting top and bottom and side edge portions, individual transverse sheet supporting frames mounted on and upstanding in generally parallel spaced relation from certain of said links,

each said frame including sheet bottom edge supportingl means, and a transverse rest bar supported on the frame above said bottom edge supporting means in position for extending across a supported sheet a limited distance below vthe top edge portion thereof, and extensions on said bar extending laterally and angularly toward a 7 the bottom edge of a sheet, and a transverse bar supported on said frame above said rest crotches in position for extending across a supportedsheet a limited distance below the top edge portion thereof and having portions thereof bent angularly'lout ofthe transverse plane of the frame and toward a sheet supported in said crotches so as to make point. contact with a supported sheet only at each side edge thereof, one of each said pair of crotches being disposed at each side of a central portion of the respective frame, and deector means between each pair of crotches and spaced from the transverse planein which said crotches lie for cooperating with said crotches in bowing a supported sheet about an imaginary upright center.

4. A conveyer chain for conveying sheets through a treating oven and formed, of connected links, said sheets being rectangular and presenting top and bottom and side edge portions, individual transverse sheet supporting frames mounted on and upstanding in generally parallel spaced relation from certain oi said links, each said frame having a pair of narrow rest crotches thereon in which to receive and support the lower edge of a sheet, at least one upstanding standard, a transverse bar supported across the upper portion of said standard, and auxiliary transverse bar members extending laterally from said standard at a level below said transverse bar to act as supporting means for sheets too short to contact said transverse bar, said transverse bar and said auxiliary transverse bar members having portions disposed angularly with respect to the plane of a supported sheet and engageable only in point contact at each side edge of a supported sheet.

5. A conveyer chain for conveying sheets through a treating oven and formed of connected links, individual transverse sheet supporting frames mounted on and upstanding in generally parallel spaced relation from certain of said links, each said frame having a pair of narrow rest crotches thereon in which to receive and support the lower edge of a sheet, at

least one upstanding standard, a transverse bar supported across the upper portion of said standard, and auxiliary transverse bar members extending laterally from said standard at a level below said transverse bar to act as supporting means for sheets too short to contact said transverse bar, said transverse bar and said bar members having portions thereof bent out of the transverse plane of the frame so as to make edge contacts only with a supported sheet at each side thereof.

6. In aconveyer. ofthe character described, an upstanding sheet support, two transversely spaced and i aligned sheet bottom redge supporting crotches, and a deflector element vdisposed between and out of transverse alignment with said crotches and engageable with the bottom` edge portion of a sheet in 'cooperation with lsaid crotches for bowing the sheet to impart thereto a' greater degree of rigidity than is normally inherent therein so as to hold said sheet against objectionable vibratory` contact with the upstanding sheet support. f

7. In a conveyer of the character described, an upstanding sheet support, spaced and aligned sheet bottom edge supporting crotches, and a deilector element disposed between and out of transverse alignment with said crotches and engageable with the'bottomedge portion of a sheet in cooperation with said crotches for bowing the sheet to impart thereto a greater degree of rigidity than is normally inherent therein so as to hold said sheet against objectionable vibratory contact with the upstand ing sheet support, a transverse bar supported across the Lipper portion of said upstanding sheet support and having portions thereof bent into position for making point contact only with upper side portions of said sheet.

8. In a conveyer of the character described, an upstanding sheet support including two side standards and a central standard, a rest element associated with each side standard and forming therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge of a sheet, and a deilector element associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in said Vnotches and thus bow the sheet and impart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein.

9. In a conveyer of the character described, an upstanding sheet support including two side standards and a central standard, a rest element associated with each side standard and forming therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge of a sheet, and a deflector element associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in v said V-notches and thus bow the sheet and irnpart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein, and a bottom bar disposed transversely and forming a support for said standards f and said rest elements.

10. In a conveyer of the an upstanding sheet standards and a central standard, a rest element associated with each side standard and forming therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge of a sheet, and a deflector element associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage' and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in said V-notches and thus bow and impart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein, and a bottom bar disposed transversely and forming a support for said standards and said restelements, said deflector element constituting a wedge plate supported by the central standard with its crest disposed downwardly and at about the level of the bottoms of the V-notches.

11. In a conveyer of the character described, an upstanding sheet support including two side standards and a central standard, va rest eles character described,

two transversely support including two side the sheet ment associated with each side standard and formingr therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge of a sheet, and a deilector element associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in said ii-notches and thus bow the sheet and impart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein, a bottom bar disposed transversely and forming a support for said standards and said rest elements, chain link elements and means connecting the ends of said bottom bar to certain of said link elements.

12. In a conveyer of the character described, an upstandinf; sheet support including two side standards and a central standard, a rest element associated with each side standard and forming therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge oi a sheet, and a deiector element associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in said if-notches thus bow the sheet and impart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein, said deector element consti tuting a plate supported by the central standard with its crest disposed downwardly and at about the level of the bottoms of the V- notches, and chain link elements, said standards being connected to and .supported by certain of said link elements, and said rest elements and said deiiector element being directly mounted on said standards.

13. In a conveyer of the character described, an opstanding sheet support including two side standards and a central standard, a rest element associated with each side standard and forming therewith a V-notch wherein to receive the bottom edge of a sheet, and a deflector element-associated with the central standard so constructed and arranged that it will engage and displace a central bottom edge portion of a sheet resting in said V-notches and thus bow the sheet and impart more rigidity thereto than is normally inherent therein, said deflector element constitoting a wedge plate supported by the central standard with its crest disposed downwardly and at about the level ofthe bottoms of the V-notches, and chain link elements, said standards being connected to and supported by certain of said linl: elements, and said rest elements and said deilector element being directly mounted on Lsaid standards, and there being a plurality of said opstanding sheet supports supported in the manner defined in generally parallel spaced relation en certain of said link elements.

CHAS. H. WHITAKER.

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