US2568073A - Conveyer mechanism for disks and the like - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ET AL 2,568,073

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l rmififra ez and U/nBruc'e Caldwell Sept. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29

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Sept. 18, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ET AL CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2vvflux 7 2 7/ 27/2/4755 7/47/42,////////v// 74M v p61 and uce Caldwell fnueniors: 77255 1? Kop Sept H8, 1951 E. R. KOPPEL ETAL CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

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[nus TLZO 7"5 l rns'f R Koppel and Patented Sept. 18, 1951 CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR DISKS AND THE LIKE Ernst R. Koppel and Walter Bruce Caldwell, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 29, 1948, Serial No. 67,945

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to draw furnaces for treating sheet metal articles, such as agricultural discs, and it has particular reference to novel mechanism for supporting and conveying the discs through furnace structure, such mechanism includingv a feed table cooperating with parts of a chain or link conveyor.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to simplify the construction of a conveyor and feed table arrangement for draw furnaces and the like, such as contemplated herein, and to increase the capacity of the furnace and thus improve the efficiency and operation of such arrangement.

A primary object of the present invention resides in providing an assembly, including a table or rack which delivers agricultural discs fiatwise to a novel conveyor mechanism upon which the discs are up-ended so that they will pass through the furnace in approximatel vertical or up standing positions. It is apparent that this particular arrangement of the discs during transit in the furnace very materially reduces the overall length of a furnace, thus permitting considerable economy of space in the plant producing such discs. Alternatively, the arrangement contemplated herein, when installed in a furnace of given dimensions, will materially increase the capacity of such furnace. The present structure effects an increase of output from the furnace, and it also permits better circulation of heat between and around the discs.

Another principal object resides in the provision of a conveyor mechanism wherein the several parts are arranged in a manne so that thedisc s may be effectively and readily picked up from the feed table and then conveyed through the furnace, and to do this without risk of damaging such discs.

Another principal object hereof is the provision of a novel delivery table which is closely coordinated with the disc conveyor mechanism so that parts of such table and the pick-up members of the conveyor alternate with each other during the movement of the conveyor members past the table. In this connection, the table has a hinged rack portion or leaf which projects, into the furnace to be close to the receiving end of the conveyor, such hinged rack or leaf portion being adapted, under certain conditions, to be lifted a suitable distance b the pick-up members of the conveyor to prevent damage to the table and the conveyor in the event of accidental misalignment of these respective parts.

Another principal object hereof is to provide means in the form of a chain carrier or drive assembly which is efiective to maintain the discs in definite positions during the time such discs are traveling through the furnace.

Still another principal object resides in the provision of novel means in a chain carrier assembly for preventing the discs from becoming inadvertently dislodged and falling onto the chains.

A further principal object hereof resides in the provision of a conveyor having upwardly extending arm members which are closely assembled with respect to each other in successive rows thereby to maintain the discs in generally upright positions as distinguished from conveying the discs fiat on the chains.

It is also aimed in the present invention to provide the novel chain carrier or articulated conveyor wherein each disc supporting assembly has leading and trailing finger-like members arranged so that the leading members of one chain link assembly are alternately disposed with respect to the trailing members of the preceding link assembly; and vice versa, the trailing fingers of said one link assembly operate between the leading finger members of the succeeding link assembly. It is apparent that, by reason of this novel arrangement wherein the finger-like members of one assembly are interposed between with those of both preceding and succeeding assem" blies, said fingers are effective to provide a very definite and dependable supporting structure which is adapted to maintain the discs in the desired positions on their edges and at the same time preventing such discs falling through the supports to the chains.

Additional objects, aims and advantages of the improvements contemplated herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation of the conveyor and feed table assembly is understood from the within description. It is preferred to accomplish the numerous objects of this invention, and to practice the same, in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For a detailed understanding of the improvements, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of a draw furnace, a portion thereof being in broken away section to show the application of the present improvements thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevation showing a fragmentary portion of the mechanism adjacent the receiving end of the furnace;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the plane of line 3-3 on the arrangement shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken along the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and drawn to a larger scale to illustrate details of the trackage and disc-supporting conveyor mechanism;

Fig. is a horizontal section taken along the plane of line 5--5 of Fig. 2, and drawn to a larger scale to illustrate novel details of the present chain carrier arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed View looking at a side of a chaincarrier arrangement shown in Fig. 5.

The drawings are to be understood as bein more or less of a diagrammatic character for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferred form or embodiment of the improvements contemplated herein, and in these drawings like reference characters are used to identify the same parts in the different views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen the furnace A has an interior heating chamber B of elongate form, and may be of any suitable or well-known type. At the receiving end of the furnace there is an inclined delivery table or chute of novel construction which has an overhanging portion projecting into th chamber through the feed opening a at the adjacent end of the furnace. Within the heating chamber there are suitable chain carrier assemblies which define a novel conveyor means D for supporting the discs E in a manner so that they stand upon their edges and lean against up-standing portions of the conveyor during travel through the furnace chamber to the discharge opening 12 where such discs are preferably deposited flat upon the apron assembly F, which in turn transfers the discs to the next station of a suitable processing line.

The chute or delivery table C, which cooperates with the chain conveyor assembly D, comprises angle metal supporting legs I0, those nearest the furnace being shorter than the others, and, the upper ends of said legs are connected by slanting side rails II and by cross-members or tiebars I2. As shown in Fig. 3, there are pairs of spaced metal strips mounted up-right with their longitudinal edges resting upon the tie-bars or members I2 to provide pairs of parallel ribs I3 which support a sheet metal plate I l for defining the table top upon which the discs are deposited fiatwise by the feed conveyor assembly G. Interposed between each pair of ribs I3 there is an elongate bar I5 which projects beyond the ends of said ribs and through the feed opening a. into the furnace chamber B where such bars have stop members I6 at their ends. These bars define a skeleton rack onto which the discs slide from the top plate I4 and enter the furnace.

By reason of the particular arrangement of these bars [5, they provide extensions of the pairs of ribs I3, and their end regions, which are beneath the top plate I4 and remote to the furnace, overlap the adjacent portions of ribs I3. A pivot rod or fulcrum member I! passes through these overlapped portions of the ribs and the bars beyond the adjacent edge of the top plate I4. This pivot member I! is securely attached to the bars I5 and it also passes loosely through the ribs I3. It will be seen, by reference to Fig. v3, that the major portions of the bars I5 overhang and project beyond the adjacent tie piece I2 and the lower edges of the bars rest upon this tie piece. The arrangement of the bars and their pivotal mounting provides a hinged leaf or rack which projects into the furnace between the disc positioning portions of the conveyor. The discs which slide fiat on the top plate Is also slide along the rack until they reach the stops I6 where they are so positioned that they may suecessively be picked up by positioning portions of the conveyor assembly D while such portions are.

4 passing upward through and past the rack. The purpose of this hinged leaf or rack arrangement is to prevent damage to either the conveyor or the rack as will later be explained.

The longitudinal side walls of furnace A support a plurality of horizontal cross beams I8 on the tops of which there are mounted several pairs of facing angle metal guides or tracks I9 that are suitably secured to said beams; preferably by welding, and there are pairs of vertical angle metal hangers which are secured to the cross beams I8 and also to the upstanding flanges of the tracks I9. There are also lower angle metal guides or tracks 2I which are welded to the flanges of hangers 20 adjacent the lower ends of the latter to provide supporting means for the return run of the endless conveyor assembly D which carries the discs through the furnace to the discharge opening b thereof.

The conveyor assembly D is preferably of the roller carrier chain type which is driven through the heating chamber B by rotatable driving sprockets 22 secured to horizontal Shafts 23 at the ends of the conveyor runs. It will be seen that there is a roller carrier chain for each pair of facing angle metal tracks I9, all of which carrier chains are of substantially identical construction. For the purpose of convenience, only one chain arrangement such as shown in detail pintles 26 and 21 between links 24 and 25. The

outer links 3|] and 3| have their end portions overlapping adjacent end regions of the inner links '24 and 25 respectively, and said outer links 30 and 3| are also hingedly mounted on the pintles 26 and 21 for swinging movement. Thus an articulated conveyor or carrier chain arrangement is effected. The end regions of the pintles project beyond the outer links 30 and SI and carry anti-friction rollers or wheels 32 that are retained in place on the pintles by means of washers 33 and cotter'pins 34. As seen in Fig. 4, these rollers or wheels 32 travel on the horizontal flanges of the pairs of angle metal tracks I9 and 2I, and the ends of the pintles 21 are sufficiently close to the vertical flanges of the tracks to permit only limited sidewise movement or lateral shift of the chains while they are traveling through the furnace on said tracks. Also, the sprockets 22 are provided with arcuate notches or recesses 22a to receive the roller collars 28 while the chains are engaged with said sprockets.

The links 25 and 3| each have upstanding ears or vertical lug portions 25a and Ma. respectively, such ears or lugs being transversely bored at spaced locations to receive bolts 35 and 36 for anchoring suitable mounting blocks 31 thereon. As seen in Fig. 5, the outer links 3| have spacers 38 surrounding the shanks of bolts 36, such spacers being interposed between said links 3i and the adjacent blocks 31 for the purpose of aligning said latter blocks with the similar blocks 31 on the inner links 25.

The upper portion of each block 31 has an arcuate recess 39 therein, such recess being of substantially semi-circular shape to provide a saddle for receiving the adjacent-segmental surface of an elongate tube or circular rod which is seated in the saddle and is securely attached thereto by welding or the like. Also secured to the tubeor rod 40 is a row of fingers 4! having rectangular cross section, one end edge of each finger being of concave form the curvature of which corresponds with the curvature of the outer surface of rod fill to provide a good fit between said end edges and said rod. These fingers may be welded or otherwise secured to the rod 40 so that they all project therefrom in approximately a horizontal plane parallel with the carrier chains and in trailing relation to the rod.

A row of elongate arms 42 are inserted diametrically through the rod 49 at about the locations of fingers 4i, and these arms are welded to said rod so that the axes of said arms are inclined forwardly of a plane perpendicular to the plane of the chain conveyor D. It will be seen these arms 42 incline in a generally forward direction toward the discharge end of the furnace. Adjacent the rod 40 the arms 42 have a row of bifurcated fingers 43 secured to them,

said fingers 43 being defined by a suitable metal w strip that is bent U-shape intermediate its ends, as seen in Fig. 5, so as to provide bifurcations which are spaced apart a distance equal to the diameters of the arms 42. The bifurcated fingers 43 project in a leading direction, and they may be arranged at approximately right angles to the arms 42 so that they incline downwardly or obliquely toward the chains. As seen in the plan view (Fig. 5), the bifurcated leading fingers 43 are positioned so that they overlap with the trailing fingers 4| on the next preceding rod 40. This arrangement of a trailing finger 4| with respect to the next leading bifurcated finger '43, is such that the fingers 4| and 43 bridge the spaces between the rows of arms 42 and define supporting means for the upstanding discs while moving through the furnace.

The forwardly inclined arms 42 are spaced on the respective rods 40 suitable distances apart so that when these arms pass between the rack bars l5 of the table and under normal conditions of operation there is no contact between arms 42 and bars [5 as shown in Fig. 3. However, in the event of any distortion or misalignment of the arms 42 or rack bars l5, said arms are adapted to-lift the bars to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 during the removal of the disc without causing any damage to the table assembly.

When each disc is lifted from the table, such disc will lie flat on arms 42 and its lower edge will be resting upon the leading fingers 43 at v the juncture of said fingers and the arms as shown in the central region of Fig. 2. This is while the chain conveyor is passing over the sprocket 22 at the receiving end of the furnace. When the arms 42 are approaching a vertical position, the discs will tilt by gravity in a forwardly direction so that their convex surfaces will engage the arms 42 in the proceeding assembly in the manner shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2. During this stage of operation, the fingers 4| and the bifurcated'fingers 43 will have moved into the desired relation with respect to each other, and thus effect a substantial support for the discs and provide means which prevents the discs while in transit becoming entangled with or damaging the parts of the chain conveyor.

When the discs arrive at the discharge end of the furnace, the chain conveyor D will begin a downward travel on the adjacent sprocket 22 (Fig. 1), causing the arms 42 to sweep downward and as said arms approach a horizontal position the discs will assume a position on the arms wherein they rest wholly upon their convex surfaces. After the arms 42 have moved below a horizontal plane, they will assume a downwardly inclined position so that the discs will slide off .said arms onto the runout conveyor assembly F to be withdrawn from the furnace through the discharge opening b.

After the construction and operation of the above-described improvements are understood, it will be appreciated that considerable importance is attributed to the novel arrangement of the carrier chain conveyor which is constructed in a manner so that circular shaped discs are moved through the furnace while standing on their edges. Also the fingers in each row are .spaced far enough from each other so that the lowermost segment of a disc will rest on two fingers with the intermediate portion in the space between said two fingers. This prevents the disc rolling edgewise on the conveyor during travel in the furnace chamber. Thus a considerably larger number of discs will be passed through a furnace chamber of a given size than in arrangements where the discs are conveyed while lying flat on one of their faces. In addition, this novel arrangement permits the hot gasses to pass between the discs and come into direct contact with both surfaces thereof. Another important feature resides in the arrangement whereby the discs may be picked up by the conveyor assembly from the table within the furnace without risk of damage to the conveyor arms. or to the table. This is due to the fact that the table leaf or rack, which projects into the furnace chamber in close association with the conveyor arms, is of a hinged character so that rack will be bodily lifted in the manner described in the event an arm of the conveyor or a bar of the rack becomes accidentally displaced in a lateral direction.

While this invention has been described in detail in its present preferred form or embodiment, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, after understanding the improvements,

that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed is: 1. A mechanism for conveying disc-like blanks on their edges through a draw furnace and the like comprising, a plurality of tracks extending through said furnace; chain carriers adapted to traverse said tracks; blocks secured to the links of said chains; recessed seats in the upper edges of said blocks; horizontal cross-members an- "chored in said seats and arranged transverse to said chain carriers; rows of elongate upstanding arms supported by said cross-members, said arms being inclined in the direction of travel of said chain carriers; bifurcated members on the portions of said arms which are adjacent said crossmembers, said members projecting in a leading direction with respect to said chain carriers; and fingers on said crossmem'bcrs alined horizontally with said bifurcated members and projecting in a trailing direction with respect to said chain carriers, each of said fingers being adapted during the travel of said chain carriers '7 to be positioned in the bifurcations of the next trailing member thereby to provide'support for the blanks standing between the rows of arms.

2. A mechanism for conveying disc-like blanks on their edges through a draw furnace and the like comprising, a plurality of tracks extending through said furnace; chain carriers adapted to traverse said tracks; horizontal cross-members connected rigidly to and supported by chain carriers, said cross-members being arranged transverse to the direction of travel of said chain carriers; and a plurality of generally T-shape article-supporting structures mounted on each cross-member at the junctures defined by the stems and the lateral arms of the Ts, said structures comprising rows of elongate upstanding arms supported by said cross-members; pairs of spaced members projecting from said arms in one direction from said cross-members; fingers alined horizontally with adjacent pairs of spaced members and projecting in another direction therefrom, each of said fingers normally lying between a pair of spaced members in intimate association therewith, said fingers and spaced members together providing substantial surface areas of support for blanks standing between said rows of arms.

3. A conveyor mechanism for moving disc-like blanks on their edges comprising, longitudinally extending chain carriers; spaced horizontal cross-members secured to and connecting said chain carriers, said cross-members and said chain carriers defining an articulated conveyor; and devices formaintaining the disc-like blanks on their edges on said conveyor comprising, a plurality of inverted generally T-shape articlesupporting structuresmounted on each of said cross-members at the junctions defined by the intersections of the stems and the cross-pieces of the Ts, said inverted T-shape structures on each cross-member being characterized by a row of upstanding rods, a row of horizontally. spaced arms arranged in pairs extending longitudinally of the conveyor from one side of the regions of said rods adjacent said cross-members, and a row of horizontally spaced fingers extending in another direction from the opposite side of said rods and arranged with each finger normally positioned between and in intimate association with a pair of arms of an adjacent T-shape structure, said associated pairs of arms and fingers defining supports having substantial surface areas for the articles standing'on edges between the rows of rods, thereby to prevent said articles contacting portions of the mechanism o'therthan the aforesaid inverted T-shape structures.

4. A conveyor mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the upstanding rods all incline in a forward direction for effecting the tilting of the articles at their upper regions to rest against the preceding leading row of rods.

5. A conveyor mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the rods are arranged in oblique inclined planes pointing in a leading direction for tilting the articles to rest against adjacent rows of rods; and the rows of fingers point in a trailing direction for positioning each finger in the bifurcation of the adjacent arm of the next succeeding row of assemblies.

zontal plane in said furnace; blocks secured to said chains and having seats therein; a plurality of horizontal transversely arranged cross bars fixed transversely in said seats; and a row of inverted generally T-shape disc supporting and tilting assemblies on each cross bar at the junctures defined by the stems and lateral members of the Ts, the stems of each T-shape being defined by an upstanding forwardly inclined arm anchored to across bar, and the cross member of each T-shape being defined by forwardly and rearwardly extending elements at the lower region of the arm, one of said elements being bifurcated to receive the oppositely extending element in a next adjacent row of assemblies; said T-shape assemblies together defining substantial areas for supporting the discs on their lower edges, and to effect the tilting of the discs forwardly against the arms of a preceding supporting assembly during transit of the conveyor through the furnace chamber.

'7. A mechanism for conveying dished cultivator discs on their edges and tilted in forwardly inclined planes during travel through a furnace chamber, comprising longitudinally extending carrier chains defining an articulated conveyor movable horizontally through the furnace; seat elements anchored to said chains; a plurality of horizontal cross bars fixed transversely in said seat elements; and a plurality of rows of inverted generally T-shape disc supporting and tilting assemblies on said cross bars, each row of supporting assemblies being comprised of parallel upstanding arms defining the stems of the T- shape, saidarms being anchored to a cross bar with their upper portions inclined in a leading direction; bifurcated members on said arms adjacent the cross bar of the assembly and projecting at right angles from said arms in a downward oblique plane towards the adjacent leading cross bar; and horizontal fingers projecting rearwardly of said arms and parallel to the line of travel of said conveyor, said fingers projecting toward the next trailing assembly in coactive relation with the bifurcated members thereof; said fingers and bifurcated members defining the cross members of the T-shape assemblies for providing substantial areas of support between the rows of arms for the lower edges of the discs, and the upstanding inclined arms being effective to tilt the discs forwardly thereby to position the upper regions of said discs against the next preceding inclined arms during transit of the conveyor through the furnace chamber.

ERNST R. KOPPEL. W. BRUCE CALDWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,330,099 Stoop Feb. 10, 1920 1,384,193 Hinchman July 12, 1921 1,420,705 Horvath June 27, 1922 1,784,229 Fox Dec. 9, 1930 2,022,088 Nelson Nov. 26, 1935 2,249,666 Rapley et al July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 476,388 Germany May 16, 1929

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