US3064584A - Overhead track-type conveying system - Google Patents

Description

' Nov. 20, 1962 R. s. ZEBARTH 3,064,584

OVERHEAD TRACK-TYPE CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 15, 1958 &"

V INVENTOR. R040@ 5. Zebaflfi? Uite States Patent fifice 3,064,584 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,584 OVERHEAD TRACK-TYPE CONVEYING SYSTEM Ralph S. Zebarth, Hickman Mills, Mm, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gordon iohnson Company, Kansas City, M0,, a corporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 780,593 Claims. (Cl. 104-93) This invention relates to conveying apparatus and particularly to a track assembly adapted to be secured to an overhead support for movably carrying a series of hanger units depending from the track assembly, whereby articles carried by the hanger units may be subjected to various processing operations.

The time required to process poultry has been materially decreased in recent years by suspending the birds from an overhead conveyor and thereby advancing the poultry along a predetermined path through the processing plant where the same are successively subjected to killing, bleeding, cleaning and dressing operations while such birds are suspended by their feet from shackles depending from the conveyor. Because of space limitations in the processing plant, the conveyor normally is of serpentine, longitudinal configuration with portions thereof in substantially parallel and/or perpendicular relationship and interconnected by curved end sections. Furthermore, in order to subject the birds to various processing machines as well as hand operations, it is necessary that the conveyor be disposed at difierent elevations along the longitudinal length thereof, with the hanger units carrying the poultry shackles and suspended from the con veyor, following the conveyor regardless of the manner in which the same curves or is disposed at various heights relative to the floor of the plant. Mechanism for maintaining the hanger units in predetermined spaced relationship and also serving to advance the same along the conveyor track, normally comprises a chain connected to the stems of the hanger units below the conveyor track in a manner to move the hanger units forwardly as the chain is advanced by suitable drive mechanism.

However, problems have been presented in the provision of an inexpensive conveyor track for carrying the hanger units without binding of the same, regardless of the curvature of the track and with the poultry suspended from the shackles secured to the hanger units, maintained in parallelism with the defined conveyor track.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the instant invention to provide a novel track assembly for carrying a plurality of hanger units depending therefrom and precluding binding of the hanger units regardless of the longitudinal curvature of the track assembly.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a track assembly employing elements readily available on the open market, thereby lowering the cost of the assembly with the latter being of such durability as to have a long useful life without frequent maintenance and easy to keep clean during continuous poultry process-v ing operations.

It is a still further important object to provide an improved track assembly of the character referred to above, utilizing components permitting rapid disassembly and assembly of the conveyor track as necessary to change the path of the conveyor system through the processing plant.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide a track assembly for a conveyor system wherein the major components of the assembly are formed of commercially available pipe readily attainable on the open market, thus permitting the strength of the track assembly to be proportioned to the load placed thereon by the simple expedient of utilizing pipe of proper diameter and wall thickness.

Another important aim of the invention is to provide a track assembly as described above, including improved means for interconnecting a pair of pipe track members disposed in abutting, end-to-cnd relationship, with the interconnection means being disposed to clear rollers on the hanger units and engaging the normally uppermost surface of the track members.

Other important objects of the invention relate to the provision of improved bracket structure for securing curved portions of the track members and lying in a horizontal plane, from an overhead support and without interfering with advancement of the hanger units suspended trom the track assembly; to guide means secured to the track members at each arcuate section thereof lying in a substantially vertical plane, for causing the rollers on the hanger units to substantially follow a path of travel defined by the track members, notwithstanding the fact that the chain interconnecting the stems of the hanger units tends to assume a straight line as the hanger units advance along such upwardly or downwardly curved section of the track assembly; and to other important objects and details of construction of the present invention Which will become obvious or be explained more fully as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

FEGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an overhead track-type conveying system embodying the novel track assembly of the present invention therein, an arcuate section of the track assembly of 180 curvature being shown;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the conveyor system shown in FIG. 1, certain components of the system being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction thereof and a vertically curved section of the track assembly being illustrated in detail;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another segment of the track assembly and showing an arcuate section of the track assembly of substantially curvature;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the segment of the conveyor system illustrated in FIG. 3;

' FIG. 5 is an enlarged, substantially vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of another portion of the track assembly and illustrating details of novel means for releasably interconnecting certain of the track members disposed in abutting, end-toend relationship.

An overhead track-type conveying system designated generally by the numeral 10 in the drawing is particularly adapted for carrying a plurality of hanger units 12 in depending relationship thereto and suspended from a track assembly broadly designated 14 and adapted to be secured to an overhead support such as the rafters or equivalent structure. As previously pointed out, conveying system 10 is especially adapted to be employed in a poultry processing plant wherein it is required that track assembly 14 extend along a predetermined, substantially serpentine path through the plant, with birds depending from shackles (not shown) mounted in depending relationship from respective hanger units 12.

Each of the hanger units 12 thereby includes a substantially Y-shaped main body having a stem 16 and a pair of legs 18 inte ral with the uppermost end of a respective stem 16 and upwardly diverging as the ends thereof remote from corresponding stems 16 are approached. Opposed, spaced rollers 20 rotatably mounted on the uppermost ends of legs 18 of each hanger unit 12 by bolt and nut means 22, are disposed for rotation on intersecting, angularly disposed axes. The outer, circumferentially extending, track engaging margin 24 of each of the rollers 20 is transversely convex, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, for reasons to be more specifically defined hereinafter.

' Stem 16 of each hanger unit 12 terminates at its 3. lowermost end in a fiat, polygonal projection 26 adapted to receive a link 28 forming a part of elongated, flexible advancing structure in the nature of an ordinary chain 30. The projection 26 of each stem 16, represents downwardly facing shoulders that limit the extent of upward movement of the link 28 in engagement therewith, and a substantially U-shaped retainer 32 is employed to hold respective links 28' in place on stems 16 against corresponding shou'iders presented by projections 26. Bolt means '34 releasably connects respective retainers 32 to stems 26, while eyelets 36 swingably suspended from retainers 32 are adapted to receive the uppermost ends of respective shackles, in turn carrying the poultry to be processed.

Track assembly 14 carying hanger units 12 in depending relationship thereto and in horizontally spaced relationship, includes an elongated tubular member 38, preferably of substantially circular cross-section and thereby constituting a length of pipe commercially avail able on the open market of dilferent materials, diameters and wall thicknesses, so as to permit selection of a pipe of properphysical characteristics to bear the load placed thereon insafety and at a miniumum cost.

In FIG. 1,'tubular member 38 is bent longitudinally v thereofto present an arcuate section 40 of substantially 186 curvature and integral with parallel, horizontally spaced rectilinear lengths 42 and 44. i It is to be noted that section 40 and the portions of lengths 42 and 44 adjacent thereto lie'in a common horizontal plane and are suspended from an overhead support (not shown) by structure'including an elongated, longitudinally arcuate web 46 weldedto the normally uppermost surface of tubular member 38 in an upright position and intermediate, opposed, outermost side extremities of section 40 of tubular member 38, whereby rollers 20 clear web 46 during, advancement of hanger units 12.- Web 46, substantially coincidental in length with section 40, is of 'suflicient height to cause the uppermost arcuate edge 48 thereof to be disposed above the upper peripheries of rollers 20 when hanger units 12 are disposed on tubular member 38, and a semi-circular plate 50 is' joined to web 46 with the arcuate margin 52 thereof complemental with and welded to edge 48 of web 46. Rectilinear' margin 54 of plate 58 interconnects opposed extremities of web 46' in proximity to the zones of juncture of the 7 ends ofsection 46 with integral lengths 42 and 44;

A plurality or horizontally spaced, upright tubular brackets 56 are welded to the uppermost face of plate 50 and are adapted to be secured to the overhead support referred to above for suspending section 40 and lengths 42 and'44 of tubular member 38 in predetermined, vertical, spaced relationship to such overhead support.

It is to be preferred that an idler wheel 58 be suspended from plate 50 by a vertical shaft 60 and in a position to receive chain 30 in the normally horizontally disposed groove 62 thereof. Although chain 30 and stems. 16, are illustrated in spaced relationship to idler wheel 58 in FIG. 2 of the drawing, it is to be understood that during forward advancement of chain '30, hanger units 12 are swung inwardly a slight distance about the longitudinal axis of tubular member 38 to thereby cause chain 30 and stem 16 to engage idler wheel 58. This limited movement of stems 16 toward idler wheel 58 prevents binding of the innermostof rollers 20 on respective legs 18 as such rollers 20 move on arcuate section 40 of tubular member 38.

The longitudinally arcuate section 64 of tubular member 38 in spaced relationship to section 40 and constituting a segment of 90 curvature is thereby integral with rectilinear lengths 66 and 68 of tubular member 38. A wall similar to web 46 described above and denominated 70 is welded to the uppermost surface of section 64 and adjacent portionsof lengths 66 and 68-01: tubular member 38, with a horizontal plate 72 being welded to the uppermost edge 74 of wall 70. Arcuate. margin 76 of plate 72 is complemental with wall 79, while polygonal margin 78 of plate 72 interconnects opposed extremities of margin 76 and thereby wall 70. Idler wheel 88 carried beneath and by plate 72 for rotation on a vertical axis is of the same diameter as idler wheel 58 and is adapted to engage chain 38 and stems 16 of hanger units 12 in a manner as described above. Tubular brackets 82 welded to the uppermost face of plate 72 and extending upwardly therefrom are also adapted to be secured to the defined overhead support for maintaining the components carried thereby in predetermined vertically spaced relationship to the ceiling of the building.

As previously pointed out, it is desirable that certain lengths of tubular member 38 be disposed at different elevations to thereby permit the birds suspended from hanger units 12 to be subjected to various processing operations and therefore, section 84 of tubular member 38 illustrated in FIG. 2, is bent upwardly relative to rectilinear length 42 and is integral at is uppermost end with a second rectilinear length 86 lying in a substantially vertical plane with length 42, whereby arcuate section 84 is substantially S-shaped in longitudinal configuration and lies in a common plane with lengths 42 and 86. Because of the tendency of chain '30 to assume a sub stantially rectilinear disposition when adjacent section 84 of tubular member 38, it is desirable that the normally lowermost portion of tubular member 38 at section 84 thereof be bent toward the normally upwardly facing, transversely convex surface 88. In this manner, the

normal lowermost longitudinal segment 90 of section 84 is in proximity to and complemental with upper convex portion 88 of section 84 and the latter is of subsection 84 and adjacent portions of lengths 42 and 86' of tubular member 38 for preventing chain 30 from moving the uppermost ends of stems 16 into frictional engagement with the lower surface of tubular member 38; Guide means 92 is substantially T-shaped in transverse cross-section and includes an elongated wall 94 of longitudinal configuration complemental with that of section 84 and adjacent portions of lengths 42 and 86; The lowermost, substantially S-shaped edge 96 of wall 94 is welded to the uppermost surface of section 84 and the portion of length 42 adjacent thereto, it being noted that wall 94 is in an upright position clearing rollers 20 of respective hanger units 12 as thesameare advanced along tubular member 38. Elongated guide panel. 98

secured to the uppermost margin 180 of wallr94 com-Y 7 distance between the upper surface of section 84 and the upper peripheries of rollers 20, whereby such rollers move away from section 84 of tubular member 38 and into engagement with the lower face of panel 98 when chain 30 tends to assume a substantially rectilinear configuration adjacent S-shaped section 84. Gpposed ends 7 104 and 106 of guide panel 98 are bent upwardly away from tubular member 38 in order to assure movement of rollers 20 into the area betwen S-shaped section 84 and guide panel 98.

Although tubular member 38 could be of one-piece construction throughout the entire length of conveyor system 10, it is particularly contemplated that member 38 constitute a number of sections of pipe such as 108 and 110 disposed in abutting, end-to-end relationship and interconnected by means broadly numerated 112. In this manner, track assembly 14 may be constructed of a number of pipe sections available readily on the open market and thereby materially decreasing the overall cost of the conveying system. One of the sections of pipe such as 110 is provided with an opening 114 in the normally uppermost surface thereof adjacent a proximal end of the other section of pipe 108, while a solid, cylindrical plug 116 is partially telescoped with in each of the abutting ends of pipe sections 108 and 110. The end of plug 116 disposed within pipe section 110 is provided with a tapped passage 118 aligned with opening 114 and adapted to complementally receive the externally threaded end 120 of interconnecting means 112. Enlarged, cylindrical segment 122 integral with the uppermost end of end 120 and of greater diameter, limits movement of end 120 into passage 118 while frustoconical head 124, joined to the uppermost portion of segment 122, serves as means for releasably receiving a tubular bracket 126 also in turn adapted to be secured to the overhead support of the processing plant. It is to be noted that frusto-conical head 124 increases in diameter as tubular bracket 126 is approached to thereby provide clearance for rollers 20 on hanger units 12 as the same are advanced along track assembly 14. Interconnecting means 112 thereby serves to not only connect respective plugs 116 to pipe sections such as 110, but also serves as support means for suspending track assembly 14 from the overhead structure of the plant. The ends of pipe sections 168 and 110 disposed in abutting relationship are spot welded as at 128 adjacent the lower surfaces of such pipe sections, to thereby provide firm interconnection of adjacent ends of the defined pipes. By utilizing spot welding at the lower surfaces of such abutting pipe sections, the pipes may be readily disconnected when desired by merely grinding ofi the spot weld and furthermore, such means of interconnection does not interfere with the smooth, transversely convex surface presented by pipe sections 108 and 110 and defining tubular member 38 of track assembly 14. Furthermore, plugs 116, telescoped within opposed ends of pipe sections 108 and 119, maintain the same in perfect axial alignment, notwithstanding the fact that adjacent ends of pipe sections 108 and 110 are interconnected only by a spot weld at the bottom surfaces of such sections.

It is believed that the operation and advantageous features of track assembly 14 have been adequately described above, but in further amplication, it is to be understood that as chain 30 is advanced by suitable power operated mechanism, hangar units 12 are moved forwardly therewith at the same rate of speed, causing rollers 20 to move on the smooth, transversely convex upper surface of tubular member 38. A line contact is thereby presented between each roller 20 and tubular member 38, regardless of the longitudinal configuration of tubular member 38 and thus preventing binding of any of the hanger units 12 as the same are advanced along track assembly 14.

Furthermore, guide means 92 operates to maintain hanger units 12 and thereby the shackles depending from the same in a line substantially conforming to the configuration of tubular member 38, notwithstanding the fact that chain 30 tends to assume a rectilinear line adjacent S-shaped section 84 of tubular member 38. The spacing between guide panel 98 and the upper arcuate surface of tubular member 38 adjacent thereto which is slightly greater than the normal distance between tubular member 38 and the upper peripheries of rollers 20, prevents jamming of such rollers between the upper arcuate surface of section 84 and the lower curved surface of guide panel 98.

The novel means 112 for interconnecting abutting ends of pipe sections 108 and 110 also permits quick assembly of track assembly 14 and serves to support the latter in predetermined relationship relative to the overhead support and the floor of the plant. In addition, interconnecting means 112 provides firm joinder of abutting ends of pipe sections 108 and 110, yet permits ready disassembly of tubular member 38 whenever desired in order to relocate track assembly 14 or replace certain components thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a track assembly for suspending from an overhead support a plurality of spaced, Y-shaped hanger units, each having a stem, a pair of upwardly diverging legs connected to the stem and rollers mounted on the upper ends of said legs for rotation on intersecting, angularly disposed axes, said stems of the units being interconnected by flexible structure for imparting movement to the units as said structure is moved, said track assembly comprising an elongated member of a diameter to be received between said legs of the units and having a curved section and a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing, transversely convex surface adapted to receive said rollers in supporting relationship to said units, the portions of said member at each end of the section thereof lying in vertically spaced relationship, said section being of lesser vertical height than that of the portions of the member adjacent opposed ends of the section to thereby clear the upper parts of the stems as the structure is moved in a direction to cause the rollers to roll on said surface from one portion of the member to the other portion thereof via said section; and means connected to said member at said section thereof for securing the latter to said overhead support, said means including an elongated web of longitudinally arcuate configuration complemental with and secured to the upwardly facing convex surface of said section, said web being positioned to clear said rollers as the latter roll longitudinally of the member on said surface.

2. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided guide means connected to the central portion of said surface of the section for limiting movement of the rollers in a vertical direction away from said surface and thereby said stems toward the member as the units are moved from said one portion of themember to said other portion thereof via said section.

3. A track assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide means is substantially T-shaped in crosssection and includes an elongated wall of longitudinally arcuate configuration complemental with the curvature of said section, said wall being secured to said surface of the section in a normally upright position clearing said rollers as the latter roll longitudinally of the member on said surface, and an elongated, normally horizontally disposed guide panel secured to the upper margin of the wall intermediate opposed longitudinal extremities of the panel.

4. A track assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein opposed ends of said panel extending outwardly from respective ends of the wall are bent upwardly to guide the rollers into the area between said panel and the member as the units are advanced by said structure.

5. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is tubular in configuration, the normally lower segment of said section being bent inwardly to a position wherein the same is transversely convex in configuration and disposed in proximal, complemental relationship to said convex surface thereabove to thereby decrease the vertical height of said section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,551 Northcutt Nov. 19, 1889 481,349 Ferris Aug. 23, 1892 (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Grey Oct. 17, 1899 Huntley Oct. 23, 1906 Coghlin Nov. 4, 1919 Fergusson Feb. 5, 1924 Chalmer Feb. 2, 1926 Beaumont Feb. 16, 1926 Kennedy Dec. 16, 1930 Francis Sept. 13, 1932 10 8 Harris- Aug. 8, 1939 Dahlberg- 2 May 16, 1950 Calder Sept. 16, 1952 Hinskenet a1-- ;Apr-. 16, 1957' Weiss -Aug. 11, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 22, 1956- Germany May 30, 1901 Sweden Mar. 27, 1895-

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