US3708059A

US3708059A - Convey system and attachments therefor

Info

Publication number: US3708059A
Application number: US00189203A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Ackermann
Original assignee: Velten & Pulver
Current assignee: Velten & Pulver; Velten & Pulver Inc us
Priority date: 1971-10-14
Filing date: 1971-10-14
Publication date: 1973-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-02

Abstract

An endless conveyor system comprises upper and lower pairs of laterally spaced-apart guide rails respectively supporting therebetween the support and return reaches of an articulated roller chain conveyor including lengths joined by connecting pins, a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart attachments carried by the conveyor, each attachment including a bracket having a base and a pair of depending legs each provided with a laterally outwardly extending support flange, the tops of the legs extending longitudinally beyond the base ends and cooperating therewith to define a pair of support seats, a retainer plate disposed beneath the base and between the legs, and a support rod bent to form an elongated loop having the elongated sides thereof respectively disposed in the support seat and attached to the retaining plate, thereby holding the attachment parts together and substantially immovable with respect to each other, the rods cooperating to define a conveyor apron and to support the conveyor along its support reach and the support flanges cooperating to support the conveyor along its return reach.

Description

i United States Patent 1 [111 3,708,059 Ackermann 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] CONVEY SYSTEM AND [57] ABSTRACT ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR An endless conveyor system comprises upper and [75] Inventor: Herman Ackermann, Richton Park, lower pairs of laterally spaced-apart guide rails respec- Ill. 60471 tively supporting therebetween the support and return reaches of an articulated roller chain conveyor includ- [73] Assigneez Velteni & Plllvel, -a Chlcago ing lengths joined by connecting pins, a plurality of Ridge, longitudinally spaced-apart attachments carried by the [76] Inventor: Herman Ackermann 223391 conveyor, each attachmentincluding a bracket having Ridgeway Avenue Richton Park a base and a pair of depending legs each provided with L 60471 a laterally outwardly extending support flange, the tops of the legs extending longitudinally beyond the Filed: 1971 base ends and cooperating therewith to define a pair [21] APPL NOJ 189,203 of support seats, a retainer plate disposed beneath the base and between the legs, and a support rod bent to form an elongated loop having the elongated sides [52] US. Cl 198/189 thereof respectively disposed in the support Seat and [5 [13ttt h d t th t i i pl t th r b the at- [58] Field of Search ..l98/l89, 195 tachmem parts together and substantially immovable with respect to each other, the rods cooperating to [56] References cued define a conveyor apron and to support the conveyor UNITED STATES PATENTS along its support reach and the support flanges cooperating to support the conveyor along its return 3,669,247 6/1972 Pulver ..19s 195 x reach,

Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka 15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Attorney-Prangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel I00 I50 I57 1 f I I '1: I 1 j J t\\ l\ I26 153 M I57 74 70 34 l 7Z.//' q F 250 73 I57 256 7/ 4 1 257 l :L k \1 l/ 3/ (IONVEY SYSTEM AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR The present invention relates to conveyor systems and, more particularly, to attachments for use with an articulated roller chain conveyor for supporting food products and the like thereon.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an articulated roller chain conveyor system including attachments removably mounted thereon, the at tachments including laterally extending support rods for supporting the conveyor on adjacent guide rails and for supporting food articles to be conveyed along the conveyor.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between the guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond the links, a, plurality of attachments engageable with the roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of the attachments including a mounting bracket having a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a support member carried by the mounting bracket, the legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, the legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from the base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of the pins therein to mount the attachment on the roller chain, the upper ends of the legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of the base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, the support member being coupled to the base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in the support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of the base for engagement with the guide rails, the support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support the attachments and the roller chain on the guide rails.

It is another object of this invention to provide a conveyor system of the type set forth, which includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart upper guide rails and a pair of laterally spaced-apart lower guide rails, the roller chain conveyor having a support reach disposed between the upper guide rails and a return reach disposed between the lower guide rails, each of the mounting brackets including a pair of support flanges respectively extending laterally outwardly from the legs for engagement with the lower guide rails along the return reach of the conveyor, whereby the support flanges cooperate to support the attachments and the conveyor on the lower guide rails along the return each of the conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor system of the type set forth, wherein each of the attachments further includes a retainer plate which is generally rectangular in shape and has a width slightly less than the lateral distance between the legs and a length substantially greater than the longitudinal distance between the support seats, the plate having raised attachment surfaces respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, the retainer plate being disposed in use beneath the base and between the legs with the attachment surfaces being respectively disposed longitudinally outwardly beyond the adjacent ends of the base and extending upwardly a slight distance above the upper ends of the legs, the support arms being attached to the attachment surfaces of the retainer plate, whereby the mounting bracket and the support arms and the retainer plate all cooperate for holding one another in an assembled condition substantially immovable with respect to one another.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a I conveyor system of the type set forth, and further including abutment members respectively carried by each support member adjacent to the lateral ends thereof andextending vertically upwardly therefrom for limiting movement of the conveyed foods and the like transversely of the conveyor.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the conveyor system whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a conveyor system constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the cooperation between the conveyor attachments and the guide rails of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are fragmentary views, similar to FIG. 2, and respectively illustrating the opposite lateral ends of the support rods constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the remainder of a conveyor system being constructed and arranged exactly as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged top plan view of one of the attachments of the present invention, with portions of the support arm broken away;

FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged side elevational view in partial section of one of the attachments of the present invention, and illustrating the cooperation between the attachment and the lengths of the roller chain conveyor;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the mounting bracket and retaining plate of the attachment shown in FIG. 4, as viewed from the right-hand end thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective partially exploded view in partial section of the attachment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the return reach of the conveyor system of FIG. 1 illustrating the cooperation between the attachment support flanges and the leading edge of the lower support rail.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a conveyor system generally indicated at 20 including a sprocket 25 and a support frame 40 for supporting an articulated roller chain conveyor 30 which in turn includes a plurality of attachments generally indicated at engageable with the conveyor 30 and adapted for carrying foods and the like thereon along a portion of the conveyance course.

The conveyor 30 is supported at least in part by the sprocket rotatably mounted in the usual manner on a shaft 24 and driven in the direction of the arrow thereon in FIG. 1, the sprocket 25 carrying teeth 26 around the periphery thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the conveyor 30 consists of a conventional type of roller chain conveyor including articulated links in the form of interconnected alternately arranged roller links 31 and pin links 32. Each roller link 31 is comprised of a pair of plates 33 which are held in parallel spaced relationship by a pair of transversely disposed sleeves (not shown), the ends of which are pressed into holes (not shown) formed in the plates 33 near the respective ends thereof to form a substantially rectangular configuration. Each sleeve carries a roller 34 which is rotatably mounted thereon and fitted between the respective plates 33 in such a manner as to be freely rotatable on the sleeves, the rollers 34 of each roller link 31 being spaced for rolling engagement with the cooperating teeth 26 of the sprocket 25.

The successive roller links 31 of the roller chain conveyor 30 are interconnected by pin links 32 held in parallel spaced relationship by a pair of pins 35 the ends of which are placed into and through holes in the pin links 32 near the respective ends thereof. Each of the pairs of pin links 32 is attached to adjacent roller links 31 and the pins 35 pass through and are journalled in the hollow sleeves of adjacent roller links 31 in a manner to effect pivotal connections therebetween permitting articulation of the links of the chain. The pins 35 protrude laterally for a short distance beyond the outer surfaces of the pin links 32 to accommodate the engagement of the attachments 100 thereon.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sprocket 25 and other support structures not illustrated support and maintain the articulated roller chain conveyor 30 to provide a support reach 60 along which foods and the like are supported, and a return reach 80 along which the attachments 100 return for further use in supporting articles along the conveyance course.

The support frame is illustrated in FIG. 1, and in greater detail in FIG. 3 of the drawings, and is shown to include a plurality of vertical support bars 41 which are spaced apart and adapted to support guide rails thereon upon which the roller chain conveyor 30 is in turn supported. The support bars 41 may be mounted on or carried by a table (not shown) or, alternatively, the support bars 41 may be supported by the ground or suspended from any suitable structure, the particular manner of constructing the support frame 40 being primarily dependent upon the overall system in which the conveyor system is to be employed. Respectively secured as by welding to the inner surfaces of the support bars 41 adjacent to the upper ends thereof are a pair of generally channel-shaped upper guide rails 50, the lower ends of the guide bars 41 similarly respectively carrying lower guide rails 70 similarly secured thereto by any suitable means such as weldments. The upper and

lower guide rails

50 and 70 are each respectively spaced apart a predetermined distance in order to accommodate the conveyor 30 and the attachments 100 mounted thereon between the respective guide rails.

The upper guide rails 50 extend longitudinally of the conveyor system 20 substantially parallel to and in horizontal alignment with each other. Each of the upper guide rails 50 includes a generally vertically extending bight portion 51 secured to the inner surface of the adjacent support bar 41, and top and

bottom flanges

52 and 53 respectively integral with the bight portion 51 at the upper and lower edges thereof and extending inwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto. The inner ends of the top and

bottom flanges

52 and 53 are disposed substantially in vertical alignment and are respectively laterally spaced from the inner ends of the top and

bottom flanges

52 and 53 of the other upper guide rail 50 by a predetermined distance sufficient to accommodate the roller chain conveyor 30 therebetween, as will be described more fully below. Each of the top flanges 52 has a flat substantially horizontal top bearing surface 54, the bearing surfaces 54 preferably cooperating to define a common support plane. In use, the upper guide rail 50 cooperate to support thereon the support reach 60 of the conveyor system 20 in a manner to be described below.

Similarly, the lower guide rails are constructed and arranged as mirror images of one another, the rails 70 extending longitudinally of the conveyor system 20 respectively in vertical alignment with the upper guide rails 50 and substantially parallel to and in horizontal alignment with each other, Each of the lower guide rails 70 includes a generally vertically extending bight portion 71 secured to the inner surface of the adjacent vertical support bar 41 and top and

bottom flanges

72 and 73 respectively integral with the bight portion 71 at the upper and lower edges thereof and extending inwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto. The inner ends of the top and

bottom flanges

72 and 73 of the lower guide rail 70 are disposed substantially in vertical alignment with each other and with the inner ends of the

flanges

52 and 53 of the associated upper guide rail 50. Each of the top flanges 72 is provided with a flat substantially horizontal top bearing surface 74, the bearing surfaces 74 cooperating to define a common horizontal support plane and to support the return reach of the conveyor system 20 in a manner to be described more fully below. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the leading end of each of the roller guide rails 70 is downturned slightly as at 75 and is provided with generally arcuate tapered edges 76.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3 through 7 of the drawings, there is disclosed a conveyor attachment, generally designated by the numeral 100, for use with the conveyor'30. Each of the attachments includes a mounting bracket 110, a retaining plate 140 and a support rod 150. The mounting bracket is generally U-shaped and includes a flat generally rectangular base having a top surface 111 and a bottom surface 112, the opposite side edges thereof being respectively provided with two downturned flanges 1 13 integral with the base 115 and extending therefrom substantially normal thereto. Extending between the top and bottom surfaces 111 and 112 at the opposite ends of the base 115 are leading and trailing

edge surfaces

114 and 116. Integral with each of the downturned flanges 113 and extending downwardly therefrom in alignment therewith are two identically constructed legs, each generally designated by the numeral 120, the legs being disposed substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance. Each of the legs 120 includes a flat inner surface 121 and a flat outer surface 122, the leg 120 extending longitudinally outwardly beyond the leading and

trailing edges

114 and 116 of the base 115 and being provided with upper edges 123 respectively integral with the leading and

trailing edges

114 and 116 at the bottom of the adjacent downturned flanges 113. The upper edges 123 of the legs 120 respectively cooperate with the leading and

trailing edges

114 and 116 of the bracket base 115 to define a pair of support seats 128 for a purpose to be described below.

Each of the legs 120 is generally rectangular in shape, with the lower end edges thereof converging downwardly as at 124. Extending through each of the legs 120 is a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart and horizontally aligned pin mounting holes 125 disposed substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the leg 120. An access hole 126 disposed adjacent to the lower end of the leg 120 midway between the opposite end edges thereof, and a relatively small construction hole 127 is disposed adjacent to the upper end of the leg 120 in vertical alignment with the access hole 126 Each of the

openings

125, 126 and 127 in each leg 120 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the corresponding opening in the other leg 120.

Integral with each of the legs 120 at the bottom end thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto is a support flange, generally designated by the numeral 130. The support flange 130 is shaped generally in the form of a shallow inverted V having two inclined halves 131 meeting adjacent to the bottom of the access opening 126, each of the halves 131 having a flat planar inclined upper surface 135 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

The retaining plate 140 is generally rectangular in shape and is disposed in use beneath the base 115 and between the legs 120 of the mounting bracket 110, the retaining plate 140 having a length substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the legs 120 and having a width only slightly less than the lateral distance between the inner surfaces 121 of the legs 120. Thus, the legs 120 cooperate substantially to prevent the lateral movement of the retaining plate 140 therebetween/The retaining plate 140 has a generally rectangular raised center section 141 having an upper surface 142 shaped and arranged in use substantially congruent with the bottom surface 112 of the mounting bracket base 115. Integral with the center section 141 and respectively extending outwardly from the opposite ends thereof are two pairs of laterally spacedapart generally convex attachment ridges 145, each pair of ridges 145 being integral with and laterally spaced-apart by an intervening flat recess or valley 146. The dimensions of the retaining plate 140 are such that when the top surface 142 of the center section 141 is disposed in engagement with the bottom surface 112 of the mounting bracket base 115, the top of the convex attachment ridges 145 will extend a slight distance above the top edges 123 of the arms 120, all for a purpose to be described more fully below.

The support rod 150 is elongated and substantially circular in transverse cross-section, the rod 150 being bent to form an elongated loop, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The loop comprises two generally parallel elongated transversely extending portions or

arms

154 and 156 interconnected at the opposite ends thereof by arcuate end portions 157. Preferably, the

free ends

151 and 152 of the rod 150 are brought together midway along one of the transverse portions 156' and, if desired, the

free ends

151 and 152 may be welded together to form a closed loop.

In assembling the attachment 1011), support rod 150 is disposed atop the mounting bracket 110, with the transversely extending

arms

154 and 156 respectively disposed in the support seats 128, resting upon the upper edges 123 of the legs 120 and engaging the leading and trailing

end edges

114 and 116 of the mounting bracket base 115. The retaining plate 140 is then inserted in position beneath the base 115 and between the legs 120, with the attachment surfaces 145 thereof disposed in engagement with the transversely extending

portions

154 and 156 of the support rod 150. After the support rod 150 is centered with respect to the mounting bracket 110, the transversely extending

arms

154 and 156 are respectively welded to each of the adjacent attachment ridges 145 of the retaining plate 140. With the parts thus assembled, it will be appreciated that the mounting bracket 110, the retaining plate 140 and the support member 150 all cooperate to hold one another in this assembled condition and substantially immovable with respect to one another, More particularly, the engagement of the transversely extending

arms

154 and 156 with the leading and trailing

end edges

114 and 116 of the mounting bracket base 115 prevents longitudinal movement of the mounting arm 150 and the attached retaining plate 140 with respect to the mounting bracket the close fit between. the retaining plate 140 and the mounting bracket legs 120 prevents lateral movement of the retaining plate and the attached support member 150 with respect to the mounting bracket 110; engagement of the

support member arms

154 and 156 with the upper edges 123 of the mounting bracket arms 120 and the engagement of the top surface 142 of the retaining plate 140 with the bottom surface 112 of the mounting bracket base all cooperate to prevent vertical movement of the retaining plate 140 and the attachment support member 150 with respect to the mounting, bracket 110; and weldments between the retaining plate 140 and the support member 150 prevent any movement thereof with respect to each other.

The operation of the conveyor system 20 will now be described in detail. Preferably, the mounting bracket 110 is integrally formed of a single piece of material, such as metal, the legs being resiliently urged together toward a normal rest position, wherein the inner surfaces 121 thereof are laterally spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the connecting pins 35 of the conveyor 30. In mounting the attachment 100 on the conveyor 30, the legs 120 are spread apart to clear the ends of the connecting pins 135 and the mounting bracket 1 10 is then lowered over an adjacent one of the roller links 31 until the opposite ends of the connecting pins 35 thereof respectively snap into the corresponding pinholes in the mounting bracket legs 120, whereupon the legs 120 return to their normal position for securely holding the mounting bracket 1 10 in place on the conveyor link 31. It will be noted that the pin holes 125 are spaced a sufficient distance below the upper end of the mounting bracket 110 so that clearance is provided between the bottom of the retainer plate 140 and the tops of the lengths of the conveyor 30. Preferably, each of these roller links 31 is provided with an attachment 100, as is best illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the support members 150 of the attachments 100 are disposed in engagement with the bearing surfaces 54 of the upper guide rails 50 for thereby supporting the support reach 60 of the conveyor 30 on the guide rails 50. In like manner, the guide flanges 130 of the attachments 100 are respectively disposed in engagement with the bearing surfaces 74 of the lower guide rail 70 for thereby supporting the attachments 100 and the conveyor 30 along the return reach thereof. As was described above, the leading ends of the guide rail 70 are downturned at 75, to facilitate the guiding of the support flanges 130 onto the bearing surfaces 74. Thus, referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 7, it will be seen that as the attachments 100 pass from the drive sprocket 25 to the lower guide rail 70, the leading inclined guide surface 135 on the support flange 130 will cooperate with the tapered end 76 of the guide rail bearing surface 74 to prevent snagging of the attachment flange 130 on the leading end of the guide rail 70.

It will be appreciated that when thus attached in position on the conveyor 30, the support members 150 all cooperate to define a substantially continuous conveyor apron for supporting foods and the like or other articles to be conveyed along the system 20. It will be understood that, because the conveyor 30 is positively supported along both the support and return reaches thereof on the guide rails 50 and 70, the conveyor apron may effectively be prevented from coming in contact with adjacent equipment which might contaminate the support members 150.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 28, there is illus trated a second embodiment of the support member, generally designated by the numeral 250. The support member 250 is an elongated rod arranged to form an elongated loop similar to the support member 150, but the support member 250 is substantially longer than the support member 150 and extends laterally outwardly thereof, and if superimposed on FIG. 2 would extend outwardly to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The support rod 250 includes elongated transversely extending

arm portions

254 and 256 interconnected at the opposite ends thereof by arcuate end portions 257. Each of the transversely extending

arms

254 and 256 is bent upwardly adjacent to each of the opposite ends thereof to form a projection or ridge 255, the ridge 255 cooperating to limit lateral movement of conveyed articles with respect to the conveyor 30 and thereby retain the conveyed articles on the conveyor apron along the support reach of the conveyor. Preferably, in this embodiment, the conveyor system 20 is provided with a pair of auxiliary upper support rails 260 respectively disposed laterally outwardly of the support bars 41 and extending longitudinally of the conveyor 30 and a pair of auxiliary lower support rails 265 respectively disposed beneath the lower guide rails 70 and substantially in vertical alignment with the auxiliary support rails 260. In use, the auxiliary support rails 260 and 265'are disposed in sliding engagement with the arcuate ends 257 of the support members 250 laterally outwardly of the retaining ridges 255.

Preferably, the mounting bracket is constructed of annealed and nickel-plated spring steel, while the retainer plate and the support members and 250 are formed of stainless steel. It will be appreciated, however, that other materials could be used, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an improved conveyor system and, in particular, a novel conveyor attachment.

More specifically, there has been provided a threepiece conveyor attachment including a mounting bracket, a retainer plate and an elongated support rod, all assembled together so as to be substantially immovable with respect to one another and adapted to be removably mounted on a roller chain conveyor.

In addition, there has been provided a conveyor system wherein the attachment support rods cooperate to define a conveyor apron and to support the attachments and the roller chain conveyor upon associated guide rolls along the support reach of the conveyor, the attachment having support flanges which cooperate to support the attachments and the roller chain on associated guide rails along the return reach of the conveyor.

Finally, two embodiments of the support rod of the conveyor attachment have been provided.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the in vention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between said guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket having a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a support member carried by said mounting bracket, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said support member being coupled to said base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said guide rails, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said roller chain on said guide rails.

2. The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket is integrally constructed of a single piece of material.

3. The conveyorsystem set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper ends of said legs are disposed a predetermined distance below the top of said base and respectively cooperate with the opposite end edges of said baseto define shoulders which form said support seats.

4. The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a single-piece rod formed in the shape of an elongated loop, the opposite elongated sides of said loop comprising said support arms.

5, The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a single-piece rod bent to form an elongated loop, the opposite ends of said rod being joined together for closing said loop, the opposite elongated sides of said loop forming said support arms.

6. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart upper guide rails and. a pair of laterally spaced-apart lower guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor having a support reach disposed between said upper guide rails and a return reach disposed between said lower guide rails, said conveyor including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket and a support member carried by said mounting bracket, said mounting bracket including a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a pair of support flanges respectively extending laterally outwardly from said legs for engagement with said lower guide rails along the return reach of said conveyor, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said support member being coupled to said base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said upper guide rails along the support reach ofsaid conveyor, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said conveyor on said upper guide rails along the support reach of said conveyor while said support flanges cooperate to support said attachments and said conveyor on said lower guide rails along the return reach of said conveyor.

7. The conveyor system set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said lower guide rails is provided at one end thereof with a tapered guide surface, each of said support flanges having an inclined guide surface thereon adapted for cooperation with the tapered surface on the adjacentone of said lower guide rails to facilitate the guiding of said support flanges onto said lower guide rails along the return reach of the conveyor.

8. The conveyor system set forth in claim 6, wherein said mounting bracket is integrally constructed of a single piece of material.

9. A conveyor system for carrying foodsand the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between said guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting. pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket and a retainer plate and a support member mounted on said retainer plate, said mounting bracket including a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom, said legs respectively being provided with substantially [parallelfacing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apartsupport'seats, said retainer plate being generally rectangular in shape with a width slightly less than the lateral distance between said legs and a length substantially greater than the longitudinal distance between said support seats having raised attachment surfaces respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, said retainer plate being disposed in use beneath said base and between said legs with said attachment surfaces being respectively disposed longitudinally outwardly beyond the adjacent ends of said base and extending upwardly a slight distance above the upper ends of said legs, said support member including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats inengagement with'the opposite ends of said base and attached to the attachment surfaces of said retainerplate and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said guide rails, said mounting bracket and said support arms and said retainer plate all cooperating for holding one another in an assembled condition substantially immovable with respect to one another, said supportarms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associatedfoods and the like, thereon and to support said attachments and said rollervchain on said guide rails.

10; The conveyor system set forth in claim 9, wherein said raised attachment surfaces are generally arcuate in shape, said retainer plate including two of said attachment surfaces adjacent to each of said support seats and laterally spaced apart with respect thereto.

11. The conveyor system set forth in claim 9, wherein the upper ends of said legs are disposed a predetermined distance below the top of said base and respectively cooperate with the opposite end edges of said base to define shoulders which form said support seat.

12. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between said guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket having a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a support member carried by said mounting bracket, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said support member being coupled to said base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said guide rails, and abutment members respectively carried by said support member adjacent to the lateral ends thereof and extending vertically upwardly therefrom for limiting movement of conveyed foods and the like transversely of said conveyor, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said roller chain on said guide rails.

13. The conveyor system set forth in claim 12, and further including a pair of laterally spaced-apart support rails respectively disposed laterally outwardly of said guide rails and substantially parallel thereto, said support rails being respectively disposed in use in sliding engagement with the adjacent outer ends of said support members for guiding and supporting said support members thereon.

14. The conveyor system set forth in claim 12, wherein said support member comprises a single-piece rod formed in the shape of an elongated loop, the opposite elongated sides of said loop comprising said support arms.

15. The conveyor system set forth in claim 12, wherein the opposite elongated sides of said loop comprising said support arms, each of said support arms being deformed upwardly adjacent to each end thereof to form said abutment members.

Claims

1. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between said guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket having a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a support member carried by said mounting bracket, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally Beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said support member being coupled to said base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said guide rails, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said roller chain on said guide rails.

3. The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper ends of said legs are disposed a predetermined distance below the top of said base and respectively cooperate with the opposite end edges of said base to define shoulders which form said support seats.

5. The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a single-piece rod bent to form an elongated loop, the opposite ends of said rod being joined together for closing said loop, the opposite elongated sides of said loop forming said support arms.

6. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart upper guide rails and a pair of laterally spaced-apart lower guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor having a support reach disposed between said upper guide rails and a return reach disposed between said lower guide rails, said conveyor including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket and a support member carried by said mounting bracket, said mounting bracket including a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom and a pair of support flanges respectively extending laterally outwardly from said legs for engagement with said lower guide rails along the return reach of said conveyor, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said support member being coupled to said base and including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said upper guide rails along the support reach of said conveyor, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said conveyor on said upper guide rails along the support reach of said conveyor while said support flanges cooperate to support said attachments and said conveyor on said lower guide rails along the return reach of said conveyor.

7. The conveyor system set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said lower guide rails is provided at one end thereof with a tapered guide surface, each of said support flanges having an inclined guide surface thereon adapted for cooperation with the tapered surface on the adjacent one of said lower guide rails to facilitate the guiding of said suppOrt flanges onto said lower guide rails along the return reach of the conveyor.

9. A conveyor system for carrying foods and the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails, an articulated roller chain conveyor disposed between said guide rails and including a plurality of links joined together by connecting pins having the outer ends thereof protruding laterally beyond said links, a plurality of attachments engageable with said roller chain at longitudinally spaced-apart points therealong, each of said attachments including a mounting bracket and a retainer plate and a support member mounted on said retainer plate, said mounting bracket including a base and a pair of laterally spaced-apart legs depending therefrom, said legs respectively being provided with substantially parallel facing surfaces spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the associated connecting pins, said legs being respectively provided with laterally aligned openings therein spaced a predetermined distance from said base for respectively receiving the outer ends of the associated one of said pins therein to mount said attachment on said roller chain, the upper ends of said legs extending longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of said base and cooperating therewith to define a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart support seats, said retainer plate being generally rectangular in shape with a width slightly less than the lateral distance between said legs and a length substantially greater than the longitudinal distance between said support seats having raised attachment surfaces respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, said retainer plate being disposed in use beneath said base and between said legs with said attachment surfaces being respectively disposed longitudinally outwardly beyond the adjacent ends of said base and extending upwardly a slight distance above the upper ends of said legs, said support member including two rod-like support arms respectively disposed in said support seats in engagement with the opposite ends of said base and attached to the attachment surfaces of said retainer plate and extending laterally well beyond the opposite sides of said base for engagement with said guide rails, said mounting bracket and said support arms and said retainer plate all cooperating for holding one another in an assembled condition substantially immovable with respect to one another, said support arms cooperating to define a conveyor apron for supporting associated foods and the like thereon and to support said attachments and said roller chain on said guide rails.

10. The conveyor system set forth in claim 9, wherein said raised attachment surfaces are generally arcuate in shape, said retainer plate including two of said attachment surfaces adjacent to each of said support seats and laterally spaced apart with respect thereto.