U.S. patent application number 09/730305 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for modular roller conveyor system.
Invention is credited to McTaggart, Michael Douglas, Noestheden, Andrew.
Application Number | 20020066647 09/730305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24934770 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066647 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McTaggart, Michael Douglas ;
et al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Modular roller conveyor system
Abstract
A modular roller conveyor system is disclosed having a first and
second pair of elongated vertical supports. The first pair of
vertical supports are adjustably secured together so that the first
pair of supports are spaced apart and parallel to each other at a
user selected spacing between the first pair of vertical supports.
Similarly, the second pair of vertical supports are also adjustably
secured together so that the second pair of vertical supports are
spaced apart and parallel to each other at the same user selected
spacing. A first elongated rail is then secured to the upper end of
one of the first pair of vertical supports and to the upper end of
one of the second pair of vertical supports. A second rail is then
secured to the upper end of the other of both the first and second
pair of vertical supports so that the rails are spaced apart and
parallel to each other. A plurality of spaced roller assemblies are
then disposed between and supported by the rails thus forming the
conveyor path along which articles are conveyed.
Inventors: |
McTaggart, Michael Douglas;
(Windsor, CA) ; Noestheden, Andrew; (Tecumseh,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas W. Sprinkle
Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle,
Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
280 N. Old Woodward, Suite 400
Birmingham
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
24934770 |
Appl. No.: |
09/730305 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/780 ;
198/782; 198/791; 198/860.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 21/06 20130101;
B65G 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/780 ;
198/782; 198/791; 198/860.1 |
International
Class: |
B65G 013/12; B65G
041/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A modular roller conveyor system comprising: a first pair of
elongated vertical supports, means for adjustably securing said
first pair of vertical supports together so that said first pair of
vertical supports are spaced apart and parallel to each other at a
user selected spacing between said first pair of vertical supports,
a second pair of elongated vertical supports, means for adjustably
securing said second pair of vertical supports together so that
said second pair of vertical supports are spaced apart and parallel
to each other at said user selected spacing between said second
pair of vertical supports, a first and second elongated rail, said
first rail being secured to an upper end of one of said first pair
of vertical supports and an upper end of one of said second pair of
vertical supports, said second rail being secured to an upper end
of the other of said first pair of vertical supports and an upper
end of the other of said second pair of vertical supports so that
said rails are spaced apart and parallel to each other, and a
plurality of spaced apart roller assemblies disposed between and
supported by said rails.
2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said means for
securing said first pair of vertical supports together comprises an
elongated channel member having at least one longitudinally
extending slot, a first fastener secured to one of said first pair
of vertical supports and extending through said slot, and a second
fastener secured to the other of said first pair of vertical
supports and extending through said slot.
3. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said means for
securing said second pair of vertical supports together comprises a
second elongated channel member having at least one longitudinally
extending slot, a third fastener secured to one of said second pair
of vertical supports and extending through said second channel
member slot, and a fourth fastener secured to the other of said
second pair of vertical supports and extending through said second
channel member slot.
4. The invention as described in claim 1 and comprising a motor
mount plate, means for mounting said motor mount plate to said
rails, a motor secured to and supported by said plate and means for
drivingly connecting said motor to at least one roller
assembly.
5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said motor plate
is L-shaped thus having a short side and a long side, and said
motor mount plate mounting means further comprises a rod having
opposite ends secured to said rails and supporting said motor mount
plate along a midsection of said rod.
6. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said means for
securing said first pair of vertical supports together further
comprises a side bracket secured to and extending laterally
outwardly from each vertical support, said channel member being
secured between said side brackets.
7. The invention as described in claim 6 wherein each vertical
support comprises a square tube and wherein said bracket is
substantially coplanar with one side of said tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to conveyor systems
and, more particularly, to a modular roller conveyor system.
[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] There are many previously known roller conveyor systems of
the type used in industrial manufacturing operations. These
previously known roller conveyor systems typically comprise an
elongated frame having a pair of spaced apart and parallel rails. A
plurality of roller assemblies are then disposed across the rails
and spaced apart from each other thus forming the conveyor path
upon which articles to be conveyed are supported.
[0005] A primary disadvantage of this type of previously known
industrial roller conveyor system is that each roller conveyor
system has been custom designed and manufactured in dependence upon
the particular type and size of article to be conveyed along the
conveyor system. As such, the spacing between the rails or conveyor
width, and thus the design of the conveyor frame, varies as a
function of the size of the conveyed article.
[0006] While these previously known conveyor systems have proven
satisfactory in operation, they are necessarily expensive to
manufacture. This high cost of manufacturing such previously known
roller conveyor systems results in large part from the necessity
that each roller conveyor system must be custom designed in
accordance with the load conveyed. Such custom design of these
previously known roller conveyor systems necessarily entails
increased engineering costs and highly skilled, and thus highly
paid, assembly workers.
[0007] A still further disadvantage of these previously known
roller conveyor systems is that, since each roller conveyor system
is custom designed for a predetermined article, the roller conveyor
system cannot be adapted for articles of different sizes, at least
not articles of a larger size. This in turn results in premature
obsolescence of the roller conveyor system when conveyance of the
article for which the roller conveyor system was originally
designed for is no longer required.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a modular roller conveyor
system which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of
the previously known devices.
[0009] In brief, the roller conveyor system of the present
invention comprises a first pair of elongated vertical supports.
These vertical supports are adjustably secured together so that the
first pair of vertical supports are spaced apart and parallel to
each other. However, unlike the previously known conveyor systems,
the spacing between the first pair of vertical supports is
adjustable to any selected user defined spacing.
[0010] Similarly, the conveyor system further comprises a second
pair of elongated vertical supports. This second pair of elongated
vertical supports is also adjustably secured together at the same
user selected spacing as the first pair of vertical supports and so
that the second pair of vertical supports are spaced apart and
parallel to each other. The first pair of vertical supports and
second pair of vertical supports are then positioned in a spaced
apart relationship relative to each other.
[0011] A first elongated rail is then secured to an upper end of
one of the first pair of vertical supports and to an upper end of
one of the second pair of vertical supports. Similarly, a second
elongated rail is secured to the upper end of the other of the
first pair of the vertical supports and to the upper end of the
other of the second pair of vertical supports so that the first and
second rails are spaced apart and parallel to each other. A
plurality of roller assemblies are then disposed between and
supported by the rails so that the roller assemblies are spaced
apart and parallel to each other. These roller assemblies thus
define the path of the conveyor system and support the articles
which are to be conveyed by the roller conveyor system.
[0012] Unlike the previously known roller conveyor systems, since
the vertical supports in both the first pair of vertical supports
and second pair of vertical supports are secured together at a user
selected spacing, the width of the roller conveyor system can be
easily varied to accommodate articles of different widths.
Furthermore, the spacing between the rails may be easily modified
at a subsequent date by merely adjusting the spacing between the
first pair of vertical supports and second pair of vertical
supports. In this event, relatively inexpensive replacement of the
roller assemblies to accommodate the new conveyor width may be
required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] A better understanding of the present invention will be had
upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an end view illustrating a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating a portion
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0018] With reference first to FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of
the roller conveyor system 10 of the present invention is there
shown and comprises a first pair of elongated vertical supports 12
and 14 and a second pair of elongated vertical supports 16 and 18.
The first pair of vertical supports 12 and 14 are spaced from the
second pair of vertical supports 16 and 18.
[0019] A first elongated rail 20 is disposed along and supported by
an upper end of the vertical supports 14 and 18. Similarly, a
second elongated rail 22 is secured to and supported by an upper
end of the other vertical supports 12 and 16 so that the rails 20
and 22 are spaced apart and parallel to each other. Preferably, the
rails 20 and 22 are manufactured in preset modular lengths, such as
ten foot or twelve foot lengths.
[0020] Still referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of roller assemblies
24 are disposed between and supported by the rails 20 and 22 so
that the roller assemblies 24 are spaced apart and parallel to each
other. These roller assemblies 24, furthermore, define the conveyor
path for the conveyor system 10 and are adapted to support a bottom
of a load 26 conveyed by the conveyor system 10.
[0021] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first pair of
vertical supports 12 and 14 are there shown in greater detail. The
first pair of vertical supports 12 and 14, moreover, are
substantially identical to the second pair of vertical supports 16
and 18. Consequently, only the first pair of vertical supports 12
and 14 will be described in detail, it being understood that a like
description shall also apply to the second pair of vertical
supports 16 and 18.
[0022] The vertical supports 12 and 14 are each substantially
identical to each other and comprise an elongated square tube 30
having an upper end 32 and a lower end 34. A foot 36 is secured to
the lower end 34 of the tube 30 by any conventional means, such as
by welds 38 or alternatively by fasteners 40. The foot 36 is
adapted to rest upon a ground support surface and thus support both
the vertical support 12 and 14 as well as the rails 20 and 22.
[0023] As best shown in FIG. 2, the vertical support 12 preferably
includes a threaded shaft 44 to vary the vertical position of the
square tube 30 relative to the foot 36 prior to securing the foot
36 to the square tube 30. The height adjustment provided by the
threaded shaft 44, however, is purely optional.
[0024] A bracket 46 is secured to the upper end 32 of the tube 30.
This bracket 46 includes a number of mounting holes 48 which are
adapted to register with like mounting holes in the rails 20 and
22. Threaded fasteners 50 (FIG. 1) are then used to secure the
rails 20 and 22 to the upright supports 14 and 12,
respectively.
[0025] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a side bracket 54 is
secured to and extends laterally outwardly from each tube 30.
Preferably, these side brackets 54 are secured to their associated
tubes 30 by welding. Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. 2, the side
brackets 54 lie in a plane that is offset from a center line of the
tubes 30 such that each bracket 54 is aligned with one side 56 of
its associated tube 30.
[0026] An elongated channel member 58 having at least one and
preferably a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 60 is
disposed between the side brackets 54 on the vertical supports 12
and 14. One or more fasteners 62, e.g. T bolts, extend through
registering openings in the side bracket 54 so that one end of each
fastener 62 is slidably positioned within one slot 60 on the
channel member 58.
[0027] Since the fasteners 62 are slidably positioned within one
slot 60 on the channel member 58, the spacing between the vertical
supports 12 and 14 may be varied to any user selected spacing
between the vertical supports 12 and 14 as illustrated in phantom
line in FIG. 1. Upon tightening of the fasteners 62, however, the
side brackets 62 are rigidly secured to the channel member 58 and
thus rigidly secured to each other. However, at a subsequent time,
the spacing between the vertical supports 12 and 14 may be adjusted
by loosening the fastener 62, repositioning the vertical supports
12 and 14, and then subsequently retightening the fasteners 62.
[0028] As best shown in FIG. 2, the channel member 58 preferably
has the same width as the width of the tubes 30 on the vertical
supports 12 and 14. Thus, since the side brackets 54 are aligned
with one side 56 of the tube 30, upon tightening of the side
brackets 54 to opposite sides of the channel member 58, any skewing
of the vertical supports 12 and 14 relative to each other is
avoided.
[0029] Alternatively, for a very narrow width conveyor, the
brackets 54 may be secured together without an intervening channel
member.
[0030] In order to ensure modular construction of the vertical
supports 12 and 14 as well as the rails 20 and 22, the rails 20 and
22, as well as the support brackets 46, are preferably formed by
laser cutting. Such laser cutting ensures that the fastener
openings in the support brackets 46 will register with the
corresponding fastener openings in the rails 20 and 22.
[0031] With reference now to FIG. 3, in order to rotatably drive
the roller assemblies 24, a generally L-shaped motor mounting plate
70 having a short side 72 and a long side 74 is mounted to and
beneath the rails 20 and 22. A rotary drive motor 76 is secured to
the motor mount plate 70 and is drivingly connected to the roller
assemblies 24 in any conventional fashion, such as by a drive chain
78.
[0032] In order to secure the motor mount plate 70 to the rails 20
and 22, an elongated rod 80 extends through and is supported by
blocks 82 which are secured to the rails 20 and 22. This rod 80,
furthermore, supports the short side 72 of the motor mount plate
70.
[0033] In order to support the long side 74 of the motor mount
plate 70 to the rails 20 and 22, a first bracket 86 is secured to
one end of the side 74 of the motor mount plate 70 while a second
bracket 88 is adjustably secured in any conventional fashion to the
side 74 of the motor mount plate 70 at a position spaced from the
first bracket 86. These brackets 86 and 88 register with openings
in the rails 20 and 22 in order to secure the side 74 of the motor
mount plate 70 to the rails 20 and 22.
[0034] The attachment of the motor mount plate 70 by the rod 80,
which may be of adjustable length to accommodate varying widths
between the conveyor rails 20 and 22, as well as the adjustable
bracket 88, enables the same motor mount plate 70 to be utilized
with the conveyor system regardless of the spacing between the
rails 20 and 22.
[0035] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present
invention provides a modular roller conveyor system in which the
width between the rails which support the roller assemblies may be
easily adjusted to any user selected spacing to accommodate
articles of different widths. Furthermore, the spacing between the
conveyor rails 20 and 22 may be varied at a subsequent time to
accommodate a different load having a different width.
[0036] Having described my invention, however, many modifications
thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which
it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as
defined by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *