U.S. patent number 3,628,654 [Application Number 04/862,825] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-21 for vacuum belt conveyors.
Invention is credited to Edward F. Haracz.
United States Patent |
3,628,654 |
Haracz |
December 21, 1971 |
VACUUM BELT CONVEYORS
Abstract
A vacuum belt conveyor is provided comprising an endless belt or
carrier formed of a plurality of hinged or linked together plate
members and adapted to be driven by suitably powered sprocket
wheels in engagement therewith. Each plate member supports a vacuum
or suction applying means including an outer cuplike member and an
inner extensible bellows or flexible diaphragm member, the latter
having a plunger rod and roller mechanism attached to its free end
for actuation by a common cam track cooperatively engageable
therewith. The cam track is operable to expand each bellows or
diaphragm causing it to form a vacuum or suction plenum
communicating with the outer cup member through a common aperture
provided therebetween for such purpose. Thus, when a flat plate or
object is placed on the endless carrier belt in airtight sealing
engagement with a plurality of outer cup members and the bellows
means associated with each outer cup member is actuated by the cam
track means, a plurality of vacuum or suction forces are applied to
the underside of the flat plate or object thereby firmly and
securely holding it against the endless belt carrier for movement
therewith. The cam track means is designed to actuate the bellows
units at a predetermined location relative to the path of travel of
the belt and to release the bellows units or deactuate them at a
different predetermined location along the path of belt
movement.
Inventors: |
Haracz; Edward F. (Clifton,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
25339469 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/862,825 |
Filed: |
October 1, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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860283 |
Sep 23, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
198/689.1;
198/803.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
17/46 (20130101); B65G 2201/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
17/46 (20060101); B65G 17/30 (20060101); B65g
015/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/129,179,180,195
;209/95 ;271/74 ;214/1BS ;294/64 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sroka; Edward A.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier copending
application, Ser. No. 860,283, filed on Sept. 23, 1969, now
abandoned for Improvements in Vacuum Belt Conveyors.
Claims
I claim:
1. Conveyor belt apparatus comprising,
a frame means for supporting a movable belt thereon, said belt
including at least one portion having two oppositely disposed
surfaces, said portion having an aperture centrally disposed
therein,
extensible bellows means fixed to one surface of said belt portion,
said extensible bellows means having an open end in communication
with said aperture and a sealed other end remotely extending
therefrom,
plunger means connected to said bellows means remotely extending
other end, and
means supported on said frame means for engaging said plunger means
and for extending said bellows means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein suction cup means are provided
on the other surface of said belt portion, said suction cup means
having an opening in registry with said aperture and said bellows
means open end, whereby said suction cup means provides a bearing
surface for a flat object in gripping contact therewith when said
bellows means is extended.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said engaging means comprises
cam means fixed to said frame means and adapted to actuate said
plunger means at different positions in the movement of said belt
relative to said frame means.
4. Vacuum belt conveyor apparatus comprising
a frame,
a plurality of supporting members connected together to form a
movable belt on said frame,
each of said supporting members having a vacuum producing element
thereon,
and means mounted on said frame for selectively actuating said
vacuum producing elements, wherein the improvement comprises a
vacuum producing element including a flexible plenum chamber
extensible between a collapsible condition and a protracted
condition capable of producing a suction force, said flexible
plenum chamber including means engageable by said selectively
actuating means for extending said plenum chamber to its protracted
condition.
5. Vacuum belt conveyor apparatus comprising
a frame,
an endless belt supported for movement on said frame in a
continuous closed loop path including at least a portion thereof
which substantially spans a lineal distance between two separated
points, said belt being formed of a plurality of flat plate members
being pivotally connected together,
each of said flat plate members having a through-hole opening
substantially centrally disposed therein and supporting a suction
applying member extending through said opening,
each of said suction applying members including an upper suction
cup member and a lower extensible member communicating therewith
through said flat plate opening, said lower extensible member and
said upper suction cup member defining a sealed vacuum producing
chamber when said lower extensible member is fully extended,
and
a plunger connected at one end to said lower extensible member and
having its other end engageable by an actuating means fixedly
supported by said frame in variable spaced relation to said endless
belt whereby each said lower extensible member may be fully
extended at least during lineal movement of its corresponding plate
member between said two separated points.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lower extensible member
comprises a flexible diaphragm integral with said upper suction cup
member.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lower extensible member
comprises an expandable hollow bellows having one end fixedly
attached to the underside of said plate member in airtight sealing
arrangement with said opening and having its other end terminate in
an end closure portion whereby the latter is connected to said
plunger member one end.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said actuating means comprises
a continuous track member spaced from said endless belt by a
predetermined constant amount, said track member having a diverging
portion adjacent said lineal distance between said two separated
points for exceeding said constant distance by a predetermined
increment, and
said plunger member includes a roller member connected to it's said
other end for engaging said track member.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said flat plate
members is substantially rectangularly shaped and
each of said upper suction cup members includes a flared outer lip
portion and an integral intermediate web portion surrounding said
opening, said lip portion and said web portion substantially
coextensively overlying the outer facing surface of said
rectangularly shaped plate member.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said upper suction cup is
formed of an elastomeric material.
11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said flat plate
member through-hole openings is substantially rectangularly shaped,
and
said lower extensible member has a cross-sectional shape
substantially conforming to that of said opening.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said lower extensible member
is formed of an elastomeric material.
13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said upper suction cup and
said lower extensible member are of integral one-piece construction
extending through said opening in said flat plate member and having
a common aperture therebetween concentric with said plate opening,
said lower extensible member comprising a flexible cuplike
diaphragm for defining said sealed vacuum chamber.
14. A vacuum belt conveyor apparatus comprising in combination;
a stationary frame having a pair of longitudinally spaced axles
supported for rotation thereon, said axles each carrying at least
one sprocket wheel for rotation relative to said frame, a plurality
of flat plates, linked together to form an endless conveyor belt,
said belt being engaged by said spaced sprocket wheels for
continuous longitudinal movement over a closed path defined by said
spaced sprocket wheels, said frame further including a pair of
continuous supporting tracks laterally disposed on either
transverse side of said belt and being substantially immediately
adjacent thereto respectively, each of said plates having a pair of
axially opposed frictionless bearing means for continuous
engagement with said laterally disposed tracks respectively, said
bearing means thereby supporting said endless belt on said frame
for movement relative thereto, each of said flat plates supporting
an actuatable suction applying device comprising an upper suction
cup and a lower extensible member communicating with each other
respectively, through a common aperture centrally disposed in said
plate, said lower extensible member being adapted to create a
vacuum plenum for said upper suction cup when actuated to a fully
protracted condition, each of said extensible members having a
plunger rod fixedly connected thereto at one end, the other end of
said plunger rod terminating in an antifriction roller member, and
a continuous cam track fixedly supported on said frame interiorly
of said endless belt and extending at a predetermined constant
spaced distance therefrom, said cam track having a portion
extending intermediately between said spaced sprocket wheels which
diverges to a greater constant spacing and then converges back to
said original constant spacing relative to said endless belt, said
plunger rod antifriction roller member serving as a cam follower in
continuous rolling engagement with said cam track.
15. In a vacuum belt conveyor, a self-actuatable suction producing
device comprising:
a supporting member having at least two opposed substantially flat
surfaces, and including an aperture for forming an opening common
to said opposed flat surfaces,
a suction cup supported on one of said surfaces and substantially
coextensively overlying same, said suction cup having an opening
therein in registry with said aperture in said supporting
member,
an extensible hollow bellows member supported on the other of said
surfaces having one end thereof in registry with said aperture in
said supporting member and having its other end sealed to form a
vacuum chamber when said bellows member is fully extended, and
a member connected to said sealed end of said bellows member for
selectively actuating said bellows member to its fully extended
condition to thereby form said vacuum chamber.
16. The device defined in claim 15, wherein said suction cup and
said extensible bellows member are formed of an elastomeric
material.
17. The device claimed in claim 15 wherein said supporting member
comprises a one-piece flexible endless belt.
18. In a vacuum belt conveyor, a self-actuatable vacuum producing
device comprising:
a supporting member having at least two opposed substantially flat
surfaces, and including an aperture for forming an opening common
to said opposed flat surface.
a suction cup supported on one of said surfaces and substantially
coextensively overlying same, said suction cup having an opening in
registry with said aperture in said supporting member and having a
flexible diaphragm cup portion integrally attached thereto and
adapted for extensible movement through said opening in said
supporting member toward said other opposed surface, whereby said
extended diaphragm cup forms a vacuum chamber communicating with
said suction cup, and
a member connected to said extensible diaphragm cup portion for
selectively extending same to form said vacuum chamber.
19. The device defined in claim 18 wherein said suction cup and
said integral extensible diaphragm cup are formed of a single piece
of elastomeric material.
20. The device claimed in claim 18 wherein said supporting member
comprises a one-piece flexible endless belt.
Description
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in conveyor
belt systems and more particularly, to an improved fully
self-contained vacuum belt conveyor having self-actuatable suction
applying means; such means being effective to obviate the
heretofore required external vacuum source or suction pump
presently employed in prior art vacuum belt conveyors.
Vacuum belt conveyor systems are well known and understood, one
such system being fully described, for example, in my previous U.S.
Pat. No. 2,877,607, entitled "Belts for Conveying and Supporting
Flat Plates in Grinding and Polishing Machines." This patented
vacuum belt conveyor which is fairly representative of the present
state of the art, briefly comprises an endless rubber belt or the
like driven by a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers or other
drive means over the upper surface of a suction box or plenum, the
latter having suitable holes or slots therein for registering
respectively with a series of corresponding apertured cuplike
depressions in the endless belt. Coupled to the suction box through
a duct or nozzle is an external vacuum producing means such as a
suction pump, for example, for exhausting the air from the box and
for thereby applying a suitable suction through the communicating
holes in the plenum box and belt to the underside of a flat plate
of glass or similar such object placed on the belt. The flat plate
thus may be firmly and securely held to the surface of the belt
while being carried along therewith at a predetermined speed and
for a preselected distance past a work station, for example, which
may typically, though not necessarily, comprise a series of
grinding or polishing wheels adapted for engagement with the upper
surface of the plate.
And, although the prior art vacuum belt conveyor system has proven
to be quite generally successful, one apparent disadvantage
associated therewith is the aforementioned requirement of providing
the external vacuum source means or suction pump for exhausting the
air from the suction box or plenum. Such external vacuum pump
devices aside from increasing the original fixed cost of the
conveyor belt system, continuously consume power and therefore
increase the overall operating expense of the system as well.
Furthermore, the external vacuum source tends to comprise a rather
complex and bulky arrangement of pumps, air hoses, couplings,
valves and so on, all of which require additional factory space and
whatismore, often lead to even further maintenance costs due to the
increased probability of breakdown and the longer "down-time"
cycles for repairs necessitated thereby.
Therefore, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide
an effective and efficient vacuum belt conveyor system that is
completely self-contained and automatic, and does not require an
external vacuum producing source or pump means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved vacuum belt or carrier apparatus that is relatively
inexpensive to operate and maintain, that is compact and rugged in
construction, and that is characterized by the inclusion of means
for applying a suitable suction force to the surface of a flat
plate or similar sheet or object whereby said plate or sheet may be
securely moved from one predetermined location to the next without
marring its surface.
Toward the accomplishment of the aforementioned objects and
advantages, one preferred embodiment of the vacuum belt conveyor
apparatus according to the present invention comprises, in brief,
an endless web or belt of hinged or otherwise linked together flat
plate members adapted to be driven by two longitudinally spaced
pairs of sprocket wheels or the like which, in turn, are driven by
suitable motive power means. Each plate has fixedly attached
thereto on its upper or outer surface a suction cup of rubber or
similar material and has fixed to its inner or lower surface an
extensible rubber bellows unit communicating with the suction cup
through a common central aperture in the plate. The lower terminal
portion of each bellows unit is sealed and has integrally fixed
thereto one end of a plunger or rod member while the other end of
the plunger carries a pair of roller members adapted for continuous
riding engagement with an endless cam track means or channel member
disposed substantially within a plane passing longitudinally
through the center of the endless belt. In addition, the cam track
is fixedly supported so that at differing points along the
longitudinal extent thereof, it is spaced at predetermined varying
distances from the inner surface of the endless belt. For example,
at a predetermined location along the path of travel of the endless
belt, the spacing between the cam track and the underside of the
endless belt is caused to diverge or increase. Accordingly, at this
point, the various roller members riding on the cam track displace
each plunger causing it to extend its corresponding bellows unit
and to apply a suction through each corresponding suction cup
associated therewith provided the underside of a flat plate of
glass or similar object is placed on the outer surface of the
endless belt and is covering the open end of the suction cup.
Thereafter, at a second location spaced longitudinally along the
direction of travel of the endless belt, the spacing between the
common cam track and the undersurface of the endless belt is
purposely made to decrease or converge causing each plunger member
to again displace, only this time to compress or fold it's
corresponding bellows unit thereby removing the suction force from
the underside of the flat plate. In an alternate preferred form of
the invention, each suction cup and its corresponding bellows unit
is replaced by a one-piece, integral, molded cup element having an
extensible downwardly extending diaphragm portion connected to each
plunger member respectively.
Additional objects and advantages as well as a complete and through
understanding of the present invention will be made more apparent
from a study of the following detailed description of the present
invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevation in section of one preferred embodiment of
the apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and
2;
FIG. 4 is an elevation in section of an alternate preferred form of
a portion of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the portion of the invention illustrated
in FIG. 4; and,
FIG. 6 is an elevation in section taken along line 6--6 of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown one preferred form of
the vacuum belt conveyor according to the present invention,
including an endless belt or carrier generally indicated by
reference numeral 10 being supported on a stationary frame means 12
and being adapted for continuous movement along a closed loop path
by spaced apart pairs of sprocket wheels 14 and 16 cooperating
therewith. The endless belt or carrier also includes a plurality of
self-actuatable suction applying members generally indicated by
reference numeral 17 which are adapted to firmly and securely
engage a flat, nonporous object 19 and transport the same from a
position marked A to a position marked B as shown in FIG. 1 and as
will be explained in considerably more detail below.
Preferably speaking, endless carrier belt 10 is formed of a
juxtaposed plurality of similarly shaped, substantially
rectangular, essentially flat plate members 18 fabricated from
steel, aluminum or the like. Each plate member is connected,
hinged, or otherwise linked on opposite transverse sides thereof to
a neighboring adjacent plate member by a corresponding pair of
longitudinally displaced hinge units 20 (see FIG. 3). The hinge
units 20, which are constructed in the usual manner, are designed
to permit relative pivoting movement between any two adjacent
plates and to serve the dual function of imparting positive
movement to the endless belt or carrier 10. Toward this latter end,
the recesses 22 and 24 in each of the sprocket wheels 14 and 16 are
spaced sufficiently apart to engage each consecutive hinge unit
substantially as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, as further indicated
in FIG. 2, each pair of sprocket wheels is fixedly supported in
spaced axial relation along a respective common shaft 26 and 28 so
as to be in simultaneous engagement respectively with each of the
hinge units corresponding to a common pair, respectively. Shafts 26
and 28 are adapted to be rotatably supported respectively by a pair
of journal bearings (not shown) carried by frame means 12 and may
be driven at a predetermined angular velocity by any suitable
motive power means, such as for example, the electric motor and
bevel gear set, indicated generally by reference numeral 30 in FIG.
2.
In order to provide additional movable support to the endless
carrier belt 10, each rectangular plate member 18 further includes
a pair of longitudinally opposed, laterally extending rollers 32
integrally attached thereto by suitable respective axle means 33
and antifriction bearing means (not shown) whereby the rollers are
adapted for cooperative engagement with a corresponding pair of
laterally opposed track means or channels 34 each having a
substantially U-shaped cross section as seen to best advantage in
FIG. 2. Inasmuch as each U-shaped track or channel 34 is rigidly
supported by the frame 12 and extends in a continuous, endless loop
parallel to and immediately adjacent each corresponding opposed
lateral edge of the endless belt carrier 10 as indicated in FIG. 3,
the action of rollers 32 traveling in the U-shaped track 34 assures
that the endless belt 10 is adequately supported for movement along
the continuous closed loop indicated in FIG. 1 and furthermore
prevents lateral shifting of the belt during such movement.
As most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 each plate member 18
of endless carrier belt 10 is adapted to support a suction applying
member 17 comprising an outer suction cup element 36 and an inner
extensible bellows unit 38 communicating therewith through a
central common aperture or opening 40 provided for this purpose in
plate member 18. The outer suction cup element which may be
fabricated from a suitable elastomeric material such as rubber, for
example, integrally includes a flared outer lip portion 42, a
substantially horizontally disposed intermediate web portion 44,
and a generally tubular shaped central neck portion 46 adapted to
be snugly seated within aperture 40. The contiguous undersurface
common to intermediate web portion 44 and tubular neck portion 46
is preferably fixedly fastened to the corresponding plate member
surface in contact therewith as by applying a suitable cement
thereto or by vulcanizing an uncured rubber suction cup element
directly to each plate member before the latter are assembled
together to form the endless belt carrier 10. As viewed in FIG. 3,
the suction cup element has a generally rectangular shape
conforming to that of plate member 18 and therefore coextensively
overlies substantially the entire outer surface of the plate
member. This arrangement is preferred so that the endless belt 10
provides a bearing surface that is essentially completely covered
by rubber and therefore prevents marring of the surface of any
objects or materials placed in contact therewith. However, it is to
be understood in this regard that the shape of the suction cup
element is a matter of design convenience and is changeable to suit
various and different carrier belt arrangements; thus, for example,
the geometric character of the suction cup element may be
elliptical, or even circular if desired, without departing from the
principles of the present invention.
Extensible bellows unit 38, which in its preferred form is also
fabricated from an elastomeric material and has a generally
rectangular cross-sectional shape size to conform substantially to
that of central common aperture 40, has an opening at one end
defined by a lip portion 48 and is closed or sealed at its other
end by a terminal end portion 50. The lip portion 48 is suitably
fixedly fastened to plate member 18 around the entire periphery of
rectangular aperture 40 (see FIG. 2) so as to provide an
essentially airtight seal between the aperture and the underside of
the plate member. With this arrangement bellows unit 38 defines a
vacuum or suction plenum interiorly thereof when the bellows unit
is in its extended or protracted position, wherein the suction
plenum communicates directly with the upper suction cup unit
through the latter's tubular neck opening and/or common plate
aperture 40.
A substantially rigid, rodlike member or plunger 52 is integrally
connected or otherwise fixedly fastened at one end by suitable
means to the closed end terminal portion 50 of extensible bellows
unit 38 and has its remotely extending other end integral with or
fastened to an axle member 54 which, in turn, has a pair of roller
members 56 fastened at either end thereof respectively via suitable
antifriction bearings (not shown). As best observed in FIG. 2,
rollers 56, axle 54, and plunger rod 52 are designed to function as
a "cam roller" mechanism in continuous cooperative engagement with
a common cam track means comprising a pair of opposed, slightly
spaced-apart channels or tracks 58 and 60. The common cam tracks 58
and 60 which are disposed substantially within the central
longitudinal plane of frame means 12 and which may be fixedly
supported thereon as by welding same to crossrail members 62 and
64, for example, extend in an endless or continuous, closed loop
path which latter is spaced generally inwardly and concentrically
with respect to the closed loop path of travel corresponding to the
endless carrier belt 10 as represented most clearly in FIG. 1. In
accordance with the present invention, however, the cam track
spacing relative to the endless carrier belt 10 is purposely made
to vary in a predetermined manner along various portions of its
closed loop path. Thus, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the
spacing between the cam track and the carrier belt is made to be
substantially constant along the length of travel running from
point B to point A, but diverges at point A to a greater distance
and runs substantially constant at this greater spacing along the
distance of travel extending from point A to point B whereupon the
spacing between the cam track and the endless carrier belt once
more converges to that originally existing between points B and
A.
By virtue of this diverging-converging construction, the common cam
track means of the present invention may be made to engage the
roller member and plunger mechanism corresponding to each
extensible bellows unit at a predetermined point along the path of
travel of the endless carrier belt thereby actuating each bellows
unit to an extended condition or alternatively, to a compressed or
folded condition as the case may be. For example, consider a single
bellows unit traveling between points B and A as viewed in FIG. 1.
Because the spacing between the carrier belt and the cam track is
at a constant minimum, the cam track will maintain the bellows unit
in its folded or inactuated condition due to the camlike action of
track means 58, 60 against roller members 56 and plunger member 52.
Now when the bellows unit in question passes point A, the diverging
cam track begins to exert a downward bias against the rollers
and/or plunger member gradually expanding the bellows unit until
the latter reaches its fully protracted or extended condition
coinciding with maximum constant spacing between the cam track and
the endless carrier belt. The extended bellows unit will be
maintained in this actuated condition until point B is reached, at
which juncture and the camlike action of the converging cam track
means will urge the roller and plunger mechanism upwardly thereby
compressing or folding the bellows unit into its deactuated
condition. The contrast between the extended, fully protracted
condition of the bellows unit and the compressed or folded
condition of the latter may be clearly viewed in FIG. 2.
Thus, in the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, motive power
means 30 is initially turned on to rotate either one or both of
shafts 28 thereby driving endless belt carrier 10 at a
predetermined speed through the action of sprocket wheels 14 and
16. With reference to FIG. 1, suppose now that motion of the belt
carrier is clockwise, i.e., moving from point A to point B and that
A flat, nonporous object 19 which may comprise a plate of glass or
similar sheet of like material is placed on the endless belt
carrier at or near the position marked A. The flat plate bears down
against the resilient flared outer lip portions 42 of a plurality
of adjacent outer suction cup elements 36 and effectively provides
an airtight seal for each suction cup completely covered thereby.
As the endless belt moves toward point B, each consecutive
extensible bellows unit underlying the flat glass plate is engaged
one-by-one and actuated by the diverging section of the common cam
track 58, 60 to thereby extend each successive bellows unit to its
corresponding protracted, fully engaged position as described
hereinabove. Inasmuch as each bellows unit is sealed off from the
outside atmosphere by the overlying plate 19, the extension of each
bellows unit creates a vacuum within the suddenly enlarged interior
volume or plenum defined by the extended bellows unit 38 which
vacuum extends through the commonly apertured plate member 18 and
suction cup member 36 to the overlying plate 19. The vacuum
produced within each extended bellows unit provides accordingly, a
suction force effective to firmly and securely grip the underside
of the flat plate object thereby holding the latter tightly against
the endless belt carrier as it travels from point A to point B. As
the flat plate approaches point B, the cam track begins to converge
thereby collapsing each extended bellows unit in succession through
the previously described action of rollers 56 and plunger 52 and
thus releases the suction grip on the underside of the flat plate
which latter may then be removed from the endless belt carrier
shortly after passing beyond point B.
It is anticipated that various modifications and alterations may be
made to the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 without, however,
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus,
for example, instead of employing a suction applying member 17
comprising an outer suction cup 36 and an inner extensible bellows
unit 38, each of which must be separately assembled to the plate
member 18, the modified one-piece construction shown in FIGS. 4 and
5 may be used wherein like reference numerals refer to similar
parts. As indicated in FIG. 4, the modified alternately preferred
suction applying member 68 is supported by a substantially
rectangularly shaped plate member 18 having a centrally disposed
rectangularly shaped aperture or opening 70 in its upper surface
71. Aperture 70 has tapered sidewalls 72 which terminate in a
smaller, similarly shaped opening 74 in the lower surface 76 of the
plate substantially as shown.
The suction applying member 68 which is preferably of one-piece
molded rubber construction has an upper cuplike section that is
also substantially rectangularly shaped so as to conform to the
general shape of plate member 18 whereby it coextensively overlies
the plate's upper surface as viewed in FIG. 5. The upper cuplike
section of suction applying member 68 includes an upwardly flared
outer lip portion 78 integral with an intermediate substantially
horizontal web portion 80 which latter terminates in a centrally
disposed, rectangularly shaped aperture or similar opening 82
approximately equal in size to opening 74 in the lower surface 76
of plate 18.
Suction applying member 68 which may be suitably fixedly fastened
to the plate member 18 by cementing the undersurface of
intermediate web portion 80 to the plates upper surface 71, for
example, also includes a substantially rectangularly shaped,
flexible, cuplike diaphragm section 76 integrally attached to the
underside of the horizontally disposed intermediate web portion 80
and which extends downwardly into the recess formed by tapered
walls 72 for providing an airtight seal between aperture 82 and the
underside of plate member 18. As indicated, the flexible diaphragm
76 is securely fastened to one end of a plunger or rod 52 which
latter is adapted to flex the diaphragm between a deactuated
condition wherein the diaphragm essentially occupies the recess
formed by the tapered walls 72 in plate 18, and an actuated
condition represented by the broken lines in FIG. 4 wherein the
diaphragm forms a vacuum or suction plenum 84 communicating with
the cuplike upper section of the suction applying member through
aperture 82. Of course, it will be appreciated that plunger or rod
52 is connected to suitable rollers 56 for cooperatively engaging
the cam track means 58, 60 described above in connection with FIGS.
1-3 and therefore is adapted to be displaced along the direction
indicated by arrow 86 in FIG. 4 depending upon its position along
the path of the cam track.
In this connection, it may sometimes be desirable to drive the
endless carrier belt 10 by a conventional sprocket chain drive
means instead of using the cooperating sprocket wheel and hinge
arrangement disclosed above relative to the embodiment of FIGS.
1-3. When this is done, it is recommended that the individual plate
member 18 be linked directly to a pair of spaced apart sprocket
chains 88, 90 via suitable corresponding pairs of bracket means 92,
94 bolted or otherwise fixedly fastened to the undersurface of each
plate member 18 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The sprockets chains 88
and 90 are driven in the usual manner by suitably powered sprocket
wheels engageable therewith as is well known in the art.
Alternatively, it may be preferable to dispense with a linked belt
construction altogether and to substitute therefor a one-piece
endless belt member fabricated from a suitable flexible and durable
material such as rubber or canvas. With this modified arrangement,
the individual suction applying members may be suitably supported
within a corresponding series of apertures in the one-piece endless
belt and securely and integrally affixed thereto by a conventional
vulcanization process. In addition, the drive sprocket wheels may
be suitably modified to frictionally engage the inner surface of
the one-piece endless belt for the purpose of imparting positive
driving motion thereto.
Finally, it is to be understood that although the vacuum belt
conveyor apparatus according to the present invention has been
disclosed herein in the form of an endless belt or carrier adapted
to horizontally support a series of flat plates or similar objects
placed thereon, it is within the contemplation of the present
invention to mount the conveying apparatus in any suitably
convenient manner as for example, on a vertical wall or on overhead
ceiling supports wherein the flat plate objects being conveyed may
be supported vertically or horizontally from above,
respectively.
Also, it should be appreciated that although the vacuum belt
conveyor apparatus disclosed hereinabove includes only a single
suction applying device on each flat-plate-supporting member, this
was done only to illustrate a preferred form of the invention.
Obviously, more than one suction applying member may be supported
by each flat plate 18 depending upon the width dimension of the
carrier belt being employed.
Many additional modifications within the spirit and scope of the
present invention will obviously occur to those skilled in the
art.
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