U.S. patent number 3,708,059 [Application Number 05/189,203] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-02 for convey system and attachments therefor.
Invention is credited to Herman Ackermann.
United States Patent |
3,708,059 |
Ackermann |
January 2, 1973 |
CONVEY SYSTEM AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR
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.
Inventors: |
Ackermann; Herman (Richton
Park, IL) |
Family
ID: |
22696364 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/189,203 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/841; 198/845;
198/840; 198/851 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
17/061 (20130101); B65G 2201/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
17/06 (20060101); B65g 017/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/189,195 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sroka; Edward A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
2. The conveyor system set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting
bracket is integrally constructed of a single piece of
material.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Description
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 attachments 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 conveyor
system of the type set forth, and further including abutment
members respectively carried by each support member adjacent to the
lateral ends thereof and extending 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
2--2 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 100 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 25
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 40 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 70 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 80 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
100 includes a mounting bracket 110, a retaining plate 140 and a
support rod 150. The mounting bracket 110 is generally U-shaped and
includes a flat generally rectangular base 115 having a top surface
111 and a bottom surface 112, the opposite side edges thereof being
respectively provided with two downturned flanges 113 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 120 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
spaced-apart 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 100, 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 110; 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 115 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 120 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 110 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 125 in the mounting bracket legs 120, whereupon the legs
120 return to their normal position for securely holding the
mounting bracket 110 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 2B, there is illustrated 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 110 is constructed of annealed and
nickel-plated spring steel, while the retainer plate 140 and the
support members 150 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 three-piece 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 invention, 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.
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