Joints and connections – Distinct end coupler – Separate screw or pin-type connections
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-09-11
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Distinct end coupler
Separate screw or pin-type connections
C403S312000, C403S374300, C198S836100, C198S836300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287045
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to guide rail assemblies used in assembly line and conveyor belt systems and, in particular, to a means for adjustably housing, gripping and connecting sequential conveyor guide rails.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clamps are commonly used to grip and connect guide rails which direct the travel of articles along a predetermined path of an assembly line or conveyor system. The articles are conveyed on a belt or track during the processing and packaging procedures of a typical manufacturer. Dependable fixation and alignment of the guide rails is important to ensure manufacturing efficiency and to minimize damage of the articles from inappropriate contact with the guide rails. Guide rail length is customized to conveyor length by the sequential alignment and connection of guide rail segments.
Early guide rail housing, gripping, and connecting means were characterized by a cross bar that incorporated a clamping device, as illustrated in FIG.
1
. Abutting guide rails were then connected and secured to the cross bar by the clamping device. Clips and other retention means were also used to secure abutting guide rails. An advantage of incorporating a clip with a nut and bolt clamping device is that the nut is more easily rotated onto the bolt without causing simultaneous rotation of the bolt. That is, integral bolts eliminate the need to grasp the bolt in order to prevent its rotation while rotating the nut onto the bolt shaft. However, a disadvantage of clips formed with or without the bolt is that they tend to rotate out of position about the pivot point formed by the bolt in the cross bar, thereby causing misalignment of the guide rail in the conveyor system.
The device shown in
FIG. 2
is exemplary of a recent development in the guide rail housing, gripping and connecting field. This device comprises upper and lower L-shaped cross bars of equal length. The upper and lower cross bars are inversely aligned to form a C-shaped groove section wherein abutting guide rails are housed and secured. The upper and lower cross bars are detachably connected by a nut and bolt retention device to allow adjustment of the guide rails.
However, the prior art devices all have significant deficiencies. Specifically, once abutting guide rail segments are connected, any subsequent alteration of either guide rail segment (due to setup, modification, replacement, etc.) is difficult because, when the retention means is loosened, both guide rail segments become loose. This results in at least three loose parts. Therefore, the task of altering a guide rail segment requires either two operators or one operator with significant difficulty and awkwardness. A second problem with the prior art resulted because the abutting guide rail segments are secured by only a single retention mechanism. Thus, whenever the single retention mechanism is loosened to alter a guide rail segment, the abutting guide rail segment is correspondingly loosened.
A need therefore exists for a means for adjustably housing, gripping and connecting sequential guide rails that is easily adjustable and does not possess the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a splice sleeve device incorporates a dual retention means to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by enabling a guide rail segment to be loosened and adjusted while the device securely holds a sequential guide rail segment.
In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve comprises an elongated central member, a first tension bar, a second tension bar, and a retention means corresponding to each tension bar permitting selective adjustment of the respective tension bar to the central member for tightening or loosening adjacent guide rail segments.
The first retention means comprises engaging the first tension bar and central member with one or more fasteners. So connected, these members form a channel for gripping a first guide rail segment positioned therein.
The second retention means is similarly formed by engaging the second tension bar and central member with one or more fasteners. So connected, these members form a channel for gripping a second guide rail segment positioned therein.
The first and second guide rail retention means may be independently loosened or tightened, whereby adjustments may be made to the position of either guide rail segment independently from the other guide rail segments
Thus, the dual retention means permits an operator to loosen one tension bar in order to loosen the corresponding guide rail. The other tension bar remains undisturbed and accordingly the other sequential guide rail remains securely connected to the splice sleeve. This design enables a single operator to adjust, modify, or slide the position of a guide rail without the above mentioned disadvantages inherent in the prior art.
In one preferred embodiment, the sleeve incorporates a hand tightening device with a ratcheting mechanism into the retention means so that the retention means may be tightened or loosened without the assistance of additional tools or devices.
In another preferred embodiment, an extension guide rail is provided which spans a space between the first and second tension bars or guide rails positioned therein. This provides additional precision in the alignment of guide rails, eliminating any gap between adjacent guide rail ends and decreasing the likelihood that articles being transported by the conveyor system will be disrupted in their travel or damaged as a result of encountering an exposed end of one of the adjacent guide rail segments.
Further advantages and applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the drawings referenced herein.
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patent: 5896980 (1999-04-01), Butler
patent: 5927480 (1999-07-01), McCaffrey et al.
patent: 6053654 (2000-04-01), Ledingham
patent: 489838 (1938-08-01), None
patent: 335904 (1959-03-01), None
Ledingham Stuart J.
Schwarz Jeffrey J.
Bochna David E.
Browne Lynne H.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Valu Engineering, Inc.
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