Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Linear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-04-10
Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Linear
C226S118200, C226S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215205
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for adjusting the length of a conveyor system to compensate for changes in the length of a strip material caused by intermittent feeding or by changes in speed of feeding, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses for supporting the strip material in a generally horizontal attitude during the length adjustment.
BACKGROUND ART
In the past, vertical festoons were used to adjust the length of a conveyor system to compensate for intermittent feeding of strip material to meet variable production requirements. However, when vertical festoons were used, the strip material was not supported and was stretched by its own weight. This stretching of the strip material was not desirable when assembling a product such as a tire. One such conveyor of strip material is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,609 to Nakanome et al., which discloses an automatic material feeder in tire forming machines. The machine has a traditional vertical festoon to support the buildup of tire building materials.
When conveyors of a strip material did not have features to compensate for changes in length of the strip material caused by intermittent feeding, extruders, for example, would have to be stopped and started to compensate for the changes in feeding. This starting and stopping may produce undesirable variations in the strip material.
Applicants recognized the need to provide an adjustment apparatus and method that did not stretch the strip material and did not produce or add additional stresses to the strip material.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved adjustment for a conveyor system which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved adjustable substantially horizontal conveyor is provided which compensates for the changes in length of the strip material being conveyed as a result of intermittent feeding without altering the weight or shape of the strip material.
More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, a conveyor assembly for conveying and storing an associated strip material in a conveyor system is provided. The conveyor assembly includes an upper conveyor for receiving and conveying the associated strip material. The upper conveyor has a first conveyor belt and a first driving means for driving the first conveyor belt. The upper conveyor is substantially stationary. A center conveyor receives the associated strip material from the upper conveyor, and has a second conveyor belt and a second driving means for driving the second conveyor belt. The center conveyor is movable along a substantially horizontal path and has length adjusting means for moving the center conveyor along the path. A lower conveyor is provided for receiving the associated strip material from the center conveyor, and has a third conveyor belt with a third driving means for driving the third conveyor belt. The lower conveyor is substantially stationary.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a length adjusting conveyor for storing a variable length of strip material in a conveyor system including supply means for supplying the associated strip material to the length adjusting conveyor with the length adjusting conveyor having a conveyor belt and driving means for driving the conveyor belt, the length adjusting conveyor being movable along a substantially horizontal path; power means for moving the length adjusting conveyor along the path; and, take away means for receiving the associated strip material from the length adjusting conveyor.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of conveying an associated strip material along a conveyor assembly wherein the conveyor assembly includes an upper conveyor having a first conveyor belt and a first driving means, a center length adjusting conveyor having a second conveyor belt and a second driving means, and a lower conveyor having a third conveyor belt and third driving means, the method including the steps of: conveying the associated strip material along the upper conveyor in a first direction with the first driving means; transferring the associated strip material to the center length adjusting conveyor; moving the center length adjusting conveyor along a substantially horizontal path to adjust the length of the conveyor assembly in response to changes in length of the associated strip material; conveying the associated strip material along the center length adjusting conveyor in a second direction opposite the first direction with the second driving means; transferring the associated strip material to the lower conveyor; and, conveying the associated strip material along the lower conveyor in the first direction with the third driving means.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of adjusting the length of a conveyor system to compensate for changes in the length of an associated strip in a conveyor system, the conveyor system having a length adjusting conveyor with a conveyor belt and driving means, supply means, and take away means, the method including the steps of: supplying the associated strip material to the length adjusting conveyor with the supply means; moving the length adjusting conveyor in a substantially horizontal direction in response to changes in length of the associated strip material in the conveyor system; conveying the associated strip material along at least a portion of the length adjusting conveyor with the driving means; and, transferring the associated strip material to the take away means.
One advantage of the present invention is that the conveyor system may adjust for variable lengths of the strip material in the system caused by different supply and take away speeds including stoppage at the takeaway position.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the conveyor system adjusts for changes in the length of the strip material in the system without changing the stresses on the strip material.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3675868 (1972-07-01), Piatelli
patent: 4730781 (1988-03-01), Richter et al.
patent: 4771991 (1988-09-01), Sankaran
patent: 4892609 (1990-01-01), Nakanome et al.
patent: 4961813 (1990-10-01), Bailey
patent: 5055149 (1991-10-01), Ogawa
patent: 5271790 (1993-12-01), Nojiri et al.
patent: 5451011 (1995-09-01), Frost et al.
patent: 5617985 (1997-04-01), Baer
patent: 3925193 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 0 454 094 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 0 464 862 (1992-01-01), None
Banas Mark Daniel
Beer Klaus
Burg Gary Robert
Conger Kenneth Dean
Eckman Raymond Patrick
Jones Judson H.
Lacher Frederick K
Ramirez Nestor
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
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