Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-06-12
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244429
ABSTRACT:
FILED OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to guide rail systems for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a packaging line or container processing production line and more particularly to guide rail systems that allow adjustment of the distance between the opposing guide rails to accommodate containers of different dimensions and configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the container industry, conveyor systems are used to transport containers between various processing stations. Guide rails are typically provided on the sides of the conveyor to ensure that containers will remain in line along the path of travel established by the conveyor belt. The guide rails that are commonly used in the industry can be adjusted to accommodate different container sizes by using simple manual knobs. To perform the adjustment procedure, the operator releases the knobs, positions the guide rail manually at the desired position and then tightens the knobs to lock the guide rails in place. Conventional guide rail systems, however, fail to provide a quick means of adjusting the distance between opposing guide rails. An operator must physically go to each guide rail sections and manually adjust the distance between the guide rail and the center of the conveyor belt or between opposing guide rails. An operator must repeat this procedure for each section of guide rails and on both sides of the conveyor belt. Considering that production lines may have numerous sections to adjust, it may represent an enormous amount of set up time during which the production line is inactive. If a production line is subject to multiple changes of container sizes due to the nature of the industry, the loss of production time is compounded making the production line less efficient.
Thus there is a need in the industry to provide a guide rail adjustment system for conveyor belt that can rapidly be adjusted to accommodate containers of various sizes.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable guide rail system for conveyor belt that can rapidly be adjusted to accommodate containers of various sizes.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a selfpowered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line. The adjustable guide rail system usually comprises at least two sections of guide rail, one on each side of the conveyor for guiding containers, the sections of guide rail are mounted to the conveyor in a generally parallel, facing and coextensive relationship, and are adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor or away therefrom. It also comprises a reversible motorized actuator; a motion converter driven by the reversible motorized actuator and coupled to the sections of guide rail for moving same toward the centerline when the actuator operates in a first direction, and for moving the sections of guide rail away from the centerline when the actuator operates in a second direction, thereby adjusting the width of the path of the containers being transported on the conveyor.
Advantageously, the self-powered adjustable guide rail system further comprises control means generating an output signal representative of the required motion of the sections of guide rail, the output signal being applied to the motorized actuator and causing same to move to a predetermined setting relative to the centerline.
Preferably, the motion converter comprises a cam member movable longitudinally and having a pair of diverging grooves having the same angular deviation relative to the longitudinal centerline. The cam member is connected to the sections of guide rail through inwardly directed sliding members supporting at one end the sections of guide rail and at the other end having cam followers slidably engaging the diverging grooves, thereby transmitting motion of the cam member to each section of guide rail.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a self-powered adjustable double guide rails system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line, the adjustable guide rails system comprising at least two sections of guide rails, one on each side of said conveyor for guiding containers. The sections of guide rails are mounted to the conveyor in a generally parallel, facing and coextensive relationship, and are adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor or away therefrom. Each sections of guide rails further comprises at least two generally parallel, side by side rails. The sections of guide rails define two paths for containers being transported; one section of guide rails define a right side of each path, the other section of guide rails define a left side of each path; It also comprises a reversible motorized actuator; a motion converter driven by the reversible motorized actuator and coupled to the sections of guide rails for moving same toward each other when the actuator operates in a first direction, and for moving the sections of guide rails away from each other when the actuator operates in a second direction, thereby adjusting the width of the path of the containers being transported on the conveyor.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a conveyor system for a container processing production line, having a supporting structure, a conveyor belt mounted to, and supported by the structure and movable along the longitudinal axis of the structure and at least two sections of guide rail disposed above the conveyor belt for guiding containers thereon. The sections of guide rail are supported by the structure in a generally parallel, facing and coextensive relationship, and are adjustably movable toward a longitudinal centerline of the conveyor or away therefrom. The conveyor also comprises a reversible motorized actuator, a motion converter driven by the reversible motorized actuator and coupled to the sections of guide rail for moving the sections of guide rail toward the centerline when the actuator operates in a first direction, and for moving the sections of guide rail away from the centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction, thereby adjusting the width of the path of the containers being transported on the conveyor.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a self-powered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line comprising at least one movable guide rail disposed above the conveyor for guiding containers thereon. The guide rail is adjustably movable transversely of the conveyor to accommodate containers of different configurations or sizes. It also comprises a reversible motorized actuator and a motion converter driven by the reversible motorized actuator and coupled to the guide rail for moving same in one direction when the actuator operates in a first direction, and for moving the guide rail in the opposite direction when the actuator operates in a second direction, thereby adjusting the path of the containers being transported on the conveyor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2951574 (1960-04-01), Craig
patent: 3767027 (1973-10-01), Pund et al.
patent: 4225035 (1980-09-01), Mohney et al.
patent: 4880104 (1989-11-01), Evans et al.
patent: 5515668 (1996-05-01), Hunt et al.
patent: 5520276 (1996-05-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 5636127 (1997-06-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 5749698 (1998-05-01), Miyoshi
patent: 5782339 (1998-07-01), Drewitz
patent: 6050396 (2000-04-01), Moore
patent: 5-97220 (1991-10-01), None
D'Amico Jody Anthony
Drewitz Huques
Bower Kenneth W
Kalish Canada Inc.
Ratner & Prestia
Valenza Joseph E.
LandOfFree
Automatic adjustable guide rails does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automatic adjustable guide rails, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automatic adjustable guide rails will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489251