Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-01-23
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
C198S803200, C198S867010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176370
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to devices having conveyorized work supporting surfaces and more specifically resides in an endless conveyor defined by a plurality of slats positioned in a side-by-side relationship relative to one another, each of said slats being easily removable from the conveyor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has utility in several different applications wherein a conveyor is used to move material from one place to another. One area where the present invention finds particular utility is in the area of garment production wherein conveyorized cutting tables are employed to cut pattern pieces from stacks of fabric layers referred to as a lay. Accordingly, the present invention will be described as being applied to such use; however, this should not be construed in a limiting sense.
In the mass production of garments, pattern pieces used to fabricate a finished item of clothing are typically cut from multiple layers in a single operation. Generally, this is accomplished by supporting the layers of fabric on a work support surface that is conveyorized. During operation, a vacuum is typically drawn from below the work supporting surface to hold the layers of fabric in place. A cutting head having a reciprocating knife mounted thereon moves along the cutting table, generating the individual pattern pieces by cutting through the layers of fabric in response to commands issued from a controller. When a cutting operation is complete, the layers of fabric with the pattern pieces cut therefrom are advanced off of the cutting table by the conveyorized work supporting surface.
Historically, the conveyorized work supporting surfaces on cutting tables have been configured as shown in
FIG. 1
with of a plurality of individual slats positioned in a side-by-side relationship relative to one another. Each individual slat was bolted to a bracket that in turn was bolted to a conveyor drive chain. As the chain moved relative to the cutting table, the individual slats also moved with it. In addition to being mounted on the conveyor drive chain, each slat also had a plurality of bristle blocks mounted thereon and in side-by-side relationship extending longitudinally along the entire length of the slat. A problem which sometimes occurs in devices configured in this manner is that it may be necessary to remove one or more slats from the conveyor to perform maintenance operations on the cutting table. This is quite difficult when the above-described design is employed, as the slats are quite narrow and insufficient space is provided to comfortably access the bolts holding the slats to the chain. In addition, with the other slats in place, it is difficult for a maintenance worker to reach the bolts retaining the slats to the drive chain as the area he/she must work in is quite narrow, initially only equal to the width of a single slat. This problem results in increased down time for the cutting table, thereby reducing production and increasing the cost of the finished product.
Based on the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the problems and drawbacks associated with prior art conveyorized work supporting surfaces.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a conveyorized work supporting surface comprised of a plurality of individual slats wherein each slat can be easily and quickly removed therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an endless conveyor including a frame having a work supporting surface carried thereon. The work supporting surface is comprised of a plurality of slats, each defining a pair of opposed longitudinal edges extending across the frame and positioned in a side-by-side relationship relative to each other, thereby defining the work supporting surface. Drive means are provided for advancing the plurality of slats along the frame in response to commands issued from a controller that selectively generates and sends control signals to the conveyor. Mounting means are employed to slidably and releasably couple each of the slats to the drive means such that the longitudinal edge of one slat is positioned adjacent and approximately parallel to a longitudinal edge defined by the next successive slat. During operation, the drive means cause the work supporting surface to move relative to the frame along the length thereof. To ensure proper alignment of the slats relative to the frame, guide means are also included for releasably retaining each of the slats on the drive means for directing the movement of each slat relative to the frame during operation of the conveyor.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one drive bracket is mounted to an end of each of the slats on an underside thereof. In addition, the drive means includes at least one pair of sprockets rotatably mounted to the frame in spaced apart relation relative to one another with at least one of the sprockets being driven in response to the commands issued from the controller. A chain extends between and is drivingly engaged with the pair of sprockets with the mounting means including a plurality of extensions projecting outwardly from the chain, each being adapted to slidably engage one of the brackets mounted to a slat, thereby causing the slat to move in response to movement of the chain. Preferably, the plurality of extensions are in the form of shaped pins with each of the brackets defining at least one aperture having a shape complimentary to and adapted to receive at least one of the pins.
Preferably, the frame defines a pair of opposed side walls approximately perpendicular to the slats and parallel to each other. The guide means includes at least one end cap releasably coupled to an end of each of the slats and slidingly engaged with one of the side walls. Each cap defines a projection extending therefrom and adapted to engage an aperture in the end of said slat, thereby causing the cap to be snap fit onto the slat and be easily removable therefrom.
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Bidwell James R.
Gerber Technology, Inc.
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
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