Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-03-06
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S848000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a module for a modular conveyor mat, comprising a front side and a rear side having hinge loops extending outwards relative to the module, such that in two modules succeeding each other in a conveying direction, the hinge loops on the front side of one module can cooperate with the hinge loops on the rear side of the other module and can be coupled by means of hinge pins extending transversely to the conveying direction, said module further comprising a top side, a bottom side and two lateral sides located opposite each other transversely to the conveying direction, and at least one recess accommodating a retaining member which is rotatable relative to a rotation axis extending through the retaining member, such that a closing part of the retaining member is rotatable between a first position in which the closing part can retain a hinge pin received by the hinge loops transversely to the conveying direction and a second position in which the closing part can release a hinge pin received by the hinge loops transversely to the conveying direction.
2. Description of Related Art
Such a module is used for composing a modular conveyor mat. A conventional modular conveyor mat is built up of a number of modules succeeding each other in a conveying direction and arranged side-by-side transversely to the conveying direction. Viewed in conveying direction, the modules each have their front and rear sides provided with hinge loops. The hinge loops of modules succeeding each other in conveying direction cooperate and are coupled by means of hinge pins extending transversely to the conveying direction. For retaining the hinge pins transversely to the conveying direction, the modules that are located adjacent the lateral sides of the conveyor mat are provided with a retaining member. A module having a retaining member is also referred to as ‘end module’, while the retaining member in assembled condition is also referred to as ‘retaining mechanism’.
During assembly of the conveyor mat, after two rows of modules succeeding each other in conveying direction have been coupled by means of a hinge pin, the hinge pin is retained transversely to the conveying direction between the retaining members of two end modules arranged on opposite ends of the row of modules. Disassembly of the mat proceeds in reverse order.
It is observed that an end module may comprise several retaining members, for instance when a conveyor mat comprises only one module, viewed transversely to the conveying direction.
In practice, a large number of requirements are imposed on the retaining member of an end module. The operation of the retaining member must be simple, i.e. it must be possible to carry out the operation without any special directions and/or special tools. Further, the retaining member must be insusceptible to dirt. Moreover, it must be possible to check in a simple manner whether the retaining member is in a position in which it retains a hinge pin received by the hinge loops. A further requirement imposed on the retaining member is that it does not have to be removed for enabling fitting the hinge pin, so as to reduce the risk of the retaining member getting lost. Further, the retaining member must be insusceptible to wear of the top, bottom and lateral side of the end module. Another important requirement imposed on a retaining member is that the retaining member must not impede the assembly/disassembly of the conveyor mat.
In practice, it has proved to be difficult to provide an end module that satisfies the above requirements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,768 discloses a module whose retaining member comprises an arm rotatable between a first position in which it can retain a hinge pin received by the hinge loops transversely to the conveying direction in that it closes the hinge hole, and a second position in which the arm can release a hinge pin received by the hinge loops transversely to the conveying direction in that the arm extends outwards relative to the bottom side of the module. As the arm extends outwards, there is the chance of the arm getting damaged, for instance when a retaining member of an end module of a moving conveyor mat accidentally adopts the second position and bumps against an obstacle. This leads to a highly reduced reliability in operation of the conveyor mat. Further, the disassembly of a row of modules of a conveyor mat already arranged on a conveyor track is rendered difficult, because the conveyor mat at the location of the end module must first be lifted from the conveyor track to enable operating the retaining member and/or the conveyor track must be provided with a space in which the arm in the second position can be accommodated. Disassembly is problematic in particular when the conveyor mat is taut. Moreover, the bottom side of the module is provided with a relatively large opening adjacent the arm, which increases the chance of the retaining member being blocked by the entrance of dirt. Further, the wall parts located adjacent the opening are relatively thin. Consequently, the chance of a wall part breaking off when catching behind something is fairly substantial, which reduces the reliability in operation of the retaining member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a module of the type mentioned in the preamble, which meets the above requirements and does not have the above drawbacks. To that end, the module according to the invention is characterized in that both in said first and second position of the closing part and in intermediate positions of the closing part, the retaining member is located within boundary faces formed by the top side and the bottom side of the module. It is thus provided that the retaining member is protected more adequately against damage and/or fouling, which increases the reliability in operation. It further provides that during disassembly of a row of modules from a conveyor mat already arranged on a conveyor track, the retaining member can be operated without the end module having to be lifted from the conveyor track or without space for accommodating the retaining member having to be created otherwise.
In another embodiment, the module according to the invention is characterized in that the rotation axis intersects a center line extending through the hinge loops of the front or rear side of the module, preferably at an angle of between 10° and 80°, more preferably between 15° and 75°. It is thus provided that an outer part of the retaining member in said first position can, by its edge, connect all around to the lateral side of the module so as to impede the entrance of dirt and, moreover, prevent the situation where the accumulation of dirt around the outer part prevents reaching said positions through rotation. Further, it i:B thus provided that the dimension of the closing part in radial direction relative to the rotation axis of the retaining member can be small and that hence the space required for rotating the closing part between the first position and the second position may also be small, which facilitates the receipt of the retaining member within the boundary faces of the module formed by the top and bottom sides of the module. It is further provided that it is possible to transmit the force exerted by the hinge pin to the module both in axial direction and in radial direction relative to the hinge pin.
Further elaborations of advantageous embodiments of the module according to the invention are described in the subclaims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5217110 (1993-06-01), Spangler et al.
patent: 5335768 (1994-08-01), Schladweiler
patent: 5482156 (1996-01-01), Damkjaer
patent: 5899322 (1999-05-01), Gamble, Jr.
patent: PCT/US97/09707 (1998-02-01), None
Van Esch Franciscus Josephus Maria
van Zijderveld George Johannes
Deuble Mark A.
Ellis Christopher P.
MCC Nederland B.V.
Varnum Riddering Schmidt Howlett LLP
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