Tire Conveyor Assembly and Components Thereof

• US 20090314608A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unique Metal Designs, Inc.
• Inventors: Rogers, Don A., Musick, Rick A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/358
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0273 Tires
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/22 Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors during feeding B65G47/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/493 by use of light responsive means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/8823 Pivoting stop, swinging in or out of the path of the article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/8861 Stop in the form of a clamp on one or both sides of the article

Abstract

An improved conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations is disclosed. Such conveyor assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the frames.

Claims

1. In a conveyor assembly including a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a pair of spaced apart side frames that support said conveyor belt and between which said conveyor belt rotates, said side frames formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member, both said frame upstanding member and said frame horizontal member carrying a series of elongated slots; and

(b) one or more L-shaped brackets formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member, both said bracket upstanding member and said bracket horizontal member carrying a series of elongated slots, said bracket horizontal member slots configured to overlay said frame elongate horizontal member slots, and said bracket upstanding member slots configured to overlay said frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to said frames.

2. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein said product is one or more of unmounted tires, wheel mounted tires, green tires, or boxes.

3. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein

4. An apparatus for reading a bar code located on a bead of a tire which tire is being conveyed by a gravity conveyor, which comprises:

(a) an inlet from which a tire on said conveyor passes into said bar code reader;

(b) an outlet from which a tire on said conveyor passes from said bar code reader;

(c) a pair of tire stops that actuate from a home position to an active position to stop said tire'"'"'s movement on said conveyor;

(d) a pair of forward rollers and a pair of rearward rollers that move into contact with said tire and cause said tire to rotate; and

(d) a bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and which reads said bar code as said tire rotates.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the conveyor elevates the tire when the tire stops actuate.

6. An apparatus for reading a bar code located on a bead of an annular tire which tire is being conveyed by a gravity conveyor, said tire having a circular outside surface and a circular inside edge, which comprises:

(a) an inlet from which a tire on said conveyor passes into said bar code reader;

(b) an outlet from which a tire on said conveyor passes from said bar code reader;

(c) a central roller;

(d) a pair or rollers that contact said tire outside surface and urge the central roller against said inside edge and causes said tire to rotate;

and

(e) a bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and which reads said bar code as said tire rotates.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conveyor elevates the tire when the tire stops actuate.

8. A diverter in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus for changing direction of travel of a product being carried by said primary conveyor apparatus to a side conveyor apparatus, which comprises:

(a) a side frame supporting said primary conveyor apparatus;

(b) a diverter affixed to said side frame and comprising; and

(i) a piston assembly affixed to said side frame;

(ii) a pivot arm pivotally affixed to said side frame and to said piston assembly with an elastomeric component; and

(iii) a paddle affixed to said piston assembly and being actuatable to contact a tire being carried by said primary conveyor onto a side conveyor disposed opposite said diver.

9. The diverter of claim 8, wherein retracting said piston assembly actuates said paddle.

10. The diverter of claim 8, wherein extending said piston assembly actuates said paddle.

11. A wear bar assembly for a conveyor assembly, which comprises:

(a) a holder spanning underneath a conveyor belt and between a pair of side frames between which the conveyor passes, said holder containing a series of transverse slots having an opening and a bottom, where the opening is smaller than said bottom; and

(b) a series wear strips configured to match the shape of said holder slots.

12. The wear bar assembly of claim 11, wherein a series of end clip assemblies retain said wear strips to said holder.

13. The wear bar assembly of claim 12, wherein clip assembly includes a flat plate having an aperture, a notched angle plate angled with respect to and connected with said flat plate, and a bolt assembly running through said flat plate aperture, said wear strips captured by said noticed angle plate, whereby tightening of said bolt assembly causes said notched angle plate to rotate about said bolt assembly for holding the wear strip in place.

14. The wear bar assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

(c) end clips carried by said side frames and retaining said wear bar assembly in place.

15. A drive roller assembly for engaging a conveyor belt assembly for movement of a conveyor belt, which comprises:

I. a sandwich assembly of components from outside to inside comprises;

(a) a pair of outer annular scalloped wheels;

(b) a pair of inner annular apertured plates having a series of cup retaining recesses disposed about said annulus;

(c) an annular central split drive wheel; and

(d) a rectilinear central drive nut disposed within the annulus of said sandwich assembly;

II. a rectilinear drive shaft running through said drive nut;

III. a series of drive cups disposed within said cup retaining recesses of said inner annular apertured plates and held in place by scallops of said outer annular scalloped wheels; and

IV. bolt assemblies to hold said sandwich assembly together.