Chain driven roller conveyor with closure plates

• US 4,008,800 A
• Filed: 11/26/1975
• Issued: 02/22/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Babcock IP, PLLC
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
• Inventors: Forsyth, Emil John
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US05/635,565
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 198/127 R, 198/203, 198/204, 198/780, 198/782, 198/860, 198/862, 52/596
• US Class Current: 198/782
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/11 Roller frames

Abstract

Each side frame of a roll conveyor includes a series of holes in which the projecting ends of the roll axles are selectively mounted according to the desired spacing between rolls. One side frame forms a chain box which partially encloses the chain drive of the roll. Separate plates are provided to fully close the box. They are in certain lengths whereby only several groups need be provided for their use in closing the chain box of any conveyor of whatever roll spacing it may have, within limits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rolls of a roll conveyor are spaced according to the length of the articles to be conveyed. Generally their spacing is such that each article always has the support of at least two or three rolls. Accordingly, the term "roll spacing" refers to the center-to-center distance between rolls, rather than the "gap" between rolls which depends on their diameter and "spacing."

Each roll is bearing mounted on an axle having projecting ends which are fitted in the opposite corresponding holes of the side frame members of the conveyor and which support the rolls.

At least one end of the axle is retractable to allow the roll to be located between the spaced frame members for mounting in the opposite holes. Such rolls may also be readily removed individually for replacement.

Where the side frame members are punched so that the same frame members may be used in the construction of a conveyor of any selected roll spacing, the spacing of the rolls of a conveyor may later be altered, if desired such as to provide in a given section of the conveyor more rolls of closer spacing. In order to provide the desired increments of selection, the hole spacing is most practicably such that the rolls with minimum spacing would be assembled in every third hole, for example. Other spacing increments are, of course, optional.

It is an object of the invention to provide readily installed means for fully closing the chain box of any such conveyors, irrespective of the spacing of such rolls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One side frame of the usual roll conveyor having chain driven rolls forms a chain box. The driven ends of the rolls extend into this box through an opening or gap which extends the length of the frame or box. Separate plates are provided to fully close the box. They are in certain lengths whereby only several groups need be provided for their use in closing the chain box of any conveyor of whatever roll spacing it may have, within limits.

Claims

1. In a power driven roller conveyor, in combination, spaced parallel side frames;

a series of rollers mounted between said side frames;

power means for driving said rollers disposed along one set of ends of the rollers;

a plurality of spaced support means associated with said side frames for receiving and supporting the axles of said rollers, said support means spaced a distance S apart along the side frames;

spaced members projecting from one of said side frames over and below said drive means and the one set of ends of the rollers; and

a plurality of removable abutting plates positioned against the ends of said spaced members and enclosing the drive means, at least a portion of the abutting plates having holes through which the rollers may extend, the width of said abutting plates being a multiple of S thereby permitting changes in the center-to-center spacing of the roller in multiples of S.

2. In the combination of claim 1, the abutting plates have a width of a first predetermined multiple of S and the center-to-center spacing of the rollers is a second predetermined multiple of S.

3. In the combination of claim 2, a plurality of groups of abutting plates, a first group having holes through which the rollers may extend and a second group of plates, at least one of which is positioned between adjacent plates of the first group and having uninterrupted surfaces.

4. In the combination of claim 1, a plurality of groups of abutting plates, one of the groups having a width a first predetermined multiple of S and a second of the groups having a width a second predetermined multiple of S, said rollers having a center-to-center spacing which is a third predetermined multiple of S.

5. In the combination of claim 4, said first and second groups having holes through which the rollers may extend and a third group of abutting plates, at least one of which is positioned between adjacent plates of the first and second groups.

6. In a power driven roll conveyor comprising parallel spaced rolls and spaced parallel side frames, one side frame being of box section which partially encloses the ends of the rolls, said rolls having a center-to-center spacing which is a multiple of S wherein 3S is the minimum spacing between rolls, and groups of plates for assembly in a series with said box section for closing the latter, said groups including first and second groups of plates of 3S and 5S width, respectively, each such plate having a central hole through which a roll may extend, and a third group of plates of 3S width, said groups of plates providing the entire required selection of plates for assembly in a series to close the box section.

7. In a power driven roller conveyor comprising parallel spaced rolls and spaced parallel side frames having aperture means for receiving the projecting ends of the axles of the rollers, one side frame being of box section which encloses the ends of the rolls, said rolls having a center-to-center spacing which is a multiple of S, where S is the distance between adjacent aperture means, said multiple being more than 3, said one side frame including removable plates assembled in a series and having holes through which the rolls extend, said plates including first and second groups of plates of 3S and 5S width, respectively each such plate having a central hole through which a roll may extend, and a third group of plates of 3S width, said group of plates providing the entire required selection of plates for assembly in a series to close the box section.

8. In a power driven roll conveyor comprising parallel spaced rolls and spaced parallel side frames, one side frame being a box section which includes a series of removable plates and which encloses driven ends of the rolls with rolls extending through at least some of the plates, a plurality of spaced means for mounting the ends of the rolls to and between said side frames such that the rolls may be arranged or rearranged to have any spacing between 3S and 11S, where S is the distance between adjacent mounting means, said plates including a first number of 3S width and having holes through which the rolls may extend, a second number of 5S width and having holes through which such rolls may extend, and a third number of 3S width such that said numbers of plates may be suitably arranged and rearranged as required by any spacing of the rolls within said limits.