Magnetic rail construction for can conveyor

• US 4,351,430 A
• Filed: 05/02/1980
• Issued: 09/28/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleetwood Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fleetwood Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Mojden, Wallace W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bond, Brian
• Application Number:
  US06/146,153
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 198/690, 198/381, 271/193
• US Class Current: 198/690.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2018 for retaining the load on the load-carrying surface, retaining loads by magnetic load-carriers, e.g. belts B65G15/58, chains B65G17/46; individual magnetic grippers B65G17/323
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements

Abstract

A magnetic rail is arranged for use in a conveyor system and includes permanent magnets arranged either in alternately interspersed relationship or in checkerboard pattern regarding relative north and south polarities; and the individual magnets are advantageously selected to have a dimension in the direction of belt travel which is less than the diameter of tinplate containers being transported. When the magnetic rail is used in the bleed-off section of the system, the magnets are selected to be of progressively diminishing transverse dimension relative to the direction of belt travel in order to gradually reduce mangetic attraction as the containers pass down the belt.

Claims

1. In a magnetic conveyor system, the combination comprising:

traveling conveyor means adapted to be transported in a predetermined linear direction; and

an elongate magnetic rail extending in said linear direction and comprising a first plurality of permanent magnets having a first, common polarity confronting said conveyor means and being arranged in uniformly spaced-apart relationship in a row along said predetermined linear direction closely adjacent said conveyor means; and

a second plurality of permanent magnets having a second, common polarity confronting said conveyor means and being opposite the polarity of said first plurality of magnets, said second plurality of magnets being alternately interspersed with said first plurality of magnets in the spaces therebetween said first and second plurality of magnets being in abutting surface-to-surface contact with the magnets immediately adjacent thereto along surfaces of the respective magnets which extend transversely to the linear direction of travel of the conveyor means, such that any one of said magnets of a given polarity facing said support means, except those at the end of said magnetic rail, will have the transverse surfaces thereof in abutting engagement on opposite sides thereof with magnets of an opposite polarity orientation, and common shunt plate means upon which said first and second plurality of magnets are supported, with the sides thereof opposite that facing said support means being engaged with said shunt plate means, to provide a plurality of flux paths of substantial strength.

2. In a magnetic conveyor system, the combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said magnets is selected to have a dimension in said predetermined linear direction which is less than the diameter of tinplate containers being transported by said conveyor system.

3. In a magnetic conveyor system, the combination according to claim 1 wherein said magnets are of progressively diminishing dimension transverse to the direction of belt travel.

5. In a magnetic conveyor system according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the magnetic rail employs magnets that extend substantially across the entire width of said magnetic rail.

4. In a magnetic conveyor system, the combination comprising:

traveling support means adapted to be transported in a predetermined linear direction; and

an elongate magnetic rail extending in said direction and comprising, a first plurality of permanent magnets having a first, common polarity confronting said support means and being arranged in uniformly spaced-apart relationship in a row along said predetermined linear direction closely adjacent said support means; and

a second plurality of permanent magnets having a second common polarity confronting said support means and being opposite the polarity of said first plurality of magnets, said second plurality of magnets being alternately interspersed with said first plurality of magnets in the spaces therebetween, and said front and second plurality of adjacent magnets being in abutting surface-to-surface contact with magnets adjacent thereto, and said magnetic rail further comprising a third plurality of permanent magnets of said first polarity disposed laterally adjacent said second plurality of permanent magnets and being of like number therewith and in abutting surface-to-surface contact therewith; and

a fourth plurality of permanent magnets of said second polarity alternately interspersed with said third plurality of permanent magnets, and in abutting surface-to-surface contact with both said first and said third pluralities of magnets, such that any one of said magnets of a given polarity facing said support means, except those at the extreme ends of said magnetic rail, will be in abutting engagement on three sides thereof with magnets disposed oppositely of said one magnet.