Direction changing mechanism for transferring articles between transverse conveyors

• US 5,634,550 A
• Filed: 01/19/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
• Inventors: Montaine, Thomas, Marks, Paul J., Schladweiler, Timothy J., Ensch, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US08/374,849
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 198/457, 198/599, 198/600, 198/606, 198/637, 198/803.01, 198/850, 198/851, 198/853
• US Class Current: 198/457.05
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/08 the surface being formed by the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/30 Details; Auxiliary devices belts B65G15/30; framework B65G21/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/12 Chain pin retainers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/52 Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00

Abstract

The invention provides a conveying apparatus including an upstream conveyor, a downstream conveyor oriented perpendicularly to the upstream conveyor to form a butt turn, and a mechanism for transferring conveyed articles from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor. The transfer mechanism includes guide rails that provide a corner to change the direction of travel of the conveyed articles and a transfer assist conveyor for supporting the articles as they travel between the upstream and downstream conveyors. The transfer assist conveyor runs alongside the upstream conveyor and has a cantilevered section that extends over the sprocket location of the downstream conveyor to perform the function of a prior art static transfer plate.

Claims

1. A first conveyor adapted for use with a second transversely oriented article receiving conveyor, said first conveyor comprising a plurality of chain link modules each having a dimension in the direction transverse to the direction of first conveyor movement and an article supporting surface, a plurality of chain pins interconnecting said chain link modules and respectively having lengths substantially equal to said transverse dimension of said chain link modules, and a plurality of replaceable attachments which respectively form cantilevered end portions extending respectively in cantilevered relation from said chain link modules and including respective article supporting surfaces in coplanar relation to said article supporting surface of said chain link modules.

2. A conveyor chain comprising

a plurality of chain links respectively having opposite sides with a width dimension extending therebetween in the direction of conveyor chain movement and each respectively including

a link module portion including

laterally spaced opposite edges, and

an article supporting surface area therebetween, and

a second portion extending laterally with respect to the direction of conveyor chain movement and in cantilevered relation from said link module portion and including

a replaceable attachment securable to one of said link module portion edges, and

a plurality of elongated chain pins

having opposite ends, and

a length between said opposite ends less than said width dimension, being offset laterally so that said second portions are cantilevered in offset relation to one of said chain pin ends, and serially interconnecting said link module portions such that said article supporting surface areas form a continuous article supporting surface.

3. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 2

wherein said replaceable attachment includes

a planar surface coplanar with said article supporting surface section, and

wherein said replaceable attachment is constructed and arranged so that said planar surface thereof is adapted to extend over a portion of a second conveyor oriented transversely to said conveyor chain to transfer articles therebetween.

4. A conveyor apparatus comprising

a first conveyor including

an article supporting surface defining a plane, and

a transition section deviating from said plane, and

a second conveyor oriented transversely to said first conveyor and including

a plurality of elongated chain pins, and

a plurality of chain links interconnected by said chain pins and respectively including

link module portions respectively including

opposite laterally spaced apart sides confining entirely therebetween said chain pins, and

an article supporting surface generally coplanar with said article supporting surface of said first conveyor, and

a cantilevered portion extending laterally from said link module portion and from said chain pins to provide an extension of said second conveyor article supporting surface overhanging said transition section of said first conveyor and including

a replaceable attachment securable to one of said laterally spaced apart sides of said link module portions.

5. A conveyor apparatus comprising a frame, a sprocket supported by said frame, a first conveyor supported by said frame and including an article supporting surface defining a plane, and a transition section supported by said sprocket along an arcuate path deviating from said plane, and a second conveyor supported by said frame, oriented transversely to said first conveyor, and including a plurality of elongated chain pins, and a plurality of chain links interconnected by said chain pins and respectively including a link module portion including an article supporting surface generally coplanar with said article supporting surface of said first conveyor, and a cantilevered portion extending laterally from said link module portion and away from from said chain pins and into overhanging relation to said transition section of the first conveyor to provide an extension of said second conveyor article supporting surface, and including a lower edge portion contoured to follow the arcuate path of said transition section.

6. A conveyor apparatus comprising

a frame,

a first conveyor supported on said frame and including

an article supporting surface,

a second conveyor oriented transversely to said first conveyor, supported on said frame, and including

an article supporting surface, and

a transfer assist conveyor chain supported on said frame in side-by-side parallel relation with one of said first and second conveyors, extending transversely with respect to the other of said first and said second conveyors, and including

an article supporting surface located in coplanar relation to said article supporting surfaces of said first and second conveyors, and including

a plurality of interconnected chain links respectively including

a link module portion including

opposite laterally spaced apart sides, one of said laterally spaced apart sides extending alongside said one of said first and second conveyors and the other of said laterally spaced apart sides including

a mounting aperture, and

a cantilevered portion extending laterally from said link module portion, forming an extension of said article supporting surface of said transfer assist conveyor chain, overhanging said other of the first and second conveyors, and comprising

a replaceable attachment securable in said mounting aperture of one of said link module portions.

7. A conveyor apparatus comprising a frame including a sprocket, a first conveyor supported on said frame and including an article supporting surface, a second conveyor oriented transversely to said first conveyor, supported on said frame, and including an article supporting surface, and a transition section supported in an arcuate path on said sprocket, a transfer assist conveyor chain supported on said frame in side-by-side parallel relation with one of said first and second conveyors, extending transversely with respect to the other of said first and second conveyors, and including an article supporting surface located in coplanar relation to said article supporting surfaces of said first and second conveyors, and including a plurality of interconnected chain links of two-piece molded construction, and respectively including a link module portion including a plurality of link ends intermeshed with said link ends of another one of said link module portions, opposite laterally spaced apart sides, one of said laterally spaced apart sides extending alongside said one of the first and second conveyors and the other of said laterally spaced apart sides including a mounting aperture, and a cantilevered portion extending laterally from said link module portion, forming an extension of said article supporting surface of said transfer assist conveyor chain, projecting over said sprocket, overhanging said other of the first and second conveyors, and comprising a replaceable attachment securable in said mounting aperture of one of said link module portions and including a lower edge portion contoured to follow the arcuate path of said transition section.

8. A conveyor chain adapted for use with a transversely oriented conveyor, said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of intermeshing chain link modules forming an article supporting surface and including opposite end portions spaced apart laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor chain, a plurality of chain pins interconnecting said chain link modules, and a plurality of attachments respectively mountable in cantilevered relation on one of said chain link modules and including a plug portion securable to said one of said chain link modules in snap-fit relation, and a top plate including an upper surface extending from said plug portion and forming an extension of said article supporting surface formed by said chain link modules.

9. A conveyor chain adapted for use with a second conveyor oriented transversely thereto, said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of chain link modules forming article supporting surfaces and respectively including a socket, a plurality of chain pins interconnecting said chain link modules, and a plurality of replaceable attachments mountable in cantilevered relation on said chain link modules and being constructed and arranged to extend over a portion of a second conveyor oriented transversely to said conveyor chain to transfer articles therebetween, each of said replaceable attachments including a plug portion securable in snap-fit relation in said socket of one of said chain link modules, and a top plate including an upper surface extending from said plug portion and forming an extension of said article supporting surface formed by said chain link modules.

10. An article transfer attachment for use with a chain link module having opposite sides and a socket formed in one of the opposite sides, said attachment comprising

a plug portion receivable in said socket to releasably secure said attachment to said chain link module and including

an arm having

opposite end portions,

a primary snap-fit arrangement on one of said end portions of said arm, and

a secondary snap-fit arrangement on the other of said end portions of said arm, and

a top plate extending from and parallel to said plug portion and being constructed and arranged to extend in cantilevered relation with respect to said chain link module.

11. An article transfer attachment as set forth in claim 10

wherein said primary snap-fit arrangement acts as a pivot point for pivoting said attachment relative to said chain link module, and

wherein said second snap-fit attachment is moveable between a first position and a second position in which said second snap-fit attachment is adapted to obstruct chain pin movement used to connect one of said chain link modules to another one of said chain link modules.

12. A conveyor chain comprising a plurality of chain links each including a link module portion including an axis extending in the direction of conveyor chain movement, opposed sides having therebetween a width dimension extending transversely to said axis, a planar article supporting surface area extending coextensively with said width dimension and in symmetric relation to said axis, and a second portion extending in generally coplanar relation to said article supporting surface of said link module and laterally with respect to said axis and in cantilevered relation from only one of said sides of said link module portion, whereby each of said chain links is asymmetrical in top view with respect to said axis, and a plurality of elongated chain pins having respective axes extending in fixed parallel relation to said planar article supporting surface areas, having respective axially spaced ends, having respective lengths between said ends which are substantially equal to the width of said module portion width dimensions, and serially interconnecting said link module portions such that all of said second portions are axially aligned in the direction of conveyor chain movement and are laterally offset from the same one of said opposed ends of said chain pins, whereby all of said second portions are cantilevered from the same one of said opposed ends of said chain pins.

13. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 12

wherein the link module portion of each of the chain links includes

opposite laterally spaced apart sides, and

wherein each of said chain pins is confined between the spaced apart sides of said link module portion of one of said chain links.

14. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 13

wherein each of said link module portions includes

a link ends spaced in the direction of intended chain travel,

wherein said link ends of each of said link module portions intermesh with said link ends of another of said link module portions, and

wherein said second portion of each of said chain links is free of the link ends.

15. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 13

wherein said second portion of each of said chain links includes

a top plate forming

a lateral extension of said article supporting surface.

16. A conveyor chain adapted for use with a transversely oriented conveyor having a planar article supporting surface, said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of chain link modules extending transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor chain and each including an article supporting surface located in coplanar relation to the article supporting surface of the transversely oriented conveyor and having a first side edge and a second side edge spaced apart laterally from said first side edge with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor chain and being arranged to extend in cantilevered relation over a portion of the transversely oriented conveyor to facilitate direct transfer of articles therebetween, and a plurality of chain pins interconnecting said chain link modules in intermeshing relationship and respectively extending from said first side edges to locations in spaced relation to and clear of said second side edges.

17. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 16

wherein said article supporting surface formed by said chain link modules defines a plane, and

wherein said one of said end portions forms an extension of said article supporting surface formed by said chain link modules and is coplanar therewith.

18. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 16

wherein each of said chain pins is offset laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyor chain and toward the other of said end portions so that said one of said end portions is cantilevered with respect to said chain pins.

19. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 16

wherein each of said chain link modules includes

opposite laterally spaced apart sides, and

wherein said one of said end portions extends laterally from one of said laterally spaced apart sides of at least some of said chain link modules.

20. A conveyor chain as set forth in claim 16

wherein said conveyor chain includes

a plurality of attachments mountable in cantilevered relation on one of said chain link modules to form said one of said end portions.

21. A first conveyor adapted for use with a transversely oriented conveyor having a planar article supporting surface, said first conveyor comprising a plurality of chain pins having substantially the same lengths, and a plurality of chain links interconnected by said chain pins and each including a link module portion including an article supporting surface located in generally coplanar relation to the article supporting surface of the transversely oriented conveyor, having opposed sides extending in the direction of first conveyor movement, and a dimension extending between said opposed sides and in the direction transverse to the direction of first conveyor movement, and a cantilevered side portion extending laterally in alignment with respect to the direction of first conveyor movement and in cantilevered relation from only one of said opposed sides of said link module portions and laterally beyond said chain pins, and being constructed and arranged to extend over a portion of the transversely oriented conveyor and into closely spaced relation to an article supporting surface thereof to facilitate direct transfer of articles therebetween.

22. An article transfer attachment for use with a chain link module having opposite sides and a socket formed in one of the opposite sides, said attachment comprising

a plug portion receivable in said socket to releasably secure said attachment to said chain link module, and

a top plate extending from and parallel to said plug portion and being constructed and arranged to extend in cantilevered relation with respect to said chain link module.