Modular conveyor system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A modular conveyor system comprising in combination:
- a framework, said framework including a horizontally elongated spine, a pair of supports depending one from each end of said spine, a pair of standards upstanding one from each of said supports and each of said standards including at least one mounting portion disposed above said spine in a horizontally offset relationship relative thereto, and at least one elongated rail having opposite ends thereof fixed one to each of said mounting portions;
at least one conveyor system art device;
mounting means for adjustably mounting said art device on said rail; and
at least one modular conveyor unit having a conveyor element supported for movement along a path of travel and conveyor unit mounting means for adjustably mounting said conveyor unit on said spine in a selected position lengthwise thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular conveyor system is disclosed as including an unique supporting framework featuring a horizontally elongated spine (12); legs (32) for supporting spine (12); posts (34) upstanding from legs (32); and an elongated rail (18) supported by posts (34) and arranged above and in a horizontally offset relationship relative to spine (12). Spine (12) serves to support one or more modular conveyor units (66), rail (18) serves to support one or more diverse art devices (48) required to be associated with conveyor units (66); and posts (34) serve to support a side panel (24) to extend lengthwise of spine (12).
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A modular conveyor system comprising in combination:
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a framework, said framework including a horizontally elongated spine, a pair of supports depending one from each end of said spine, a pair of standards upstanding one from each of said supports and each of said standards including at least one mounting portion disposed above said spine in a horizontally offset relationship relative thereto, and at least one elongated rail having opposite ends thereof fixed one to each of said mounting portions; at least one conveyor system art device; mounting means for adjustably mounting said art device on said rail; and at least one modular conveyor unit having a conveyor element supported for movement along a path of travel and conveyor unit mounting means for adjustably mounting said conveyor unit on said spine in a selected position lengthwise thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a conveyor system having a framework for mounting a conveyor adapted for movement along a path of travel extending in a direction lengthwise of said framework, the improvement comprising:
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said framework including an elongated spine extending horizontally lengthwise of said framework and a pair of supports for supporting opposite ends of said spine, said spine having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and supported by said supports to arrange a first pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to assume an inverted, generally V-shaped configuration and define an upwardly facing clamping surface and a second pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to define a generally V-shaped configuration and define a downwardly facing clamping surface, each of said supports including a pair of spine supporting legs having upper ends affixed one to each of said second pair of adjacent side surfaces; and mounting means is provided to mount said conveyor on said spine, said mounting means includes a pair of spine-mounting brackets and releasable clamping means, said pair of spine-mounting brackets including a first bracket connected to said conveyor and having an inverted generally V-shaped configuration and a second bracket of generally M-shaped configuration, said first and second brackets each having opposite free edge portions arranged closely adjacent one another when said first and second brackets engage with said upwardly and downwardly facing clamping surfaces, respectively, said clamping means releasably clamp said edge portions to releasably clamp said brackets against said spine in an adjusted position lengthwise thereof, and said conveyor includes a conveyor element movably supported by a frame, and said mounting means also includes means for releasably connecting said frame to said first bracket comprising a connector bracket coupled to said first bracket and releasably engaging positioning means for gravity supporting said frame on said connector bracket in a fixed position relative thereto in a direction extending lengthwise of said spine, and latching means for releasably retaining said frame in said fixed position.
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11. In a conveyor system having a framework for mounting a conveyor adapted for movement along a path of travel extending in a direction lengthwise of said framework, the improvement comprising:
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said framework including an elongated spine extending horizontally lengthwise of said framework and a pair of supports for supporting opposite ends of said spine, said spine having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and supported by said supports to arrange a first pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to assume an inverted, generally V-shaped configuration and define an upwardly facing clamping surface and a second pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to define a generally V-shaped configuration and define a downwardly facing clamping surface, each of said supports including a pair of spine supporting legs having upper ends affixed one to each of said second pair of adjacent side surfaces; and mounting means is provided to mount said conveyor on said spine, said mounting means includes a pair of spine-mounting brackets and releasable clamping means, said pair of spine-mounting brackets including a first bracket connected to said conveyor and having an inverted generally V-shaped configuration and a second bracket of generally M-shaped configuration, said first and second brackets each having opposite free edge portions arranged closely adjacent one another when said first and second brackets engage with said upwardly and downwardly facing clamping surfaces, respectively, said clamping means releasably clamp said edge portions to releasably clamp said brackets against said spine in an adjusted position lengthwise thereof, and said conveyor includes a conveyor element movably supported by a frame, said mounting means includes means for releasably connecting said frame to said first bracket comprising a connector bracket coupled to said first bracket and having upstanding side flanges, dependant side flanges carried by said frame and arranged parallel to said upstanding side flanges, said upstanding and dependant side flanges having positioning means for gravity supporting said frame on said connector bracket in a fixed position in a direction extending lengthwise of said spine, and latching means for releasably retaining said frame in said fixed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. In a conveyor system having a framework for mounting a conveyor adapted for movement along a path of travel extending in a direction lengthwise of said framework, the improvement comprising:
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said framework including an elongated spine extending horizontally lengthwise of said framework and a pair of supports for supporting opposite ends of said spine, said spine having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and supported by said supports to arrange a first pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to assume an inverted, generally V-shaped configuration and define an upwardly facing clamping surface and a second pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to define a generally V-shaped configuration and define a downwardly facing clamping surface, each of said supports including a pair of spine supporting legs having upper ends affixed one to each of said second pair of adjacent side surfaces; and mounting means is provided to mount said conveyor on said spine, said mounting means includes a pair of spine-mounting brackets and releasable clamping means, said pair of spine-mounting brackets including a first bracket connected to said conveyor and having an inverted generally V-shaped configuration and a second bracket of generally M-shaped configuration, said first and second brackets each having opposite free edge portions arranged closely adjacent one another when said first and second brackets engage with said upwardly and downwardly facing clamping surfaces, respectively, said clamping means releasably clamp said edge portions to releasably clamp said brackets against said spine in an adjusted position lengthwise thereof, and said conveyor includes at least two conveyor chains, a pair of parallel support elements arranged to extend horizontally transversely of said path of travel and to be coupled to said first bracket, and a chain support means for mounting each of said chains on said support elements, each of said support means including an elongated runner for slidably supporting one of said chains, an elongated runner support having opposite ends, and a pair of adjustable mounting means provided one adjacent each of said opposite ends for adjustably mounting said runner support on said support elements for movement both lengthwise and vertically thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. In a conveyor system having a framework for mounting a conveyor adapted for movement along a path of travel extending in a direction lengthwise of said framework, the improvement comprising:
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said framework including an elongated spine extending horizontally lengthwise of said framework and a pair of supports for supporting opposite ends of said spine, said spine having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and supported by said supports to arrange a first pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to assume an inverted, generally V-shaped configuration and define an upwardly facing clamping surface and a second pair of adjacent side surfaces thereof to define a generally V-shaped configuration and define a downwardly facing clamping surface, each of said supports including a pair of spine supporting legs having upper ends affixed one to each of said second pair of adjacent side surfaces; and mounting means is provided to mount said conveyor on said spine, said mounting means includes a pair of spine-mounting brackets and releasable clamping means, said pair of spine-mounting brackets including a first bracket connected to said conveyor and having an inverted generally V-shaped configuration and a second bracket of generally M-shaped configuration, said first and second brackets each having opposite free edge portions arranged closely adjacent one another when said first and second brackets engage with said upwardly and downwardly facing clamping surfaces, respectively, said clamping means releasably clamp said edge portions to releasably clamp said brackets against said spine in an adjusted position lengthwise thereof, and said conveyor includes a flexible element trained about parallel guide members arranged adjacent infeed and outfeed ends of said conveyor and a tensioning mechanism is provided for adjustably supporting one of said guide members for movement relative to the other for tensioning said conveyor element in the direction of travel thereof from said infeed end to said outfeed end, said tensioning mechanism comprises a pair of like tensioning devices, each of said devices including a guide means, a slide member having a first end supported by said guide means for sliding movement aligned with said direction of travel and a second end for mounting an end of said one of said guide members, adjustment means for defining a reference surface adjustably positioned lengthwise of said direction of travel, an operator supported on said slide member for sliding movement therewith in said direction of travel and being manually movable relative to said slide member between tension release and tensioning positions, said operator being engageable with said reference surface to move said guide member into a conveyor element tensioned position incident to movement of said operator from said tension release position into said tensioning position thereof, and said slide member and said operator are slidably removable from said guide means in a direction aligned with said direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A conveyor mechanism comprising in combination:
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a supporting framework; and at least one modular conveyor unit including a frame, a conveyor element supported on said frame for movement along a path of travel, and drive means supported by said frame for effecting movement of said conveyor element, said framework and said frame having means engageable upon lowering of said frame onto said framework for locating said frame in a position relative to said framework both in directions extending in alignment with and transversely of said path of travel, said means engageable upon lowering of said frame includes parallel flanges depending from said frame and parallel flanges upstanding from said framework and arranged for sliding surface-to-surface engagement with said depending flanges to constrain said frame against movement relative to said framework horizontally transversely of said path of travel, and slidably engaging pin and recess means carried by said depending and upstanding flanges for supporting said frame on said framework and constraining said frame against movement relative to said framework in alignment with said path of travel; and
latch means for releasably retaining said frame in said position.
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22. In a conveyor mechanism comprising in combination:
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a supporting framework; and at least one modular conveyor unit including a frame, a conveyor element supported on said frame for movement along a path of travel, and drive means supported by said frame for effecting movement of said conveyor element, said framework and said frame having means engageable upon lowering of said frame onto said framework for locating said frame in a position relative to said framework both in directions extending in alignment with and transversely of said path of travel, said means engageable upon lowering of said frame includes a pair of parallel flanges depending from said frame and parallel flanges upstanding relative to said framework, a pair of pins mounted on each of said upstanding flanges to extend horizontally transversely of said path of travel, and a pair of edge-opening recesses defined by each of said depending flanges for slidably receiving said pins, said dependant and upstanding flanges engaging to constrain said frame against movement in a direction horizontally transversely of said path of travel, said pins and said edge opening recesses engaging to support said frame on said framework and to constrain said frame against movement in a direction aligned with said path of travel, and latch means carried by said depending and upstanding flanges for releasably retaining said frame in said position.
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23. A conveyor unit comprising:
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support means; at least two conveyor chains; and means for mounting said chains on said support means for movement along a path of travel, and for adjustment horizontally transversely of said support means to vary the horizontal distance between said conveyor chains and vertically of said support means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. In a conveyor of the type including a support and at least two conveyor chain element supporting runners for individually slidably supporting at least two chain elements incident to movement of said chain elements along a path of travel extending lengthwise of said support, the improvement of means for adjustably positioning said runners relative to each other and said support comprising:
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a pair of parallel support elements carried by said support and extending horizontally transversely of said path of travel; at least two elongated runner supports each having an upwardly opening groove for slidably supporting one of said runners and means for releasably clamping said one of said runners within said groove for adjustment lengthwise thereof, said runner supports having transversely extending and vertically elongated openings adjacent opposite ends thereof for loosely receiving said support elements, and said opposite ends mounting clamping means engageable with said support elements to releasably clamp said runner supports relative to said support elements in desired portions lengthwise thereof to vary the horizontal distance between said runner supports and in desired positions vertically of said vertically elongated openings thereby to vary the vertical distance between said runners and said support.
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27. In a conveyor of the type having at least two conveyor chains and at least two runners carried by a support for slidably supporting said chains for movement along a path of travel, the improvement, wherein said runners are mounted on said support by:
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a pair of parallel support elements carried by said support to extend horizontally transversely of said path of travel; an elongated runner support for each runner and having opposite ends thereof formed with a pair of transversely extending openings for loosely receiving said support elements and a pair of outwardly opening slots arranged one in communication with and to extend transversely of each of said openings; and a pair of clamping devices associated one with each of said slots and having first ends formed with openings for slidably receiving one of said support elements and second ends threaded to receive nuts arranged to bear against one threaded to receive nuts arranged to bear against one of said opposite ends to selectively retain said runner support in an adjusted position vertically and lengthwise of said support elements.
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28. A framework for mounting a conveyor having a path of travel, said framework comprising:
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a conveyor supporting spine elongated in a direction aligned with said path of travel; legs depending from said spine for supporting said spine in an essentially horizontally disposed position; a pair of posts upstanding from a pair of said legs arranged adjacent one transverse side of said spline; an elongated rail arranged above and in a horizontal offset relationship related to said spline and having opposite ends thereof fixed one to each post of said pair of posts; a side panel sized to extend horizontally lengthwise of said spine and having opposite ends mounted one on each post of said pair of posts. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification