Device for conveyance along assembly lines and the like

• US 6,176,367 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fata Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fata Automation, S.p.A.
• Inventors: Patrito, Donato
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, RASHMI K
• Application Number:
  US09/257,491
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 198/817, 198/465.3, 198/803.2, 198/481, 198/836.1, 198/836.2, 198/834
• US Class Current: 198/817
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/12 with two or more endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/42 having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/64 for automatically maintaining the position of the belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/002 comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/06 with projections engaging abutments on belts or chains, e.g. sprocket wheels

Abstract

A device for conveyance along an assembly line of components and motor vehicle components in particular mounted on sled-like supports (27) having a pair of supporting shoes (28). The device comprises a pair of powered belts (18) parallel and extending in the direction of conveyance to receive on themselves the sled supporting shoes (28) for advancement thereof along the line. Each belt (18) of the pair is wound between a drive pinion (15) and an idling pinion (17) arranged at the two ends of the device and bears on its internal face in contact with the pinions (15,17) grooves (20) which in movement engage with corresponding projections (23) born by the pinions. The belt (18) is supported in the section between the respective two pinions (15,17) by idling rollers (22) having an external profile virtually matching the belt profile on said internal face.

Claims

1. Device for conveyance along an assembly line of heavy components mounted on sled-like supports having a pair of sled supporting shoes the, device comprising:

a pair of parallel powered belts extending in a direction of travel to receive on the belts the sled supporting shoes for advancement thereof along the assembly line with each belt of the pair being wound between a drive pinion and an idling pinion arranged at two ends of the devices an internal face of the belt, in contact with the pinions, including grooves which in movement engage with corresponding projections born by the pinions and the belts being supported in a section between the respective two pinions by idling rollers having an external profile matching a belt profile on said internal face.

2. Device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive pinion is located in a rear position with respect to the direction of travel of the belts along the assembly line.

3. Device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the idling rollers are provided in elastomeric material at least in a part in contact with the belt.

4. Device in accordance with claim 1, wherein lateral belt-guides are arranged in intermediate positions between the idling rollers.

5. Device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the lateral belt-guides are provided in a form of one of resin and metal shoes.

6. Device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the idling rollers have projections having a height less than a height of the grooves in the belts.

7. Device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the idling rollers are located on a plane higher than that on which are located the pinions.

8. Device in accordance with claim 1 wherein externally and above the belts there are rollers with a vertical axis for lateral containment of the supporting shoes.