Structure with idle rollers for guide walls of goods conveyors

• US 6,196,375 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rexnord Marbett S.R.L. (Rexnord Netherlands Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Marbett S.R.L. (Rexnord Netherlands Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Cozza, Riccardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/233,875
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 198/836--83, 193/35.C
• US Class Current: 198/836.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2054 comprising elements movable in the direction of load-transport

Abstract

A structure with idle rollers is intended for guide walls of goods conveyors comprising a surface for conveying the goods and at least one plate-like wall element extending longitudinally along the conveyor surface, adjacent to at least one of its edges, following its path. Roller-carriers each having a predetermined number of rollers mounted idly on axles and rotatable about rotation axes are snap-fitted on the plate-like wall element. The ends of the axles are supported by plates carried by the roller-carrier. The length of each roller-carrier depends on the minimum radius of curvature encountered in the path of the goods-conveying surface of the conveyor. The roller-carriers are connected to one another by snap-engagement members. The ends of the axles of the rollers are also snap-fitted in respective seats in the plates of the roller-carrier.

Claims

1. A structure with idle rollers for guide walls of goods conveyors comprising a surface for conveying the goods and at least one plate-like wall element extending longitudinally along the conveyor surface, following its path, the plate-like element having idle rollers rotatable about rotation axes arranged side by side and disposed at an angle to the surface for conveying the goods, and including roller-carriers each equipped with a predetermined number of rollers, the roller-carriers being articulated to one another and fixed to the plate-like wall element, each roller-carrier comprising a plate-like web with at least two parallel opposed sides spaced apart longitudinally in the direction of the axes of rotation of the idle rollers, a pair of plates each connected transversely to the web, on a respective one of its opposed sides, the plates having respective free edges projecting relative to the web, a plurality of seats formed in the pair of opposed plates for supporting the ends of axles of the idle rollers, engagement means for connection to the wall element of the conveyor, and engagement means for articulation to adjacent roller-carriers, wherein the engagement means for the connection of each roller-carrier to the wall element of the conveyor comprise a pair of tabs fixed to the opposed plates of the roller-carriers and projecting relative to the web of the roller-carrier on the opposite side to that having seats for supporting the ends of the axles of the rollers, each tab having a respective pair of stop teeth opposite those of the other tab, each tooth being positioned at a distance from the web substantially equal to the thickness of the wall element, at least one tab of the pair of tabs being resiliently flexible in the plane also containing the other tab, which is substantially rigid.

2. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of rollers in each roller carrier is reduced as a radius of curvature present in the path of the goods-conveying surface of the conveyor is decreased.

3. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means for the connection of each idle-roller carrier to the wall element of the conveyor are snap-engagement means.

4. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 1 wherein each stop tooth and the plate-like web have respective opposed tips which are aligned with one another and which contact the wall element.

5. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 1, wherein each seat of the plurality of seats for rotatably supporting the ends of the axles of the idle rollers on each roller-carrier is shaped for snap-engagement with the corresponding end of the axle of the roller.

6. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 1, wherein each seat of the plurality of seats for supporting the ends of the axles of the idle rollers on each roller-carrier has a flared lateral access mouth opening towards the free edge of the respective plate, the through aperture between the mouth and the seat being smaller than the diameter of the end of the axle to be housed in the seat to an extent such as to permit snap-engagement thereof by resilient deformation of the walls of the lateral access mouth.

7. A structure with idle rollers for guide walls of goods conveyors comprising a surface for conveying the goods and at least one plate-like wall element extending longitudinally along the conveyor surface, following its path, the plate-like element having idle rollers rotatable about rotation axes arranged side by side and disposed at an angle to the surface for conveying the goods, and including roller-carriers each equipped with a predetermined number of roller, the roller-carriers being articulated to one another and fixed to the plate-like wall element, comprising engagement means for the articulation of the roller-carriers to one another, said engagement means including a pair of appendages fixed to the pairs of plates which are fixed transversely to the plate-like web of each roller-carrier, the appendages of each pair of plates being substantially coplanar with the respective plates, projecting on opposite sides in directions perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the rollers, and having snap-coupling members at their ends.

8. A structure with idle rollers according to claim 7, wherein the snap-coupling members are constituted by projections and recesses.