Automatic adjustable guide rails
First Claim
1. A self-powered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line, the conveyor having a longitudinal centerline, said adjustable guide rail system comprising:
- at least two sections of guide rail, each section of guide rail for mounting on one side of the conveyor for guiding containers, said sections of guide rail being suitable for mounting to the conveyor in a generally parallel and facing relationship, and being adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor or away therefrom;
a motion converter coupled to said sections of guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor;
said motion converter adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said sections of guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said sections of guide rail toward the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a first direction and for moving said sections of guide rail away from the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line that allows adjustment of the distance between the opposing guide rails to accommodate containers of different dimensions and configurations. The adjustable guide rail system comprises sections of guide rail, a reversible motorized actuator and a motion converter driven by said reversible motorized actuator which is coupled to the sections of guide rail to automatically adjust the width of the path of the containers being transported on the conveyor.
43 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A self-powered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line, the conveyor having a longitudinal centerline, said adjustable guide rail system comprising:
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at least two sections of guide rail, each section of guide rail for mounting on one side of the conveyor for guiding containers, said sections of guide rail being suitable for mounting to the conveyor in a generally parallel and facing relationship, and being adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor or away therefrom;
a motion converter coupled to said sections of guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor;
said motion converter adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said sections of guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said sections of guide rail toward the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a first direction and for moving said sections of guide rail away from the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A conveyor system for a container processing production line, said conveyor system comprising:
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a supporting structure;
a conveyor belt mounted to said structure and movable along a longitudinal axis of said structure, said conveyor belt having a longitudinal centerline;
at least two sections of guide rail disposed above said conveyor belt for guiding containers thereon, said sections of guide rail being supported by said structure in a generally parallel and facing relationship, and being adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor belt or away therefrom;
a motion converter coupled to said sections of guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor belt;
said motion converter adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said sections of guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said sections of guide rail toward the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a first direction and for moving said sections of guide rail away from the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A self-powered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line, the conveyor having a longitudinal centerline said adjustable guide rail system comprising:
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at least one movable guide rail disposed above the conveyor for guiding containers thereon, said guide rail being adjustably movable transversely of the conveyor to accommodate containers of different configurations or sizes;
a motion converter coupled to said guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor;
said motion converter adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said guide rail in one direction when said motorized actuator operates in a first direction, and for moving said guide rail in the other direction when said motorized actuator operates in a second direction.
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28. A self-powered adjustable guide rail system for guiding containers transported on a conveyor in a container processing production line, the conveyor having a longitudinal centerline, said adjustable guide rail system comprising:
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at least two sections of guide rail, each section of guide rail for mounting on one side of the conveyor for guiding containers, said sections of guide rail being suitable for mounting to the conveyor in a generally parallel and facing relationship, and being adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor or away therefrom;
a motion converter coupled to said sections of guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of the conveyor;
said motion converter comprising a cam member movable along the longitudinal centerline and adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said sections of guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said sections of guide rail toward the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a first direction and for moving said sections of guide rail away from the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction.
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29. A conveyor system for a container processing production line, said conveyor system comprising:
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a supporting structure;
a conveyor belt mounted to said structure and movable along a longitudinal axis of said structure, said conveyor belt having a longitudinal centerline;
at least two sections of guide rail disposed above said conveyor belt for guiding containers thereon, said sections of guide rail being supported by said structure in a generally parallel and facing relationship, and being adjustably movable toward the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor belt or away therefrom;
a motion converter coupled to said sections of guide rail; and
a reversible motorized actuator in a driving relationship with said motion converter to impart to said motion converter a translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline of said conveyor belt;
said motion converter comprising a cam member movable along the longitudinal centerline and adapted to transfer the translatory motion along the longitudinal centerline into a translatory motion of said sections of guide rail generally transverse to the longitudinal centerline for moving said sections of guide rail toward the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a first direction and for moving said sections of guide rail away from the longitudinal centerline when said actuator operates in a second direction.
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Specification