Adjustable top guide assembly for air driven conveyor

• US 6,843,367 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dillin Engineered Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dillin Engineered Systems Corp.
• Inventors: Gladieux, Michael J., Gentile, Steven S., Cechner, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIDLEY, RICHARD W L
• Application Number:
  US10/854,811
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• Field of Search: 198/861.1, 198/860.5, 198/860.3, 198/836.1, 198/836.3, 198/735.3, 406/88, 406/86
• US Class Current: 198/861.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2063 comprising elements not movable in the direction of load-transport
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/03 over a flat surface or in troughs

Abstract

A conveyor for transporting articles includes an upper surface for transporting the articles and a top guide that is resiliently supported relative to the upper surface for preventing the articles from tipping over as they are transported. A plurality of resilient supporting mechanisms, such as gas springs, is provided on each of the opposite sides of the conveyor. A mechanism is provided to selectively move the top guide toward the upper surface of the conveyor against the urging of the gas springs to position the top guide at a predetermined distance relative to the upper surface of the conveyor. The mechanism includes a plurality of flexible cables having first ends that are connected to the top guide and second ends that are connected to a pair of actuating members that are supported on the conveyor for sliding movement. An actuator is provided for selectively effecting movement of the first and second actuating members and, therefore, positioning the top guide at a predetermined distance relative to the upper surface of the conveyor.

Claims

1. A conveyor for transporting articles comprising:

a conveyor including an upper surface for transporting articles;

a top guide that is located above articles being transported on the upper surface and is supported for resilient displacement relative to said upper surface of said conveyor; and

a member secured to the top guide for displacing the top guide in opposition to the resilient displacement support.

2. The conveyor defined in claim 1 further including a resilient supporting mechanism that extends between said conveyor and said top guide for resiliently supporting said top guide relative to said upper surface of said conveyor.

3. The conveyor defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient supporting mechanism is a gas spring.

4. The conveyor defined in claim 1 further including a mechanism for actuating the member and positioning said top guide at a predetermined distance relative to said upper surface of said conveyor.

5. The conveyor defined in claim 4 wherein said mechanism for positioning said top guide includes the member including a first end that is connected to said top guide and a second end that is connected to an actuating member such that movement of said actuating member causes movement of said top guide.

6. The conveyor defined in claim 5 wherein said member is a flexible cable.

7. The conveyor defined in claim 5 wherein said actuating member is supported on said conveyor for sliding movement.

8. The conveyor defined in claim 5 wherein said member is a flexible cable and wherein said actuating member is supported on said conveyor for sliding movement.

9. The conveyor defined in claim 8 wherein said flexible cable extends about a portion of a pulley.

10. The conveyor defined in claim 5 wherein said mechanism for positioning said top guide further includes an actuator for selectively effecting movement of said actuating member.

11. The conveyor defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of resilient supporting mechanisms that extend between said conveyor and said top guide for resiliently supporting said top guide relative to said upper surface of said conveyor.

12. The conveyor defined in claim 11 wherein said resilient supporting mechanisms are provided in laterally opposed pairs that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along opposite sides of said conveyor.

13. The conveyor defined in claim 11 wherein each of said resilient supporting mechanisms is a gas spring.

14. The conveyor defined in claim 11 further including a mechanism for positioning said top guide at a predetermined distance relative to said upper surface of said conveyor.

15. The conveyor defined in claim 14 wherein said mechanism for positioning said top guide includes first and second members that are provided on opposite sides of said conveyor and first and second actuating members that are provided on opposite sides of said conveyor, said first member having a first end that is connected to said top guide and a second end that is connected to said first actuating member, said second member having a first end that is connected to said top guide and a second end that is connected to said second actuating member, whereby movement of said first and second actuating members causes movement of said top guide.

16. The conveyor defined in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second members is a flexible cable.

17. The conveyor defined in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second actuating members is supported on said conveyor for sliding movement.

18. The conveyor defined in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second members is a flexible cable and wherein each of said first and second actuating member is supported on said conveyor for sliding movement.

19. The conveyor defined in claim 18 wherein each of said flexible cables extends about a portion of a pulley.

20. The conveyor defined in claim 15 wherein said mechanism for positioning said top guide further includes an actuator for selectively effecting movement of said first and second actuating members.