Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
!
GUIDE ROLLER MOUNTING
. _ .
Background o ~he Invention
While the roller mounting of this invention has
general utility, it is-primarily adapted to be used for the
guide rollers of work carriers in power and free conveyor
~ystems of the type conventionally mounted overhead or under
the floor in factories and other industrial environment~
where they are exposed to a great deal of dirt and grit that
~requently penetrates to the wheel bearings and causes rapid
wear and deterioration thereof. The location of these con-
veyor systems makes them difficult to service; however, ifa proper service schedule is not maintained, the rollers that
support and guide the work carriers throughout the system
may frequently become so dirty and worn that they are im-
mobilized. This, of course, greatly increases the resistance
15 of the work carriers to movement by the power chain and cor-
respondingly increases the load on the motor that drives
the chain.
The carrier guide rollers are particularly subject
to wear and deterioration of the type noted above since the
rollers turn on vertical axes and, although the bearings on
which these rollers turn are sealed, the upwardly facing
disposition of the bearings ~nd the bearing races make them
particularly vulnerable to penetration by dirt and grit. As
a result, these particular bearings require more frequent
servicing. The problem here is that there may be and usually
are thousands of work carriers in a single conveyor system,
and each work carrier is equipped with at least two ~uide
rollers. Thus, considerable time is required to maintain ~he
,~ :
' - ~,} - -
i ! . ,
,
~2~ 4~4
guide rollers properly in good operative condition. It is
necessary to shut down the convey~r system in order to service
or replace the guide rollers, and conveyor down-time means
loss of factory production which of course is extremely
expensive. The way in which the guide rollers are normally
mounted in the work carriers is, to a very considerable degree,
responsible for the time required to service or replace the
rollers since the rollers are difficult to remove and replace.,
According to the present invention there is provided
a roller mountin~ for devices of the type having a body member
provided with an open-ended recess in which the roller is
mounted. ~he mounting includes an axle for rotatabl~ support-
ing and removable from the roller, the axle having a middle
journal portion adapted to be rotatably mounted and terminal
portions for similar elongate configuration and transverse
section adapted to project in cpposite directions beyond the
sides of the roller. Means define open-ended slots at
opposite sides of the recess, the slots being adapted to
snugly but slidably receive the terminal portions of the sha~t
only when the major axes thereof are aligned therewith to
permit movement o~ the terminal portions into and out of the
slots. The slots have enlar~ed ali~ned portions remote from
the open ends thereof in which the terminal portions of the
axle can be turned crosswise of the slots to prevent with-
drawal thereof whereby to hold the same in the enlarged
portions and to retain the roller in the recess. A locking
tab is fixed to the axle for turning the same extending
throu~h and pro~ectin~ from the recess, the projectin~
~ Z014~4
portion of the tab forming a handle for turning the axle and
~or slidably actuating the terminal portions into or out of
the slots. The handle is deformahle initially to interlock
with the body to hold the axle in the crosswise position and
subsequently to disengage the hody member to permit turning of
the axle, retraction of the terminal portions through the slots,
and removal of the roller from the recess and the axle for
servicing or replacement.
It can be seen from the above that the present
invention pro~ides a way of mounting the guide rollers in the
work carrier bodies that holds the rollers securely in norntal
operation but which permits the rollers to be easily and
quickly removed from the carrier bodies for inspection and
~reasing and, if necessary, replacement. In a specific embodi-
ment, the invention contemplates mounting each guide roller on
a vertical axle having upwardly and do~nwardly extending
terminal portions. Flats are formed on the projecting terminal
portions of the axle at opposite sides thereof, and the axle is
adaptefl Eor placement in mounting holes provifled in the body by
positioning the axle so that the flats align with open-ended
slots extending radially from the mounting holes. These slots
fit the terntinal portions of the axle relatively snugly but
with suEficient clearance so that when properly aligned with
the slots the axle portions pass readily therethrough and into
the holes. ~fter the axle terminal portions have entered the
holes, the axle is turned so that the flats are crosswise of
the slots preferably by means oE a tab which is mounted on
. and rotatably fixed to one of the terminal portions. In their
crosswise position, the terminal portions
- 2a -
} ~ ~
of the axle are retained securely in the holes and the tab is
positioned so that it can be bent ~o lie flat against a suit-
able seating surface provided on ~he body of the carrier.
When i~ is desired ~o remove the roller9 it is
simply necessary to bend ~he locking tab away from the seating
surface of the body so that the tab can be readily graspad
manually and turned to rotate the axle to a position where
the flats again align with the slots. This permits the axle
terminal portions to pass again through the slots snd removal
lO of the roller from the body. Thereafter, the roller can be
easily and quickly lubricated or otherwise serviced or, if
necessary, a new roller can be easily and quickly substituted
for it and the roller and axle sub-assembly again remounted
on the body in the manner hereinabove described.
15 Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a
typical work carrier having front and rear guide rollers and
particularly illustrating the manner in which the latter can
be easily and quickly assembled with or disassembled from
20 the body of the carrier according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the g~ide rollers
$hown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged~ vertical sectional view
taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Pig. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the guide
roller sub-assembly;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing
the manner in which the guide roller sub-assembly is positioned
for assembly with ~he boty of ~he work carrier;
;~;
- . .
.
12~
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing
the guide roller sub-assembly in its initial assembled posi-
tion on ~he bod~;
Fig. 7 is a $ragmentary, horizontal sectional view
~aken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar
to Fig. 6 but showing the guide roller sub-assembly in an
intermediate assembled position;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional
view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a fragmentsry, perspective view showing
the guide roller sub-assembly in its final assembled position
on the body; and
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view
ta~en on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The particular worX carrier shown by way of example
in Fig. 1 comprises 8 body 20 which is formed from a pair
of superimposed metal plates held securely together by bolts
22 and nuts 24. Work carriers of the type here shown are
adapted to travel on a load track (not shown) comprising a
~air of laterally spaced, inwardly facing parallel channels.
To this end, the carrier body 20 is provided at the forward
end thereof with a pair of load supporting wheels 26 mounted
on an axle 28 that extends transversely through and projects
laterally of the body adjacent the top and forward ent
thereof. A pair of rear wheels 30 is similarly mounted on
the body 20 adjacent the rearward end of the latter and in
horizontal alignment with the front wheels 26. Only one
rear wheel 30 is here shown but it will be readily appreciated
4.~ ~ :
lZ~4~
.
that a pair of rear wheels disposed at opposite sides of the
carrier body 20 are proYided. In practice, the front and
rear pairs of wheels 26 and 30 travel on the inwardly ex-
tending lower flaDges of the load track channels with the
carrier body 20 disposed between ~he flanges.
Mounting brackets 32 bolted or otherwise secured
to the lower portion of the carrier body 20 carry hangers to
which workpieces or work carrying platforms ~not shown) can
be attached. In this connection, while only one mounting
bracket 32 is shown in the drawing, it will be readily appre-
ciated that a mounting bracket is provided at each side of
the carrier body 20 and that the hanger conventionally is
attached to both brackets and suspended below and at the
middle of the body to balance the load on the supporting
wheels 26 and 30.
A drive dog 34 is attached by a pivot 36 between
two laterally spaced upstanding mounting brackets 38 and 40
at the front of the carrier body 20, and a hold-back dog 42
is fastened by a pivot 44 to laterally spaced upstanding
lugs 46 and 48 on and at the rear of the body. In use, a
pusher member depending from a drive chain (not shown) above
and parallel to the load track extends downwardly between
the drive and hold-back dogs 34 and 42, according to con-
ventional practice. The chain pusher normally engages the
drive dog 34 to advance the work carrier to the left, as
viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawing. However, on occasion, as
when the work carrier is traversing a decline in the conveyor
system, the carrier may tend to run ahead of the ch~in
pusher and on these occasions the hold-back dog 42 engages
~he chain pusher to prevent the carrier from overriding the
pusher. ;t,
, ", . . _ .. , .. . V - ~
,:
L4~L
Front and rear guide rollers 50 and 52 are mounted
for rotation about vertical axes in open-ended horizontal re-
cesses 53 and 54 provided in the front and rear, respectively,
of the carrier body 20 below the load carrying wheels 26 and
30. Both rollers extend laterally beyond the sides of the
body 20 so as to engage the confronting free edges of the
lower channel flanges on which the load carrying wheels 26
and 30 travel to hold the work carrier centered between the
channels and to guide the carrier around horizontal bends or
curves in the load track.
U.S. Patent No. 3,033,128 issued ~lay 8, 1962 to
Adolph Czarnecki and assigned to the same assignee as the
present application shows a work carrier of the same general
type and construction as the one disclosed in this applica-
tion, to which re~erence may be made
I for a more complete description and under-
standing of the wor~ carrier and its association with the
power and load tracks of an overhead, power-and-free conveyor
system.
As suggested, the present invention is concerned
particularly with the construction and mounting of the guide
rollers 50 and 52. It is contemplated that both of these
rollers be identical in construction and that they be simi-
larly mounted and detachably fastened to the carrier body 20
so that a detailed description of one will suffice. Figure l
is an exploded perspective view showing the front guide
roller 50 and its mounting parts disassociated from the body
2U, and the following detailed description applies to that
particular guide roller with the understanding that the rear
guide roller 52 is similarly mounted.
6.
lZ014~4
~igs. 2 and 3 show a typical guide roller construc-
tion in which the outer roller body 55 is provided with a
central opening 56 which is shaped adjacent the middle there-
of to define ~wo opposltely facing ball rac~s 57 and 5~.
Mounted in the central opening 56 and spaced radially in-
wardly from the races 57 and 58 are superimposed inner annular
race members 60 and 62 that are supported and retained in co-
axial relation to the outer roller body 55 by an inner sleeve
64 and radial flanges 66 and 68 on the ends of the latter.
Inner races 70 and 72 formed in the peripheries of the inner
race members 60 and 62 are disposed generally in radial align-
ment with the oute,r races 57 and 58, respectively, and cooper-
atc with the lat~er to support annular series of ball bearings
74 and 76~ In use, the outer roiler body 55 rotates around
lS the inner race members 60 and 62 traveling on and supported
by the ball bearings 74 and 76.
As indicated previously, the work carrier frequently
and perhaps usually operates in a dirty environment in which
both the load carrying wheels 26 and 30 and the guide rollers
50 and 52 become covered with dirt and grit. In many situa-
tions as, for example, where the conveyor system is in a
foundry or the like, the dirt and grit is particularly heavy
and abrasive. Invariably this dirt and grit penetrates the
protective shields with which the load supporting wheels 26
and 30 and the guide rollers 50 and 52 conventionally are
equipped so that it eventually packs between and around the
ball bearings 74 and 76 causing excessive wear ana sometimes
"freezing" the bearing so that the rollers 50 no longer turn
but simply slide or skid along the load track. In order to
maintain the conveyor system in proper operatîn~ condition,
~4r ,
-1, ... ' ,., " . . .
~ ~ lZOl~ 3
it is necessary to keep all of the load carrying wheels and
the roller bearings properly lubricated and to thoroughly
clean or replace any wheel or roller in which the dirt and
grit has become so impacted so as to prevent free rotation
th~reof. In this connection, it will be readily appa~e~t
that the guide rollers are particularly vulnerable to pene-
tration by dirt and grit since they are mounted with one sidç
thereof facing upwardly. Although it is conventional prac-
tice to equip the guide rollers with inner and outer bearing
retainers 78 and 80 as well as intermediate barriers 82, R4
and 86 of teflon, felt and teflon, respectively, the rollers
still are subject to failure in use in the manner and for the
reason previously described.
The present invention is concerned particularly
with a mounting for each of the guide sollers 50 and 52
which permits the roller to be easily and quickly removed from
the carrier body 20 for lubrication or other maintenance or,
if necessary, for replacement. The mounting of this inven-
tion holds the associated guide roller attached securely to
the housing 20 during normal operation of the conveyor system
and until removal for servicing or replacement is necessary;
but, when the guide roller has to be remo~ed, it can be re-
moved for servicing or replacement and reattached to the
carrier body very quickly so as to minimize down-time for the
conveyor.
According to the present invention, each guide
roller is mo~mted on an axle 88 having flats 90 and 92 on
opposite sides thereof. The axle 88 extends through a cor-
respondingly shaped hole 94 in the inner race member 64.
The terminai end portions of the axle 88 extend above and
;~;
a.
... . .. . . . . . , . ,
.
~ ! ) '
l~O~L4~4
below the guide roller S0 as viewed in the drawings and the
projecting terminal portions fit snugly but slidably in op~n-
ended, vertical slDts 96 and 98 that, in the case of the front
guide roller 50, open through and extend rearwardly from th~
~orward edge of the carrier body 20 and they also open into
the recess 53 in which ~he roller is normally mounted. As
will be apparent~ the projecting ~erminal portions of the
axle 88 are inserted into the slots 96 and 98 with the flats
90 and 92 at the sides of the slots so that the axle can
move through the latter into circular holes lO0 at the inner
ends of the slots and at substantially the middle of the
recess 53. When the axle terminal portions have been pushed
into the holes 100, the axle 88 is turned 90 so that the
flats 90 and 92 are disposed crosswise of the slots 96 and
98. In this position, the axle 88 can no longer enter the
slo~s 96 and 98 but is retained in the circular holes lO0.
In order to permit the axle 88 to be turned easily
after it has entered the holes 100 and to assure secure re-
tention thereof after it has been turned crosswise of the
slots 96 and 98, a locking tab 102 is provided on the lower
projecting portion of the axle, as clearly shown in the
drawings. The locking ~ab 102 has an opening 104 of the same
cross-sectional shape and only slightly larger in size than
the axle 88 so that the tab and the axle are rotatably inter~
locked and turn together.
In practice, the locking ~ab 102 is placed on the
projecting lower end por~ion of the axle ~8 at the under-
side of the guide roller 50 and, when the axle is insert2d
into the slots 96 and 98 as previously described, the tab
extends laterally from the side of ~he carrier body 20
- ,
~20~4d4 ` '
between the roller and ~he lower side of the recess 53.
Figures 6 and 7 show ~he position of the parts at this time.
After the axle 88 has been fully inserted to the position
described above, the tab 102 is turned 90~ in a forward
direction to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This
of course, turns the axle 88 also 90~, as previously des-
cribed, so that the axle is positioned crosswise of the slots
96 and 98 and is retained in the circular holes 100. It is
contemplated that the locking tab 102 be made of a low
tempered, readily deformable metal so that it can be bent
easily downwardly and that ~he carrier body 20 be provided
with a vertical face 106 below and at the outer end of the
recess 53 against which the tab is bent, as shown in Figs.
10 and 11. The flat seating engagement between the down-
wardly bent portion of the tab 102 and the carrier bodysurface 106 holds the axle 88 crosswise in the holes 100
and prevents the axle rom moving outwardly iD the slots
96 and 98 in the normal operation of the work carrier. On
the other hand, the tab 102 can be readily bent upwardly
again to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to permit
turning of the axle 88 into alignment with the slots 96 and
98 and removal of the roller 50 from the body 20 for re-
placement or servicing.
While the above description constitutes the pre-
ferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated
that the invention is susceptible to modification, varia-
tion and change without departing from the proper scope or
fair meaning of the accompanying claims.
10.
.:
:
.
