Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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S~e~iflc.~t.1~-7n:
This conveYor is a mechan.ical device which transports a
ProduGt with the means of d GOlltitlUOIl~ Ghain or 'oel-t, along
an assem~ly or process line.
I~ is com~non for sucn conveYi~ l7vices to7l~e k7uilt tQ
specific dimen~ions and specifications and are desi~ned as
entire units. When the user chanqes his product line or
needs to chan7~e the layout of the conveyin{J systeln he must
order new conveYing systems or rebuilQ nis old systemsr both
o. whlch are very expensive for the company. The system~
whi7.:7tl aYe now in place are virtually non-aclapt~l~le. I'he
fabricatic.7n of the present conveyinq systems are complex and
require weldin7~ of components togetheL so that the end
product is permanentr not easily assembletl or dismantlecl.
As sucn, the co7st in labour ~or Eabric~atinq the present
conve~ors l~i exQrk7i.tant.
There is a modular type conve~ing system on the market which
con~ists of pre-fak~rlcated componerlts which can k~e put
toqether and inteqrated to 7~iven speciflca-tion.s, using
simple hand tools. This moclular type of runner beam which
exists can accommodate only a specific type of chain -~
engineered for that runner beam. It also forbids parallel
expansion.
My inventic,n relates to the industrial desi~n of a slmple
mQdulaY AD~7-ON COnVeyin~l system frame which has the ability
to expand in parallel and in-to multiple chain widths, usi.rlg
simple tools. ~t also allows last minute reconfi~uYations
without the en~ineerinc,7 cost associa-ted with it. The system
is a pre-enqineered modular unit or multi frame, as the case
may ber which accepts a lar~e varie-ty of conveyor chains and
widths, guide rails, and accessories which are commercially
available in the market place without the need to fabricate
and eng7illeer them. These can be clamped on in any positlol-
without having to drill into the frames.
This Dre-enqilleeYed modular unit will eliminate detail
en~ineering and reduce labour hours as it is extremely
easily to assemble, and can be al-tered easily to adapt to
the changing reauirements of the user as well havinc,7 the
ability to make use of pre-existent chains and components
available. This unit will have the aclded advantage of being
able to adapt easily to the chan717e in the product size being
conveyed.
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~iqu~Q-l is a cross sect.lon of the cdnveyc)r mol:lule. Lt is s.hown
-to fit a 6" table top chain. I~he conveyor can be fixecl to
accolllmodate .3 narrower tAble top chai~ y removal of the two
No.10 pieces which are .Eastened on each side of piece N~.1 by
bolt No.9 and T--nLIt No.8.
The e-elltxal core of maincxame; piece No.l, i~ m~de E~om ar~odized
aluminum and is of hQ11OW rectancJular shape. There are ~wo
qrooves, ~o." on the top and bottom inner face of the conveyor
module. These qrooves function as .locators for the central guLcle
wear strips ~not shown) which are requirecl only when two piece
roller chains are installecl. These wear strips are mechanical:Ly
fastened by standarcl bolt:s.
The ~en-t;ral c:ore has orl the two opposlnq vert.Lcal sit:les two
T-slot:s, No.5 ~ ~.
The inner one, No.5 i5 used o:r splicinq lenc~ths of central core
end to end.
The outer one, No.~ is used Eor mountin~ accessories such as:
- Guicle ~ail brackets. f iCJ. 5 NO. ~8
- Conveyor supports. f iq. ~ Nc~, 85
- Drive and Tail end modules fig 8
- Lateral modular expallsiorls fiq.l No..10
On the top an~ bottom of the runner facer there are c~Kooves~
~o.~, whi.ch accept slide-in wear strips, No. 4, this way allowing
the conveyor to accommodate various types of carryinq chains.
On the inner vertical webs, there are holes, No. 7, cut out 50
that the bolt.s, No.9, can be ~ccessed by Allen wrenches/ in those
cases when more than one central cores are attached side by side,
in parallel, as in the case of fig. 4.
The lateral modular expansion, ~iece No. 10, is made from extruded
anodize~ aluminum and is rec-tangular in shape. The top ~ bottom
c~rooVeSr No.ll, r~ln aloncl its entire length ancl unction to
accept the wear strips, pieces No.4, or 15.
The vertical face of piece ~o.10 has on one side a double
T-slotr No.12,13. These T-slo-ts have the same function as pieces
~o.S and 6 above.
On the opposite side of this, there is a male p~c!trusion~ No.1-l,
which slides into the T--slot openinc~ Eor centerlnq ancl locat1ng.
In the center of the inner vertical. face oE T-slot, No.l ~, there
is a hole, No.15, which allows bolt No.9 to ~o throuc~h ancl reach
T-nut No.8.
El~u~e 2. ls a c:omposecl cross seGtion as~embly of some of tne
components discussed in flqure 1.
P1ece No. 1 'J is an anodized aluminum extrusion and is used to
create a new conveYor climension. This central aclaptor is a
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hollow re--:tat-~ular shape which ha~ a qrooved rec:es~, No.l~, o~
the top l~nd bottl~m. This No.l~ groove func-tions similarly to
qroove No. 2 on figure 1.
On the vertical sicles of piece No.l~ t~lere are single T-slots,
No. 20~ running throuqh the entire lenqt~l. The female openin~,
No. 14, accepts the male portion of the lateral modular expansiorl,
piece No.10. The two vertical walls, of the T-slots, No.21, act
~s retail~inq walls w}lic:h run all~nq the entire lenqth of the
piece. The cut out holer No. ~2~ allows -the entry ~F an Allen
wrench to fi:-~ the bolts, when more than one conveyor core i~ set
up in parallel.
Piece No,18 is a T-nut which slides into the l`-slot, No,20, The
function is to hold the assembly toqether.
Fk~ure _~ is a composed cross section assembly with components
f~om both fiqure 1 and 2, plus the addition of -two new components
enablillq the expansion of the conveyor module ~;~
Piece No,23 is similaY in its ~unction and most chaxacteristics
as the central a~aptor piece No,17 on FicTure ~ The recessed
groove, No. 2~ has the same dimension and the same Eunction as
figure 1, No.2 and ~iqure ~, No,19. The single T-slot, No 26,
the retaining wal1J No. 78, and the holes, No.~7 are the same as
fiqure ~, No 's 20, ?lf 22 respectively
The introduction of the horizontal protrusion, No.25 on
piece No.2~, is located on the vertical face and is used as a
retainer for the spacer runner, Piece No.29
The s1?ace runner, ~iece No 29 is a T-shape alumlnum anodized
extrusion On the flan~e of the extruded T, there are two
qrooves, No.30, ~hich accep-t slide-in wear strips, No. 4, On the
T-stem's inside surface, there is a retainin~ groove, No,31 which
fits onto ~i~ce No.2~ by the horizont.al protrusion, No.25,
All coml?onents on this fiqure can be assem~led with regular
fasteners spaced as required with the use Orc the specl~ nu-ts,
No , 1 ~ .
F1C1~XP_~ is a c~oss sectional view of a multi-chclin assembly
Fiqure 3 in the center is flanked by 2 components of figure 1.
Component No. 40 has replaced component No, 7~ with the sole
purpose of accommod~ting a diffeYent type of chain. These
components are assembled together with the special T washer,
No. ~9, which slides along the outer T--slot and is positioned in
line with the existing wrench access hole, No's, 7,~ or 27. A
flat head bolt, No.41 engages with -the l'-nut No 8.
The support bracket, piece No. ~5, is secured to the desired
location and clamped with bolts (not shown)
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Secondars~ return c~uide$, piece No. 3~, are secured to the
support bracket, No.3r" and c:Lamped in -the appropriat:e position
as clictated by the tsroe of haitl used. A vertical slot (llOt
shown) is located aloncl the 'Y' axis of piece No.35. Wear
strips, No~, can be snapped on -the secondary return ~uide,
No.~ and 36 . Piece No.3~ is attached ~ith bolts tn the anc31ed
brackets. The secondaYy return c$uides fullctioll ~s return ways
for non-tab n~allufactured tal~le-top chain~.
The 3upport bar, piece No.38r brîdges the ~ppor-t brc~cke-ts,
No. ~5, and has multiple functions: ~o~ln-ting the power unit
underneath; sup~orting the intermediate secondary returns, No.36,
attachillcl to conveyor pedestals, etc.
E`i~cLure_5 shows t:he universal mount:illcl plate, plece No. 42/ which
clamps onto the outer T-slot, No.S or 1~, with -the special T-nut
No.10, and the flat head bol-tl No.41. This universal
manufact:ured ~late can acce~t anv commercially avail~ble c~uide
rail bracket, No. 43r which is clamped on with bolts No. 94. This
universal 1~1ate wi~h the quide rail bracket c~n be positioned
anywhere along the central core or lateral modular expansion,
pieces No.l or piece No.10 respectisrely.
F1qure shows an arranqement assembly o~ two conveyor cllaills
clamped side by side to each other. Each has a tail_~end with
sprockets at the end of its frame.
El~ hows the sicle elevatlon of the figure 6 assembly.
Idler end plate No. ~5, is plagued into the end of the frame with
bolts, No. 46, and the T-nut, No.8, and allows longitudinal
movement of the idler end vlate for the necessary cllain take-up.
The idler shaftr No. 47, is held between two idler end plates with
~olts. The return ~procket, No. 48, rotates freely on the idler
shaftr No.47, and the set screw collars, No.g~, hold the
sprocket, No.48, in the centre of the centre core, No.2, 1~,
and~or No. 23 as the case may be.
~ re 8 shows one of the several possible ways to attach the
drive end module to the conveyor centre core. Drive end plate,
No. 50, is clamped with ~ol-t, No~51r and T-nut, No. 8, -to the end
of the lateral modular ex~ansionsr No.10.
The power transmission unit, piece No.57, is bolted to the motor
take-up base? No.52. The conveyor drive shaEt, No.54, rotates
freely on ball bearings No.5S which are press fitted to the drive
end plate, No, 50.
The conveyor ch~in drive ~procket, No. 53~ i5 secured to the drive
sllaft, No.5g.
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The catenarv ,return ch~.i in c~uide No . 56, is mounted between two
clrive end l~lates~ ~o,50, and can be ad~us-ted vert.~cally to the
desired 1~0~itiOIl for optimum chain quidance and performance.
The conveyor support bracket, No. 58, can be mounted or~ the
horirolltal leq of the drive end plate7 No.50, if i-t becomes
necess~r,v.
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