Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~~'~~.°~ ~.
The present invention is concerned with supporting devices
which are known as wire frames and are mounted in parallel one
behind the other on one or more chains (or similar devices). In
this manner, continuous transport of the panels or sheets is
assured so that these can be sent through a tunnel for drying or
thermal treatment, or can be disposed solely in a waiting
position between two consecutive manufacturing processes in the
same production line.
Transport systems of this type are indeed known and are
frequently employed. A typical example from the metal packing
industry is schematically illustrated in Figure 1. Thin iron
sheets or aluminum panels, which are varnished, printed or coated
for protection or on optical grounds, are required in the metal
packing industry. Here, it is necessary for the sheet metal
panels to dry or polymerize for about 10 minutes at temperatures
between 120°C and 220°C so that the color or the like adheres
firmly to the metal and can thus fulfill the protective or
decorative function. This application serves only as an example
since the wire frames of the present invention can function to
carry all types of flat, thin objects which are transported in an
almost vertical position. The time for which the objects are
subjected to the treatment is limited by the length of the
tunnel.
Figure 1 shows a panel or sheet coating installation "a" and
a belt transport arrangement "b" for introducing the panels
between the wire frames 1 of a continuous transport device "c".
An unloading device with a belt transport arrangement "d" in the
direction of a stacker "e" is likewise illustrated.
Figure 2 shows, in plan view, a typical wire frame 1 for a
transport device for the transport of metal panels through a
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~;~r~~r
drying tunnel. In Figure 3, the same wire frame can be seen in
profile. A sheet metal panel of maximum length and maximum width
is illustrated in Figure 2 by dashed lines.
The design of this wire frame 1 results from a compromise
between two contradictory requirements; namely, to make available
a large and robust support surface which is suitable for a large
number of different panel or sheet sizes, and to provide a
minimum mass so as to decrease the energy consumption required
for multiple heatings to operating temperature per hour. The
wire frames normally consist of welded or riveted, flat steel
shapes as depicted in Figure 2. On the other hand, until today
one has adhered to the practice of placing both their surfaces
between two parallel planes in order to again align them on a
rolling slab without difficulty if they are dented or deformed
due to a transport incident (Figure 3).
These wire frames are installed on one or more chains 2
(Figure 4). In order that the transported panels distinctly lie
on the surface which is opposite the just printed or coated side,
that is, on the backside (so that the front side does not come
into contact with the preceding wire frame), the nature of the
attachment of the approximately horizontal wire frame to the
chain or chains provides for an angle of 15 degrees between the
vertical and the support plane of the wire frame. In
well-designed transport systems, U-shaped parts 3 secured to the
tops of the wire frames serve as transverse connections between
two respective, consecutive wire frames. Due to this cage-like
arrangement, the wire frames, which move in a row, are
practically undeformable.
Such designs were completely satisfactory as long as the
ratio of the lengths and heights (dimension of the quasi-vertical
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panel during transport) to their thickness was such that the
panels did not bend under their own weight and largely remained
straight while supported against the wire frames as can be seen
in Figure 4, reference character 4.
The search for more effective use of the metal leads to an
enlargement of the individual panel and a decrease in its
thickness. In the conventional transport devices, the large and
thin panels bend readily, as can be seen via the reference
character 5 in Figure 4, so that the undesired contacts between
the panel and the backside of the preceding wire frame occur ever
more frequently. This results in defective protection and/or
unsightly spots which make the panel virtually unusable. This
tendency is also found in panels of light metal which is less
rigid than steel.
Supports of transport devices having an upper run and a
lower run are known from U.S. patent 2,593,415 and U.S. patent
1,'736,866 and serve to transport flat objects. The supports of
these transport devices are flat. The objects are introduced in
horizontal orientation in the region of the transport device
where the supports reverse direction and are then raised into an
approximately vertical position by further transport of the run.
The goal of the present invention is to eliminate these
drawbacks. It is based on that one must employ a large force in
order to bring a flat object consisting of a material which is
resistant in two mutually perpendicular directions into a bent
form. In effect, the deformability of the panel is lost due to
the shaping which occurs in different directions and a large
amount of force thus becomes necessary. Accordingly, to prevent
a panel from bending about a horizontal axis as illustrated in
Figure 4, reference character 5, it suffices to proceed in such a
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CA 02071964 2000-12-07
28161-1
manner that the panel is bent about a perpendicular axis before
one brings it into an almost vertical position in which, per
the known device, the danger of undesired deformation exists.
This prebending is achieved in a simple fashion by means of the
~~ wire frames which are the s,abject of the present invention.
The present invention provides a support member for a
continuous conveying installation for conveying plate-shaped
and bendable objects, the conveying installation having a
longitudinal axis, the conveying installation receiving the
1C plate-shaped objects with each plate-shaped object and the
support member being in an f=_ssentially horizontal position and
conveying the plate-shaped objects in direction of the
longitudinal axis in an upright position, the support member
defining a surface, the surface of the support member being
15 shaped such that, when the :support member is in an essentially
horizontal position, a plate-shaped object placed on the
surface of the support member is bent downwardly due to gravity
about an axis located in a vertical plane extending in
direction of the longitudinal axis of the conveying
20 installation, whereby, when the plate-shaped object is moved
into the upright position prior to and during conveyance, the
plate-shaped object is prevented from being bent about an axis
which extends approximately perpendicularly to the vertical
plane extending in axial direction of the conveying
25 installation; the support member comprising a plurality of
shaped metal wires which are connected to each other, the metal
wires being arranged in two planes, the metal wires of the two
planes being connected to each other in a manner such that the
surface of the support member has a bent shape for bending the
30 plate-shaped objects.
CA 02071964 2000-12-07
28161-1
The invention is described in greater detail with
reference to the Figures. There is shown:
Figure 1 a schernatic side view of a transport
device with supports for flat transported articles,
Figure 2 a plan view of a support,
Figure 3 a front. view of a known support,
Figure 4 a side view of a plurality of supports,
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 front views of different
embodiments of supports according to the invention,
Figure 9 a detai_1 view of a support,
Figure 11 a plan view of a support located in the
transport device.
The most direct. realization of a wire frame (flanged
frame, profiled frame) confc>rming to the present invention
consists in bending an ordinary wire frame to give it a form
corresponding to a section of a cylinder as illustrated in
Figure 5 or to bend it slightly so that an open V shape is
obtained as illustrated in Figure 6. The wire frames of the
invention can have lateral extensions which point upwards
(Figure 7) or downwards (Figure 8).
In the first three exemplary embodiments, the wire
frame bends the panel in such a manner that the lateral
portions lead the center of the panel during transport in
vertical or almost vertical position. The opposite is the case
in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 8. The wire frames can
bend the panels lIl
5a
_.
one or the other fashion, both bending directions lie within the
scope of the present invention.
To simplify the manufacture of the wire frame according to
Figures 7 and 8 by means of conventional tools, the flat steel
shapes 6 which have a rectangular cross section and serve to
produce the lateral support extensions 7 (arms) can be replaced
by trapezoidal shapes. This is illustrated in Figure 9. In this
manner, the lateral support extensions 7, during production,
automatically form the desired v-shaped angle in the region of
approximately 180 degrees with respect to the central portion of
the wire frame.
If is it not possible to design the panel feed (belt
transport arrangement "b") of Figure 1 so that the panel sides
can be raised before they are introduced between two wire frames,
and if the wire frames are provided with raised lateral portions,
that is, when they have profiles according to Figures 5, 6 or 7,
the design of the wire frame of Figure 2 is no longer suitable
for the automatic loading of "toothed" panels having lateral
zigzag margins (see the dashed line in the left center of Figure
12, reference character 8). The lateral cutouts of these panels,
which one encounters ever more frequently in the metal processing
industry, is intended to avoid the metal losses arising from a
straight cut when the objects to be produced are assigned to the
surface of the panels in a pentamerous arrangement for varnishing
or printing. In general, this involves round objects such as
covers or can bottoms, closures which are produced in large
quantities and whose material costs play a significant role in
the manufacturing cost.
The illustration according to Figure 2 no longer conforms to
these conditions since, during automatic loading of the panels,
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that is, as soon as these perform a translational movement along
the wire frame axis, there exists the danger that the margins 9
of the toothed sheets 8 will collide with the lateral support
extensions 7 whose outer ends are raised above the central
portion of the panel.
Figures 10 and ~~ show a wire frame which eliminates this
drawback.
In such a wire frame, the toothed margins are supported by
straight and continuous profiles 121 and 122 which run parallel
to the symmetry plane of the wire frame and are bent at the outer
portion so that rectangular frames, which are welded or riveted
to a central portion 15, are produced, for example. This
structure is strengthened by means of inforcements 16.
In an embodiment which is to be preferred, the straight
profiles 121 and 122 have an almost trapezoidal cross section so
that, upon assembly, one automatically obtains an angled surface
as illustrated in section in Figure 11. The frame or frames 15,
as well as the reinforcements 16, are further produced from flat
bar steel having a rectangular cross section.
Figure 11 shows a wire frame which, by way of example, has
two lateral frames 121 and 122 on either side. This number can
be reduced or increased without departing from the scope of the
invention. Multiplication of the profiles 121,122,12n allows the
sides of a large number of panels of different size to be better
supported. However, increased energy consumption upon heating
for the treatment also occurs due to the increased mass of the
wire frames.
Likewise, profiles 121,12n which have a rectangular cross
section and are used for the production of the lateral frames
remain within the scope of this invention if they have an
20?1964
unbroken length parallel to the symmetry plane of the wire frame.
Figure 10 shows that, when the profiles 12 have a
trapezoidal cross section, each connection 121-122, 122-12n forms
a new portion which has an angle of inclination and increases the
desired curvature of the panel.
On the other hand, the automatic loading devices have
mechanisms which decelerate and hold each panel introduced into
the transport device "b" (Figure 1). Similarly, the unloading
stations of the same Figure are equipped with belts which serve
for withdrawal and are frequently supported by magnetic or other
rolls. The form of the wire frame must be such that impediments
along its path are avoided.
The wire frames of the present invention exhibit the desired
conditions so that these impediments are avoided.
On the one hand, the profiles and the outer longitudinal
frames 122 or 12n do not extend over the entire height of the
wire frame in order to permit the mounting of a magnetic or
pneumatic panel braking device 13 which is illustrated solely by
its outlines in the lower right of Figure 11.
On the other hand, a large, curved cutout between the sides
121 enables one to surround the horizontal belts and the
associated magnetic and pneumatic rolls. The latter remove
panels which, due to the movement of the wire frame, are pressed
down at the end of the transport device and are forwarded to a
transport device 18 in accordance with the reference character
"d" of Figure 1.
In addition, a central bracket 17, which is secured to the
frame 15 in such a manner that it passes between two groups of
withdrawal belts 14, prevents the high and narrow panels which
have been bowed due to the form of the wire frame from sliding
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down between the frames 121.
The U-shaped parts which serve as transverse connections
between consecutive wire frames are secured to the horizontal
sides of the frames 121,122,12n as can be seen from Figure 11.
Such a wire frame (profiled frame, flanged frame) comes into
contact with the chains 2 via its two flanges which project from
the sides of the frame 15. These flanges extend into the
openings of the chain links. The wire frames are held in a
classical manner by slotted keys.
l0 A wire frame of the type which exhibits two symmetry planes
before the U-shaped parts 3 are applied can be used
indiscriminately to form a transport arrangement in which the
center of the curved sheet points forwards or backwards. The
mounting of the transverse connecting pieces 3 (U-shaped parts 3)
alone determines the manner in which the transport arrangement
functions.
These wire frames are intended, in particular, for transport
arrangements of drying tunnels installed in printing and
varnishing installations for metal panels which are used, by way
20 of example, for the manufacture of packing means (cans, metal
containers, drums, etc.), bottle closures (caps, crowned corks)
or diverse metal articles made in large production runs (plates,
toys, games, etc.).
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