Curved section for an article conveyor
阅读说明:本技术 用于物品输送机的弯曲段 (Curved section for an article conveyor ) 是由 安德里亚·安德烈奥利 安东尼奥·菲奥雷 于 2019-07-01 设计创作,主要内容包括:提供一种用于物品输送机的弯曲段。该弯曲段具有用于沿曲线引导输送链或垫的至少一条引导轨道,弯曲段包括基底部分和至少一对导轨,该至少一对导轨包括在其间限定至少一条引导轨道的第一导轨和第二导轨,第一导轨与第二导轨同心延伸并且相对于引导轨道的曲率中心更靠内。至少第一导轨包括能移除地施加至基底部分以限定第一导轨的相应的衬料型材,并且其中衬料型材包括凸型或凹型的第一联接装置,并且所述基底部分与所述第一导轨对应地包括分别为凹型或凸型的第二联接装置,第二联接装置与衬料型材的第一联接装置共轭并适于与第一联接装置配合以形成卡合联接,第一联接装置和第二联接装置相对于相应的对称轴线对称。(A curved section for an article conveyor is provided. The curved section has at least one guide track for guiding the conveyor chain or mat along a curve, the curved section including a base portion and at least one pair of guide rails including a first guide rail and a second guide rail defining the at least one guide track therebetween, the first guide rail extending concentrically with the second guide rail and being more inward relative to a center of curvature of the guide track. At least the first rail comprises a respective lining profile removably applied to the base portion to define the first rail, and wherein the lining profile comprises first coupling means of the male or female type, and said base portion, in correspondence with said first rail, comprises second coupling means, respectively of the female or male type, conjugated to the first coupling means of the lining profile and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means to form a snap coupling, the first and second coupling means being symmetrical with respect to respective axes of symmetry.)
1. A curved section (1) for a conveyor of articles, having at least one guide track (4 ', 4 ") extending curvedly to guide a conveyor chain or mat along a curve, said curved section comprising a base portion (5; 50; 500) and at least one pair of guide rails comprising a first guide rail (2 ', 2") and a second guide rail (3 ', 3 "), said first guide rail (2 ', 2") and said second guide rail (3 ', 3 ") defining between them said at least one guide track (4 ', 4"), said first guide rail (2 ', 2 ") extending concentrically with said second guide rail (3 ', 3") and being more internal with respect to a centre of curvature (C) of said guide track (4 ', 4 "), wherein at least said first guide rail (2 ', 2") comprises a respective profile (9; 9 ', 9 "), the corresponding lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") is applicable to the base portion (5; 50; 500) in order to provide a particularly good connection between the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") is applied to the base portion (5; 50; 500) defining the first guide rail (2', 2 "), and wherein the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") comprises first coupling means (8'; 13) said first coupling means (8'; 13) is convex or concave, and the base portion (5; 50; 500) comprises, in correspondence with said first guide rail (2 ', 2'); 8) said second coupling means (13'; 8) is respectively concave or convex and is connected with the lining material section (9; 9 ', 9 ") of said first coupling means (8'; 13) is conjugated and is adapted to be coupled to the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") of said first coupling means (8'; 13) in order to be able to be fitted in particular by the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") against the base part (5; 50; 500) to form a snap coupling, said first and second coupling means being symmetrical with respect to respective symmetry axes (a-a).
2. The curved segment according to claim 1, wherein the respective gusset profile is removably applied to the base portion to define the first guide rail.
3. The curved segment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first or second coupling means comprises a receptacle, wherein the receptacle forms a female coupling means, in particular a female coupling element of a pair of coupling elements having a conjugated male-female shape, wherein the other of the first or second coupling means forms a male conjugated coupling means, in particular a male conjugated element of the pair of coupling elements.
4. The curved section according to claim 3, wherein the side wall of the receptacle is flexible such that the side wall resiliently flexes and opens outwardly to allow the male coupling element to pass into the receptacle.
5. The curved section of claim 1, wherein:
-said lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ') with said first female coupling means (13) comprises a wall element defining a seat (13; 13 '), or
-said base portion (5; 50; 500) having said second female coupling means (13 ') in correspondence of said first guide rail (2', 2 ') comprises a wall element defining a seat (13; 13'),
the wall element is flexible so as to elastically flex and enlarge the inlet of the seat (13; 13 ') so as to allow the second male coupling means or the first male coupling means (8, 13 ') to be received in the seat (13; 13 ').
6. The bending segment according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the base portion (5; 50; 500) and the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") are formed of the same material.
7. The bending segment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the base portion (5; 50; 500) is formed from a first material and the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") is formed from a second, different material, in particular a second material having a lower coefficient of friction than the first material.
8. The curved section according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide rail (3', 3 ") is formed in one piece with the base part (5; 50; 500) and is formed from the same material as the base part (5; 50; 500).
9. The bending segment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second guide rail (3 ', 3 ") also comprises a respective lining profile (9; 9 ', 9"), which respective lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") is applicable to the base portion (5; 50; 500) so as to define the second guide rail (3 ', 3"), in particular when the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") is applied to the base portion (5; 50; 500), and wherein the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9") of the second guide rail (3 ', 3 ") comprises first coupling means (8 '; 13), which first coupling means (8 '; 13) are male or female, and the base portion (5; 50; 500) comprises second coupling means (13 '; 8) in correspondence with the second guide rail (3 ', 3"), the second coupling means (13 '; 8) are respectively of female or male type, conjugated to the first coupling means (8'; 13) of the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") of the second guide rail (3', 3") and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means (8 '; 13) of the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") of the second guide rail (3 ', 3") so as to form a snap coupling, in particular by pressure on the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ") pressing against the base portion (5; 50; 500), the first and second coupling means being symmetrical with respect to a respective axis of symmetry (A-A).
10. The curved segment according to claim 9, wherein the respective lining profile is removably applied to the base portion to define the second guide rail, preferably wherein one of the first or second coupling means comprises a receptacle, wherein the receptacle forms a female coupling means, in particular a female coupling element of a pair of coupling elements having a conjugated male-female shape, wherein the other of the first or second coupling means forms a male conjugated coupling means, in particular a male conjugated element of the pair of coupling elements, more preferably wherein a side wall of the receptacle is flexible, such that the side wall elastically flexes and opens outwards to allow the male coupling element to penetrate into the receptacle.
11. The curved section of claim 9, wherein:
-said lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ') with said first female coupling means (13) comprises a wall element defining a seat (13; 13 '), or
-said base portion (5; 50; 500) having said second female coupling means (13 ') in correspondence of said second guide rail (3', 3 ') comprises a wall element defining a seat (13; 13'),
the wall element is flexible so as to elastically flex and enlarge the inlet of the seat (13; 13 ') so as to allow the second male coupling means or the first male coupling means (8, 13 ') to be received in the seat (13; 13 ').
12. The bending segment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion (5; 50; 500) comprises, at least one end of the at least one guide track (4 ', 4 "), an end support wall (20, 21; 20 ', 21 '; 20", 21 ") adapted to stop the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9") applied to the base portion (5; 50; 500) in position, preventing the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ") from sliding with respect to the base portion (5; 50; 500).
13. The curved segment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one guide track (4 ', 4 ") comprises at least a first guide track (4 ') and a second guide track (4"), the second guide track (4 ") being radially more outward than the first guide track (4 ') with respect to the centre of curvature (C), and wherein the lining profile (9") of the second guide track (3 ', 3 ") of the first guide track (4 ') also forms the lining profile (9") of the first guide track (2 ") of the second guide track (4").
14. The curved section according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first coupling means (8 '; 13) of the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ') of male or female type comprise at least one pair of teeth (12') symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry (A-A) or at least one pair of shoulders (16) formed in the seat (13) and symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry (A-A), and the second coupling means (13 '; 8) of female or male type of the base portion (5; 50; 500) conjugated with the first coupling means (8'; 13) and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means (8 '; 13) comprise at least one pair of shoulders (16') symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry (A-A) or at least one pair of teeth (12) symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry (A-A), in particular, wherein a shoulder of said at least one pair of shoulders (16; 16') faces towards said axis of symmetry (A-A).
15. A method for assembling a curved segment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising:
-providing the base part (5; 50; 500) and the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9');
-applying the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9') to the base part (5; 50; 500) by:
-positioning the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9') on the base portion (5; 50; 500) so that the first coupling means (8 '; 13) of male or female type of the lining profile (9; 9', 9 ') are above the second coupling means (13'; 8) of female or male type of the base portion (5; 50; 500);
-exerting a vertical pressure on the lining profile (9; 9 ', 9 ') against the base portion (5; 50; 500) to elastically deflect the wall element and enlarge the inlet of the seat (13; 13 ') allowing the passage of the second male coupling means or the first male coupling means (8, 13 ') into the seat (13; 13 ').
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of conveyors of articles and components thereof, and in particular to a curved section for an article conveyor having at least one conveyor chain or mat guide track extending curvedly to guide a conveyor chain or mat of the article conveyor along the curve of the conveyor track.
Background
Curved segments for article conveyors are well known, for example, for guiding one or more modular conveyor chains/mats (formed by a series of modules or links articulated to each other) along the curve of a conveyor track.
The curved section may have a single guide track (for guiding a single conveyor chain or mat) or may have multiple (two or more) guide tracks (for guiding two or more conveyor chains or mats), and the length and radius of the curve may depend on the topology of the guide tracks.
In view of the number of tracks required, the variety of radii and lengths of curvature of the curved segments, a common solution consists in manufacturing the curved segments in the following way: starting from a plate of low-friction and wear-resistant plastic material, such as for example ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and milling the top thereof in order to leave a guide rail of the chain or mat along the desired conveyor track.
EP 0790197 proposes to provide a panel of starting material as a multilayer structure comprising a top portion of low friction and wear resistant material and a lower portion of low cost material, less expensive and higher coefficient of friction (and therefore more susceptible to wear).
Furthermore, DE 8901563 proposes that parts of the guide rail are subjected to wear in the form of curved strips of low-friction and wear-resistant material. The strip may be radially supported by a base portion of low mass material and may be secured thereto using screws.
Disclosure of Invention
While the known solutions allow saving material and limiting costs, they require considerable costs for assembly, for the manufacture of their parts and for maintenance over time (maintence along time).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a curved section for an article conveyor, wherein the cost of the material, manufacture, assembly and maintenance over time of the curved section is low.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a curved section for an article conveyor is provided.
The curved section has at least one guide track extending in a curve to guide the conveyor chain or mat along a curve.
The curved section includes a base portion and at least one pair of rails including a first rail and a second rail defining the at least one guide track therebetween, the first rail extending concentrically with the second rail and being more inward relative to a center of curvature of the guide track.
At least the first track comprises a corresponding lining profile which can be applied to the base part so as to define the first track when applied to the base part.
The lining profile comprises first coupling means, which are male or female, and the base portion comprises, in correspondence with said first guide, second coupling means, respectively female or male, conjugate with the first coupling means of the lining profile and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means of the lining profile so as to form a snap-fit coupling by pressure on the lining profile against the base portion, said first and second coupling means being symmetrical with respect to the respective symmetry axis.
A respective lining profile may be removably applied to the base portion to define the first guide rail. In this way, the assembly and/or disassembly of the respective lining profile from the base part can be facilitated.
One of the first or second coupling means may comprise a receptacle, wherein the receptacle forms a female coupling means, in particular a female coupling element of a pair of coupling elements having a conjugated male-female shape, wherein the other of the first or second coupling means forms a male conjugate coupling means, in particular a male conjugate element of the pair of coupling elements. Preferably, the side wall of the receptacle may be flexible, such that the side wall resiliently flexes and opens outwardly to allow the male coupling element to pass into the receptacle. In this way, assembly (disassembly) can be further facilitated.
Additionally or alternatively, the gusset profile with the first female coupling means, or the base portion with the second female coupling means, in correspondence with the first rail, may comprise a wall element defining a seat, the wall element being flexible so as to elastically flex and enlarge the entrance of the seat, allowing the second male coupling means or the first male coupling means to be received into the seat.
In an embodiment of the invention, the base portion and the lining profile are formed from the same material.
In other embodiments, the base portion is formed of a first material and the backer profile is formed of a second, different material, particularly a second material having a lower coefficient of friction than the first material.
The second rail may be utilized and formed as a single piece from the same material as the base portion.
In other embodiments, the second rail also includes a corresponding backer profile that is applicable to the substrate portion so as to define the second rail when applied to the substrate portion. The lining profile of the second rail comprises first coupling means, which are male or female, and the base portion comprises, in correspondence with the second rail, second coupling means, respectively female or male, conjugate with the first coupling means of the lining profile of the second rail and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means of the lining profile of the second rail to form a snap coupling by pressure on the lining profile against the base portion, the first and second coupling means being symmetrical with respect to the respective symmetry axis.
A respective lining profile may be removably applied to the base portion to define the second rail. In this way, the assembly (disassembly) of the corresponding lining profile from the base part can be facilitated.
Similarly to the first guide element, also for the second guide element, one of the first coupling means or the second coupling means may comprise a receptacle, wherein the receptacle forms a female coupling means, in particular a female coupling element of a pair of coupling elements having a conjugate male-female shape, wherein the other of the first coupling means or the second coupling means forms a male conjugate coupling means, in particular a male conjugate element of the pair of coupling elements. Preferably, the side wall of the receptacle may be flexible, such that the side wall elastically flexes and opens outwards to allow the male coupling element to penetrate into the receptacle. In this way, assembly (disassembly) can be further facilitated.
Additionally or alternatively, the gusset profile with the first female coupling means, or the base portion corresponding to the second rail and with the second female coupling means, may each comprise a wall element defining a seat, the wall element being flexible so as to elastically flex and enlarge the entrance of the seat, thereby allowing the second male coupling means or first male coupling means to be received into the seat.
The base portion may comprise an end support wall at least one end of the at least one guide track; the end support wall is adapted to stop the lining profile applied to the base portion in position, thereby preventing the lining profile from sliding relative to the base portion.
The at least one guide track may include at least a first guide track and a second guide track, the second guide track being radially further outward than the first guide track with respect to the center of curvature. The lining profile of the second rail of the first guide rail may also form a lining profile of the first rail of the second guide rail.
The first coupling means of the male or female type of the lining profile may comprise at least one pair of shoulders formed in the seat and symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry, or a pair of teeth symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry, and the second coupling means of the female or male type of the base portion, conjugated with the first coupling means and adapted to cooperate with the first coupling means, may comprise at least one pair of teeth symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry, or a pair of shoulders symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry.
The shoulder of the at least one pair of shoulders may face towards the axis of symmetry.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for assembling a curved section.
The method comprises providing said substrate portion and said backer profile, and applying the backer profile to the substrate portion by:
-positioning the lining profile on the base part so that said first coupling means of male or female type of said lining profile are above said second coupling means of female or male type of the base part;
-applying a vertical pressure on the lining profile against the base portion to elastically deflect said wall element and enlarge the inlet of said seat, allowing said second male coupling means or first male coupling means to penetrate into the seat.
Drawings
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of illustrative and non-limiting embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the figure:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view from above of a dual guide track curved segment according to an embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 2 is a view (enlarged relative to fig. 1) showing (a part of) a base portion of the bent segment of fig. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates (a portion of) the rail lining of the curved segment of FIG. 1 detached from the curved segment of FIG. 2 of the curved segments;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the guide track of the curved segment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an isometric view from above of (a portion of) a dual guide track curved segment according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates (a portion of) the curved section of the rail lining of FIG. 6 detached from the corresponding base portion;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of the guide track of the curved segment of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is an isometric view from above of (a portion of) a dual guide track bend section according to yet another embodiment of the invention;
fig. 11 is a view showing (a part of) a base portion of the bent section of fig. 10;
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the guide rail lining of the curved segment of FIG. 10 detached from the base portion of the curved segment of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the guide track of the curved segment of FIG. 10;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a guide track of a curved segment according to another embodiment of the present invention, and
fig. 16 and 17 show the rail lining of the bend segment of fig. 15 detached from the respective base portion of the bend segment.
Detailed Description
The drawings of fig. 1 to 5 relate to a double guide track curved section 1 for an article conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention. It is now emphasized that the number of guide tracks of the curved section is not a limiting feature of the invention: the invention is also suitably applicable to and also includes single guide track bends and guide tracks having multiple (also more than two) bends.
The curved section 1 may for example be supported by the frame (not shown in the figures) of an article conveyor, such as a beverage bottle conveyor, and may be connected to a straight guide section or to a further curved section. The curved section 1 may also comprise a straight part, for example at the beginning and at the end of the guide track, and may comprise a plurality of curves (with different centers of curvature and radii of curvature).
The curved section 1 includes: a first pair of rails comprising a respective first rail 2 'and second rail 3'; and a second pair of rails comprising a respective first 2 "and second 3" rail.
The first 2 ', 2 "and second 3', 3" rails extend concentrically along respective circular arcs.
With reference to the centre of curvature (shown as C in fig. 1) of the (concentric) guide tracks of the curved section 1, the first pair of guide rails 2 'and 3' is more internal than the second pair of
In the first pair of rails 2 'and 3', the first rail 2 'is more inward (with respect to the center of curvature C of the guide rail) than the second rail 3'. In the second pair of
A first channel or groove 4 ' is defined between the first 2 ' and second 3 ' rails of the first pair of rails; a second channel or
The bend 1 comprises a first part constituting a
Each of the first 2 ', 2 "and second 3', 3" guide rails comprises a
Each of the
In each of the first 2 ', 2 "and second 3', 3" rails, a
The
In the example shown in the figures from fig. 1 to 5, the
Preferably, but not necessarily, the
The spacer 17 is preferably formed in one piece with the
Preferably, but not necessarily, the
Advantageously, at both ends of the curved section 1 (along the guide track), the
The
The
Mounting of the
The mounting of the
It is also very easy to detach the
The curved segment 1 can drive two modular conveyor chains (not shown) in such a way that consecutive links (modules) can be received in the
In particular, the conveyor chain, as it passes along the
The vertical contact pressure of the conveyor chain (bottom of the support plate of the products of the modules or links of the conveyor chain) with the upper wall of the
Thus, in use, the side walls of the
Due to the fact that the lining 9 (in cross section relative to any vertical plane including the general radius of the guide track) is symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis (the above-mentioned axis a-a), when the side wall of the
The simplicity and rapidity of the alternative work of the
The provision of the
The figures of fig. 6-9 relate to a dual guide track curved section according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The main difference between the curved section of the diagrams of fig. 6 to 9 and the curved section of the diagrams of fig. 1 to 5 described above is the following.
The
Unlike the foregoing embodiment, no spacer similar to the spacer 17 of the foregoing embodiment is provided in the
End support walls 20 ', 21 ' similar to the
It can be noted by observing the figures of the two embodiments described previously that all the
In both exemplary embodiments to be described, the lining to be applied to the
With reference to the figures from 10 to 14, an embodiment of the curved segment 1 is shown in which the
Another difference from the previous embodiment is that
Once applied to the
In addition, the
The first liner 9' may be mounted on the more
In the previous embodiments, the
In the embodiment of the figures of fig. 15 to 17 (which is similar to the embodiment of the figures of fig. 10 to 14 with respect to the rest), the arrangement of the male and female coupling means is reversed: the first and second lining packs 9 ', 9 ″ are formed in a manner similar to the male coupling elements 8 ' of the
In summary, according to embodiments of the present invention, the
The first coupling means may be male coupling means, such as the male coupling element 8 'of the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures of fig. 15 to 17, and the second coupling means may be female coupling means, such as the seat 13' defined by the walls of the
In all the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, the female coupling means, i.e. the seat 13' defined by the wall of the
It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed, but that several variations are possible even within the scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims.
For example, in a possible alternative embodiment, or in a variant of the previous embodiment, the lining can be provided only for the radially more inner one of the pairs of rails defining the guide track of the curved section, i.e. the
In a possible alternative embodiment, or in a variant of the previous embodiment, the number of shoulders (teeth) formed on the male coupling means, such as the teeth 12 of the
In a possible embodiment, the
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