Adjustable conveying device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347549-A1
Application number	US-201615138420-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 26, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device and method of adjusting a spacing of holders located on first and second endless loop includes releasing a clutch to allow the endless loops to be adjusted and operating an adjustment assembly to simultaneously move the first endless loop a distance in a first direction and the second endless loop an equal distance in a second direction opposite the first direction. After the adjustment the timing and pitch of the center of articles gripped by the holders is unchanged relative to the system in which the device is located.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An adjustable conveying device for conveying articles of differing sizes comprising
a first endless loop drivable along a path; holders mounted along the first endless loop; a second endless loop drivable along a path substantially along the path of the first endless loop; holders mounted along the second endless loop, each holder on the first endless loop forming a gripping pair with an adjacent holder on the second endless loop, each gripping pair being spaced equally from a center line between the holders of the gripping pair; a motor for driving the first and second endless loops at a common speed along their respective paths; and an adjustment assembly configured for simultaneously moving the first endless loop a distance in a first direction along its path and the second endless loop the distance in a second direction opposite the first direction along its path to thereby change spacing between the gripping pairs while maintaining the holders in each gripping pair equidistant from their respective center line.

2 . The device of claim 1 , the adjustment assembly further including a releasable clutch, activation of which permits the simultaneous movement of the first and second endless loops.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the releasable clutch is configured as a manually releasable clutch.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes an input wheel, rotation of the input wheel after activation of the releasable clutch effecting the simultaneous movement of the first and second endless loops.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes a first shaft driven in a first direction by rotation of the input wheel, rotation of the first shaft moving the first endless loop in the first direction.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes a second shaft driven in a second direction by rotation of the input wheel, rotation of the second shaft moving the second endless loop in the second direction.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes gearing so that rotation of the input wheel in a given direction rotates the first shaft in the first direction and the second shaft in the second direction.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes a movable indicator to indicate the spacing of each gripping pair as the adjustment assembly moves the first and second endless loops.

9 . A method of adjusting a spacing of holders located on a first endless loop and a second endless loop, the method comprising:
releasing a clutch to allow the endless loops to be adjusted; and operating an adjustment assembly to simultaneously move the first endless loop a distance in a first direction and the second endless loop the distance in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby change spacing between a gripping pair of holders while maintaining the holders in the gripping pair equidistant from a center line between the pair of holders.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the operating step includes rotating an input wheel of the adjustment assembly to effect the simultaneous movement of the first and second endless loops.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating step includes rotating a first shaft in a first direction by rotation of the input wheel, rotation of the first shaft moving the first endless loop in the first direction.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the operating step includes rotating a second shaft in a second direction by rotation of the input wheel, rotation of the second shaft moving the second endless loop in the second direction.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Beesley Robert C
• Jones Chad

Classifications

• B65G47/28

  during transit by a single conveyor · CPC title

• B65G17/26

  comprising a series of co-operating units, e.g. interconnected by pivots · CPC title

• B65G2207/08

  Adjustable and/or adaptable to the article size · CPC title

• B65G23/26 Primary

  Applications of clutches or brakes · CPC title

• B65G37/005

  comprising two or more co-operating conveying elements with parallel longitudinal axes (the conveying elements being endless surfaces B65G15/10) · CPC title