Patent ID: 6050396
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A new and improved adjustable guide rail for transporting products of various sizes along a path of travel comprising, in combination:a pair of parallel conveyor side panels, the conveyor side panels having upper surfaces in a common plane;a conveyor chain formed as a plurality of rectangular slats having lower surfaces slidable along the upper surfaces of the conveyor side panel and having upper surfaces for the receipt of products to be conveyed;a plurality of spacers/adjuster slide blocks located at spaced apart locations between the conveyor side panels, the spacers/adjuster slide blocks having central apertures axially aligned therein;a plurality of pairs of parallel oriented adjuster slides mounted for axial movement above and below the apertures of the spacer/adjuster slide blocks, the adjuster slide of each pair having gear teeth in linear alignment thereby constituting racks;an adjustor gear for each pair of slides, the adjuster gear formed in a cylindrical orientation constituting a pinion mounted with an aperture aligned with the apertures of the spacer/adjuster slide blocks;a wiper seal located at the spacer/adjuster slide blocks with apertures for the passage therethrough of the adjuster slides to assure dust-free operation;adjustable rail supports having lower ends secured to the exterior ends of the adjuster slides and having upper ends extending above the path of travel of a conveyor chain;a product guide rail located on each side of the path of travel above the conveyor chain and coupled with respect to the upper ends of the adjustable rail support;a product guide rail spacer located between the adjustable rail supports and the product guide rails;an adjustable drive right angle gearbox for the operator control and simultaneous rotation of the adjustable gears;an adjustable drive rod coupling the adjustable guide right angle gear box and the adjustable gears for simultaneous rotation therewith;securing bolts securing the conveyor side panels with the spacer/adjuster slide blocks; andan adjustment handle exterior of the conveyor side panels for an operator's rotation of the adjustable drive rod.