Patent ID: 6161678
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
Apparatus for automatic adjustment of the length of the compartments of the conveyors of packaging or wrapping machines, of the type in which the walls (P1 and P2) of the compartments are fixed to pairs of parallel chains (G1, G2) whose sprockets (H1, H2) are mounted on two common shafts, one of which hereinafter called the driving shaft (L) is connected to a drive motor, and in which the sprockets of one pair of chains are rigidly keyed to this driving shaft while the adjacent sprockets of the other pair of chains are operatively connected to the said first sprockets by means which allow the relative positions of the pairs of chains to be moved out of phase so as to vary the length of the compartments and adapt it to the form of the products to be packaged, characterized in that the sprockets keyed to the driving shaft (L) are the outermost ones (H1), hereinafter called the driving sprockets, while the innermost ones (H2), hereinafter called the driven sprockets, are fixed to the ends of a hollow shaft (U) mounted rotatably on the said driving shaft; and mounted on one end of this hollow shaft, in the section between the driven sprockets (H2), is an axially sliding control sleeve (5) with an annular groove (8) in which are engaged the end rollers of a forked lever (10) pivoted on an intermediate fixed support (12) and connected at the other end to a reciprocating actuator (15), the said control sleeve having, on its front face, angularly equidistant projections (105) passing through slots (6) shaped as sectors of circles obtained in the neighbouring driven sprocket (H2) of the conveyor, on which projections there is mounted, flange-like, the mobile component (4) of a dog clutch (2, 3, 4) which is normally in the engaged position, to connect the driving sprocket (H1) with the driven sprocket (H2); means being provided to control the said actuator (15) and the said driving shaft (L) in order to modify the distance between the walls of the compartments (C).