A conveyor underguard that is adapted for use with a conveyor having a pair of spaced apart side channels, each having a lower flange and a plurality of openings on each flange, includes a guard surface and a pair of mounting members, each extending outwardly generally parallel to the guard surface and defining fastener openings. The fastener openings are spaced apart in a manner that aligns with the through-openings of the conveyor. A pair of side members connect the guard surface with the mounting members in a manner that offsets the guard surface from the mounting members away from each flange. The conveyor underguard is defined by a polymeric material body having a planar body pan integrally connected to opposed first and second side walls and to first and second end walls. A first side flange is integrally connected to the first side wall and extends for an entire length of the first side wall. A second side flange is integrally connected to the second side wall and extends for an entire length of the second side wall. Multiple mounting flanges are integrally connected to and extend away from each of the first and second side flanges. Each of the mounting flanges has an elongated aperture. Multiple equally spaced and parallel slots are created in a surface of the body pan.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to conveyor systems and guards used for conveyor systems.

BACKGROUND

Conveyors used in industrial applications have multiple rotating rollers which are either powered for rotation or have bearings that permit rotation to permit displacement of products from one location to a second location. Multiple electrical system components used to monitor and/or power the conveyors are provided in front of or under the conveyor. Guards currently known to mitigate against an operator reaching into the mechanisms and/or electrical components of the conveyor commonly are metal mesh or a non-reinforced plastic film material. Known conveyor guards are not adaptable for interchangeable use in multiple locations, are heavy and expensive when constructed of metal, and have short lifespans due to damage, for example from falling objects when constructed of plastic film.

SUMMARY

A conveyor guard that is adapted for use with a conveyor having a pair of spaced apart side channels, each having a lower flange and a plurality of openings on each flange, according to an aspect of the invention, includes a guard surface and a pair of mounting members, each extending outwardly generally parallel to the guard surface and defining fastener openings. The fastener openings are spaced apart in a manner that aligns with the openings of the conveyor. A pair of side members connect the guard surface with the mounting members in a manner that offsets the guard surface from the mounting members away from each flange.

A conveyor underguard, according to another aspect of the invention, includes a polymeric material body having a generally planar body pan integrally connected to opposed first and second side walls and to first and second end walls. A first side flange is integrally connected to the first side wall and extends for an entire length of the first side wall. A second side flange is integrally connected to the second side wall and extends for an entire length of the second side wall. Multiple mounting flanges are integrally connected to and extend away from each of the first and second side flanges. Each of the mounting flanges has an elongated aperture. Multiple equally spaced and parallel slots are created in a surface of the body pan.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a V-shaped slot defines an intersection of each mounting flange and an outer edge of either the first or second side flange. Any of the mounting flanges is removable by repeated bending or by cutting at the V-shaped slot.

According to further aspects, each elongated aperture includes opposed first and second end wall raised ribs and opposed first and second side wall raised ribs.

According to still further aspects, a raised ring is provided about a perimeter of the elongated aperture of each of the mounting flanges. The raised ring provides tactile feedback during installation of a fastener when the raised ring begins to compress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1a, a conveyor underguard10includes a polymeric material body having a generally planar body pan12which defines a guard surface11is integrally connected to opposed first and second side walls14,16, and to first and second end walls18,20. A first side flange22is integrally and frangibly connected to the first side wall14and extends for an entire length of the first side wall14. Similarly, a second side flange24is integrally and frangibly connected to the second side wall16and extends for an entire length of the second side wall16. The first side flange22is flush with respect to an upper perimeter surface26of the first and second side walls14,16and the first and second end walls18,20. Together, the first and second side flanges22,24define co-planar surfaces28,30which are co-planar with respect to upper perimeter surface26.

Multiple mounting flanges32are integrally and frangibly connected to and extend away from each of the first and second side flanges22,24. Each mounting flange32includes an elongated aperture34which will be described in greater detail in reference toFIGS. 6 and 7. The body pan12can include a longitudinal center rib36which is integrally connected to and extends upwardly from body pan12for a height which is less than a height of any of the first and second side walls14,16or of the first and second end walls18,20. Center rib36extends for an entire length of body pan12and is integrally connected to each of the first and second end walls18,20. Similarly sized first and second side ribs38,40can also be provided in body pan12, which are constructed the same as center rib36.

Multiple cross ribs42are also integrally connected to body panel12, and are similar in geometry to center rib36, but are each oriented normal with respect to center rib36. Each of the cross ribs42are integrally connected at opposite ends to the first and second side walls14,16. Besides providing stiffness to the body pan, the cross ribs serve as flow channels to allow the fluid plastic to flow more easily especially around apertures46which will be described in more detail below. A gusset44is integrally connected at the end of each of the center rib36, first and second side ribs38,40and the cross ribs42where these ribs are integrally connected with individual ones of the walls of body pan12. The gussets44provide several functions including: 1) to provide stiffness at the intersections of the walls and the body pan12; and 2) the gussets44of the cross ribs42provide wall structure if the body pan12is cut proximate to any of the cross ribs42, which is described in greater detail in reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.

Positioned between any two of the cross ribs42, such as between cross ribs42a,42bare a plurality of apertures46. Apertures46reduce the weight of conveyor underguard10as well as the cost by minimizing the amount of resin required to mold conveyor underguard10. Also, the apertures allow debris to pass through the guard surface11so that cardboard dust, and the like, is not allowed to build up on the interior surface portion of the guard surface.

Referring toFIG. 2and again toFIG. 1, individual groups of apertures46are arranged in longitudinal columns such as apertures46aprovided in a column48. Similarly, individual groups of apertures46are arranged in longitudinal rows such as apertures46bprovided in a row50. The columns48and rows50provide maximized use of apertures46, while maintaining structural integrity of body pan12.

Referring toFIG. 3, a length of body pan12can be changed to suit the space requirements of conveyor system without negatively impacting the structural integrity of conveyor underguard10. To provide specific locations at which to cut conveyor underguard10, multiple equally spaced and parallel notches or slots52are created in a bottom surface54of body pan12. The slots52provide a visual guide for a location to cut body pan12when it is desirable to reduce a length of body pan12.

It is further noted that a raised ring56is provided about the perimeter of each elongated aperture34of the mounting flanges32. The purpose of the raised rings56will be better described in reference toFIGS. 5 and 7. Each of the mounting flanges32are individually frangible and can be individually removed from their respective first or second side flange22,24. To aid in the removal of individual mounting flanges32, a V-shaped slot58is created at the intersection of each mounting flange32and an outer edge60of either the first or second side flange22,24. By repeated bending or by cutting the mounting flange32at the V-shaped slot58, any of the mounting flanges32that are removed leave the outer edge60straight and smooth.

In addition to the V-shaped slots58, the entire first side flange22or second side flange24are frangible and can be removed by separation at first and second elongated slots61,61′ defining a junction between first side flange22and body pan12and between second side flange24and body pan12. By repeated bending or by cutting the first side flange22or the second side flange24at the elongated slot61,61′, a portion of or all of first side flange22or the second side flange24can be removed.

Referring toFIG. 4and again toFIGS. 1 and 3, if the body pan12is cut along any of the slots52and the cut is extended through the first and second side flanges22,24, the geometry ofFIG. 4is provided. Each of the gussets44of the exemplary cross rib42b, as well as the cross rib42bitself create a reduced size end wall, thereby acting similar to and thereby replacing the removed one of the first or second end walls18,20. The end of the body pan12created by cutting at one of the slots52therefore does not significantly reduce the structural integrity of the body pan12at the proximate cross rib42.

Referring toFIG. 5and again toFIGS. 1 and 3, conveyor underguard10is presented in a typical installation to a conveyor system62. Conveyor system62includes multiple rollers64(only one of which is shown for clarity) which are rotatably supported at opposite ends to first and second channel members66,68. Each channel member66or68includes an upright member70,70′ to which is connected the roller64, and at least a lower flange72,72′ to which is connected the mounting flanges32of one of the first or second side flanges22,24. A fastener74(only one shown for clarity) such as a bolt has its fastener head positioned in contact with the raised ring56of one of the mounting flanges32and its threaded shank76extending through the elongated aperture34and the lower flange72(such as lower flange72′ shown). A connecting fastener78such as a nut is fixed to threaded shank76and the fastener assembly is torqued until the operator “feels” the raised ring56begin to compress or collapse. This tactile indication provides a repeatable and substantially equal torque for each of the fastener assemblies.

When the conveyor underguard10is installed as shown inFIG. 5to an underside of the conveyor system62, the body pan12extends fully across the span between the channel members66,68and prevents personnel from reaching beneath the rollers64, or into the underside components that may also be installed on conveyor system62. Body pan12also acts to capture light weight objects that fall between any of the rollers64.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, and again toFIGS. 4 and 5, each of the elongated apertures34is provided with opposed first and second end wall raised ribs80,82and opposed first and second side wall raised ribs84,86. The end wall raised ribs80,82extend toward each other with respect to an inner wall88of the elongated aperture34. Similarly, the first and second side wall raised ribs84,86extend toward each other with respect to the inner wall88. Each of the first and second side wall raised ribs84,86are frictionally contacted by the threaded shank76of the fastener74and at least one of the first or second end wall raised ribs80,82can also be frictionally contacted by the threaded shank76. This frictional contact temporarily retains the fastener74within the elongated aperture34, such that multiple ones of the fasteners74can be installed in conveyor underguard10and the entire assembly of conveyor underguard10together with the multiple fasteners74can be moved into position under the conveyor system62. The elongated apertures34are spaced in a predetermined spacing pattern that corresponds to a spacing pattern of apertures created in the lower flanges72of the conveyor system62. The pre-installed set of fasteners74in conveyor guard10therefore axially align with individual ones of the conveyor system lower flange apertures to simplify the installation of conveyor guard10.

The raised rings56of the mounting flanges32provide additional material and stiffness to accommodate the first and second end wall raised ribs80,82and the first and second side wall raised ribs84,86. In addition, as previously noted, raised rings56also provide a tactile feedback during torqueing of the fasteners74.

An alternative embodiment of a conveyor underguard110includes a guard surface112and mounting members114each defining a series of spaced apart fastener openings116that align with fastener-engaging openings in the bottom flanges of the conveyor side channel (not shown). Fasteners (not shown) pass through-openings116to engage the openings in the bottom flanges of the conveyor side channel. Side members118space guard surface112from mounting members114and thereby away from the bottom of the conveyor. Mounting members114are each defined by a series of spaced apart tabs120each defining a fastener opening116. Guard surface112is defined by a plurality of lateral ribs136that are spaced apart thereby defining passages126that allow debris to fall through guard surface112. An end wall119spans between side members118. Spaced apart lateral score lines (not shown) may be spaced along guard surface112to allow the guard to be divided into sections as with conveyor guard12. Also, score lines may be provided along the base of each tab120to allow tabs120to be individually removed to accommodate conveyor legs or other obstacles. Conveyor guard110may be made by thermo forming. Thermo forming results in a higher part cost, but a lower mold cost. Thus, it is ideal for low volume sizes.