Conveyor for transporting containers

Abstract: A container transport conveyor (11) comprising a plurality of holder plates (21,22) each comprising a first segment (21) and a second segment (22), the first and second segments (21,22) being arranged side by side in the direction of transport by the conveyor (11) for holding containers (C₁,C₂) therebetween, a pair of first endless chains (12) having the first segments (21) connected therebetween, a pair of second endless chains (13) having the second segments (22) connected therebetween, a pair of first drive sprockets (14) having the respective first endless chains (12) reeved therearound, a pair of second drive sprockets (13) having the respective second endless chains (13) reeved therearound, and means (42,47) for varying the phase difference between each of the first drive sprockets (14) and each of the second drive sprockets (16).

Description: The present invention relates to container transport conveyors for use in packaging machines for filling cup-shaped containers with dessert foods such as custard puddings, jellys, yogurts or ice creams. Such conveyors heretofore known comprise a plurality of holder plates connected between a pair of endless belts and formed with container holding apertures. The container holding apertures are formed in the holder plates in conformity with the size and shape of the containers to be transported by the conveyor. Accordingly, when containers which are different in size or shape from those previously handled are to be transported by the conveyor, the holder plates need to be replaced by those formed with holding apertures in conformity with the containers to be transported, hence a cumbersome procedure. The main object of the present invention is to provide a container transport conveyor which is adapted to transport different kinds of containers having varying sizes or shapes without the necessity of changing the holder plates. The present invention relates to a container transport conveyor which comprises a plurality of holder plates each comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first and second segments being arranged side by side in the direction of transport by the conveyor for holding containers therebetween, a pair of first endless chains having the first segments connected therebetween, a pair of second endless chains having the second segments connected therebetween, a pair of first drive sprockets having the respective first endless chains reeved therearound, a pair of second drive sprockets having the respective second endless chains reeved therearound, and means for varying the phase difference between each of the first drive sprockets and each of the second drive sprockets, as known from EP-A-0 286 514. The container transport conveyor of the present invention is characterized by the features of the second portion of claim 1. According to the invention, therefore, different kinds of containers which vary in size or shape can be transported without changing the holder plates. The invention will be further explained hereafter with reference to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container transport conveyor embodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveyor; FIG. 3 is a view in vertical cross section of the conveyor; and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly including a first drive sprocket and a second drive sprocket. In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used with respect to the direction of travel of the holder plates of the conveyor to be described; the direction in which the holder plates advance (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1) will be referred to as "front," and the opposite direction as "rear." The terms "right" and "left" will be used for the convenyor as seen from the rear forward. Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated container transport conveyor comprises a plurality of holder plates 11, a pair of right and left first endless chains 12, a pair of right and left second endless chains 13 arranged outside the respective first endless chains 12 in parallel thereto, a front first drive sprocket 14 and a rear first driven sprocket 15 which are disposed at each side of a path of transport by the conveyor and which have the first endless chain 12 reeved therearound, a front second drive sprocket 16 and a rear second driven sprocket 17 which are disposed at each side of the path and which have the second endless chain 13 reeved therearound, a drive shaft 18 having the pair of first drive sprockets 14 and the pair of second drive sprockets 16 mounted thereon, and a driven shaft 19 having the pair of first driven sprockets 15 and the pair of second driven sprockets 17 mounted thereon. Each of the holder plates 11 is divided in two in the form of a pair of front and rear segments 21, 22 arranged side by side in the direction of transport. Each of the front and rear segments 21, 22 of the holder plate 11 is in the form of a horizontal plate elongated transversely of the transport direction. The front segment 21 is longer than the rear segment 22. The front segment 21 is connected between the pair of second endless chains 13, and the rear segment 22 between the pair of first endless chains 12. The opposed edge portions of the front and rear segments 21, 22 in each pair are formed respectively with opposed engaging recesses 23, 24 for holding containers. As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging recesses 23, 24 of the front and rear segments 21, 22 are each trapezoidal when seen from above. A plurality of recesses 23 or 24 are formed in each of the segments 21, 22. The engaging recesses 23 of the front segment 21 face rearward, while the recesses 24 of the rear segment 22 face forward. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a structure for mounting the first and second drive sprockets 14, 16 at the right side on the drive shaft 18. This structure is identical with a structure for mounting the left first and second drive sprockets 14, 16 on the drive shaft 18 and with structures for mounting the first and second driven sprockets 15, 17 at the right and left sides on the driven shaft 19, so that the structures not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will not be described. A mount sleeve 31 is provided between the drive shaft 18 and the first and second drive sprockets 14, 16. The mount sleeve 31 is keyed to the drive shaft 18 nonrotatably relative to the shaft but movably axially thereof, and comprises a boss 33 having the shaft 18 extending through a center bore 32 therein, and a flange 34 provided at the right end of the boss. The flange 34 has three inner slots 35 equidistantly spaced apart and formed on a circumference centered about the axis of the center bore 32. A projection 36 is formed on the right side face of the flange 34. The first drive sprocket 14 is in the form of an annular plate having a center hole 41 with the projection 36 fitted therein. The first drive sprocket 14 is formed with outer slots 42 in register with the respective inner slots 35. The second drive sprocket 16 comprises an annular plate having substantially the same shape as the first drive sprocket 14, and an annular thick spacer 43 provided on the left side of the annular plate and integral therewith. The sprocket 16 has a center bore 44 with the drive shaft 18 inserted therethrough. Provided on the left side face of the spacer 43 is a ridge 45 fitted in the center hole 41. The second drive sprocket 16 has three threaded bores 46 axially extending therethrough and corresponding to the slots 35, 42. With the first drive sprocket 14 held between the mount sleeve 31 and the second drive sprocket 16, bolts 47 are inserted through the inner slots 35 and the outer slots 42 and screwed into the respective threaded bores 46. The fastening force of the bolts 47 causes the mount sleeve 31 to lock the first and second drive sprockets 14, 16 to the drive shaft 18 by virtue of the friction between the mount sleeve 31, the first drive sprocket 14 and the second drive sprocket 16. When the phase difference between the first drive sprocket 14 and the second drive sprocket 16 is altered after loosening the bolts 47, the distance between the front and rear segments 21, 22 of each holder plate 11 varies as indicated in solid lines and broken lines in FIG. 2 although the center line of the holder plate remains unshifted. With the front and rear segments 21, 22 spaced apart by a large distance as indicated in the solid lines, large containers C1 are held in the respective pairs of opposed engaging recesses 23, 24 of the front and rear segments 21, 22. When the distance between the front and rear segments 21, 22 is small as indicated in the broken lines, small containers C2 are held in the respective pairs of opposed engaging recesses 23, 24 of the segments 21, 22.

Claims: A container transport conveyor comprising: a plurality of holder plates (11) each comprising a first segment (22) and a second segment (21), the first and second segments (21, 22) being arranged side by side in the direction of transport by the conveyor, a pair of first endless chains (12) having the first segments (22) connected therebetween, a pair of second endless chains (13) having the second segments (21) connected therebetween, a pair of first drive sprockets (14) having the respective first endless chains (12) reeved therearound, a pair of second drive sprockets (16) arranged side by side with the first drive sprockets (14) and having the respective second endless chains (13) reeved therearound, and means (31) for mounting the pair of first drive sprockets (14) and the pair of second drive sprockets (16) on a drive shaft (18) allowing to vary the phase difference between the drive sprockets, characterized in that each mounting means comprises a mount sleeves (31) fitted non rotatably relative to the drive shaft (18) and rotatable therewith, the first drive sprocket (14) and the second drive sprocket (16) fitted to the mount sleeve (31) so as to be rotatably relative thereto, bolts (47) extend through the mount sleeve (31), the first drive sprocket (14) and the second drive sprocket (16) fitted together at each side, the sleeve (31) and the first sprocket (14) comprising slots (36, 42) for the respective bolts (47) to extend therethrough. A container transport conveyor according claim 1, wherein each mount sleeve (31) comprises a boss (33) having a center bore (32) for accommodating the drive shaft (18) and a flange (34) with a projection (36). A container transport conveyor according claim 2, wherein the first drive sprocket (14) has a center hole (41) with the projection (36) of the flange (34) fitted therein. A container transport conveyor according claim 3, wherein the second drive sprocket (16) has a spacer (43) provided with a ridge (45) fitted in the center hole (41) of the first drive sprocket (14).

Inventors: HASHIMOTO SEIJI C O SHIKOKU KA, IUCHI TETSUYA C O SHIKOKU KAKO, NOBUTA MASAO C O SHIKOKU KAKOK, OTA SHOHEI C O SHIKOKU KAKOKI, SATO HARUHIKO C O SHIKOKU KAKO, UEDA MICHIO C O SHIKOKU KAKOKI, HASHIMOTO, SEIJI, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD., IUCHI, TETSUYA, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD., NOBUTA, MASAO, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD., OTA, SHOHEI, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD., SATO, HARUHIKO, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD., UEDA, MICHIO, C/O SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD.
Applicants: SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO LTD, SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65G17
IPC codes: B65G17, B65B43