A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE WIDTH BETWEEN TWO SUPPORT RAILINGS ALONG A STRAIGHT CONVEYOR

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for regulating the width between two support railings (13) along a straight conveyor (14). The apparatus comprises a first locking member (2) which engages in form-locked fashion in a counter member (11) and fixedly locks the support railing (13) in one position. The position of the support railing (13) is changed in that a second locking member (4) is turned a quarter of a revolution and releases the first locking member (2). The first locking member (2) may now be moved to a new position on the counter member (11). The support railing (13), which is connected to some part of the apparatus, is thereby also moved. The new position is fixed in that the second locking member (4) is reversed through a quarter of a revolution. The adjustment or regulation of the support railings (13) may be put into effect rapidly, accurately and completely without tools.

Description: A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE WIDTH BETWEEN TWO SUPPORT RAILINGS ALONG A STRAIGHT CONVEYOR TECHNICAL HELD The present invention relates to a method of regulating the width between two support railings along a straight conveyor path, where a first locking member engages in a counter member and thereby locks a support railing in a fixed position. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for reducing the method into practice. BACKGROUND ART After a product has been manufactured, almost totally disregarding its nature and properties, it is desirable to move the product to a site for packaging or for further processing. The commonest method of thus moving products is to employ a conveyor or a system of conveyors. These conveyors often feature support railings along their entire length on either side of the conveyor path in order to give support to the product so that it does not topple over during the movement of the conveyor. Conveyors are also employed in the manufacture of packages of the single-use disposable type for liquid foods which, after filling and sealing in a filling machine, are occasionally provided with drinking straws or are combined to form transport units. The packages (which are often parallelepipedic in shape) may be relatively tall in relation to their bottom surface area. Throughout the entire transport travel on the conveyor, they must therefore be supported on both sides in order not to topple over and cause operational down-time. Such operational down-time may also cause damage to the packages themselves. The commonest method of arranging conveyors after, for example, a filling machine, is to make a permanent installation in which the support railings are welded in place and in which no adjustment or regulation of these railings is possible. With the growing interest in the market for filling machines which are largely adjustable to cater for different volumes, the need has arisen to be able to regulate the width between two support railings along a conveyor so that the railings, for each new product volume, efficiently support the product during its transport. This switching of the filling machine to suit product volume may be made relatively rapidly, for which reason it must also be possible to adjust or regulate the width between the support railings in a corresponding time. The prior art solutions in existence for regulating the width between support railings along a conveyor, such as the apparatus which is described in patent specification FR 2 544 292 are circumstantial and imply that tools must be used to release and refit the brackets of the support railings in order to be able to move the railings in relation to one another. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to realise a method of regulating the width between two support railings along a straight conveyor, which may be carried into effect rapidly and without the need for tools. Moreover, the method according to the present invention should be reliable such that the support railings may readily be locked in a new desired position which is uniform throughout the entire length of the conveyor. SOLUTION These and other objects have been attained according to the present invention in that the method of the type disclosed by way of introduction has been given the characterizing feature that a second locking member releases the first locking member by the second locking member being turned through a quarter of a revolution, whereafter the first locking member may be moved to a new position on the counter member. Preferred embodiments of the present invention have further been given the characterizing features as set forth in the appended subclaims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in the open position; Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in the open position; and Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in the locked position. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to the invention which comprises a first locking member 2 which, with a common shaft 3, is interconnected with a second locking member 4 by means of a screw 5. An embossed portion 6 is disposed on the upper side of the first locking member 2. The lower side of the second locking member 4 is formed as a curve so that, at two points, it has a lowest position 7 and, at two points, a highest position 8. In Figs. 1 and 2, the second locking member 4 is shown with its highest position 8 in register with the embossed portion 6 of the first locking member 2. This implies that the two locking members 2, 4 are open in relation to one another. In Fig. 3, the second locking member 4 is shown with its lowest position 7 in register with the embossed portion 6 on the first locking member, and the two locking members 2, 4 are thus locked against one another in this position. The underside of the first locking member 2 displays a plurality of serrations with crests 9 and troughs 10. The underside of the first locking member 2 is turned to face towards a counter member 11 which, on its upper side 12, displays corresponding serrations with crests 9 and troughs 10 as displayed by the underside of the first locking member 2. The first locking member 2 and the counter member 11 are disposed to be able to engage in one another, such that a crest 9 of the serrations on one of the members 2, 11, respectively, is located in register with a trough of the serrations of the other member 2, 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the counter member 11 is also designed so as to constitute a part of a bracket 12 for the support railings 13 which are disposed to run along the entire length of the conveyor 14 at which the apparatus 1 is placed. The conveyor 14 may fundamentally consist of an endless belt which, in its upper position or part 15, constitutes the carrying conveyor proper, and in its lower part 16, constitutes the return travel of the endless belt. In Fig. 1, the bracket 12 for the railings 13 is connected to the first locking member 2. In its second embodiment (Figs. 2 and 3), the shaft 3 through the first and second locking members 2 and 4, respectively, is extended such that it passes through the counter member 11. An oblong hole 17 is provided in the counter member 11 and the length of the hole in principle corresponds to the region on the counter member 11 which is provided with serrations with crests 9 and troughs 10. In its lower end, the shaft 3 is further provided with a locking plate 18 which has, on its surface, an aperture 19 through which a rod 20 is inserted. The rod 20 is preferably round in cross section, but may also be of oval or square cross section. The aperture 19 in the locking plate 18 is of corresponding cross section. The rod 20 displays, on its circumferential surface, notches 21 at uniform spaced apart relationship from one another which, as in Fig. 2, may have chamfered surfaces 22. The rod 20 may constitute a part of the apparatus 1 on each side of the conveyor 14, or alternatively the rod 20 may be through-going so that it constitutes a part of the apparatuses 1 on both sides of the conveyor 14. The shaft 3 may also, as shown in Fig. 2, be provided with a spring 25, suitably placed most proximal the anchorage screw 5. In this second embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 1 is, as a whole, secured on the rod 20 on either side of the conveyor 14, while the rod 20 in turn is secured in the frame 23 of the conveyor. In the first embodiment of the invention (Fig. 1), the apparatus 1 is directly secured in the frame 23 of the conveyor. Figs. 1 and 2 show the apparatus 1 in the open position, i.e. the highest position 8 of the second locking member 4 is located in register with the embossed portion 6 of the first locking member 2. In this position, it is possible to move the counter member 11 in relation to the first locking member 2, in order to find a new, desired position. On movement of the counter member 11 and the first locking member 2, in relation to one another, the bracket 12 for the support railings 13 will thus assume a new position and it is hence possible to increase or reduce the distance between two support railings 13, depending upon what packaging volume is to be advanced on the conveyor 14. In Fig. 1, only the counter member 11 and the first locking member 2 are moved in relation to one another. The length of such movement is restricted to the length of the extent of the serrations on the counter member 11. By calibrating the counter member 11 with figures 26 or suitable symbols which are uniform for all apparatuses 1 in a plant, it is simple to see that the movement distance is the one desired. In Fig. 2, a corresponding movement will also be obtained, at the same time as it is possible to displace the entire apparatus 1 along the rod 20. When the two locking members 2 and 4 are in the open position, the locking plate 18 is also in such a position that the rod 20 runs freely through the aperture 19 of the locking plate 18. In this instance, the entire apparatus 1 may be displaced along the rod 20 and, by such means, a considerably longer movement of the support railings 13 will be obtained. The length of the movement is restricted by the free length of the rod 20. The apparatus is moved until the desired notch 21 on the circumferential surface of the rod 20 is reached. The chamfers 22 on either side of the notches 21 facilitate such movement. Once the apparatus 1 or the counter member 11, respectively, has been moved in relation to the first locking member 2 to a new position, the second locking member 4 is once again locked against the first locking member, in that the second locking member 4 is turned through a quarter of a revolution until the highest position 8 of the second locking member 4 is located in register with the embossed portion 6 of the first locking member 2. On locking, both of the locking members 2 and 4 are urged against one another so that the crests 9 and troughs 10 of the serrations on the first locking member 2 and the counter member 11 enter into engagement with one another. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the locking plate 18 is, moreover, drawn upwards in the locking operation and catches in a notch 21 on the rod 20. The locking of the locking plate 18 in position is facilitated by the fact that the through-going shaft 3 is provided with a spring 25. The apparatus 1, and thereby the brackets 12 for the support railings 13, are now secured in their new, desired position. In order to facilitate both opening and locking of the locking members 2 and 4, the second locking member 4 is provided with a gripping device 24. The gripping device may be designed as a lug, as a lever or the like, in order for the operator rapidly and simply to obtain a reliable grip so as to be able to turn the second locking member 4 the quarter of a revolution which is needed to open or lock the apparatus 1. As will have been apparent from the foregoing description, it is possible, by providing both sides of a conveyor 14 or a system of conveyors with uniformly spaced apparatuses 1 according to the invention, rapidly and simply to change the width between two support railings 13 surrounding the conveyor 14. The adjustment or regulation of the width may take place wholly without tools and, as a result of the calibration 26 on the counter member 11, a dependable and reliable placing of the railings 13 will be obtained. The present invention should not be considered as restricted described above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications being conceivable without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method of regulating the width between two support railings (13) along a straight conveyor (14), where a first locking member (2) engages in a counter member (11) and thereby locks a support railing (13) in a fixed position, characterized in that a second locking member (4) releases the first locking member (2) by being turned through a quarter of a revolution, whereafter the first locking member (2) may be moved to a new position on the counter member (11). 2. An apparatus (1) for regulating the width between two support railings (13) along a straight conveyor (14), comprising a first locking member (2) which engages in a counter member (11) disposed such that a support railing (13) mounted either on the counter member (11) or on the first locking member (2) has a fixed position, characterized in that a second locking member (4), which has a common shaft (3) with the first locking member (2), is disposed to be turned a quarter of revolution in relation to the first locking member (2) for the purposes of opening the apparatus (1). 3. The apparatus (1) as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the first locking member (2) displays an embossed portion (6) on its upper side, and the second locking member (4) has a curved underside, with a lowest position (7) and a highest position (8) which are disposed such that, when the highest position (8) is located in register with the embossed portion (6), the apparatus (1) is open, and when the lowest position (7) is located in register with the embossed portion (6), the apparatus is locked. 4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that a locking plate (18) is placed in the lower end of the shaft (3), and displays, on its surface, an aperture (19) through which a rod (20) runs, the rod (20) displaying on its circumferential surface notches (21) in which the locking plate is disposed to be locked when the apparatus (1) is located in its locked position. 5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the notches (21) have chamfered surfaces (22) on each side.

Inventors: HAMMAR KENT, JANSSON ANDERS, HAMMAR, KENT, JANSSON, ANDERS
Applicants: HAMMAR KENT, JANSSON ANDERS, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE, HAMMAR, KENT, JANSSON, ANDERS, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65G21
IPC codes: B65G21, B65G47