CA2419562A1 - Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor - Google Patents
Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2419562A1 CA2419562A1 CA 2419562 CA2419562A CA2419562A1 CA 2419562 A1 CA2419562 A1 CA 2419562A1 CA 2419562 CA2419562 CA 2419562 CA 2419562 A CA2419562 A CA 2419562A CA 2419562 A1 CA2419562 A1 CA 2419562A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- curvature
- segments
- curve
- radius
- curved
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 210000003739 neck Anatomy 0.000 description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002783 friction material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G21/00—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
- B65G21/10—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof
- B65G21/14—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof to allow adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier or traction element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G21/00—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
- B65G21/20—Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
- B65G21/2045—Mechanical means for guiding or retaining the load on the load-carrying surface
- B65G21/2063—Mechanical means for guiding or retaining the load on the load-carrying surface comprising elements not movable in the direction of load-transport
- B65G21/2072—Laterial guidance means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
- B65G51/02—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases
- B65G51/03—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases over a flat surface or in troughs
- B65G51/035—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases over a flat surface or in troughs for suspended articles, e.g. bottles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
- B65G2201/02—Articles
- B65G2201/0235—Containers
- B65G2201/0244—Bottles
- B65G2201/0247—Suspended bottles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
An adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor is disclosed. The neck guide comprises first and second plates having a series of slots in the surface thereof and a plurality of flat segments, each segment having first and second surfaces, a curved edge and a pair of raised cylindrical abutments on both the first and second surfaces towards opposing ends thereof. The segments are sandwiched between the first and second plates abutting end to end, wherein each abutment is inserted into a separate one of the slots and the curved edges generally define a curve having a radius of curvature and centre of curvature. When the first plate is rotated relative to the second plate around the centre of curvature, the slots exert lateral forces on the abutments thereby moving the segments simultaneously such that the curved edges define a curve having the same centre of curvature and a new radius of curvature.
Description
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
ADJUSTABLE CURVED NECK GUIDE FOR AN AIR CONVEYOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor. In particular, the present invention relates to a curved neck guide wherein the distance between the neck guides can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the radius of curvature of the neck guides.
BACKGROUND
Air conveyors are commonly used to convey empty plastic bottles. The bottles are supported by a ring flange located between the containers' shoulder and the threaded part of the container's neck. The flange rests on a pair of opposing neck guides which in turn define a guideway along which the bottle neck can move. Air is blown in the direction in which the bottles are to be conveyed, usually at the level of the neck, less commonly on the bottle's body.
This type of conveyor eliminates the problems associated with container stability. Another advantage is the high speed at which the bottles may be conveyed.
Prior art air conveyor systems disclose rigid curve sections where the necks guides follow a smooth curve. One drawback of such prior art devices arises when bottles with different neck diameters need to be conveyed on the same conveyor. The spacing of the neck guides supporting the neck ring must then be changed, which it is desirable to do automatically, usually via the use of pneumatic cylinders. While it may seem straightforward to move straight and parallel guide sections in and out to adjust the distance between them, doing the same in curved sections is not as simple as it is not only the guide's position that must change, but also its shape. Indeed, if the distance between two curved guides is to be constant along their length, these guides need to be concentric. In other words, they must both be curved about a common center of curvature, and each one's radius of curvature must be proportional to its distance from this point.
Prior art devices have addressed the above drawbacks by providing for a curved neck guide fabricated from a pair of slightly flexible curved segments, each segment attached to a pair of actuating rams. The actuating rams move the segment outwards or inwards thereby causing a corresponding increase or decrease in the radius of curvature. In order to compensate for the increase or decrease in the radius of curvature, each segment is flexed slightly due to small differences in the length of travel of the actuating rams. The problem of gaps which arise between adjacent segments due to an increase in curvature has been addressed in such prior art devices by inserting, using an additional actuating ram, a very small curve segment into the gap.
One drawback of the above prior-art devices is that they move only between two positions and therefore provide only for a small number of different guideway widths.
The challenge is therefore to move a curved guide section toward or away from its center of curvature while at the same time adjusting its radius of curvature so that the guide's center of curvature remains stationary. This guarantees that parallelism is maintained between the two curved neck guide sections that support the bottles, thereby preventing the bottles from either jamming or escaping the guideway at any point along the curve.
ADJUSTABLE CURVED NECK GUIDE FOR AN AIR CONVEYOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor. In particular, the present invention relates to a curved neck guide wherein the distance between the neck guides can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the radius of curvature of the neck guides.
BACKGROUND
Air conveyors are commonly used to convey empty plastic bottles. The bottles are supported by a ring flange located between the containers' shoulder and the threaded part of the container's neck. The flange rests on a pair of opposing neck guides which in turn define a guideway along which the bottle neck can move. Air is blown in the direction in which the bottles are to be conveyed, usually at the level of the neck, less commonly on the bottle's body.
This type of conveyor eliminates the problems associated with container stability. Another advantage is the high speed at which the bottles may be conveyed.
Prior art air conveyor systems disclose rigid curve sections where the necks guides follow a smooth curve. One drawback of such prior art devices arises when bottles with different neck diameters need to be conveyed on the same conveyor. The spacing of the neck guides supporting the neck ring must then be changed, which it is desirable to do automatically, usually via the use of pneumatic cylinders. While it may seem straightforward to move straight and parallel guide sections in and out to adjust the distance between them, doing the same in curved sections is not as simple as it is not only the guide's position that must change, but also its shape. Indeed, if the distance between two curved guides is to be constant along their length, these guides need to be concentric. In other words, they must both be curved about a common center of curvature, and each one's radius of curvature must be proportional to its distance from this point.
Prior art devices have addressed the above drawbacks by providing for a curved neck guide fabricated from a pair of slightly flexible curved segments, each segment attached to a pair of actuating rams. The actuating rams move the segment outwards or inwards thereby causing a corresponding increase or decrease in the radius of curvature. In order to compensate for the increase or decrease in the radius of curvature, each segment is flexed slightly due to small differences in the length of travel of the actuating rams. The problem of gaps which arise between adjacent segments due to an increase in curvature has been addressed in such prior art devices by inserting, using an additional actuating ram, a very small curve segment into the gap.
One drawback of the above prior-art devices is that they move only between two positions and therefore provide only for a small number of different guideway widths.
The challenge is therefore to move a curved guide section toward or away from its center of curvature while at the same time adjusting its radius of curvature so that the guide's center of curvature remains stationary. This guarantees that parallelism is maintained between the two curved neck guide sections that support the bottles, thereby preventing the bottles from either jamming or escaping the guideway at any point along the curve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above and other drawbacks by providing an adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor. The neck guide comprises first and second plates having a series of slots in the surface thereof and a plurality of flat segments, each segment having first and second surfaces, a curved edge and a pair of raised cylindrical abutments on both the first and second surfaces towards opposing ends thereof. The segments are sandwiched between the first and second plates abutting end to end, wherein each abutment is inserted into a separate one of the slots and the curved edges generally define a curve having a radius of curvature and centre of curvature. When the first plate is rotated relative to the second plate around the centre of curvature, the slots exert lateral forces on the abutments thereby moving the segments simultaneously such that the curved edges define a curve having the same centre of curvature and a new radius of curvature.
The rigid segments may form a perfect curve in an initial position, and approximate the desired curved shape when moved toward or away from the initial center of curvature. With a large number of segments, the deviation from a perfect arc of a circle may be minimized as the radius changes. It is however difficult to move a large number of segments laid out along an arc of a circle in such a way that they keep forming an arc of a circle not only at their initial and final positions, but also at every intermediate position there between. The method proposed. for changing the curve's radius solves this problem by ensuring that the segments are constantly laid out along an arc of a circle as they move.
As stated above, building a curve from segments that move in and out radially also gives rise to the problem of gaps between segments that appear as the radius increases. This is due to the fact that the length of an arc increases with its radius, while the total length of the segments making up the curve is constant. (see Figure 1 ).
Also, it may be preferable for some bottles to be in contact with a guide presenting a continuous surface in curved conveyor sections, as this is where the bottles are most firmly pressed against the guides due to the change in direction in the curve. The method proposed also solves this problem when needed, by allowing each segment forming the curve to follow, as the radius increases, a path that is not radial, but oriented in such a way that each segment will always remain contiguous with its neighbors. It must be noted that this introduces a new difficulty, as each segment needs to be constantly oriented toward the curve's center of curvature. If the segments followed a radial path as they move in and out, this would obviously not be a problem and a simple translation (toward or away from the center) is all that would be required (Figure 1). But if the path that each segment follows is not radial, then it becomes necessary to rotate each segment as it progresses along its prescribed path to ensure that its radius of curvature remains oriented toward the center. Figure 2 shows what happens when the curve's radius is increased with a simple translation (and no rotation) of the segments making it up, if we try to keep the gaps between them closed.
The radius of curvature of the segments no longer point toward the center of the curve and the surface guiding the bottles is no longer continuous.
Also, it must be noted that if the curve's first segment (bottom right) follows a nearly radial path, the farther we move along the curve from this first segment, the more the paths followed by the other segments deviate from a purely radial path, and the more pronounced the required rotation becomes to keep the segments aligned with the desired curved shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate problems which arise when adjusting the radius of curvature of a curve comprised of a series of abutting curve segments;
The present invention addresses the above and other drawbacks by providing an adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor. The neck guide comprises first and second plates having a series of slots in the surface thereof and a plurality of flat segments, each segment having first and second surfaces, a curved edge and a pair of raised cylindrical abutments on both the first and second surfaces towards opposing ends thereof. The segments are sandwiched between the first and second plates abutting end to end, wherein each abutment is inserted into a separate one of the slots and the curved edges generally define a curve having a radius of curvature and centre of curvature. When the first plate is rotated relative to the second plate around the centre of curvature, the slots exert lateral forces on the abutments thereby moving the segments simultaneously such that the curved edges define a curve having the same centre of curvature and a new radius of curvature.
The rigid segments may form a perfect curve in an initial position, and approximate the desired curved shape when moved toward or away from the initial center of curvature. With a large number of segments, the deviation from a perfect arc of a circle may be minimized as the radius changes. It is however difficult to move a large number of segments laid out along an arc of a circle in such a way that they keep forming an arc of a circle not only at their initial and final positions, but also at every intermediate position there between. The method proposed. for changing the curve's radius solves this problem by ensuring that the segments are constantly laid out along an arc of a circle as they move.
As stated above, building a curve from segments that move in and out radially also gives rise to the problem of gaps between segments that appear as the radius increases. This is due to the fact that the length of an arc increases with its radius, while the total length of the segments making up the curve is constant. (see Figure 1 ).
Also, it may be preferable for some bottles to be in contact with a guide presenting a continuous surface in curved conveyor sections, as this is where the bottles are most firmly pressed against the guides due to the change in direction in the curve. The method proposed also solves this problem when needed, by allowing each segment forming the curve to follow, as the radius increases, a path that is not radial, but oriented in such a way that each segment will always remain contiguous with its neighbors. It must be noted that this introduces a new difficulty, as each segment needs to be constantly oriented toward the curve's center of curvature. If the segments followed a radial path as they move in and out, this would obviously not be a problem and a simple translation (toward or away from the center) is all that would be required (Figure 1). But if the path that each segment follows is not radial, then it becomes necessary to rotate each segment as it progresses along its prescribed path to ensure that its radius of curvature remains oriented toward the center. Figure 2 shows what happens when the curve's radius is increased with a simple translation (and no rotation) of the segments making it up, if we try to keep the gaps between them closed.
The radius of curvature of the segments no longer point toward the center of the curve and the surface guiding the bottles is no longer continuous.
Also, it must be noted that if the curve's first segment (bottom right) follows a nearly radial path, the farther we move along the curve from this first segment, the more the paths followed by the other segments deviate from a purely radial path, and the more pronounced the required rotation becomes to keep the segments aligned with the desired curved shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate problems which arise when adjusting the radius of curvature of a curve comprised of a series of abutting curve segments;
Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams describing the objective of the present invention;
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of an adjustable curved neck guide illustrating the manner in which the objective of the invention can be achieved; and Figure 12 is an elevated perspective view of an adjustable curved neck guide in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
The method disclosed greatly simplifies the task of making an adjustable curved guide rail in segments, each one following a unique path while being gradually rotated as it progresses along this path, making it possible to change a curve's radius gradually while maintaining a nearly circular shape, and while optionally also maintaining the different segments contiguous. If the segments must remain contiguous, the gap that forms at one end of the curve is closed using segments from the straight section that follows. A gap then forms in the straight section, where it is easily divided into a large number of smaller gaps that are narrow enough not to disturb the flow of bottles (see Figure 3).
Note that instead of obtaining no gap at one end of the curve and a wide one at the other end as the radius increases, it is also possible to have a narrow gap at both ends, which can be closed as described in Figure 3 using an extensible straight guide section.
Note also that any intermediate solution is possible between sharing the gaps equally between segments, and keeping all segments contiguous. And if gaps appear between curve segments as the radius is increased, these gaps do not have to be of equal widths.
Referring to Figures 5 through 11 an illustrative embodiment of an assembly for simultaneously moving individual segments forming a curve will be described.
The segments are moved in such a way that as they move away from a center of curvature, they remain contiguous with one another, and their individual radii of curvature remain oriented toward the same point, which remains stationary.
First, it must be noted that for any segment that is moved as described, each point on this segment follows a path that is a straight line (see Figure 4).
Since the segments rotate as they move, the paths followed by different points on each segment are not parallel. In order to ensure that a segment moves as intended, it is necessary to choose two points on this segment, and to rotatably and slidably connect these points with their corresponding paths. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, one of which consisting of two straight grooves cut in a surface defining as many paths for two points on the segment, and two cylindrical protrusions on the surtace of the segment whose diameter matches the width of the grooves in which they are engaged, allowing both rotation and translation.
When each segment is engaged in two grooves as described above, it becomes necessary to devise a method to actuate all segments simultaneously to ensure that at any moment, they are always all equidistant from the curve's center of curvature. Another problem to solve is that some segments rotate very little as they move, and the paths that their two points of attachment follow are nearly parallel. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that parts constrained in this way are prone to jamming when care is not taken to accurately synchronize the progress of all points of attachment along their prescribed paths.
To move all segments in unison, a second plate is superimposed on the first one (Figure 6). This second plate can slide on the first one, but it is constrained so that it can only rotate about the two plates' common center of curvature.
When the plates are superimposed, each slot of the first plate crosses a corresponding slot in the second plate. It will be apparent now to one of ordinary skill in the art that as the plates are rotated relative to one another about the common center of curvature, the point of intersection will move inwards or outwards, depending on the direction of rotation and the respective angles of the slots. Therefore, by engaging a rigid cylindrical pin attached towards the end of a curve segment in both slots at the same time, the end of the curve segment can also be moved. Figure 7 shows the plates in a relative position that maximizes the curve's radius. Figure 8 shows the same plates in an intermediate position, and Figure 9 shows the same plates in a minimum radius position.
It must be noted that the text and illustrations above describe only one of many possible implementations of this invention. In this regard, while convenient, it is not absolutely necessary that the cylindrical protrusions on the segments be engaged in the paths where the paths in the two plates intersect. It is possible to assemble the mechanism with the segments mounted between a top and a bottom plate, and to space apart the engagement points in the two plates as illustrated in Figures 10 (minimum curve radius) and Figure 11 (maximum curve radius). Similarly, it must be noted that the arrangement described, consisting of segments sandwiched between a top and a bottom plate is only one of several possibilities. For example, the two plates could very well be superimposed, with the segments forming a third layer. It would then be necessary to devise a way to maintain the segments against the second layer formed by one of the plates, possibly using a third plate as a fourth layer with which the segments would be in slidable contact.
Additionally, Figures 1 through 11 are provided as an illustration of a mechanism which can be used to move curve segments in such a way that they constantly form an arc of a circle as they move. It is obvious that if this mechanism is used to move a neck guide meant to control the flow of articles on a conveyor, then this neck guide needs to be in contact with the articles at every position at which it is set. The figures used to illustrated the mechanism show curve segments laid out in such a position that the articles would be in contact with the plate supporting the segments, and not with the segments forming the curve. It must be understood that the illustrations have been simplified for the sake of clarity. The segments may easily be extended beyond the boundary of the slotted plates to form a surface to control the flow of articles, as illustrated in Figure 12.
Also, in order to insure a smooth surface to the neck guide in contact with the bottle neck and to further improve the smoothness or the arc, a flexible molded channel made from an appropriate low friction material such as plastic can be placed over the edge of the segments which defined the curve.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of an adjustable curved neck guide illustrating the manner in which the objective of the invention can be achieved; and Figure 12 is an elevated perspective view of an adjustable curved neck guide in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
The method disclosed greatly simplifies the task of making an adjustable curved guide rail in segments, each one following a unique path while being gradually rotated as it progresses along this path, making it possible to change a curve's radius gradually while maintaining a nearly circular shape, and while optionally also maintaining the different segments contiguous. If the segments must remain contiguous, the gap that forms at one end of the curve is closed using segments from the straight section that follows. A gap then forms in the straight section, where it is easily divided into a large number of smaller gaps that are narrow enough not to disturb the flow of bottles (see Figure 3).
Note that instead of obtaining no gap at one end of the curve and a wide one at the other end as the radius increases, it is also possible to have a narrow gap at both ends, which can be closed as described in Figure 3 using an extensible straight guide section.
Note also that any intermediate solution is possible between sharing the gaps equally between segments, and keeping all segments contiguous. And if gaps appear between curve segments as the radius is increased, these gaps do not have to be of equal widths.
Referring to Figures 5 through 11 an illustrative embodiment of an assembly for simultaneously moving individual segments forming a curve will be described.
The segments are moved in such a way that as they move away from a center of curvature, they remain contiguous with one another, and their individual radii of curvature remain oriented toward the same point, which remains stationary.
First, it must be noted that for any segment that is moved as described, each point on this segment follows a path that is a straight line (see Figure 4).
Since the segments rotate as they move, the paths followed by different points on each segment are not parallel. In order to ensure that a segment moves as intended, it is necessary to choose two points on this segment, and to rotatably and slidably connect these points with their corresponding paths. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, one of which consisting of two straight grooves cut in a surface defining as many paths for two points on the segment, and two cylindrical protrusions on the surtace of the segment whose diameter matches the width of the grooves in which they are engaged, allowing both rotation and translation.
When each segment is engaged in two grooves as described above, it becomes necessary to devise a method to actuate all segments simultaneously to ensure that at any moment, they are always all equidistant from the curve's center of curvature. Another problem to solve is that some segments rotate very little as they move, and the paths that their two points of attachment follow are nearly parallel. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that parts constrained in this way are prone to jamming when care is not taken to accurately synchronize the progress of all points of attachment along their prescribed paths.
To move all segments in unison, a second plate is superimposed on the first one (Figure 6). This second plate can slide on the first one, but it is constrained so that it can only rotate about the two plates' common center of curvature.
When the plates are superimposed, each slot of the first plate crosses a corresponding slot in the second plate. It will be apparent now to one of ordinary skill in the art that as the plates are rotated relative to one another about the common center of curvature, the point of intersection will move inwards or outwards, depending on the direction of rotation and the respective angles of the slots. Therefore, by engaging a rigid cylindrical pin attached towards the end of a curve segment in both slots at the same time, the end of the curve segment can also be moved. Figure 7 shows the plates in a relative position that maximizes the curve's radius. Figure 8 shows the same plates in an intermediate position, and Figure 9 shows the same plates in a minimum radius position.
It must be noted that the text and illustrations above describe only one of many possible implementations of this invention. In this regard, while convenient, it is not absolutely necessary that the cylindrical protrusions on the segments be engaged in the paths where the paths in the two plates intersect. It is possible to assemble the mechanism with the segments mounted between a top and a bottom plate, and to space apart the engagement points in the two plates as illustrated in Figures 10 (minimum curve radius) and Figure 11 (maximum curve radius). Similarly, it must be noted that the arrangement described, consisting of segments sandwiched between a top and a bottom plate is only one of several possibilities. For example, the two plates could very well be superimposed, with the segments forming a third layer. It would then be necessary to devise a way to maintain the segments against the second layer formed by one of the plates, possibly using a third plate as a fourth layer with which the segments would be in slidable contact.
Additionally, Figures 1 through 11 are provided as an illustration of a mechanism which can be used to move curve segments in such a way that they constantly form an arc of a circle as they move. It is obvious that if this mechanism is used to move a neck guide meant to control the flow of articles on a conveyor, then this neck guide needs to be in contact with the articles at every position at which it is set. The figures used to illustrated the mechanism show curve segments laid out in such a position that the articles would be in contact with the plate supporting the segments, and not with the segments forming the curve. It must be understood that the illustrations have been simplified for the sake of clarity. The segments may easily be extended beyond the boundary of the slotted plates to form a surface to control the flow of articles, as illustrated in Figure 12.
Also, in order to insure a smooth surface to the neck guide in contact with the bottle neck and to further improve the smoothness or the arc, a flexible molded channel made from an appropriate low friction material such as plastic can be placed over the edge of the segments which defined the curve.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.
Claims
1. An adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor, comprising:
first and second plates having a series of slots in the surface thereof;
a plurality of flat segments, each segment having first and second surfaces, a curved edge and a pair of raised cylindrical abutments on both the first and second surfaces towards opposing ends thereof;
said segments sandwiched between said first and second plates and abutting end to end, wherein each abutment is inserted into a separate one of said slots and said curved edges generally define a curve having a radius of curvature and centre of curvature, said;
wherein when said first plate is rotated relative to said second plate around said centre of curvature, said slots exert lateral forces on said abutments thereby moving said segments simultaneously such that said curved edges define a curve having the same centre of curvature and a new radius of curvature.
first and second plates having a series of slots in the surface thereof;
a plurality of flat segments, each segment having first and second surfaces, a curved edge and a pair of raised cylindrical abutments on both the first and second surfaces towards opposing ends thereof;
said segments sandwiched between said first and second plates and abutting end to end, wherein each abutment is inserted into a separate one of said slots and said curved edges generally define a curve having a radius of curvature and centre of curvature, said;
wherein when said first plate is rotated relative to said second plate around said centre of curvature, said slots exert lateral forces on said abutments thereby moving said segments simultaneously such that said curved edges define a curve having the same centre of curvature and a new radius of curvature.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2419562 CA2419562A1 (en) | 2003-02-18 | 2003-02-18 | Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor |
| US10/545,870 US7431150B2 (en) | 2003-02-18 | 2004-02-18 | Adjustable curved guideway for a conveyor and method for realising same |
| PCT/CA2004/000227 WO2004074142A1 (en) | 2003-02-18 | 2004-02-18 | Adjustable curved guideway for a conveyor and method for realising same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2419562 CA2419562A1 (en) | 2003-02-18 | 2003-02-18 | Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2419562A1 true CA2419562A1 (en) | 2004-08-18 |
Family
ID=32855085
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2419562 Abandoned CA2419562A1 (en) | 2003-02-18 | 2003-02-18 | Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2419562A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7891480B2 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2011-02-22 | Sidel Participations | Rail element for conveying suspended objects, preform-supply device comprising one such element and curved flat band which can be fixed to one such element |
-
2003
- 2003-02-18 CA CA 2419562 patent/CA2419562A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7891480B2 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2011-02-22 | Sidel Participations | Rail element for conveying suspended objects, preform-supply device comprising one such element and curved flat band which can be fixed to one such element |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7431150B2 (en) | Adjustable curved guideway for a conveyor and method for realising same | |
| CN105873836B (en) | Conveyer system for turning to object | |
| EP2287094B1 (en) | Conveyor with a curved transport path | |
| US8186503B1 (en) | Adjustable curved fence assembly | |
| US20160083196A1 (en) | Closed gap transfer for a conveyor and method of using same | |
| US20120103763A1 (en) | Guide rail system | |
| US8695787B2 (en) | Guide rail system | |
| US9187262B2 (en) | Transfer star-wheel | |
| US8517165B2 (en) | Conveyor line for the transport of articles | |
| KR20130131526A (en) | Point contact typed conveyor system for pivoting plate elements | |
| GB2067494A (en) | Endless conveyors | |
| CA2419562A1 (en) | Adjustable curved neck guide for an air conveyor | |
| US9174806B2 (en) | Transfer conveyor and a conveying system | |
| US11332314B2 (en) | Conveyor belt assembly | |
| GB2482585A (en) | Sorter with laterally movable exit roller | |
| JP2005035873A (en) | Apparatus and method for conveying curved glass sheet | |
| US11097900B2 (en) | Crowned roller with a grooved apex | |
| SE464426B (en) | WHEEL BEARING FOR AN ENDLESS RIGHT MOVEMENT | |
| KR102658157B1 (en) | transportation system | |
| US11964822B2 (en) | Adjustable conveyor rail | |
| WO2004067420A1 (en) | Air transport device for plastic vessels equipped with a projecting collar | |
| IT9021220A1 (en) | CURVED TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR MARKINGS ARRANGED IN FLAKES | |
| US12110191B2 (en) | Cross-belt sorter | |
| KR890002726A (en) | Sauter | |
| AU716467B2 (en) | Belt conveyor |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |