Belt with Openings Used to Support and Guide Garments in Overhead Conveyor Systems

Abstract

The present invention refers to a belt for overhead conveyor systems, of the type provided with regularly spaced openings (F), characterised by the fact that it has a close series of brackets (1) fixed to the upper longitudinal edge of the belt, each bracket being composed by an opposite pair of identical curved jaws (2, 3) and designed to support an opposite pair of wheels (10) with horizontal axis in central position and a single wheel with vertical axis at each end; it being provided that the wheels (8) allow the belt to remain coupled and slide inside a boxed rail that is the bearing structure of the overhead conveyor system.

Description

For major clarity, the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration only, and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a section of the belt of the invention with an exploded view of the bracket without wheels;

FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, except for the fact that the bracket is fixed to the belt and the wheels are not mounted on the bracket;

FIG. 3 is the same as the aforementioned figures, except for the fact that the bracket is fixed to the belt and the wheels are mounted on the bracket;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a section of the belt of the invention shown in a curved section of the conveyor system;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a section of the belt in curved position with a plane that intersects all openings, such as plane V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 2, except for the fact that it refers to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 1, except for the fact that it refers to another alternative embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the flexible metallic bent of the invention (N) is provided with openings (F) designed to favour the motion of the belt and hold the hangers with garments.

The upper longitudinal edge of the belt (N) is characterised by the presence of a sequence of brackets (1) composed of a symmetrically opposite pair of curved metallic jaws (2, 3) suitably fixed one against the other.

In particular, the jaws (2, 3) are fitted in such a way that the central, basically rectilinear section of the first jaw (2) and the central section of the opposite jaw (3) are separated by a distance basically equal to the thickness of the belt (N).

As mentioned above, the brackets (1) are designed to be placed astride the belt (N), preferably by means of a rivet with horizontal axis that goes through two holes (4) of the jaws (2, 3) and one identical intermediate hole (5) of the belt (N).

Each jaw (2, 3) is provided in upper ending position with two shelves (2a/2b, 3a/3b) with holes with vertical axis (6) above a deep-drawn vertical stiffening rib (7).

When the two jaws (2, 3) are fixed one against the other, the two shelves (2a, 2b) of the first jaw (2) exactly overlap with the two shelves (3a, 3b) of the second jaw (3); consequently, the holes with vertical axis (6) of the two pairs of overlapped shelves (2a/3b, 2b/3a) are perfectly aligned and can receive the pins with vertical axis (8a) of idle wheels (8).

An eyelet in edgeways position (2c, 3c) protrudes upwards in the central, basically rectilinear section of each jaw (2, 3).

When the pair of jaws is fixed, the two eyelets (9a, 9b) of the jaws (2, 3) are placed one against the other, thus causing the perfect alignment of the holes (9) with horizontal axis that can be used to receive the pin with horizontal axis (10a) for an opposite pairs of idle wheels (10).

As shown in FIG. 4, all wheels (8) with vertical axis have a diameter slightly lower than the internal width of the boxed rail (R) and the distance between the two wheels with vertical axis (8a) of each bracket (1) is basically equal to the diameter of wheels (10a) in interposed position.

The same FIG. 4 also shows the position of the belt of the invention (N) in a non-rectilinear section of the boxed rail (R).

As shown in this figure, all wheels with vertical axis (8) in adjacent close position come in contact with the same lateral side of the rail (R), according to the rightward or leftward direction of the curve; additionally, the figure shows that, when curving, the flexible belt (N) exactly rests against the brackets (1) on the jaws (3) on the internal side of the curve.

In the embodiment shown in the aforementioned figures, each of the brackets (1) is obtained by coupling two samples of the same jaw (by simply inverting their direction).

In order to ensure the perfect coupling of two samples of the same jaw, the two shelves (2a/2b, 3a/3b) of the jaw must be located at a slightly different height. In this way, when coupling two samples of the jaw, the shelf with higher height of the first jaw can exactly overlap the opposite shelf with lower height of the second jaw, and vice versa.

It is worthless saying that the exact overlapping of the two pairs of shelves is an essential condition for the exact vertical alignment of the holes (4).

Moreover, the jaw (2 or 3) can be advantageously obtained with die-casting or by shearing and pressbending metal plates.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, number (11) is used to indicate plates fixed to the lower longitudinal edge of the belt (N), for opposite pairs and in close sequence.

More exactly, each opposite pair of plates (11) is fixed to the base of one of the openings (F) by means of a rivet with horizontal axis inserted in the holes (11a) of the plates (11) and in the hole (12) of the belt (N) under the opening (F).

Each plate (11) has an upper V-shaped edge (11b) that exactly matches the profile of the lower edge of the opening (F).

Additionally, each plate (11) has internal sides with convex profile (11c) designed to condition the harmonious regular curving of the lower edge of the belt (N), in co-operation with the other plates (11) of the sequence, when the belt (N) travels along non-rectilinear sections of the rail (R), as shown in FIG. 5.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 makes use of a non-metallic belt (N) made for example of rubber, like transmission belts, instead of the metallic belt (N).

The possibility to use a non-metallic belt (N) is the direct consequence of the presence of the brackets (1) that support the wheels (8, 10); it is clear that a soft rubber belt could not withstand the direct application of the wheels on the upper edge of the belt.

However, the non-metallic belt (N) may not ensure the effective grip of the teeth of the sprocket wheels used to move the belt.

To that end, the non-metallic belt (N) is provided with opposite pairs of special plates (13) with eyelet that, apart from having the usual convex profile on the internal sides, exactly frame the openings (F) of the belt (N).

It is clear that the teeth of the sprocket wheels used to pull the belt (N) can effectively grip the internal vertical edges of the eyelets of the plates (13).

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7 is the same as the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, except for the fact that the upper longitudinal edge of the belt (N) has a series of regularly spaced eyelets (14) having exactly the same shape as the eyelets (2c, 3c) of the jaws (2, 3).

In this way, when an opposite pair of jaws (2, 3) is tightened against the belt (N), the holes of the eyelets (2c, 3c) and the hole (14a) of the eyelets (14) of the belt (N) are perfectly aligned and can receive and fit the pin with horizontal axis (10a) that supports the wheels (10).

In this case the pin (10a) also acts as connection element between the belt (N) and the jaws (2, 3) of each bracket (1), thus eliminating the holes (4, 5) of the jaws (2, 3) and the belt (N) of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Claims

1) Belt for overhead conveyor systems, of the type provided with regularly spaced openings (F), characterised by the fact that it has a close series of identical brackets (1) fixed to the upper longitudinal edge of the belt, each bracket being composed of an opposite pair of identical curved jaws (2, 3) and designed to support an opposite pair of wheels (10) with horizontal axis in central position and a single wheel (8) with vertical axis at each end.

2) Belt as defined in claim 1, characterised by the fact that each jaw (2, 3) is provided in upper ending position with shelves (2a/2b, 3a/3b) with holes with vertical axis (6) used to fit the pins (8a) of the wheels (8) and characterised by the fact that each jaw (2, 3) has a central eyelet (2c, 3c) in edgeways position suitable to receive the horizontal pin (10a) that supports the opposite pair of wheels (10).

3) Belt as defined in claim 1 or in both preceding claims, characterised by the fact that each jaw (2, 3) has a central hole (4) that receives a rivet used to fix each bracket (1) to the belt (N) with a hole (5).

4) Belt as defined in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it has a close series of opposite pairs of plates (11) fixed to the lower longitudinal edge, each of them having an internal convex face (11c) and a V-shaped upper edge (11b), as well as a hole (11a) that receives a rivet used to fix each pair of plates (11) to the belt (N) with a hole (12).

5) Belt as defined in one or more claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that it has a close series of opposite pairs of plates (13) with eyelets fixed to the lower longitudinal edge, each of them having an internal convex face (13c) and a V-shaped internal horizontal edge (13b), as well as a hole (13a) that receives a rivet used to fix each pair of plates (13) to the belt (N) with a hole (12).

6) Belt as defined in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the upper longitudinal edge has a regularly spaced series of eyelets (14) having exactly the same shape as the eyelets (2c, 3c) of the jaws (2, 3), as well as a central coaxial hole (14a) identical to the holes (9) of the eyelets (2c, 3c).

7) Belt as defined in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it has a metallic structure.

8) Belt as defined in one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised by the fact that it has a non-metallic structure.

9) Belt as defined in the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that it is made of rubber.