Bendable rolling conveyor guide
OwnerStuart J. Ledinghaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Readily bendable rolling conveyor guides are provided. The guides include axle-positioning members having notches. The axle-positioning members slidably engage channels of a structural support member. A plurality of axles carrying rotatable elements and spacers are disposed between the axle-positioning members. Due to the notches in the axle-positioning members and the unique cross-section of the exterior of the channels, the assembled guides may be bent at small radii without causing distortion of the channels or interference between the axle-positioning members and the channels.
Claims27
An apparatus for guiding articles moving on a conveyor, comprising:
- a support structure including first and second spaced channels, an outward facing surface of each channel including features adapted to matingly engage a bending tool;
- an elongated first axle-positioning member slidably engaging the first channel;
- an elongated second axle-positioning member slidably engaging the second channel;
- at least one axle extending between the first axle-positioning member and the second axle-positioning member;
- and
- at least one rotatable element mounted on the at least one axle.
A support structure of an apparatus for guiding articles moving on a conveyor, comprising:
- an elongate rail having a substantially C-shaped profile;
- a first branch of the C-shaped profile including a first channel;
- and
- a second branch of the C-shaped profile including a second channel spaced from the first channel;
- wherein
- an outward facing surface of each channel defines a V-shaped profile that is adapted to matingly engage a bending tool such that the rail is adapted to be bent without distorting either channel.
A support structure of an apparatus for guiding articles moving on a conveyor, comprising:
- an elongate rail having a profile shaped substantially as two C's arranged back-to back;
- each C including first and second spaced branches, each of the first branches including a first channel, each of the second branches including a second channel;
- wherein an outward facing surface of each channel defines a V-shaped profile that is adapted to matingly engage a bending tool such that the rail is adapted to be bent without distorting either channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.