Auto conveyor with improved roller assembly
AssigneePeco, Inc.
InventorGilbert J. Rietsch, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auto conveyor is disclosed of type in which chain driven pusher rollers engage a vehicle tire running along a track, while guide rollers support the pusher rollers above the guide track. A low profile, guide-pusher roller assembly is provided configured to avoid contact of the tire with the guide roller in which the pusher rollers are constituted by large diameter sleeves are rotated on a stationary sleeve, and smaller diameter guide rollers are mounted on either end of an axle shaft passing within the diameter of the sleeve. The guide roller perimeters protrude below the perimeter of the pusher rollers to support each pusher roller above the guide track.
Claims20
In a vehicle conveyor of the type including a guide track on which tires of vehicles to be conveyed roll, and an endless chain, powered to be circulated along said guide track, on which chain are mounted a spaced series of roller arms each carrying a roller assembly, each of said roller assemblies including a pair of pusher rollers in a set configured to engage and push a tire of said vehicle to push said vehicle along said guide track, and a pair of guide roller in a set adapted to run on said guide track to guide and support said pusher roller set for movement along and above said guide track as said endless chain circulates, the improvement comprising:
- a stationary structure fixed to one end of said roller arm, having a side portion extending from either side of said roller arm, one of said pair of pusher roller comprises a sleeve mounted for rotation on a respective portion of said stationary structure on either side of said roller arm;
- means mounting each of said pair of guide rollers on a respective side portion of said stationary structure for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said pusher rollers but lying within the perimeter of said respective pusher roller sleeves;
- said guide rollers of a diameter smaller than said pusher roller sleeves but sized such as to protrude below the perimeter of a respective one of said pusher roller sleeves, whereby said guide rollers support said pusher rollers above said guide track.
A roller assembly, including:
- a roller arm;
- a pair of pusher rollers mounted in a side by side set on one end said roller arm;
- a pair of guide rollers mounted in a set one outboard a respective pusher roller;
- said pusher rollers each comprising relatively large diameter sleeves;
- stationary structure having opposite portions extending on either side of said one end of said roller arm, one of said pair of pusher roller sleeves mounted for rotation on opposite portion of said stationary structure located on either side of said roller arm;
- means mounting each of said pair of guide rollers on a respective side of said stationary structure for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said pusher rollers but lying within the perimeter of said respective pusher roller sleeves;
- said guide rollers of a diameter smaller than said pusher roller sleeves but sized such as to pass beyond the perimeter of a respective one of said pusher roller sleeves, whereby said guide rollers may support said pusher rollers above a supporting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.