Manually Adjustable Conveyor Belt Guide Rails and Related Methods

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles for transport along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction. The apparatus, as shown, includes a support rail and at least one movable support for adjusting the position of the guide rail relative to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. The at least one movable support includes a foldable support engaging the support rail and the support guide rail. The foldable support is configured to move into and out of the conveying path in a direction transverse to the conveying direction to selectively position the guide rail relative to the support rail. The movable support fixes the position of the movable support relative to the support rail. Related methods are also disclosed.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to article conveying technology, and more particularly, to manually adjustable conveyor belt guide rails and related methods. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 861,633, filed on Jun. 14, 2019. This application is also related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 508,700, filed on May 19, 2017, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 550,023, filed on Aug. 25, 2017, International Application Ser. No. PCT / US18 / 3365, filed on May 21, 2018, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 16 / 281,889, filed on Nov. 13, 2019, and the disclosures of all of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. Background Art

[0002] Conveyors generally have rails disposed along both sides of a conveyor chain or belt that guides articles along a conveying path. The articles travel between the rails positioned to securely hold the articles in the conveying path. When conveying large or small articles, in other words, when it is necessary to adjust the width of the conveying path to accommodate large or small article flows, it is necessary to fit the guide rails to this situation.

[0003] In the case of conventional guide rail adjustment systems, additional guide rods are added to support brackets attached to the guide rails. These guide rods also protrude outward from the conveyor into the surrounding area, greatly increasing the overall width and installation area of the conveyor. Guide rails having rigid rods also lack aesthetic appeal because the extensions of the rods protrude from both sides of the conveyor. In the case of some guide rails, a motorized adjustment device is required, increasing both cost and complexity.

[0004] Thus, there remains a need for adjustable guide rails that solve the above problems as well as other problems not yet realized. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus having a guide rail for guiding one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction. The apparatus includes a support rail for adjusting the position of the guide rail relative to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction and at least one movable support. The at least one movable support is configured to engage with the support rail, support the guide rail, and move forward and backward relative to the conveyance path in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction in order to selectively position the guide rail relative to the support rail. Further, the at least one movable support includes a clamp for clamping the at least one movable support to the support rail and fixing the position of the movable support relative to the support rail.

[0006] In one embodiment, the at least one movable support has a foldable support including a pair of arms connected to pivot relative to a shuttle and engage with the support rail. For each arm of the pair of arms, it is pivotally joined to a connector having a receiving device configured to receive a portion of the guide rail. The connector includes an extension (attachment portion) that engages with the support rail to prevent the pair of arms from reaching a locked position. At least one of the receiving devices includes a holding device that engages with the support rail and / or at least one roller that rotatably engages with the support rail.

[0007] For the clamp, an actuator can be provided that selectively operates the clamp, engages with the support rail, and releases the clamp so that the movable support slides along the support rail. In the case of this actuator, it can have a wedge that selectively engages with the support rail. Further, the actuator may include a lever. Regarding at least one movable support, it may include a body having at least one holding device for holding the actuator, and an opening for receiving and holding the wedge. In the case of this at least one holding device, it may be configured to frictionally-enhanced for engaging the actuator as a result of the opposing force generated as a result of the wedge engaging with the support rail in the operating state of the actuator. This actuator may include a handle.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides a device for supporting a guide rail that guides one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in the conveying direction in a connected state with a support rail. This device has at least one movable support for adjusting the position of the guide rail with respect to a conveyor in a transverse direction with respect to the conveying direction. In the case of this at least one movable support, it has a foldable support that engages with the support rail and supports the guide rail. This foldable support is configured to move forward and backward in a conveying path in a transverse direction with respect to the conveying direction in order to selectively position the guide rail with respect to the support rail. At least one movable support has a clamp for clamping the movable support to the support rail and fixing the position of the movable support with respect to the support rail.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for supporting one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in the conveying direction in a connected state with a support rail. This device has a shuttle configured to move back and forth along the support rail. This shuttle has a lever that selectively drives a holding device, engages it with the support rail, and fixes the position of the shuttle thereon.

[0010] In one embodiment, the holding device has a wedge. Further, the device has a pair of arms connected to pivot relative to one end. At least one of these arms engages with a support rail at the other end and is connected to the shuttle. Each arm of the pair of arms can be pivotally connected to a connector and has a receiving device for receiving a part of the guide rail. The connector also has an extension that engages with the support rail to prevent the pair of arms from reaching the locked position. The lever may have a plurality of channels, and each lever engages with a holding device corresponding to the shuttle. In the case of each holding device, frictional engagement is enhanced in the channel as a result of the opposing force generated by the engagement of the holding device with the support rail in the operating state of the lever.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a method of adjustably supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction. In this method, a movable support corresponding to the guide rail is clamped to the support rail, and the movable support is further actuated to selectively move the guide rail forward or backward toward or away from the conveyance path.

[0012] Furthermore, the method can include a step of releasing the clamp and sliding the movable support along the support rail. In this clamping step, a wedge can be used to fix the position of the movable support. In the clamping step, the clamp can be lowered and an upward force can be applied to the handle corresponding to the clamp to engage with the support rail.

[0013] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of adjusting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction. In this method, a first support for supporting the guide rail is manually engaged with the support rail to fix the position of the first support and engage with the guide rail for guiding one or more articles along the conveyance path.

[0014] The method of the present invention according to one embodiment has a step of manually engaging a second support supporting a guide rail with a support rail. Further, it may have a step of manually engaging a third support and a fourth support supporting the guide rail with the support rail, and a first distance between the first support and the second support along the support rail is different from a second distance between the third support and the fourth support along the support rail.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The drawings attached to this specification and constituting a part of this specification show some aspects of the present invention, and together with the description in the specification, are useful for explaining the main principles of the present invention. In the following drawings,

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figures 3-5

Figure 6

Figures 7-8

Figure 9

Figure 9A

Figure 9B

Figure 9C

Figures 10-11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 16A

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figures 19-23

Figures 24-26

Figures 27-28

Figures 29-31

Figures 32-34

Figures 35-42

[0017] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the manually adjustable guide rail for a conveyor will be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Figures 1 to 9 show one possible embodiment of a guide rail adjusting device 10 that constitutes one aspect of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the adjusting device 10 is connected to a guide rail 12 and guides an article in a conveying direction D (see, for example, FIG. 19) along a conveying path. The guide rail 12 can be supported by a support 14 that forms part of a flexible or foldable (i.e., capable of being folded into a more compact shape) adjusting device 10. Accordingly, the adjusting device 10 having the support 14 can move the guide rail 12 forward and backward and change the relative position of the conveying path, but as a result of the adjustment, the entire width of the corresponding conveyor in the transverse direction does not increase.

[0019] In one embodiment, the support 14 may have links as a first support and a second support or a first arm 16 and a second arm 18 connected to each other. These arms 16, 18 do not deform in the vertical direction but are pivotally connected at their inner ends by a connector 20 or the like. That is, these arms 16, 18 and the connector 20 constitute a linkage mechanism (this linkage mechanism may be a two-bar linkage, but other linkage configurations can also be used).

[0020] At the opposing ends, each of the arms 16, 18 is configured to reduce friction or prevent friction from occurring, or is connected to a structural portion configured to provide a support structure or a bearing structure. In the illustrated embodiment, this structural portion takes the form of movable bolsters or shuttles 22, 24 and frictionally engages (by sliding or rolling) with an elongated support rail 26 that extends parallel to the guide rail 12 in the conveying direction D as a whole. Accordingly, these connections and the resulting relative movement enable the support 14 to be bent or folded in a direction transverse to the conveying direction D.

[0021] Further, the support 14 is connected to the guide rail 12. In the illustrated embodiment, this connection is made by providing the connector 20 with one or more receiving devices such as clips 20a, 20b (note that, as will be described in detail below, the guide rail 12 is either fixed in position or a clip or the like engages so that it can slide relatively). As can be understood from FIG. 6, the adjusting device 10 is extremely thin in the vertical direction and its height is slightly higher than that of the guide rail 12. As can be understood from FIGS. 1 to 8, a cover 28 can be provided as appropriate (not shown in FIG. 9), which engages with the support rail 26 and protects the movable part of the adjusting device 10, but does not interfere with the relative movement and operation of the movable part.

[0022] FIGS. 9 and 12 show the nature of the swivel connection of the arms 16, 18 forming the support 14 for the guide rail in one embodiment. Each of the arms 16, 18 can be provided with trunnions 16a, 18a, and the ends thereof are received in the upper and lower receiving devices 20c on both sides of the connector 20 and rotatably incorporated. Note that another configuration can also be used, for example, a simple hinge (equipped with a mechanical pin or a living hinge) can be exemplified. In any case, when the shuttles 22, 24 move relative to each other along the support rail 26, the connector 20, and thus the corresponding guide rail (not shown), moves along the conveying surface adjacent in the transverse direction to the conveying direction. Regarding this movement, it can be said to be a flexible movement in that the formed flexible joint can be bent by the swiveling of the arms 16, 18 with respect to the connection. Similarly, when the shuttles 22, 24 move in the opposite direction (the direction of moving apart from each other), the arms 16, 18 bend relative to each other (and with respect to the connector 20), so the guide rail 12 retracts.

[0023] It is undesirable for the arms 16, 18 that make up the link mechanism to reach a "bottomed out" (β = 180 degrees or more), potentially locked position, especially when the operation of the adjusting device 10 is automatic rather than manual. Thus, as can be understood from FIGS. 10 and 11, this state can be avoided by providing a convex portion or an extended portion 20d that protrudes in a direction transverse to the conveying direction on the side of the connector 20 facing the guide rail 12, which enables bending the joint formed between the arms 16, 18 to the maximum extent. Regarding the size and position of the convex portion or the extended portion 20d of the connector 20, it suffices if they engage with the support rail 26 at the position where the link mechanism is completely folded, such that the bottom is not hit and the position is not locked. Of course, the convex portion can be provided on one or both of the arms 16, 18, or further on the support rail 26, and the same result can be obtained.

[0024] As can be understood from FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, by selectively advancing and retracting, the adjustment level of the corresponding guide rail 12 of the support 14 can be improved. In this way, the adjustment can be carried out easily and efficiently, without overly increasing the occupied area of the entire conveyor system. Specifically, when the support 14 is advanced and retracted, the guide rail 12 pivotally attached to the support by the connector 20 can be configured to form a variable-width conveying path for conveyed objects having a number of different widths. For example, when conveying small-sized conveyed objects, it is only necessary to move the guide rail 12 in the inward or inboard direction I that is transverse to the conveying direction D, thereby folding the guide rail in this direction (thus enabling the angle of the flexible joint to be an acute angle α, in the illustrated embodiment, an acute angle of 5 degrees, and a smaller acute angle than this when the arms 16, 18 are provided parallel to each other). In other words, the arms 16, 18 move from a position where the relative angle between the arms is large to a position where it is small. For this reason, the conveying path becomes narrower, and thus it becomes possible to easily guide various articles of different sizes to cope with the situation.

[0025] Similarly, if it is desired to convey an article / object larger than the size, or if it is desired to expand the width of the conveyance path with respect to the lower conveyor, it is only necessary to move in the outward direction or the end - ward direction O that crosses the conveyance direction D (by this, the joint bending angle can be set to an obtuse angle β less than 180 degrees, which is large between the arms 16 and 18. As shown in the figure, since there is an extension part or a convex part 20d, a lock - out state can be avoided). In other words, the arms 16 and 18 move from a position where the relative angle between the arms is small to a position where it becomes large. In either case, as a result of the forward and backward movement, there is no structure such as a rod protruding outward in which the support rail 26 protrudes, and the entire width of the configuration does not change. For this reason, the occupied area of the conveyor system of the present invention is smaller than when using a rod extending in the transverse direction and the corresponding attachment parts.

[0026] The adjustment of the support 14 may be manual or automatic. In the case of manual adjustment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, holding devices 30 that selectively engage the support rail 26 with each shuttle 22, 24 can be provided to hold the shuttle in a desired position. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding device 30 has a post 32 that supports an operating device in the form of a lever 34 that is pivotally attached, such as by snap - fitting with a clip 32a. Inside the lever 34, there is a wedge 36, and with respect to the size and position of this wedge, it is sized and positioned such that it does not fit into the rail 26 at one position and frictionally engages the rail 26 at a different position (FIG. 5 shows positions 34´ (free position) and 34´´ (holding position)). The opposing plates 38, 40 are held by fasteners F to hold the position of the post 32, and each plate 38, 40 may be provided with a guide 42 that slidably receives a part of the support rail 26. The plates 38, 40 may also have openings 38a, 40a that receive corresponding fasteners such as (keyway plug) 16c that hang down from the proximal ends of the respective arms 16, 18 (see FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C), and pivotally connect the ends of the arms 16, 18 to the shuttles 22, 24.

[0027] Note that by disengaging the lever 34 from the holding device 30, the corresponding shuttle 24 can move freely back and forth, for example, along the support rail 26 by sliding, whereby the support 14, and thus the corresponding guide rail 12, moves forward and backward. When the holding device 30 restarts and fixedly engages with the support rail 26 upon reaching the position corresponding to the intended forward and backward movement of the guide rail 12. Similarly, in view of the foldable nature of the support 14 created by the pivotally connected arms 16, 18, only one of the shuttles 22, 24 needs to be moved to achieve the intended forward and backward movement of the guide rail 12.

[0028] The shuttles 22, 24 can also be set to operate easily according to the automatic environment. Specifically, at least one of the shuttles, and if possible each of the shuttles 22, 24, is engaged with the operating device, and according to the degree of operation, it causes a forward and backward movement along the support rail 26 and moves the arms 16, 18 forward and backward. As shown in FIG. 17, the operating device may include a connector connected to the shuttles 22, 24 by a flexible cable 44 or the like. The cable 44 can have each end passed over a pulley 46 (FIG. 17 shows one pulley attached to one end of the support rail 26, but the configuration is the same as that shown at the opposite end of the support rail 26; see FIG. 19 etc.). Accordingly, it forms an endless loop configuration (a configuration corresponding to a plurality of adjusting devices 10 as will be outlined below).

[0029] In order to have the cable 44 cross the endless path, it can be mounted around a driving device such as a capstan 48 corresponding to a motor 50 (such as a servo motor) forming part of the operating device in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the cable 44 can be provided with a tensioner such as a turnbuckle 44a, and the tension can be adjusted as necessary or when desired.

[0030] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, a holding device 52 can be provided on each of the plates 38, 40 and selectively engaged with the cable 44. The holding device 52 can comprise a clamp in the form of a pivotable cam 54 (only the upper cam is shown in FIG. 16), although other forms are possible (for example, a bolt with a flange for incorporating a part of the cable 44 against the corresponding surface of the shuttle). For the cam 54, it may be pivotally supported on the reduced-diameter end 56a of a post 56 that can be held in place by a fastener F.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 16A, the cam 54 has an enlarged circular inner surface 54a, engages with the cable, presses it, and engages with the friction-enhanced portions 55 of the plates 38, 40 (these plates may be the same plate, but can also be reversed. In other words, in FIG. 16, the plate 38 is the same shape as the plate 40 and the upper plate has the friction-enhanced portion 55). The free end 54b of this cam 54 is adapted to tactilely engage during the operation between the holding position and the release position. It is also possible to provide a detachable clamping tab 58 with a flexible leg that engages in snap-fit fashion with a projection 58a, which engages with the cam 54 in the clamped or closed state, secures it, and thus also engages with the cable (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 16A). A roller or pulley 60 is rotatably pivotally supported on the reduced-diameter end 56b on the opposite side of the post 56 (when the cam 54 is on the lower plate 38 as shown in FIG. 16, it is on top, and when the cam 54 is on the upper plate 38, it is on the bottom).

[0032] Since the cable 44 is an endless loop, it has a forward stroke and a reverse stroke. As shown in Fig. 16, one shuttle 22 is connected to the forward stroke using a clamp (cam 54) provided as shown, and the other shuttle 24 is connected to the reverse stroke using a clamp (cam 54 on the plate as shown in Fig. 16A) at the corresponding position. When actuated using a single actuator, the shuttles 22, 24 move towards each other or away from each other, thereby bending the joint of the support 14 created by the arms 16, 18 and advancing and retracting the guide rail 12. The alternately appearing strokes of the cable 44 that are not fixed to the shuttles 22, 24 simply engage with the rollers / pulleys 60 and thus do not interfere with the relative movement.

[0033] Continuing the description with reference to Fig. 16, rollers 62 can also be provided on each of the shuttles 22, 24 to create a low-friction engagement with the support rail 26. These rollers 62 can be connected to the plates 38, 40 by fasteners 64, and individual rollers 62a that engage with the outer surface of the support rail 26 and rollers 62b that are pivotally supported on the plates 38, 40 and engage with the inner surface of the support rail 26 can be provided. Since the rollers 62a are spaced apart, a part of the support rail 26 engages with and supports the cover 28.

[0034] Other forms of operation are also possible. In this case, it is advantageous to use the actuating device alone and use a plurality of adjusting devices 10 to adjust the width of the conveying path. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, a connector such as a cable 44 may be corresponded to a rack 66 configured to engage a rotatable pinion 68. Since the cable 44 has an endless nature and is correspondingly connected to the shuttles 22, 24 as described above, when the pinion 68 is actuated in one direction, a plurality of adjusting devices 10 are actuated simultaneously. As a result, the guide rail 12 (shown as two separated parts with a dummy part for illustrative purposes) advances in the transverse direction T of the conveyor C provided with the conveying path P constituted by the conveying surface (chain or belt B) in the conveying direction D. Note that as a result of the guide rail 12 advancing in the transverse direction, the conveying path P´ with a narrow width is formed. Specifically, when the pinion is rotated in the clockwise direction, the rack moves to the right in FIG. 19, and since the forward stroke of the cable 44 is connected to the shuttle 22 of each guide rail adjusting device 10 and the return stroke is connected to the shuttle 24, the forward movement shown in the figure occurs. When the rotation direction of the pinion 68 is reversed, the opposite operation occurs.

[0035] The operation of the adjusting device 10 corresponding to the conveyor C may similarly be manual or automatic. That is, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, a manual handle 70 is connected to the corresponding conveyor C, and this is rotated to actuate according to the strength of a differential device using one or more, for example, 2, 5, 10, 20 adjusting devices 10 (basically, any number of adjusting devices are connected to a connector or cable 44 for single use). FIG. 23 shows an embodiment using a motor 72 (such as a servo motor) for automatic operation.

[0036] Figures 24, 25, and 26 are schematic views showing a possible configuration of an adjustable guide rail system incorporating a plurality of adjusting devices 10 used when connecting to a conveyor having a conveyance path (not shown). Inner guide rails 12a and outer guide rails 12b in an opposing relationship for guiding an article (not shown) along the conveyance path are shown. Adjustable guide rail supports 14a, 14b support the inner guide rails 12a, and an adjustable guide rail support 14c supports the outer guide rails 12b. Thus, when it is desired to adjust the width W of the conveyance path to accommodate articles of different sizes (or groups of articles), the guide rails 12a (along with the guide rail supports 14a, 14b) and the guide rails 12b (along with the guide rail 14c and others) may be moved. This operation may be manual or automatic. In either case, an operating device (including a cable 44) that traverses the conveyance direction D (equipped with a corresponding motor whose operation can be coordinated by the sole use of a control device) along each support rail 26 is used alone to widen or narrow the width W of the conveyance path. Note that Figure 25 shows a narrower width W', and Figure 26 shows an even narrower width W''. Both correspond to the case of conveying a row of articles such as bottles and cans. In such a state, a receiving device (such as clips 20a, 20b) strongly engages with the guide rails 12a, 12b in every other adjusting device 10, but has a sliding engagement in other adjusting devices, enabling forward and backward movement as desired.

[0037] Figures 27 and 28 show a guide rail 12 that can be provided with an extensible joint 74 having portions such as legs 12c, 12d (basically equal to half of the overall height of the guide rail) with small vertical dimensions. These legs 12c, 12 overlap each other or overlap vertically and are slidably received by a receiving device 76. These receiving devices can take the form of C-shaped clamps that allow relative movement of the legs (towards a common center when the guide rail 12 retracts and away from the guide rail when it advances). In this way, the receiving device 76 holds the legs 12c, 12d together but can move relative to each other in the conveying direction when the corresponding guide rail portion advances or retracts. For this reason, the guide rail 12 can be advanced and retracted as desired by a support 14 or the like, and can accommodate a specific article being conveyed or form a specific conveying path. Therefore, either one or both of the legs 12c, 12d can be curved, and it is also possible to use the support 14 for a straight portion connected by an extensible joint. Also, as can be understood from Figure 28, when using these extensible joints 74, the opposing guide rails 12 can be advanced and retracted by different amounts, which occurs when one corresponds to an inner curved portion and the other corresponds to an outer curved portion.

[0038] According to the size and shape of the lower conveyor C, it is also possible to provide a guide in the middle of the adjusting device 10 to guide connectors such as the cable 44. As shown in Figures 29, 30, and 31, for this purpose, a manual shuttle 22 or 24 shown in Figures 13 and 14 may be provided, and a pulley 60 that engages with the upper and lower travel paths of the cable 44 can be provided on this shuttle. These shuttles 22, 24 can be selectively positioned using corresponding holding devices 30. It is also possible to provide an upper guide 78a and a lower guide 78b on the stationary bracket 78 to guide the respective travel paths of the cable 44.

[0039] Figures 32, 33, and 34 are schematic diagrams showing possible application examples of the adjusting device 10 that forms zones of different widths in the use of a single conveyor or a conveyor system (equipped with a plurality of conveyors). As shown in Figure 32, using a first series of adjusting devices 10a corresponding to the lower conveyor C, an upstream portion of the conveyor with the guide rails 12a, 12b further spaced apart is formed to constitute the first zone Z1, and using a second series of adjusting devices 10b, the downstream guide rails 12e, 12f with a narrow interval are formed to constitute the second zone Z2. For the adjusting devices 10a, 10b, they may be manually adjusted or may be associated with different operating devices (such as the cable system as described above). Subsequently, as shown in Figure 33, the adjusting devices 10a, 10b perform an adjusting operation, and as shown in Figure 34, an adjustment is made to make the widths of the zones Z1, Z2 the same or to make Z2 wider than Z1. Needless to say, the material of the guide rails 12a, 12b may be relatively flexible for operation, or may be provided with a flexible interconnecting portion (including the above joint 74). Note that the schematic diagrams are exaggerated for illustrative purposes.

[0040] Regarding another embodiment of the adjusting device in the form of a movable support 100 that performs manual adjustment, reference will be made to Figures 35 to 42 for description. As can be understood from Figures 34, 35, and 36, each movable support 100 、 takes the form of a shuttle 102 that engages with a stationary support rail 104 Draft and is provided with a connector that connects to an inner rail support arm 106. The shuttle 102 has a main body 108 provided with a pair of holding devices that support a clamp 112. This clamp 112 is provided with an operating device in the form of a lever 114 that moves along the holding device 110, for example, in the vertical direction. When the lever 114 operates, a movable holding device such as a wedge 116 is forced to engage with the corresponding surface (outer surface) of the support rail 104. Note that a comparison between the positions of the lever 114 and the wedge 116 in Figure 38 and the high positions of the lever 114' and the wedge 116' in Figure 39 that engage with a support rail (not shown) existing in the opening Q is for reference.

[0041] For the lever 114, it may be provided with a receiving device 114a that receives the wedge 116 and forcibly engages with the support rail 104 during lever operation when the wedge is in a vertical position, etc. Further, it may also be provided with a channel 114b that receives the holding device 110. These holding devices, as a result of the outward force generated by the wedge 116, strengthen the friction (by means of screws, etc. as shown in the figure), generate an appropriate holding force, and hold the lever 114 in the operating state, but can be easily released by finger operation (for this purpose, a handle 114c is used; that is, the lever 114 is moved upward to forcibly engage the wedge 116 with the support rail).

[0042] As already pointed out, the movable support 100 may correspond to each support arm including the second support arm 118 as shown in FIG. 40. In the case of this movable support 100, it is not necessary to provide a holding device for fixing its position along the support rail. This is because the arms 106 and 118 are connected to the above-mentioned fixable support. In the case of this second support 100, it may be provided with one or more rollers 120 that make low-friction rolling contact with a support rail (not shown) existing in the opening Q. As shown in FIG. 41, it is possible to attach a clamp 11 to each support 100, and this clamp can be used to independently fix each support to the corresponding support rail 104.

[0043] As can be understood from FIG. 42, in the case of the above-described embodiment, each support 100 can be independently moved along the support rail 104 to a predetermined position (such as a position where they approach each other or are separated from each other in the transport direction), and a guide rail connector shown as a receiving device 124 corresponding to each support arm 106, 118 can be positioned (in the case of this connector 124, since it can be provided with an extension portion 124a that engages with the support rail 104 when the support 100 is in a folded state, it will not hit the bottom). In this way, the user can independently and selectively perform the relative positioning of the guide rail (not shown) using a manual approach that does not require power, a motor, etc., and since the thin nature of the support 100 is maintained, as already described, a conveyor system without an outward rod or similar structure that causes various problems can be provided.

[0044] The items that can be arbitrarily combined in the present invention are shown in order below. 1. In an apparatus for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction, a support rail, and at least one movable support for adjusting the position of the guide rail with respect to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction, the apparatus having a clamp that clamps onto the support rail and fixes the position of the at least one movable support with respect to the support rail. 2. The apparatus according to item 1, wherein the at least one movable support has a foldable support, and the support has a pair of arms connected so as to pivot with respect to a shuttle that engages with the support. 3. The apparatus according to item 2, wherein each arm of the pair of arms is pivotally connected to a connector having a receiving device configured to receive a part of the guide rail. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connector has an extension portion that engages with the support rail, and the pair of arms is prevented from reaching a locked position. 5. The apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the at least one movable support has a holding device that engages with the support rail. 6. The device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the at least one movable support has at least one roller that rotationally engages with the support rail. 7. The device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the clamp has an actuating device that selectively actuates the clamp to engage with the support rail and releases the clamp to slide the at least one movable support along the support rail. 8. The device according to item 7, wherein the actuating device has a wedge that selectively engages with the support rail. 9. The device according to item 7 or 8, wherein the actuating device has a lever. 10. The device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the at least one movable support has at least one holding device that holds the actuating device and an opening that receives and holds the wedge. 11. The device according to item 10, wherein the at least one holding device frictionally engages with the actuating device as a result of the opposing force generated by the engagement of the wedge with the support rail in the actuated state of the actuating device. 12. The device according to any one of items 8 to 11, wherein the actuating device has a handle. 13. In a device for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction in a connected state with a support rail, having at least one movable support for adjusting the position of the guide rail relative to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction, the at least one movable support engaging with the support rail and having a folding support that supports the guide rail, the folding support advancing and retracting in the conveyance path in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction to selectively position the guide rail relative to the support rail, and a movable support having the at least one clamp clamping the at least one movable support to the support rail to fix the position of the at least one movable support relative to the support rail. 14. In a device for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction in a connected state with a support rail, A device having a shuttle configured to move back and forth along the support rail, and the shuttle selectively presses and engages a holding device against the support rail to fix the position of the shuttle thereon. 15. The device of item 14, wherein the holding device has a wedge. 16. The device of item 14 or 15, further having a folding support having a pair of arms connected to pivot relative to each other at one end, and at least one of these arms is connected to the shuttle, and engages with the support rail at the other end. 17. The device of item 16, having a receiving device configured such that each arm of the pair of arms is pivotally connected to a connector, and the connector receives a part of the guide rail. 18. The device of item 17, wherein the connector has an extension engaging with the support rail, whereby the pair of arms is configured not to reach the locked position. 19. The device of any one of items 14 to 18, wherein the lever has channels, and each channel engages with the holding device corresponding to the shuttle. 20. The device of item 19, wherein as a result of the opposing force generated by the engagement of the holding device with the support level in the operating state of the lever, each holding device frictionally engages with the channel. 21. A method of adjustably supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in the conveyance direction, comprising: clamping a movable support corresponding to the guide rail to a support rail, and operating the movable support to selectively move the guide rail forward and backward so as to approach or separate from the conveyance path. 22. The method of item 21, further comprising releasing the clamping and sliding the movable support along the support rail. 23. The method of item 21, wherein in the clamping step, a wedge is used to fix the position of the movable support. 24. The method of item 21, wherein in the clamping step, the height of the clamp is lowered to form an engagement with the support rail. 25. A method of item 24 that presses upward on the handle corresponding to the clamp in the tightening step. 26. A method of adjusting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in the conveying direction, A method of manually engaging a first support body that supports the guide rail with a support rail to fix the position of the first support body, and thus the guide rail for guiding the one or more articles along the conveying path. 27. The method of item 26, further comprising a step of manually engaging a second support body that supports the guide rail with the support rail. 28. The method of item 27, further comprising a step of manually engaging a third support body and a fourth support body that support the guide rail with the support rail, wherein a first distance between the first support body and the second support body along the support rail is different from a second distance between the third support body and the fourth support body along the support rail.

[0045] The above description of various embodiments of a manually adjustable guide rail and related methods develops the technical idea of the present invention. The above description is not intended to be a thorough disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the disclosed invention to the exact forms disclosed herein. Some modifications and changes are possible in light of the teachings disclosed herein. For example, the connector forming part of the actuating device can comprise a flexible ribbon, and when this ribbon is manually actuated by a lever or a protruding piece similarly, a predetermined mechanism operates or adjusts. In the case of the shuttles 22, 24, as shown in the figure, they are on and slide on the support rail 26, but they may be provided in a cavity within the support rail 26 and function as shuttles similarly. Also, these shuttles can take different forms, for example, connecting an elongated flexible ribbon to the arms 16, 18 and moving it along the support rail 26 or within the formed cavity. When an element is expressed in the singular in this specification, it is possible to use a plurality of elements (i.e., "1" may also mean "2" or more), and even if there are a plurality of elements, each element can be used alone. Features disclosed in relation to one modification of an element, device, method, or combination thereof can also be applied to other modifications, such as dimensions, shapes, materials, and combinations thereof. "Generally speaking, or generally", "about" or "substantially" refer to a state that is as close as reasonably possible to the corresponding state, but without exceeding more than 10% unless otherwise specified. Regarding a particular element of a genus, it also has the characteristics or components of any other particular element of this genus. "Having" is not intended to be limiting. The above-described configurations, elements, or completed bodies and methods for implementing the present invention, as well as their elements and modifications of aspects of the present invention, can be used in combination and modified in any combination form.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 10 Adjusting device 10a, 10b Adjusting device 12 Guide rail 12a Inner guide rail 12b Outer guide rail 12c, 12d Legs 12e and 12f downstream guide rails 14 support 14a and 14b guide rail supports 14c guide rail 16 first arm 16a trunnion 16c keyway plug 18 second arm 18a trunnion 20 connector 20a and 20b clips 20c receiving device 20d extension part or protrusion 22 shuttle 24 shuttle 26 support rail 28 cover 30 holding device 32 post 32a clip 34 lever 34´ (free position) 34´´ (holding position) 36 wedge 38 opposing plate 38a opening 40 opposing plate 40a opening 42 guide 44 cable 44a turnbuckle 46 pulley 48 capstan 50 motor 52 holding device 54 cam 54a circular inner surface [[ID=7�]]54b free end 55 friction strengthening part 56 post 56a reduced diameter end 58 tab 58a protrusion 60 roller / pulley 62 roller 62a roller 62b roller 64 Fastener 66 Rack 68 Pinion 70 Manual Handle 72 Motor 74 Joint 76 Receiver 78 Stationary Bracket 78a Upper Guide 78b Lower Guide 100 Movable Support 102 Shuttle 104 Stationary Support Rail 106 Support Arm 108 Body 110 Holding Device 112 Clamp 114 Lever 114´ Lever 114a Receiver 114b Channel 114c Handle 116 Wedge 116´ and Wedge 118 Second Support Arm 120 Roller 124 Receiver 124a Extension B Chain or Belt C Conveyor D Conveying Direction O Direction P Conveyor Path P´ Conveyor Path Q Opening T Transverse Direction W Width W´ Width W´´ Width Z1 First Zone Z2 Second Zone α Acute Angle β Obtuse Angle

Claims

1. In an apparatus for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction, a support rail, and a movable support body that engages with the support rail and supports the guide rail, and is at least one movable support body that adjusts the position of the guide rail with respect to the conveyor in a transverse direction with respect to the conveying direction, and has at least one movable support body having a clamp for fixing the position of the at least one movable support body with respect to the support rail, the clamp has a wedge and an operating device, and the operating device is selectively operated in a vertical direction to engage the wedge with the support rail or release the wedge characterized by the apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one movable support body has a foldable support body, and the support body has a pair of arms connected so as to pivot with respect to a shuttle that engages with the support rail.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each arm of the pair of arms is rotatably connected to a connector having a receiving device configured to receive a part of the guide rail.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connector has an extension portion that engages with the support rail, and prevents the pair of arms from reaching a locked position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each connector is connected to a holding device that engages with the support rail via each arm of the pair of arms.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shuttle has at least one roller that rotatably engages with the support rail.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has a wedge that selectively engages with the support rail.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has a lever.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one movable support body has a main body having at least one holding device for holding the operating device and an opening for receiving and holding the wedge.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one holding device engages with the operating device and is frictionally strengthened as a result of an outward force generated by the engagement of the wedge with the support rail in the operating state of the operating device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operating device has a handle.

12. In an apparatus for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction in a state of connection with a support rail, it has at least one movable support for adjusting the position of the guide rail with respect to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, the at least one movable support engages with the support rail, and has a foldable support for supporting the guide rail, the foldable support moves forward and backward in the conveying path in a direction transverse to the conveying direction to selectively position the guide rail with respect to the support rail, the at least one movable support has a clamp for clamping the at least one movable support to the support rail, the clamp fixes the position of the at least one movable support with respect to the support rail, and, the clamp has a wedge and an operating device, and the operating device is selectively operated in a vertical direction to engage the wedge with the support rail or release the wedge characterizing the apparatus.

13. In an apparatus for supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction in a state of connection with a support rail, it has a shuttle configured to move back and forth along the support rail, the shuttle has a lever and selectively presses and engages a holding device with the support rail to fix the position of the shuttle with respect to the support rail, the lever has a plurality of channels, and each channel engages with the holding device corresponding to the shuttle, characterizing the apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the holding device has a wedge.

15. Furthermore, it has a foldable support having a pair of arms connected so as to relatively pivot at one end, and at least one of these arms is connected to the shuttle and engages with the support rail at the other end, the apparatus according to claim 13.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each arm of the pair of arms is rotatably connected to a connector, and the connector has a receiving device configured to receive a part of the guide rail.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the connector has an extended portion engaging with the support rail to prevent the pair of arms from reaching a locked position.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein, as a result of the outward force generated by the engagement of the holding device with the support rail in the operating state of the lever, each holding device engages with the channel and the friction is enhanced.

19. A method of adjustably supporting a guide rail for guiding one or more articles to be conveyed along a conveyor having a conveyance path in a conveyance direction, comprising: clamping a movable support corresponding to the guide rail to a support rail by a clamp, and operating the movable support to selectively move the guide rail forward and backward so as to approach or separate from the conveyance path, wherein the clamp has a wedge and an operating device, and the operating device is selectively operated in a vertical direction to form an engagement between the wedge and the support rail. A method characterized by the above.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising releasing the clamping and sliding the movable support along the support rail.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the clamping step, the position of the movable support is fixed using the wedge.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the clamping step, the operating device has a handle.

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