Adjustable conveyor guide rail
An adjustable guide rail is provided for use with a conveyor having a frame, a conveying surface having a curve or turn with an inside radius and an outside radius, an adjustment assembly, and a drive assembly. The guide rail can be an assembly in one embodiment with multiple guide rail segments, each being able to be fixed on one end and an adjustment slot on the other end relative to the conveyor surface. Each segment can engage a portion of the adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly selectably moves each guide rail segment in and out perpendicular to the conveying surface. In another embodiment, the guide rail curve piece can be a single piece having multiple openings therethrough allowing one of the openings to be held in fixed longitudinal position with respect to the conveyor surface.
1 . A guide rail for a conveyor having a conveying surface and a curve, said guide rail comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first guide rail segment having a first guide rail segment positioning hole at said first end and a first guide rail segment adjustment slot, the first guide rail segment positioning hole and the first guide rail segment adjustment slot passing vertically through the first guide rail segment; and
a second guide rail segment having a second guide rail segment positioning hole at said second end and a second guide rail segment adjustment slot, the second guide rail segment positioning hole and the second guide rail segment adjustment slot passing vertically through the second guide rail segment.
2 . The guide rail of claim 1 further comprising a spacer, said spacer being at said first end under said first guide rail segment.
3 . The guide rail of claim 1 wherein said first guide rail segment adjustment slot is in overlapping alignment with said second guide rail segment adjustment slot.
4 . A guide rail for a conveyor having a conveying surface, a curve and an adjustment assembly with a first bracket, a second bracket, a third bracket and a fourth bracket, said guide rail comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first guide rail segment having a first guide rail segment positioning hole at said first end and a first guide rail segment adjustment slot, said first segment positioning hole receiving said first bracket and said first guide rail segment adjustment slot receiving said second bracket;
a second guide rail segment having a second guide rail segment positioning hole and a second guide rail segment adjustment slot, said second guide rail segment positioning hole receiving said second bracket and said second guide rail segment adjusting slot receiving said third bracket; and
a third guide rail segment having a third guide rail segment positioning hole at said second end and a third guide rail segment adjustment slot, said third guide rail segment adjustment slot receiving said third bracket and said third guide rail positioning hole receiving said fourth bracket.
5 . The guide rail of claim 4 further comprising a fourth guide rail segment above said first guide rail segment.
6 . The guide rail of claim 5 further comprising a spacer, said spacer being at said first end and separating said first guide rail segment and said fourth guide rail segment.
7 . The guide rail of claim 6 wherein:
said second guide rail segment has a second guide rail segment height;
said spacer has a spacer height; and
said spacer height is equal to said second guide rail segment height so that said first guide rail segment is parallel to said fourth guide rail segment.
8 . A guide rail for a conveyor having a conveying surface, a curve and an adjustment assembly with a first bracket, a second bracket and a third bracket, said guide rail comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first guide rail segment having a first guide rail segment first slot and a first guide rail segment second slot; and
a second guide rail segment having a second guide rail segment first slot and a second guide rail segment second slot,
wherein:
the first bracket is received through said first guide rail segment first slot;
the second bracket is received through said first guide rail segment second slot and said second guide rail segment first slot;
the third bracket is received through said second guide rail segment second slot;
said first guide rail segment is selectably lockable with respect to one of the first bracket or the second bracket; and
said second guide rail segment is selectably lockable with respect to one of the second bracket or the third bracket.
9 . The guide rail of claim 8 wherein:
said first guide rail segment has a first fastener selectively turnable into said first slot and a second fastener selectively turnable into said second slot, wherein one of said first fastener and said second fastener is selectively turned into one of said first slot and said second slot, respectively, to lock said first guide rail segment with respect to one of the first bracket or the second bracket.
10 . The guide rail of claim 8 wherein:
said first guide rail segment first slot has a first guide rail segment first slot length;
said first guide rail segment second slot has a first guide rail segment second slot length; and
said first guide rail segment first slot length is equal to said first guide rail segment second slot length.
11 . A guide rail for a conveyor having a conveying surface, a curve and an adjustment assembly with a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket, said guide rail comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first adjustment slot;
a second adjustment slot; and
a position hole,
wherein the first bracket is movably received through said first adjustment slot, the second bracket is stationarily received through said position hole and the third bracket is movably received through said second adjustment slot.
12 . The guide rail of claim 11 , wherein:
said first adjustment slot is at said first end;
said second adjustment slot is at said second end; and
said position hole is midway between said first adjustment slot and said second adjustment slot.
13 . The guide rail of claim 12 wherein said guide rail further comprises a first relief between said first adjustment slot and said position hole and a second relief between said second adjustment slot and said position hole.
14 . The guide rail of claim 13 wherein:
said guide rail has an inside facing the conveying surface and an outside facing away from the conveying surface;
said first relief and said second relief are on said outside of said guide rail.
15 . A guide rail for a conveyor having a conveying surface, a curve and an adjustment assembly with a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket, said guide rail comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first adjustment slot;
a second adjustment slot; and
a third adjustment slot,
wherein:
the first bracket is received through said first adjustment slot, the second bracket is received through said second adjustment slot and the third bracket is received through said third adjustment slot; and
one of the first bracket, the second bracket or the third bracket can be locked in place with respect to said guide rail with a lock.
16 . The guide rail of claim 15 wherein:
said first adjustment slot has a plurality of first adjustment lock holes therethrough;
said second adjustment slot has a plurality of second adjustment lock holes therethrough; and
said third adjustment slot has a plurality of third adjustment lock holes therethrough.
17 . The guide rail of claim 15 wherein said lock is a fastener that can be selectively turned into one of said first adjustment slot, said second adjustment slot or said third adjustment slot.
18 . The guide rail of claim 15 wherein said second adjustment slot has a lock hole in a longitudinal center of said guide rail.