Universal framing channel mounting bracket

Abstract

An attachment system for securing conveyor components to a conveyor disposed between a pair of side guards. The side guards are U-shaped and have first and second side guard ends that extend perpendicularly from the opposite ends of a flat wall portion to a distal end. The first side guard end includes a first lip that defines a grooved portion. At least one framing channel extending between flat first and second channel ends is disposed between the first and second side guard ends. The first channel end includes a projection portion that extends from the first channel end to engage to the grooved portion of the side guard to secure the first channel end adjacent the first side guard end.

1 . An attachment system for securing conveyor components to the side guard of a conveyor, the side guard being U-shaped and having first and second side guard ends extending perpendicularly from opposite ends of a flat wall portion to a distal end, the first side guard end having a first lip extending from the distal end of the first side guard end to define a grooved portion, the system comprising:
 at least one framing channel defining a channel portion extending between flat first and second channel ends for placement between the first and second side guard ends, wherein said first channel end includes a projection portion extending from said first channel end for engaging the grooved portion of the side guard and securing said first channel end adjacent the first side guard end; and   a securing device for engaging the side guard to secure said framing channel to the side guard.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said framing channel includes an adaptor securing device to engage said framing channel adjacent said first channel end, and wherein said projection portion is an adaptor having a first adaptor portion secured to said framing channel by said adaptor securing device and a second adaptor portion extending from said first channel end for engaging the grooved portion. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first adaptor portion defines an adaptor opening and said adaptor securing device includes an adaptor nut portion secured within said channel portion of said framing channel and an adaptor bolt portion extending through said adaptor opening and engaging said adaptor nut portion to secure said adaptor to said framing channel. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said projection portion is a slot being defined by a notch in said framing channel for engaging the grooved portion. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 1  further including a plate portion extending between first and second plate ends and being secured to the bottom of said framing channel, said plate portion having a first extension being adapted adjacent said first plate end to define said projection portion to correspond to and engage the grooved portion. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said first extension is adapted by bending said first extension to correspond to the grooved portion of the side guard. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said plate portion includes a second extension being adapted adjacent said second plate end to correspond to and engage the second side guard end. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said second channel end defines a channel opening for correspondence to an end guard opening defined in the second side guard end, and wherein said securing device is disposed through the end guard opening and said channel opening for locking said framing channel to the second side guard end of the side guard. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said framing channel includes a locking plate disposed adjacent said second channel ends said locking plate defining said channel opening for receiving said securing device to secure said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said locking plate includes at least one tab extending outwardly from said channel opening of said locking plate for engaging the end guard opening to secure said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said framing channel includes an angle bracket securing device disposed adjacent said second channel end, said system including an angle bracket having a first portion secured to said framing channel by said angle bracket securing device and a second portion extending perpendicularly from said first portion and defining said channel opening for securing said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said first portion of said angle bracket defines an angle bracket opening and said angle bracket securing device includes an angle bracket nut portion secured within said framing channel and an angle bracket bolt portion extending through said angle bracket opening and engaging said angle bracket nut portion to secure said angle bracket to said framing channel. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said second portion includes at least one tab extending outwardly from said channel opening of said second portion for engaging the end guard opening to secure said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said first portion of said angle bracket defines an adjustment slot for inserting a tool to move said framing channel away from said second portion of said angle bracket for creating tension between said first channel end and the first side guard end and said angle bracket and the second side guard end for securing said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said securing device includes a locking nut and a locking bolt, said locking bolt being disposed through the end guard opening and said channel opening and mating with said locking nut for securing said framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said projection portion is an insert having an insert body extending between first and second insert ends and wherein said insert body extends from said first channel end of said framing channel for corresponding to and engaging the grooved portion of the side guard. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said insert is biased at said first and second insert ends to engage said framing channel and secure said insert to said framing channel. 
     
     
         18 . An attachment system for securing conveyor components to a conveyor disposed between a pair of side guards comprising:
 at least one side guard being U-shaped and having first and second side guard ends extending perpendicularly from the opposite ends of a flat wall portion to a distal end, said first side guard end having a first lip extending from said distal end of said first side guard end to define a grooved portion;   at least one framing channel defining a channel portion extending between flat first and second channel ends disposed between said first and second side guard ends, wherein said first channel end includes a projection portion extending from said first channel end to engage to said grooved portion to secure said first channel end adjacent said first side guard end; and   a securing device engaging said side guard to secure said framing channel to said side guard.   
     
     
         19 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said framing channel includes an adaptor securing device to engage said framing channel adjacent said first channel end, and wherein said projection portion is an adaptor having a first adaptor portion secured to said framing channel by said adaptor securing device and a second adaptor portion extending from said first channel end to engage to said grooved portion. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said first adaptor portion defines an adaptor opening and said adaptor securing device includes an adaptor nut portion secured within said channel portion of said framing channel and an adaptor bolt portion extending through said adaptor opening and engaging said adaptor nut portion to secure said adaptor to said framing channel. 
     
     
         21 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said projection portion is a slot being defined by a notch in said framing channel to engage to said grooved portion. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 18  further including a plate portion extending between first and second plate ends and being secured to the bottom of said framing channel, said plate portion having a first extension being adapted adjacent said first plate end to define a projection portion to correspond to and engage said grooved portion. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said first extension is adapted by bending said first extension to correspond to said grooved portion of said side guard. 
     
     
         24 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said plate portion includes a second extension being adapted adjacent said second plate end to correspond to and engage said second side guard end. 
     
     
         25 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said second side guard end defines at least one end guard opening and said framing channel defines a channel opening that corresponds to said at least one end guard opening, and wherein said securing device is disposed through each of said at least one end guard opening and said channel opening to secure said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         26 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said system includes a plurality of framing channels and said second side guard end defines a plurality of end guard openings, each of said end guard openings capable of mating with one of said plurality of framing channels. 
     
     
         27 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said framing channel includes a locking plate disposed adjacent said second channel end, said locking plate defining said channel opening for receiving said securing device to secure said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         28 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said locking plate includes at least one tab extending outwardly from said channel opening of said locking plate for engaging said at least one end guard opening to secure said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         29 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said framing channel includes an angle bracket securing device disposed adjacent said second channel end, said system including an angle bracket having a first portion secured to said framing channel by said angle bracket securing device and a second portion extending perpendicularly from said first portion and defining said channel opening for securing said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         30 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said first portion of said angle bracket defines an angle bracket opening and said angle bracket securing device includes an angle bracket nut portion secured within said channel portion of said framing channel and an angle bracket bolt portion extending through said angle bracket opening and engaging said angle bracket nut portion to secure said angle bracket to said framing channel. 
     
     
         31 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said angle bracket includes at least one tab extending outwardly from said angle bracket opening to mate with said at least one end guard opening to secure said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         32 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 29  including a finger portion extending angularly from said first portion of said angle bracket into said channel portion of the framing channel for limiting the movement of said angle bracket relative to said framing channel. 
     
     
         33 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said first portion of said angle bracket defines an adjustment slot for inserting a tool to move said framing channel end away from said second portion of said angle bracket to create tension between said first channel end and said first side guard end and said angle bracket and said second side guard end for securing said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         34 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said securing device includes a locking nut and a locking bolt, said locking bolt being disposed through each of said at least one end guard opening and said channel opening and mating with said locking nut to secure said framing channel to said side guard. 
     
     
         35 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said projection portion is an insert having an insert body extending between first and second insert ends, said insert body corresponding to said grooved portion of said side guard and extending from said first channel end of said framing channel to engage said grooved portion of said side guard. 
     
     
         36 . The attachment system as set forth in  claim 35  wherein said insert is biased at said first and second insert ends to engage said framing channel and secure said insert to said framing channel. 
     
     
         37 . A method of securing conveyor components to a conveyor disposed between a pair of side guards, each of the side guards being U-shaped and having first and second side guard ends extending perpendicularly from opposite ends of a flat wall portion to a distal end, the first side guard end having a first lip extending from the distal end of the first side guard end to define a grooved portion, the conveyor components being secured to the side guard by at least one framing channel that defines a channel portion extending between first and second channel ends being disposed between the first and second side guard ends, comprising the steps of:
 adapting the first channel end of the framing channel to correspond to the grooved portion of the side guard;   angularly inserting the adapted first channel end of the framing channel into the grooved portion;   angularly moving the second channel end to engage the second side guard end while the adapted first channel end of the framing channel remains in the grooved portion; and   securing the second channel end to the second side guard end to lock the framing channel to the side guard.   
     
     
         38 . The method as set forth in  claim 37  wherein the adapting step is further defined as securing an adaptor to the first channel end of the framing channel, the adaptor having a first adaptor portion secured to said framing channel by an adaptor securing device and a second adaptor portion extending from said first channel end to engage to said grooved portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method as set forth in  claim 37  wherein the adapting step is further defined as modifying the first channel end of the framing channel to include a slot that is defined as a notch corresponding to the grooved portion of the side guard. 
     
     
         40 . The method as set forth in  claim 37  wherein the securing step is further defined as inserting a securing device through an end guard opening defined by the second side guard end and a channel opening defined by the framing channel to secure the framing channel to the side guard. 
     
     
         41 . The method as set forth in  claim 37  wherein the adapting step is further defined as biasing an insert having an insert body extending between first and second insert ends, the first and second insert ends being biased to engage the framing channel and to secure the insert to the framing channel, the insert body corresponding to the grooved portion of the side guard and extending from the first channel end of the framing channel to engage the grooved portion of the side guard.