Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-05-29
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Unit load conveying surface means moved about an endless or...
C198S779000, C198S867140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to roller chains used for driving conveyors and other movable devices. Accumulating conveyor chains are known. These chains generally include a roller which carries a product, and, when the products begin to back up on the conveyor, the rollers begin to rotate, allowing the products to sit on top of the chain while the chain continues to run, without creating a large back line pressure on the products. A problem that can be encountered with such chains is that, if a substantial driving force is needed to move the products, the rollers may begin to rotate too soon, so that the products are not moved by the conveyor. Prior art accumulating conveyors generally do not allow control or adjustment of the threshold force at which the rollers begin to rotate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a chain and drive design in which the threshold force at which the rollers begin to rotate is controlled. In the design of the present invention, the central carrier roller that carries the product or that drives the driven member is made in two pieces, and a friction member is mounted between the two roller pieces so as to restrict rotation of the roller pieces until a threshold force is reached. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the central carrier roller pieces may be tapered at various angles, in order to control the amount of friction force between the roller pieces and the friction member.
The design of the present chain may be used in any number of conveyor or drive systems where the accumulating concept is desirable.
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Camoriano Theresa Fritz
Camoriano and Associates
Tekno Inc.
Valenza Joseph E.
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