Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Patent
1998-02-23
2000-08-22
Ellis, Christopher P.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
198817, B65G 2304
Patent
active
061057568
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a conveyor and to convergers incorporating a plurality of such conveyors. Such conveyors and convergers are suited for use in a production line.
GB-2224708B discloses a conveyor belt assembly usable as a converger. The conveyor comprises two horizontally spaced rollers, rotatably mounted within a casing. One of the rollers is coupled to a motor and acts as a drive roller, whereas the other is freely rotating. The rollers are linked by a composite conveyor belt formed of a plurality of spaced parallel narrow belt loops. The loops are located in circumferential grooves formed in the rollers and are kept under sufficient tension such that the free running roller is driven from the drive roller. Upwardly pointing fingers are controllable to project through the gaps between adjacent belt loops so as to lift items off the belt loops and thereby prevent the items from being conveyed along the conveyor. Conveyors of this type can be arranged in parallel and controlled so as to delay products emerging from a plurality of production lines so that they can be sequenced into a single conveyor path. The conveyor belts are permanently in motion and this can result in products becoming skewed if they are not lifted completely off the conveyor belt by the fingers.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyor, comprising at least one endless conveying means, a drive shaft for driving the at least one conveying means, and drive transfer means associated with a respective endless conveying means and moveable between a drive position for driving the associated conveying means from the drive shaft, and a stop position at which motion of the drive shaft is not transferred to the associated conveying means.
It is thus possible to provide a conveyor arrangement in which the conveyor is stopped in order to prevent the conveyance of an item. However, the motor and associated driving elements continue to run when the conveyor is stopped, thereby ensuring that acceleration and the deceleration of the conveyor are relatively rapid.
Preferably, the endless conveying means is a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be a relatively wide single belt, or may be a composite belt formed from a plurality of bands. Advantageously, each belt or band extends between associated guide rollers. The guide rollers carry circumferential recesses thereon so as to locate the belt or band within the recess and thereby to guide it.
Preferably, the drive transfer means comprises one or more pinch wheels moveable by one or more actuators between respective engaged positions, at which the pinch wheels are urged towards contact with the drive shaft, and disengaged positions such that no drive is transferred to the conveyor belt.
Alternatively, the drive transfer means may comprise idler wheels moveable to and from an engaged position at which they abut a drive shaft and a roller over which an associated conveyor belt passes.
Preferably, the pinch (or idler) wheels are moved by pneumatic actuators. Such an arrangement provides a clean and easily controllable source of motive power. Alternatively, hydraulic or electrical actuators may be used.
Preferably, a plurality of conveyors are arranged in parallel and feed a common output conveyor. Such an arrangement forms a converger for converging a plurality of input paths to a single output path. Thus, each of the input conveyors is independently controllable between a moving state for conveying items to the output path, and a stationary state in which an item is not conveyed to the output path.
Preferably, the input conveyors are driven from a common drive shaft or a common motor. A composite conveyor belt may be controlled so as to simulate a plurality of input conveyors arranged side by side.
Advantageously, the or each conveyor belt passes between the respective guide rollers such that the or each belt is kept under moderate tension. This ensures that the or each belt remains captive on its guide rollers. As noted hereinbefore, prior art conve
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Dillon, Jr. Joe
Ellis Christopher P.
Ram Michael J.
Testamatic Limited
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