Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
Reexamination Certificate
2008-03-18
2008-03-18
Dillon, Jr., Joe (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
C198S370090
Reexamination Certificate
active
10908933
ABSTRACT:
A conveyor and associated method for diverting closely spaced articles conveyed along the conveyor. The conveyor includes a conveyor belt with belt rollers oriented to rotate on axes oblique to the direction of belt travel. A series of arrays of bearing surface elements are arranged end to end along the length of the conveyor. The bearing surfaces may be static or rotational. Each array defines a roller-control zone in which the array is selectively activated with its bearing surface elements in contract with the belt rollers or deactivated with its bearing surface elements out of contact with the belt rollers. As the belt advances through an activated roller-control zone, the belt rollers rotate to propel a conveyed article toward a side of the belt. The contiguous roller-control zones are sequentially activated and deactivated to direct articles to the side and off the belt or to let them pass straight through. The length of the entire series of roller-control zones determines the lateral extent of the sidewise diversion. The length of each roller-control zone determines the minimum gap between consecutively conveyed articles. The serial cascade of these roller-control zones permits the tight sortation of closely spaced articles for high throughput.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2566417 (1951-09-01), Holm
patent: 3550756 (1970-12-01), Kornylak
patent: 3973672 (1976-08-01), Frost
patent: 4039074 (1977-08-01), Maxted
patent: 4264002 (1981-04-01), Van Der Schie
patent: 5092447 (1992-03-01), Wyman
patent: 5101958 (1992-04-01), LeMay et al.
patent: 5145049 (1992-09-01), McClurkin
patent: 5400896 (1995-03-01), Loomer
patent: 5551543 (1996-09-01), Mattingly et al.
patent: 5769204 (1998-06-01), Okada et al.
patent: 5988351 (1999-11-01), Warkentin
patent: 6073747 (2000-06-01), Takino et al.
patent: 6318544 (2001-11-01), OConnor et al.
patent: 6343685 (2002-02-01), Hofer
patent: 6401936 (2002-06-01), Isaacs et al.
patent: 6494312 (2002-12-01), Costanzo
patent: 6571937 (2003-06-01), Costanzo et al.
patent: 6648125 (2003-11-01), Bershadsky
patent: 6681922 (2004-01-01), Corley et al.
patent: 6758323 (2004-07-01), Costanzo
patent: 6923309 (2005-08-01), Costanzo
patent: 6968941 (2005-11-01), Fourney
patent: 7007792 (2006-03-01), Burch
patent: 7111722 (2006-09-01), Burch
patent: 7249669 (2007-07-01), Fourney
patent: 2002/0108839 (2002-08-01), Baker et al.
patent: 2005/0023105 (2005-02-01), Costanzo et al.
patent: 2005/0109582 (2005-05-01), Fourney
patent: 03-088617 (1991-04-01), None
Costanzo Mark
Fourney Matthew L.
Pressler Eric M.
Cronvich James T.
Dillon, Jr. Joe
Laitram L.L.C.
LandOfFree
Conveyor and method for diverting closely spaced articles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Conveyor and method for diverting closely spaced articles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conveyor and method for diverting closely spaced articles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3956512