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US 10,486,917 B1Granted
Conveyor-belt platform diverter
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorMatthew Vulpetti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt conveyor having a platform that is movable from a retracted position recessed into a conveyor belt's top surface and an extended position above the top surface. The platform translates across the width of the belt in a slot to carry articles across the width of the belt. Guides in the conveyor below the belt have cam surfaces that raise and lower the carrier and translate it across the belt. The carrier may include a cam-actuated lever to flip articles on the belt or off a side of the belt.
Claims17
A conveyor belt comprising:
- a top surface and an opposite bottom surface and a first side and an opposite second side defining the width of the conveyor belt;
- an elongated slot extending across a portion of the width of the belt and having a top opening at the top surface and a bottom opening at the bottom surface;
- wherein the top opening is wider than the bottom opening to form a ledge recessed inward of the top surface;
- a carrier including:
- a platform seatable on the ledge;
- a first cam follower below the bottom surface;
- a neck extending through the elongated slot to connect to the platform and to the first cam follower;
- wherein the neck is long enough to allow the carrier to move between a raised position in which the platform protrudes above the top surface and a lowered position in which the platform does not protrude above the top surface.
5 more elements
A conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor belt including:
- a top surface and an opposite bottom surface and a first side and an opposite second side defining the width of the conveyor belt;
- a plurality of elongated slots extending across the width of the conveyor belt at spaced apart locations along the length of the conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel;
- a retractable carrier received in each of the elongated slots, wherein the carrier includes a platform at the top surface, a first cam follower below the bottom surface, and a neck extending through the elongated slot to connect to the platform and the first cam follower;
- a conveyor frame;
- guides supported by the conveyor frame beneath an upper run of the conveyor belt, wherein the guides include:
- a vertical guide surface extending obliquely across the upper run to contact the first cam followers as the conveyor belt advances upstream to downstream in the direction of belt travel to move the carriers along their slots;
- a ramp transverse to the vertical guide surface at an end of the guide up which the first cam followers ride as they move along their slots to raise the platforms to a raised position in which the platforms protrude above the top surface of the conveyor belt.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.