Multi-drive conveyor systems and methods of using same
AssigneeFedex Corporation
InventorsRandy Dixon, C. Todd McDaniel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a conveyor system and method for advancing an item relative to a transport axis. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a modular drive assembly having at least one drive module and at least one take-up module. Each drive module and each take-up module has a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing. The respective positions of the housings of the at least one drive module and the at least one take-up module relative to the transport axis are selectively adjustable to modify the conveyor movement pathway. Moreover, the drive module can also include a drive pulley removal apparatus that is detachably secured within the housing for selective removal and replacement of a drive pulley.
Claims20
A drive module for a conveyor system, the drive module comprising:
- a housing;
- a pulley assembly positioned within the housing and comprising a motorized drive pulley, the motorized drive pulley comprising at least one mounting bracket for detachably securing the motorized drive pulley to the housing, wherein the motorized drive pulley of each drive module is selectively removable and replaceable;
- and
- a drive pulley removal apparatus detachably secured within the housing, wherein, following detachment of motorized drive pulley from the housing, the drive pulley removal apparatus is configured to engage the at least one mounting bracket of the motorized drive pulley and effect movement of the motorized drive pulley from a stowed position within the housing of the drive module to an accessible position in which at least a portion of the motorized drive pulley is outside the housing of the drive module.
A method of driving a conveyor to advance an item relative to a transport axis, the method comprising:
- selectively positioning a conveyor drive assembly in a first configuration to define a first conveyor movement pathway, wherein the conveyor drive assembly comprises a plurality of modules, each module of the conveyor drive assembly having a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing, and wherein the housings of the plurality of modules are selectively positioned relative to the transport axis to define the first conveyor movement pathway;
- positioning a first item on a conveyor belt positioned in engagement with the pulley assembly of each module of the conveyor drive assembly;
- driving movement of the conveyor belt relative to the first conveyor movement pathway;
- disengaging the conveyor belt from the pulley assembly of at least one module of the conveyor drive assembly;
- selectively adjusting the positioning of the housing of at least one module of the conveyor drive assembly to define a second conveyor movement pathway that is different from the first conveyor movement pathway;
- positioning the conveyor belt in engagement with the pulley assemblies of the plurality of modules of the conveyor drive assembly;
- positioning a second item on the conveyor belt;
- and
- driving movement of the conveyor belt relative to the second conveyor movement pathway.
A method of driving a conveyor to advance an item relative to a transport axis, the method comprising:
- selectively positioning a conveyor drive assembly in a first configuration to define a first conveyor movement pathway, wherein the conveyor drive assembly comprises a plurality of modules, each module of the conveyor drive assembly having a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the plurality of modules comprises a drive module, wherein the pulley assembly of the drive module comprises a motorized drive pulley, wherein the housings of the plurality of modules are selectively positioned relative to the transport axis to define the first conveyor movement pathway;
- positioning a conveyor belt in engagement with the pulley assemblies of the plurality of modules of the conveyor drive assembly such that the conveyor belt forms a closed loop;
- and
- selectively removing and replacing the motorized drive pulley of the drive module without breaking the closed loop formed by the conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.