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US 12,686,570 B2Granted
Load-centering apparatus including a torque-absorbing coupler
AssigneeSignode Industrial Group LLC
InventorCarsten Fenn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load-centering apparatus including a torque-absorbing coupler that minimizes the likelihood that the load-centering apparatus will damage a load of goods after centering the load of goods on a conveyor.
Claims20
A load-centering apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first load-engagement-arm assembly supported by the frame and comprising a first load engager;
- a second load-engagement-arm assembly supported by the frame and comprising a second load engager;
- and
- a drive assembly operably connected to the first and second load-engagement arm assemblies and configured to move the first and second load engagers toward one another, the drive assembly comprising:
- a first drive shaft;
- a second drive shaft;
- a torque-absorbing coupler coupling the second drive shaft to the first drive shaft and comprising a compressible torque absorber, wherein the compressible torque absorber has a stiffness such that the compressible torque absorber compresses when a resistive force applied to at least one of the first and second load engagers reaches a threshold resistive force;
- and
- a motor operably connected to the first drive shaft to apply a drive torque to the first drive shaft.
7 more elements
A method for centering a load on a conveyor, the method comprising:
- moving, via a motor, first and second load engagers toward the load, wherein the first load engager is on a first side of the load and the second load engager is on a second side of the load;
- engaging the load with the first and second load engagers to center the load on the conveyor;
- detecting, via a sensor, that a movement speed of at least one of the first and second load engagers has reached a threshold movement speed;
- responsive to detecting that the movement speed of the at least one of the first and second load engagers has reached the threshold movement speed, moving, via the motor, the first and second load engagers away from the load to release the load;
- and
- after the first and second load engagers engage the load and before moving the first and second load engagers away from the load, absorbing, via a compressible torque absorber of a torque-absorbing coupling, at least part of a drive torque applied by the motor to a drive shaft operably connected to the first and second load engagers by the torque-absorbing coupling, wherein compressible torque absorber has a stiffness such that the compressible torque absorber compresses when a resistive force applied to at least one of the first and second load engagers reaches a threshold resistive force.
3 more elements
A load-centering apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first load-engagement-arm assembly supported by the frame and comprising a first load engager;
- a second load-engagement-arm assembly supported by the frame and comprising a second load engager;
- and
- a drive assembly operably connected to the first and second load-engagement arm assemblies and configured to move the first and second load engagers toward one another, the drive assembly comprising:
- a first drive shaft;
- a second drive shaft;
- a torque-absorbing coupler coupling the second drive shaft to the first drive shaft and comprising a first torque-absorber holder fixed in rotation with the first drive shaft, a second torque-absorber holder fixed in rotation relative to the second drive shaft, and multiple compressible torque absorbers attached to the first torque absorber holder and the second torque absorber holder, wherein the compressible torque absorbers each have a stiffness such that they each compress when a resistive force applied to at least one of the first and second load engagers reaches a threshold resistive force;
- and
- a motor operably connected to the first drive shaft to apply a drive torque to the first drive shaft.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.