Direct drive modular belt conveyor, cartridge, and quick connect-disconnect constant velocity drive shaft, for high speed foup transport

Abstract

A conveyor system includes a cartridge, which defines a section of the conveyor. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a number of wheels, which are designed as a unit for a conveyor section and the wheels of the cartridge are designed to hold a belt. A conveyor section, in one optional embodiment, includes integrated sensors for detecting the presence of a container (e.g., FOUP), and each conveyor section can implement precision sheet metal rails that facilitate high speed FOUP transport. In one embodiment, each conveyor section has two sides. Each side has a cartridge that has a belt. In particular embodiments, one side of the conveyor section includes a drive motor, that drives the conveyor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.