# US 2014/0190799 A1 · Modular conveying systems and methods

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- Number: US 2014/0190799 A1
- Document ID: US20140190799A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/149,674
- Filed: 2014-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Assignees: Solus Industrial Innovations, LLC
- Applicants: Solus Industrial Innovations, LLC
- Inventors: Jim Porter; Kelly Parrish; Lance Ireland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190799A1

## CPC

- B65G 15/30: Belts or like endless load-carriers (co-operating with rails or the like B65G21/22; {co-operating} with rollers B65G39/20)
- B65G 17/08: the surface being formed by the traction element
- B65G 17/24: comprising a series of rollers which are moved {, e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers}
- B65G 17/40: Chains acting as load-carriers
- B65G 39/20: attached to moving belts or chains
- B65G 2207/12: Chain pin retainers
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

Various modular conveyors, conveying systems, conveyor modules, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the conveyor comprises a module body and an upper member. The module body can be configured to receive one or more rolling elements. In some embodiments, the rolling elements protrude through openings in the module body and the upper member. In various embodiments, the rolling elements can be configured to engage a surface below the module body and/or an item on the conveyor, thereby facilitating multi-directional travel of the item.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular conveyor comprising:
a series of rows of modules, each row extending laterally from a first side of the conveyor to a second side of the conveyor, the module being linked to a forwardly-adjacent module and a rearwardly-adjacent module, the module comprising:
a module body comprising:
a width extending between a first lateral side of the module body and a second lateral side of the module body;
a thickness extending in a direction of travel of the conveyor between a front side of the module body and a rear side of the module body;
a single front leg extending forwardly from the front side, the front leg having a laterally extending first passage;
a single rear leg extending rearwardly from the rear side, the rear leg having a laterally extending second passage;
a seat in communication with a bottom roller opening; and
a securing hole;
a cover configured to couple with the module body and to span the width of the module body, the cover comprising:
an upper roller opening; and
a securing member configured to engage with the securing hole to secure the cover with the module body;
a spherical rolling element positionable in the seat, a diameter of the spherical rolling element being greater than a diameter of the upper roller opening;
wherein when the spherical rolling element is positioned in the seat and the cover is secured with the module body:
a lower portion of the spherical rolling element extends through the bottom roller opening to facilitate engaging the spherical rolling element with a surface below the module; and
an upper portion of the spherical rolling element extends through the upper roller opening to facilitating multi-directional movement of an item on the conveyor;
a first retaining pin configured to extend through the laterally extending first passage and into the forwardly-adjacent module to link the module and the forwardly-adjacent module; and
a second retaining pin configured to extend through the laterally extending second passage and into the rearwardly-adjacent module to link the module and the rearwardly-adjacent module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a cantilevered member with a lip.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the module body further comprises one or more alignment holes configured to receive guide members and the cover comprises guide members, the one or more alignment holes and the guide members configured to interact to guide the securing member and the securing hole into engagement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The conveyor of claim 3, wherein the guide members are at least partially tapered to facilitate reception in the one or more alignment holes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a plurality of spherical rolling elements and a corresponding number of the seats.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a clip configured to engage the first retaining pin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The conveyor of claim 6, wherein the module comprises a recess configured to receive the clip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The conveyor of claim 7, further comprising a securing feature configured to engage a securing aperture in the module and a corresponding aperture in the clip, thereby inhibiting removal of the clip from the module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, wherein:
the front leg of the module further comprises a finger configured to be received in a recess in a rearwardly extending leg of the forwardly-adjacent module; and
the rear leg of the module further comprises a recess configured receive a finger on a forwardly extending leg of the rearwardly-adjacent module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The conveyor of claim 9, wherein the finger of the module is insertable into the recess in the rearwardly extending leg of the forwardly-adjacent module when the module is positioned at an angle α relative to the forwardly-adjacent module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The conveyor of claim 10, wherein the angle α is at least about 100°.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The conveyor of claim 1, wherein each row further comprises a plurality of the modules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The conveyor of claim 12, wherein the plurality of the modules are arranged in rows and columns, the rows extending in laterally from a first side of the conveyor to a second side of the conveyor, the columns extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The conveyor of claim 12, wherein the first lateral side of the module body comprises a lateral linking member and the second lateral side of the module body comprises a lateral linking receiver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The conveyor of claim 14, wherein the lateral linking member of one of the plurality of modules engages with the lateral linking receiver of a laterally adjacent one of the plurality of modules.

### Claim 16

A modular conveyor system comprising:
a plurality of modules arranged in rows and columns, the rows extending laterally from a first side of the conveyor to a second side of the conveyor, the columns extending in a direction of conveyor travel, each of the modules comprising:
module body comprising:
a width extending between a first lateral side of the module body and a second lateral side of the module body;
a thickness extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor between a front side of the module body and a rear side of the module body;
a front leg extending forwardly from the front side, the front leg having a laterally extending first passage;
a rear leg extending rearwardly from the rear side, the rear leg having a laterally extending second passage;
a seat in communication with a bottom roller opening; and
a securing hole;
a cover configured to engage with the module body and to span the module body, the upper member comprising:
an upper roller opening; and
a securing member configured to engage with the securing hole to secure the cover to the module body;
a rolling element positionable in the seat, wherein when the rolling element is positioned in the seat and the cover is secured to the module body:
a lower portion of the rolling element extends through the bottom roller opening to facilitate engaging the rolling element with a surface below the module; and
an upper portion of the rolling element extends through the upper roller opening facilitating multi-directional movement of an item on the conveyor;
a first retaining pin configured to extend through the laterally extending first passage and into the forwardly-adjacent module to link the module and the forwardly-adjacent module; and
a second retaining pin configured to extend through the laterally extending second passage and into the rearwardly-adjacent module to link the module and the rearwardly-adjacent module.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The modular conveyor system of claim 16, wherein the rolling element is spherical.

### Claim 18

A module for a modular conveyor, the module comprising:
a module body comprising a top portion comprising a channel, a bottom portion having a first opening, a front side having a single forwardly-extending leg, a rear side having a single rearwardly-extending leg, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a plurality of recesses, and a securing hole;
wherein a width of the module body is the distance between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
wherein the forwardly extending leg comprises a laterally extending first passage configured to receive a first retaining pin and the rearwardly extending leg comprises a laterally extending second passage configured to receive a second retaining pin;
a cover received in the channel of the module body, a width of the cover being greater than or equal to the width of the module body, the cover comprising a second opening and a securing member that is engaged with the securing hole to secure the cover and the module body together; and
a plurality of rolling elements each positioned in one of the recesses of the module body, wherein a rolling element protrudes through the first opening and the second opening to facilitate multi-directional movement of an item on the conveyor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The module of claim 18, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are spherical.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The module of claim 18, wherein a top surface of the cover is flush with a top surface of the forwardly extending leg and a top surface of the rearwardly extending leg.