Conveyor belt with built-in magnetic-motor linear drive
OwnerHeinz-Ulrich Lewininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor has an endless belt spanned over upstream and downstream rollers and having upper and lower stretches. The belt has an outer surface adapted to carry a load in the upper stretch and a lower surface turned inward. Permanent magnets are fixed to the inner surface of the belt and a linear-motor stator is provided underneath the upper stretch and juxtaposed with the permanent magnets thereof. The stator and magnets together form a linear motor for advancing the upper stretch downstream. An array of such permanent magnets is imbedded in the lower surface of the belt spaced apart to permit the belt to flex.
Claims6
In a conveyor having an endless belt spanned over upstream and downstream rollers, normally traveling in a predetermined travel direction, and having upper and lower stretches, the belt having an outer surface adapted to carry a load in the upper stretch and a lower surface turned inward,
- the improvement comprising:
- permanent magnets imbedded in the belt adjacent the inner surface of the belt and each having rounded leading and trailing ends relative to the normal travel direction of the belt;
- and
- a linear-motor stator underneath the upper stretch and juxtaposed with the permanent magnets thereof, the stator and magnets together forming a linear motor for advancing the upper stretch downstream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.