Conveyor roller system and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveyor roller, system and method. The roller has a cylindrical barrel portion and a plurality of radially-disposed, recessed splines that are integrally-formed into at least one end or intermediate the ends of the barrel portion. The recessed splines are configured to receive a drive belt which imparts rotational motion to the roller. The disclosed conveyor roller system employs a plurality of these rollers disposed in spaced-apart, parallel adjacency between a pair of parallel frame members. Each pair of adjacent rollers is coupled by a belt, preferably having a succession of parallel, lateral projections (e.g. ribbed) on an inner surface for engaging the recessed splines of the rollers which it couples. Alternatively, the rollers may be coupled by a single, continuous belt. Power to drive the rollers may be supplied by coupling a drive motor to one of the rollers with another ribbed drive belt for engaging the recessed splines of the roller to which it is coupled. The drive motor may have a shaft with a plurality of parallel, radially disposed recessed splines integrally-formed therein and configured to receive the ribs of the drive belt. Alternatively, a standard gear pulley may be mounted onto the drive shaft for powering the drive belt. A method using the instant invention for driving a conveyor roller system for transporting articles across a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart rollers connected axially between a pair of parallel frame members is also disclosed. The rollers are provided with a plurality of parallel, radially-disposed recessed splines integrally-formed about a portion thereof. These recessed splines are engaged with a belt to thereby couple the rollers. The coupled rollers are then rotated with a drive that is coupled to at least one of the rollers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.