Conveyor apparatus having a belt and object guide with a nodular contact surface
OwnerDorian F. Steeber, Robert E. Reaser +1inventors
InventorsDorian F. Steeber, Robert E. Reaser, William G. Faulkner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor apparatus of the type in which an object is transported on a conveyor belt and in which the conveyor belt slidingly engages a guide member, the guide member having a plurality of nodules extending therefrom so as to form a plurality of channels and define a low friction contact surface for reducing drag between the conveyor belt and the contact surface when the conveyor belt is set in motion. The low friction contact surface of the guide member also is slidingly engagable with the object when the guide member is used as a side rail.
Claims27
A conveyor apparatus for transporting an object, comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- conveyor belt guide means for guiding and supporting at least a portion of the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt guide means comprising at least one conveyor belt guide member adapted for sliding engagement with the conveyor belt, the guide member having a plurality of nodules extending therefrom so as to define a low friction contact surface for reducing drag between the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt guide member when the conveyor belt is in sliding engagement with the conveyor belt guide member;
- and
- means for actuating the conveyor belt such that the conveyor belt slides over the conveyor belt guide member of the conveyor belt guide means.
A conveyor apparatus for transporting an object, comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- object guide means for guiding and supporting the object disposed on the conveyor belt while the conveyor belt is in motion, the object guide means comprising at least one object guide member adapted for sliding engagement with the object, the object guide member having a plurality of nodules extending therefrom so as to define a low friction contact surface for reducing drag between the object and the object guide member when the object is in sliding engagement with the object guide member;
- and
- means for actuating the conveyor belt.
An improved conveyor apparatus of the type in which an object is transported on a conveyor belt and which at least one of the object and the conveyor belt slidingly engages a contact surface of a guide member, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of spaced apart nodules extending from the guide member so as to define the contact surface of the guide member and thereby reduce drag between the contact surface of the guide member and one of the object and the conveyor belt when the conveyor belt is in motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.