Conveyor system diverter components having friction-enhancing surfaces and related methods of use
AssigneeRapistan Demag Corporation
InventorGerald A. Brouwer
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Abstract
A conveyor diverter system comprising one or more conveyors, components for diverter systems having friction-enhancing outer surfaces, friction-enhancing layers and compositions that provide such surfaces are disclosed. In addition, methods of reducing the frequency or occurrence of articles being misdiverted by use of such systems, components, layers and compositions are described. The preferred embodiment of the friction-enhancing layer and composition disposed on the outer periphery of the diverter components comprises grit materials dispersed in a metallic material such that a particular grit surface density is achieved and grit particles protrude above the uppermost surface of the metallic layer within a range of particular distances.
Claims27
A conveyor diverter system utilizing at least one diverter component having a friction-enhancing outer article contacting surface, said system comprising:
- a conveyor including a conveying surface supported by a flamework structure;
- a divert apparatus including at least one diverter component, said divert apparatus disposed along said conveyor;
- and
- wherein said at least one diverter component includes a friction-enhancing layer disposed on an outer article contacting surface of said component, said friction-enhancing layer including an effective mount of grit material dispersed in a metallic material cornering said outer article contacting surface of said diverter component.
A diverter component for use in a diverter system, said component having an outer article contacting surface for cornering diverted articles and comprising:
- a generally cylindrical substrate having a circumferential outer article contacting surface between a first and a second end;
- and
- a friction-enhancing layer disposed on said outer article contacting surface, said friction-enhancing layer comprising an effective mount of grit material dispersed in a metallic material disposed on said outer article contacting surface of said diverter component.
A method of reducing the frequency of nondiverted articles when utilizing a diverter system comprising a conveyor including a first plurality of powered rollers disposed with a framework structure, a divert apparatus comprising at least one conventional diverter component, said divert apparatus disposed along said first conveyor, said method comprising:
- replacing said at least one conventional diverter component with a diverter component comprising a friction-enhancing layer disposed on its outer article contacting surface, said friction-enhancing layer comprising an effective mount of grit material dispersed in a metallic material disposed on said outer article contacting surface of said diverter component.
A method of reducing the occurrence of nondiverted articles when utilizing a diverter system comprising a conveyor including a first plurality of powered rollers disposed with a framework structure, a divert apparatus comprising at least one diverter component having an outer article contacting surface, said divert apparatus disposed along said conveyor, said method comprising:
- applying a friction-enhancing composition to said outer article contacting surface of said at least one diverter component, said composition comprising an effective amount of grit material dispersed in a metallic material;
- and
- heating said composition to form a friction-enhancing layer disposed on said outer article contacting surface of said diverter component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.