US 5,632,371 A · Expandable redundantly powered conveyors

Abstract

Expandable powered conveyors featuring a number of roller power motors located externally of the rollers. The conveyors include a pair of lazy tong trusses which may be supplemented, as desired, by telescoping rigid frames, leg structures or other structures. The motors are mounted between the trusses so that their drive pulleys are located substantially coaxial to the middle connection points of the scissor bars in the trusses and thus maintain a substantially constant distance from rollers connected to those scissor bars. Drive belts connect the motor drive pulleys to power such rollers. The conveyors also include a number of transfer pulleys which are also mounted substantially coaxial to corresponding middle connection points of the trusses. A single motor may thus power one or more rollers directly, and other rollers indirectly via motor drive belts and transfer drive belts. Use of a number of motors allows grouping of rollers into zones with the same advantages enjoyed in more expensive internally powered roller conveyors, but with greater reliability, ease of maintenance and savings and expense. Among those advantages are independent control of roller zones for accumulation of product and other purposes.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A powered conveyor, comprising:

a. a pair of expandable trusses, each truss comprising:
(1) a first set of scissor bars, at least some of which include an upper connection point, a lower connection point and a middle connection point;
(2) a second set of scissor bars, at least some of which include an upper connection point, a lower connection point and a middle connection point, and at least some of which are each pivotally connected to bars of the first set of scissor bars at their upper, lower and middle connection points to form the truss;
b. a plurality of lateral members connected to and spanning connection points of the expandable trusses;
c. a plurality of elongated rollers connected to and spanning the upper connection points of the expandable trusses, at least some of which rollers contain at least one groove around their circumference;
d. a plurality of drive motors, each connected to a drive pulley and supported by at least one of the lateral members so that its drive pulley is substantially coaxial to a middle connection point;
e. a plurality of transfer pulleys, each supported by at least one of the lateral members substantially coaxial to a middle connection point;
f. a plurality of motor drive belts, each connecting a drive pulley to a roller groove;
and
g. a plurality of transfer drive belts, each connecting a transfer pulley to a roller groove.

7 more elements

A powered conveyor, comprising:

a. a pair of expandable trusses, each truss comprising:
(1) a first set of scissor bars, at least some of which include an upper connection point, a lower connection point and a middle connection point;
(2) a second set of scissor bars, at least some of which include an upper connection point, a lower connection point and a middle connection point, and at least some of which are each pivotally connected to bars of the first set of scissor bars at their upper, lower and middle connection points to form the truss;
and
(3) a plurality of vertical bars, each pivotally connected to an upper connection point and slidably connected to a lower connection point, and featuring a quick release connection in its upper portion;
b. a plurality of lateral members connected to and spanning lower connection points of the expandable trusses;
c. a plurality of elongated rollers connected to and spanning the quick release connections of the vertical bars of the expandable trusses;
d. a plurality of drive motors, each connected to a drive pulley and supported by at least two of the lateral members so that its drive pulley is substantially coaxial to a middle connection point;
e. a plurality of transfer pulleys, each supported by at least two of the lateral members substantially coaxial to a middle connection point;
f. a plurality of motor drive belts, each connecting a drive pulley to a roller;
and
g. a plurality of transfer drive belts, each connecting a transfer pulley to a roller groove.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Expandable redundantly powered conveyors

Life of this patent

Expandable redundantly powered conveyors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33