Loading patent…
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsTimothy J. Hicks, David W. Bogle, Scott J. Sirgo, Christopher G. Greve
Estimating the term…
This invention provides improvements in modular links and conveyor belt systems for transferring moving articles from one conveyor belt to another disposed at ninety degrees. Thus a transferring belt has specially constructed links with two integrally formed portions across the width, one for pivotable connection in a moving belt configuration and the other specially constructed with features for more effective transfer of articles from the edge of a transfer belt to a moving belt disposed at ninety degrees which excludes inter-link pivoting structure. Thus with specially formed belt edge transfer modular links, a planar edge transfer platform is formed by the upper surfaces of a series of link end and belt edge planar conveyance surfaces located on the respective belt links. The lower link edge surfaces are tapered to reside in non-contact position over the ramp of the receptacle belt formed typically by a sprocket wheel at a position where the planar conveyance surfaces on the two belts are contiguous and co-planar. The link ends are constructed for encountering the dynamic movement conditions and loading stresses encountered when the belt edge is transversed by moving articles traveling from one belt to the other. The underside surfaces at the link end are contoured typically as a circular chord feathered out at the transfer end, and having a set of ridges parallel with the pivot rods. Interdigitatable fingers extending integrally from the upper planar link end surface mate with leading and trailing links for sharing planar and vertical stresses in the cantilevered integral link end-belt edge structure.
In a conveyor belt system for moving articles in transit off a source belt moving in one direction onto a receptacle belt moving in a different direction, the improvement comprising in combination, a modular link source belt disposed for conveyance of articles in a first movement direction on a belt conveying surface, a modular link receptacle belt disposed for receiving articles conveyed on the source belt to move in said different direction on the receptacle belt which presents an entrance ramp tapered upwardly toward an article conveying surface, said entrance ramp being positioned alongside a transfer edge of the source belt for receiving articles discharged from an edge of the source belt, a guard rail system disposed to engage articles conveyed on the source belt for guiding the movement direction of such articles off the edge of the source belt toward the article conveying surface of the receptacle belt, means constructing the source belt with modular belt edge links having a shaped edge ramp configuration on an under side tapered to a thin web surface at the belt edge, said tapered under side being positionable to move dynamically across the entrance ramp with minimal contact to present a small gap width for conveying articles from the source belt to the receptacle belt, and means forming an edge ramp configuration on each source belt modular link with interlocking structural means to engage adjacent link module leading and trailing edges in the source belt thereby providing distribution of weight of transferred articles in transit among a plurality of links along the source belt length for damping dynamic flexing and fluttering of modular link tips individually along the transfer edge of the source belt.
A conveyor belt modular link for transferring conveyed articles off a transfer belt edge onto a moving receptacle belt for changing the direction of article travel, comprising in combination:
A modular link for a conveyor belt adapted to discharge conveyed articles from an edge of a moving transfer belt configuration, comprising in combination:
In a conveyance system for transferring conveyed articles off the edge of the modular link conveyor belt formed of end to end coupled modular links onto a moving transfer belt for conveying the articles in a different direction, the improvements for stabilizing the belt edge to avoid vibration and belt interference in edge transfer regions, comprising in combination:
In a conveyor belt system for moving articles in transit off a transfer belt moving in one direction onto a receptacle belt moving in a different direction, the improvement comprising in combination, a modular link transfer belt disposed for conveyance of articles in a first movement direction on a planar conveying surface, a modular link receptacle belt disposed for receiving articles conveyed on the transfer belt in said different direction and having an entrance ramp inclined upwardly toward a planar conveying surface, said entrance ramp being positioned alongside one edge of the transfer belt for receiving articles discharged from an edge of the transfer belt, and a guard rail system disposed to engage articles conveyed on the transfer belt for guiding the movement direction of such articles off the edge of the transfer belt toward the planar conveying surface of the receptacle belt, wherein the transfer belt is formed with modular belt edge links having an edge ramp configuration on an under side and a planar conveying surface on an upper side, said edge being disposed to move across and mate adjacent to and with no more than minimal contact with the entrance ramp to produce coplanar planar conveying surfaces on the transfer and receptacle belts, and wherein the edge ramp configuration comprises integrally formed modular belt link extensions on each transfer belt module having interlocking structural means for interengaging adjacent link modules in the transfer belt to form a continuous planar surface along a transfer edge of the transfer belt.
A conveyor belt modular link for transferring conveyed articles off a transfer belt edge onto a moving receptacle belt for changing the direction of article travel ninety degrees, comprising in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms: the surface being formed by…
Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices: devices for transferring articles or materials…
Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled: articles
Indexing codes relating to constructional details, configuration and additional features of a handling device, e.g. Conveyors: modular constructions
Term ended 6 Oct 2015 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to the transfer of continuously moving items from one edge of a moving transfer conveyor belt to a normally disposed moving receptacle conveyor belt, and more particularly it relates to the structure of conveyor belt edges and modular belt links for resolving problems encountered in transferring moving articles in transit from a first moving conveyor belt onto a second conveyor belt moving at a ninety degree angle to the first belt.
Conveyor belt systems are known in the art that change the direction of travel of conveyed articles abruptly around an ninety degree corner. Conventionally this has been achieved by inserting a dead plate bridge in the spacing between the planar conveying surfaces of two belts axially disposed at a ninety degree angle. Then conveyed articles are urged by the conveying force of a transferring belt at a junction with a curving guard rail to turn the corner and push each other across the dead plate thereby permitting conveyed articles to be moved off the edge of the transfer belt with pushing energy from the transferring belt to be discharged onto a moving receptacle belt oriented at a ninety degree angle which will then carry the articles away.
However, there are many problems presented by such apparatus including the stranding of smaller footprint articles on the dead plate when feed is intermittent, and prevention of changes in transport speed across a transfer region. The articles should not be subject to wobbling, snagging or tipping over when they leave a transfer conveying belt edge surface and are pulled away by the moving receptacle belt.
In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters in the different views designate similar features to facilitate comparison:
FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmental view of a typical conveyor belt system afforded by this invention for moving articles in transit off a transfer belt moving in one direction onto a receptacle belt moving in a direction normal to the transfer belt,
FIG. 2 is a fragmental sketch embodiment of a similar conveyor belt system illustrating functional operation of the conveyor belt system,
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, bottles 15 or other articles are conveyed by the primary modular link belt 16 headed in the direction of arrow 18 and by way of the curved guard rail 19 are urged by energy from belt 16 as they impact the outer guard rail 19 to move across belt 16 toward the normally disposed receptacle belt 17 in direction 20. The inner guard rail 21 takes a sharp ninety degree turn at the left edge 22 of belt 16 to pass along the nearer edge of belt 17, and the throat of belt 17 is wide enough to avoid significant bottlenecking as the conveyed articles turn the corner.
In this embodiment, the intermediate belt 23 is employed between the primary belt 16 and the receptacle belt 17 and is identified as a transfer belt with special edge structure 24 functioning as a discharge edge for articles leaving the transfer belt 23. This special edge structure, formed on the left ends of the links in the transfer belt, comprises fewer specially made modular links than would be required in the longer primary belt 16. Also it would have the advantage of permitting a more gradual curve about the rail corner 21 of the nearer guard rail 25 that traverses the intermediate transfer belt 23 before crossing the edge 22 of the primary belt, thereby to provide the planar upper belt surface support for the articles in transit. Optionally, the edge structure could be provided upon the primary belt 16 which would then become the transfer belt, and the intermediate belt eliminated to abut receptacle belt 17 against the left edge 22 of the primary belt 16. In the configuration of FIG. 2, it is seen that as the articles move in transition through the ninety degree direction of travel change, the guard rails 19 and 25 are spaced substantially the same distance apart on lines extending normally from a point on one guard rail to the other guard rail.
One embodiment of the edge links of the transfer belt structure providing the special edge structure 24 is shown in the respective upper and lower side views of FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the top flat planar conveying surface 29 of modular link 30 has a cantilevered article discharge platform 41 extending from the left end as shown in FIG. 3 and the right end of FIG. 4. This planar conveying surface may be either in a grid pattern or constitute the flat plate shown in this embodiment. Preferably the article discharge platform is a solid flat plate that avoids any crevices or interruptions to articles when sliding across the transition region between the two belts, and thus there is less chance of the snagging, tilting or wobbling of conveyed articles in the instant before discharge.