Bi-directional, differential motion conveyor
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorArthur L. Dean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a differential motion conveyor comprising a trough and a conveyor drive. The conveyor drive comprises a clutch/brake assembly which is selectively activated for moving the trough at a first speed in a first direction and selectively deactivated when moving the trough at a second speed in an opposite direction. There is further provided a method of conveying material comprising sensing a position of a trough, activating a clutch/brake assembly when the trough is at a first position for moving the trough at a first speed in a first direction, and deactivating a clutch/brake assembly when the trough is at a second position for moving the trough at a second faster speed in a second opposite direction to the first direction.
Claims20
A differential motion conveyor comprising:
- a trough;
- and
- a conveyor drive for reciprocating said trough, said conveyor drive comprising a clutch/brake assembly, said clutch/brake assembly being selectively activated for moving said trough at a first speed in a first direction and selectively deactivated when moving said trough at a second speed in an opposite direction.
A differential motion conveyor comprising:
- a trough;
- a sensor for sensing a position of said trough;
- a conveyor drive for reciprocating said trough, said conveyor drive comprising a clutch/brake assembly;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein said controller activates said clutch/brake assembly for moving said trough at a first speed in a first direction and deactivates said clutch/brake assembly for moving said trough at a second faster speed in an opposite direction.
A method of conveying material comprising:
- reciprocating a trough:
- sensing a position of said trough;
- activating a clutch/brake assembly when said trough is at a first position for moving said trough at a first speed in a first direction;
- and
- deactivating a clutch/brake assembly when said trough is at a second position for moving said trough at a second faster speed in a second opposite direction to said first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.