Switch conveyor
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMark Costanzo, Angela L. Marshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch conveyor including a modular conveyor belt or mat divided into longitudinal lanes of rollers. All the rollers in a lane are arranged to rotate about axes oriented in a common direction. The rollers in an adjacent lane are arranged to rotate about axes oriented in a different direction. A switch mechanism underlying the conveyor belt along a carryway selectably contacts the bottom side of the belt or mat with bearing surfaces that rotate the rollers in selected lanes along the carryway to propel conveyed articles in one direction or another.
Claims40
A conveyor belt extending in width from a left side to a right side and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side and running longitudinally in a direction of belt travel along a carryway, comprising:
- a plurality of first rollers arranged to rotate about first axes disposed at a first angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of first rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal first lanes;
- a plurality of second rollers arranged to rotate about second axes disposed at a different second angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of second rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal second lanes;
- wherein the first lanes and the second lanes are alternately formed across the width of the conveyor belt.
A switch conveyor comprising:
- a modular conveyor belt including:
- a series of rows of belt modules hingedly connected end to end by hinge pins into a conveyor belt, at least some of the rows including rollers extendable above and below top and bottom sides of the belt;
- wherein the rollers include a first group of rollers rotatable about axes generally in a first direction and a second group of rollers rotatable about axes generally in a different second direction;
- and
- wherein the first group of rollers is arranged in spaced apart longitudinal first lanes and wherein the second group is arranged in spaced apart longitudinal second lanes;
- and
- a switch mechanism underlying the belt along a carryway portion of the conveyor and selectably adjustable between contact with the first group of rollers at the bottom side of the belt under the first lanes to rotate the first group of rollers as the belt moves in a direction of belt travel and contact with the second group of rollers at the bottom side of the belt under the second lanes to rotate the second group of rollers as the belt moves in the direction of belt travel.
A switch conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor mat divided across its width into a plurality of longitudinal lanes of rollers wherein all the rollers in each lane are arranged to rotate about parallel axes and the rollers of adjacent lanes rotate about non-parallel axes;
- and
- a switch mechanism underlying a carryway portion of the switch conveyor and adjustable between lanes to rotate the rollers of alternately selectable lanes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.