Belt conveyor apparatus
AssigneePenn United Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPaul J. Kaufman, William H. Rodgers, Raymond J. Kaufman, Daryl L. Vettori, Richard D. Pollick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Belt apparatus includes clip assemblies that releasably retain objects to the belt to convey the objects from a point of origination to a destination point. A feed system feeds the objects onto the belt apparatus at the point of origination and a deflector apparatus removes the objects from the belt at the destination point.
Claims12
A system for conveying objects having a generally cylindrical elongated portion from a point of origination to a destination point along a predetermined path comprising:
- belt apparatus for releasably conveying the object from the point of origination to the destination point, said belt apparatus having a belt, at least one retaining member coupled to said belt, the retaining member including a retaining portion, at least one guide member, said at least one guide member having one or more sloping members, each said sloping member structured to generally correspond to the shape of said object cylindrical elongated portion;
- and wherein said retaining member is positioned to releasably retain said object cylindrical elongated portion between said at least one retaining member and said at least one guide member;
- a system that feeds the objects onto the belt apparatus where they are releasably retained;
- a system that removes the objects from the belt apparatus at the destination point;
- a drive system that moves said belt apparatus along the predetermined path;
- wherein the objects are releasably secured to said belt apparatus with clips;
- and
- a grounding apparatus that reduces the static electric buildup on said belt apparatus.
A method for conveying objects having a generally cylindrical elongated portion from a point of origination to a destination point along a predetermined path including the steps of:
- feeding and releasably securing the objects to a belt apparatus, said belt apparatus having a belt, at least one retaining member coupled to said belt, the retaining member including a retaining portion, at least one guide member, said at least one guide member having one or more sloping members, each said sloping member structured to generally correspond to the shape of said object cylindrical elongated portion;
- and wherein said retaining member is positioned to releasably retain said object cylindrical elongated portion between said at least one retaining member and said at least one guide member, wherein said objects are maintained in a selected orientation;
- moving said belt apparatus along the predetermined path;
- removing the objects from the belt apparatus at the destination point;
- wherein the obiects are releasably secured to said belt apparatus with clips;
- and
- grounding the belt apparatus to reduce the static electric buildup on said belt apparatus.
A retaining member for releasably holding an object having a generally cylindrical elongated portion to the belt of a belt conveyor apparatus, comprising:
- a belt mounting surface adapted to be secured to the belt, said belt mounting surface having at least one guide member, said at least one guide member having one or more sloping members, each said sloping member structured to generally correspond to the shape of said object cylindrical elongated portion;
- an object retainer adapted to releasably secure an object to said retaining member;
- and
- wherein said object includes a thread extending over said elongated portion and
- wherein said at least one guide member includes at least one sloping member, said
- sloping member having a thickness structured to be disposed between the thread of said object.
A belt apparatus for conveying an object having a generally cylindrical elongated portion, said belt apparatus for conveying an object comprising:
- a belt,
- at least one retaining member coupled to said belt, the retaining member including a retaining portion;
- at least one guide member coupled to said belt, each said at least one guide member structured to generally correspond to the shape of said object cylindrical elongated portion;
- wherein said retaining member is positioned to releasably retain said object cylindrical elongated portion between said at least one retaining member and said at least one guide member;
- said at least one guide member has one or more sloping members;
- each said sloping member having a thickness sized to fit within the thread on said object;
- and
- wherein, when said object is disposed between said retaining member and said at least one guide member, each said sloping member is disposed between adjacent threads on said object, whereby said object is maintained in a selected orientation on said belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.