Conveyor assembly with selectively movable zones
AssigneeUnique Metal Designs, Inc.
InventorDon A. Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conveyor assembly includes a series of rollers for conveying a product to one or more product operations. A pair of spaced apart side frames support the series of rollers spanning between the frames. A drive system is associated with one or more rollers of the series of rollers and includes a selectively inflatable bladder, an elastomeric sleeve and a moving belt, wherein inflation of the bladder pushes the moving belt against one or more of the rollers for their rotation. A brake system is associated with one or more of the series of rollers and includes a selectively inflatable bladder and a fixed elastomeric band, wherein inflation of the bladder pushes the fixed elastomeric band against one or more of the rollers for stopping its rotation.
Claims15
In a conveyor assembly including a series of freely moving conveyor rollers for conveying a product to one or more product operations, the improvement which comprises:
- (a) a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the series of freely moving conveyor rollers spanning between said side frames;
- (b) a drive system associated with one or more drive rollers selected from said freely moving conveyor rollers and comprising:
- (1) a selectively inflatable bladder, an elastomeric sleeve wrapped around said drive rollers, and a moving belt disposed beneath said drive rollers, wherein inflation of said bladder pushes said moving belt against said elastomeric sleeve wrapped drive rollers for rotation of said drive rollers;
- and
- (c) a brake system associated with one or more brake rollers selected from said freely moving conveyor rollers and comprising:
- (1) a selectively inflatable bladder and a fixed elastomeric band disposed beneath said brake rollers, wherein inflation of said bladder pushes said fixed elastomeric band against said brake rollers for stopping rotation of said brake rollers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.