# US 8,783,447 B1 · Article metering device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,447 B1 - Document ID: US8783447B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/956,544 - Filed: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Dyco, Inc. - Applicants: Dyco, Inc. - Inventors: Peter D. Yohe; Thomas M. Zurewich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783447B1 ## CPC - B65G 21/2054: {comprising elements movable in the direction of load-transport} - B65G 15/14: the load being conveyed between the belts {(B65G15/18, B65G15/20 take precedence)} - B65G 47/66: Fixed platforms or combs, e.g. bridges between conveyors - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract An article metering device for use in a conveyor system includes a continuous belt, a body, a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt and a guide belt. The belt guide has opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends. The belt guide has a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body. The belt guide is operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface. The belt guide extends between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article metering device for use in a conveyor system comprising: a continuous belt; a body; a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt; and a belt guide having opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends, the belt guide having a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body, the belt guide operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface, the belt guide extending between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a support operatively connected between the body and the conveyor section, permitting adjustment of the body in at least two directions relative to the conveyor section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the support includes at least one opening extending through the support in each of at least two different directions configured to conformally receive corresponding adjustment members, permitting selectable movement of the body in at least one direction of the at least two different directions relative to the support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein two directions of the at least two different directions are substantially perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the body includes a positioning device operatively connected between the body and the support, each positioning device for providing selectable movement of the body in one direction of at least two different directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the belt guide is selectably movable relative to the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the belt guide is selectably movable relative to the body while maintaining use of the continuous belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a replacement belt guide having a different length than the belt guide, the replacement belt guide using a replacement belt different than the continuous belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising an air ventilation system for cooling the belt, the system comprising a fan operatively connected to the motor for venting air exterior of the body through openings formed in the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein selectably variable resistance is applied to movement of the body in at least one direction of the at least two different directions relative to the support. ### Claim 11 A pair of opposed article metering devices for use in a conveyor system, each article metering device comprising: a continuous belt; a body; a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt; and a belt guide having opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends, the belt guide having a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body, the belt guide operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface, the belt guide extending between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system; wherein the opposed continuous belts of the pair of opposed article metering devices continuously supporting and metering articles between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The devices of claim 11, each device comprising a support operatively connected between the body and a conveyor section, permitting adjustment of the body in at least two directions relative to the conveyor section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The devices of claim 12, wherein the support for each device includes at least one opening extending through the support in each of at least two different directions configured to conformally receive corresponding adjustment members, permitting selectable movement of the body in at least one direction of the at least two different directions relative to the support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The devices of claim 13, wherein two directions of the at least two different directions are substantially perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The devices of claim 12, wherein the body of each device includes a positioning device operatively connected between the body and the support, each positioning device for providing selectable movement of the body in one direction of at least two different directions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The devices of claim 15, wherein the belt guide of each device is continuously maintained at a predetermined orientation and spacing relative to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The devices of claim 11, wherein the devices are usable with a blow molder star wheel to provide continuous support for an article conveyed between the blow molder star wheel and the devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The devices of claim 11, wherein the devices are interchangeable. ### Claim 19 A method of conveying articles along file a conveyor system, comprising: providing a continuous belt, a body, a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt; and a belt guide having opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends, the belt guide having a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body, the belt guide operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface, the belt guide extending between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system; and actuating the motor for conveying articles between the conveyor sections or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, comprising providing the body with a positioning device operatively connected between the body and the support, each positioning device for providing selectable movement of the body in one direction of at least two different directions, the belt guide is selectably movable relative to the body while maintaining use of the continuous belt, the belt guide is continuously maintained at a predetermined orientation and spacing relative to an opposed surface; and actuating selectively at least one positioning device.