Conveyor system with interchangeable drive tube couplings

A conveyor system comprising:

• a. a plurality of integral drive tube couplings, wherein each integral drive tube coupling of the plurality of integral drive tube couplings comprises
• iii. a base portion, wherein the base portion comprises a face, and
• iv. an elongated portion, wherein the elongated portion extends from the face of the base portion at a first end, wherein the elongated portion further comprises at least one rib extending from the face of the base portion toward a distal end of the elongated portion
• b. an assembled drive tube coupling, wherein the assembled drive tube coupling comprises
• v. a coupling spacer, wherein the coupling spacer comprises a face, and
• vi. a coupler, wherein the coupler comprises an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto;
• c. a first section of conveyor, wherein the first section of conveyor comprises a first drive tube positioned between a pair of integral drive tube couplings such that the first drive tube engages a first integral drive tube coupling of the pair of integral drive tube couplings at a first end of the first drive tube and engages a second integral drive tube coupling of the pair of integral drive tube couplings at a second end of the first drive tube, wherein the first drive tube comprises a first length, wherein the first drive tube is positioned between the pair of integral drive tube couplings such that there is a first gap between the first end of the first drive tube and the face of the base portion of the first integral drive tube coupling and a second gap between the second end of the first drive tube and the face of the base portion of the second integral drive tube coupling;
• d. a second section of conveyor, wherein the second section of conveyor comprises a second drive tube positioned between a pair of drive tube couplings, wherein the pair of drive tube couplings comprises the assembled drive tube coupling and a second drive tube coupling, wherein the second drive tube coupling comprises a face, wherein the second drive tube engages the assembled drive tube coupling at a first end of the second drive tube and engages the second drive tube coupling at a second end of the second drive tube, wherein the second drive tube comprises a second length, wherein the second drive tube is positioned between the assembled drive tube coupling and the second drive tube coupling such that there is a third gap between the first end of the second drive tube and the face of the coupling spacer of the assembled drive tube coupling and a fourth gap between the second end of the second drive tube and the face of the second drive tube coupling;
• e. a trolley, the trolley comprising at least one canted wheel, wherein the at least one canted wheel comprises width, wherein the at least one canted wheel contacts the first drive tube and the second drive tube as the trolley travels along the first section of conveyor and the second section of conveyor;
• wherein the first length of the first drive tube is substantially equal to the second length of the second drive tube, wherein the first integral drive tube coupling, the second integral drive tube coupling, the assembled drive tube coupling and the second drive tube coupling are dimensioned and positioned such that first gap, the second gap, the third gap, and the fourth gap each comprise a respective width that is less than or equal to the width of the at least one canted wheel.

A conveyor system that extends along a conveying path comprising

• a. a conveyor drive beam, wherein the conveyor drive beam extends above the conveying path;
• b. a first support hanger, wherein the first support hanger depends from the conveyor drive beam;
• c. a second support hanger, wherein the second support hanger depends from the conveyor drive beam and is spaced apart from the first support hanger at a fixed interval;
• d. a third support hanger, wherein the third support hanger depends from the conveyor drive beam and is spaced apart from the second support hanger at the fixed interval such that the second support hanger is positioned between the first support hanger and the third support hanger;
• e. a first bearing housing, wherein the first bearing housing is attached to the first support hanger and comprises a first face and a second face on opposite sides of the first bearing housing;
• f. a second bearing housing, wherein the second bearing housing is attached to the second support hanger and comprises a first face and a second face on opposite sides of the second bearing housing, wherein the second bearing housing is arranged such that the first face of the second bearing housing opposes the second face of the first bearing housing;
• g. a third bearing housing, wherein the third bearing housing is attached to the third support hanger and comprises a first face and a second face on opposite sides of the third bearing housing, wherein the third bearing housing is arranged such that the first face of the third bearing housing opposes the second face of the second bearing housing;
• h. a first drive tube coupling comprising an integral drive tube coupling, wherein the first drive tube coupling is attached to the second face of the first bearing housing, wherein the first drive tube coupling comprises
• i. a base portion, wherein the base portion comprises a face, and
• ii. an elongated portion, wherein the elongated portion extends from the face of the base portion at a first end, wherein the elongated portion further comprises at least one rib extending from the face of the base portion toward a distal end of the elongated portion;
• i. a second drive tube coupling comprising an integral drive tube coupling, wherein the second drive tube coupling is attached to the first face of the second bearing housing, wherein the second drive tube coupling comprises
• i. a base portion, wherein the base portion comprises a face, and
• ii. an elongated portion, wherein the elongated portion extends from the face of the base portion at a first end, wherein the elongated portion further comprises at least one rib extending from the face of the base portion toward a distal end of the elongated portion;
• j. a third drive tube coupling comprising an integral drive tube coupling, wherein the third drive tube coupling is attached to the second face of the second bearing housing, wherein the third drive tube coupling comprises
• i. a base portion, wherein the base portion comprises a face, and
• ii. an elongated portion, wherein the elongated portion extends from the face of the base portion at a first end, wherein the elongated portion further comprises at least one rib extending from the face of the base portion toward a distal end of the elongated portion;
• k. a fourth drive tube coupling comprising an assembled drive tube coupling, wherein the fourth drive tube coupling is attached to the first face of the third bearing housing, wherein the fourth drive tube coupling comprises
• i. a coupling spacer, wherein the coupling spacer comprises a face, and
• ii. a coupler, wherein the coupler comprises an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto;
• wherein the coupling distance between the first drive tube coupling and the second drive tube coupling is substantially equal to the coupling distance between the third drive tube coupling and the fourth drive tube coupling.