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US 9,061,830 B2Granted
Method and system for conveying tires and an apparatus for doing the same
AssigneeMultilift, Inc.
InventorsChris K. Miller, Job Maldonado, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor has a conveyor belt and a plurality of support elements extending outward from the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt advancing upward along the incline. The support elements prevent conveyed articles from sliding down the conveyor belt on the incline. The article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt may provide a low-friction retention surface to articles leaning away from the conveyor belt on the incline.
Claims15
A conveyor for conveying articles up inclines, the conveyor comprising:
- an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface and advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path including an inclined portion;
- a plurality of support elements extending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at an increment approximately equal to about 1.5 times a length of the article conveyed, wherein the plurality of support elements comprises pairs of two support elements and each support element in the pair is positioned proximate to the other support element in the pair and with a space between the two support elements, wherein each support element comprises:
- curved section having an article-supporting face, which is curved at a first radius of curvature and is positioned in the direction of belt travel, and a back side opposite the article-supporting face, said back side is curved with a second radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature;
- a block-like bottom section with a flat bottom that engages the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt;
- and
- a top opposite the bottom, wherein the top is positioned at an angle relative to the flat bottom;
- two securing mechanisms for each support element to secure the support elements on the conveyor belt;
- a support frame with a support stand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars;
- a drive pulley interconnected to the support frame and positioned at the bottom of the support frame, wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the drive pulley;
- a tail pulley interconnected to the support frame and positioned at the top of the support frame, wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the tail pulley;
- and
- a motor for moving the conveyor belt around the drive pulley and tail pulley.
9 more elements
A tire conveyor for conveying tires up an incline, comprising:
- an endless conveyor belt having a lateral extent and a longitudinal extent, and an outer tire-conveying surface that is designed to advance in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path including an inclined portion;
- a first pair of first and second tire support elements, with each of said first and second tire support elements having a same width (w), length (l) and height (h), with said first tire support element spaced a distance along said lateral extent of said conveyor belt from said second tire support element by at least twice the width, wherein said pair of first and second tire support elements are each interconnected to said outer tire-conveying surface by two independent fasteners that penetrate through said outer tire-conveying surface, said first tire support element being fastened to said outer tire-conveying surface at a first angle with respect to said lateral extent of said conveyor belt, and said second tire support element being fastened to said outer tire-conveying surface at a second angle with respect to said lateral extent of said conveyor belt, said first angle and said second angle being commensurate and opposite each other, wherein when a tire is placed in contact with said first and second tire support elements, the first tire support element is between a 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock position of the tire and the second tire support element is between a 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock position of the tire, wherein each of said first and second tire support elements has a front section having an tire-supporting face that has a first curve that is curved along its length and toward the direction of belt travel and a back section that has a second curve that is curved along its length and in the direction of belt travel, said second curve being greater than said first curve, each of said pair of tire engaging support elements having a flat conveyor contacting surface that engages the outer tire-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, each of said tire support elements constructed entirely from an elastomeric material that provides flexibility along said length of said tire support elements such that when a tire is positioned on said conveyor belt, said first and second tire support elements bend in a direction opposite the direction of belt travel along a conveying path;
- a second pair of first and second tire support elements spaced apart from said first pair of tire support elements by at least a distance of 1.5 times a length of a tire conveyed on said conveyor belt;
- a support frame with a support stand, said support frame having two, longitudinally extending side bar supports extending parallel to each other and connected to each other by a plurality of support struts;
- a drive pulley operably connected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt;
- a tail pulley operably connected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt;
- and
- a motor operably connected to said drive pulley.
5 more elements
A method for conveying articles up steep inclines, the method comprising:
- providing a conveyor for conveying articles up an incline, said conveyor comprising:
- an endless conveyor belt having a lateral extent and a longitudinal extent, and an outer article-conveying surface that is designed to advance in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path including an inclined portion;
- a plurality of support elements, with each support element having a same width (w), length (l), and height (h), wherein each support element of said plurality of support elements is interconnected to said outer conveying surface by two independent fasteners that penetrate through said outer article-conveying surface, wherein each of said support elements has a front section having an article-supporting face that is oriented in the direction of belt travel, each of said support elements having a flat conveyor contacting surface that engages the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, each of said support elements constructed of urethane material that provides strength along the supporting elements, wherein a second support element in the plurality of support elements is spaced apart from a first support element in the plurality of support elements by at least a distance of 1.5 times a length of an article conveyed on said conveyor belt;
- a support frame with a support stand, said support frame having two, longitudinally extending side bar supports extending parallel to each other and connected to each other by a plurality of support struts;
- a drive pulley operably connected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt;
- a tail pulley operably connected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt;
- and
- a motor operably connected to said drive pulley;
- moving said endless conveyor belt in the direction of belt travel using the motor, the drive pulley, and the tail pulley;
- conveying articles on the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt;
- advancing the conveyed articles in the direction of belt travel along a conveying path including the inclined portion;
- blocking conveyed articles from sliding down the conveying surface of the conveyor belt on the inclined portion by using said plurality of support elements;
- and
- removing the conveyed articles from the conveyor belt.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.