US 9,067,743 B1Granted

High efficiency sorting conveyor

AssigneeMantissa Corporation

InventorsGonzalo Sotelo, David Patrick Erceg, J. David Fortenbery

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a conveyor track, a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end, and an opposed roller motor assembly. The opposed roller motor assembly may include a motor; a support frame attached to the conveyor track for supporting the motor; and a pair of cantilevered, drive rollers connected to the motor and to one pivot block assembly and another pivot block assembly adapted for positioning the drive roller adjacent to one surface of an extended fin driven member. The pivot block assemblies may be coupled together with a self-tensioning adjustment assembly. In some examples, the self-tensioning adjustment assembly may be adapted so that movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising:

(a) a conveyor track;
(b) a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end;
and
(c) an opposed roller motor assembly for moving said conveyor carts on said conveyor track, said opposed roller motor assembly including a cantilevered, drive roller connected to one pivot block assembly and another pivot block assembly adapted for positioning said drive roller,
wherein a tension linkage couples said pivot block assemblies together and movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly;
and
(d) each of said conveyor carts including:
(i) a trailer frame base, including:
a roller structure for engaging said conveyor track, a driven member responsive to said opposed roller motor assembly, adjacent spaced apart driven members, and a hitch mechanism for connecting each conveyor cart to an adjacent conveyor cart;
and
(ii) a carrying surface for holding the objects.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/336,811Filed 21 Jul 2014 · division
Priority: 26 Mar 2012
Granted: 30 Jun 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B65G 47/962
Devices for tilting links or platform: tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction
B65G 17/12
Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying…:…
B65G 23/04
Belt- or chain-engaging elements: drums, rollers, or wheels
B65G 47/38
Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor: by dumping, tripping, or releasing load carriers