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US 9,260,247 B2Granted
Method and system for conveying articles 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.
Claims20
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 a predetermined distance, wherein the plurality of support elements comprises groups of two or more support elements and each support element in the group is positioned proximate to the other support elements in the group and with a space between each support element in the group, wherein each support element comprises:
- a upright section having an upper portion and an article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction of belt travel;
- a block-like bottom section with at least one hole and a curved bottom having a first radius of curvature, wherein the curved bottom engages the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt;
- and
- a top positioned at the upper portion of the upright section and opposite the bottom, wherein the top has a curved surface having a second radius of curvature, wherein the second radius of curvature is different than the first radius of curvature;
- at least one securing mechanism for each support element to secure the support elements on the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of the securing mechanism is positioned in the hole of the block-like bottom section of the support element;
- a gasket positioned between a bottom portion of the securing mechanism and 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;
- and
- 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.
9 more elements
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 least a distance between about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of the article conveyed on said conveyor belt, wherein each support element comprises:
- a upright section having an upper portion and an article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction of belt travel;
- a block-like bottom section with at least one hole and a curved bottom having a first radius of curvature, wherein the curved bottom engages the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt;
- and
- a top positioned at the upper portion of the upright section and opposite the bottom, wherein the top has a curved surface having a second radius of curvature, wherein the second radius of curvature is different than the first radius of curvature;
- at least one securing mechanism for each support element to secure the support elements on the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of the securing mechanism is positioned in the hole of the block-like bottom section of the support element;
- a gasket positioned between a bottom portion of the securing mechanism and the conveyor belt;
- a support frame with a support stand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars;
- one or more handles extending outwardly from at least one of a lower portion of the support frame and an upper portion of the support frame;
- 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;
- and
- 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.
10 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 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 a predetermined distance;
- 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;
- at least one handle extending from a lower portion of said support frame;
- at least one handle extending from an upper portion of said support frame;
- at least one pulley operably connected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt;
- a motor operably connected to said at least one 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.