Modular roller-top conveyor belt with obliquely-arranged rollers

• US 20010045346A1
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Original Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Inventors: Costanzo, Mark B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,494,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/853
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/08 the surface being formed by the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/24 comprising a series of rollers which are moved , e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/32 Individual load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/40 Chains acting as load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/30 Modular constructions

Abstract

A modular roller-top conveyor belt constructed of a series of rows of belt modules having hinge elements at opposite ends of each row. The hinge elements of each row are interleaved with the hinge elements of an adjacent row and interlinked by hinge pins to form an endless conveyor belt. Each of the belt modules includes a body section extending between opposite ends of each row in the direction of belt travel. Cavities formed in at least some of the modules open onto an upper conveying surface of the belt. Rollers residing in the cavities protrude onto the upper conveying surface to engage conveyed articles in rolling, low-friction contact. The rollers may be cylindrical rollers that rotate about axles, spherical balls that rotate in all directions, or caster-like roller assemblies. The rollers may be arranged to rotate about axes in the direction of belt travel for side-off transfer of articles, about axes oblique to the direction of belt travel for side justification, or about axes transverse to the direction of belt travel for low backline pressure.

Claims

1. A modular conveyor belt comprising a series of rows of belt modules and hinge pins hingedly interlinking consecutive belt rows end-to-end to form a conveyor belt, each row including at least one module comprising a body section extending from a first end to a second end in the direction of belt travel, a first plurality of hinge elements along the first end, and a second plurality of hinge elements along the second end, the first plurality of hinge elements of a row being interleaved with the second plurality of hinge elements of an adjacent row and pivotally joined by a hinge pin in a hinged connection between consecutive rows of belt modules, wherein the body section of at least some of the modules includes a conveying surface, at least one cavity formed in the body section and opening onto the conveying surface, and a cylindrical roller rotatably disposed in the cavity to rotate about an axis oblique to the direction of belt travel with a salient portion of each roller protruding above the conveying surface to engage conveyed articles in rolling contact.

2. A modular conveyor belt as in

claim 1

wherein the body section further includes a driving surface opposite the conveying surface and wherein the cavity opens onto the driving surface.

3. A modular conveyor belt as in

claim 2

wherein the diameter of the cylindrical roller is greater than the thickness of the belt.

4. A modular conveyor belt as in

claim 2

wherein the cylindrical roller protrudes through the conveying surface to engage conveyed articles in rolling contact and protrudes through the driving surface to engage a roller bearing surface to rotate the roller as the belt is driven.

5. A modular conveyor belt as in

claim 1

further comprising an axle spanning the cavity in the body section along an axis oblique to the direction of belt travel and wherein the cylindrical roller includes a central bore to accommodate the axle.