Diverter ball conveyor

• US 20100243411A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Habasit AG
• Original Assignee: Habasit AG
• Inventors: Prakasam, Ramaswamy
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/845
• 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

Abstract

A diverter conveyor system for a modular belt. The modular belt has at least two rows of spheres supported by a single cylindrical roller.

Claims

1. A diverter conveyor system, comprising:

a modular belt comprising a plurality of belt modules disposed in rows connected by pivot rods, the modules having a top surface and a bottom surface, the modules having an intermediate section, a first plurality of link ends extending from the intermediate section, and a second plurality of link ends extending from the intermediate section in a direction opposite to the first plurality of link ends, the first and second link ends having transverse pivot rod openings and being offset such that the first link ends of a first module are capable of intercalating with the second link ends of an adjacent module such that the transverse pivot rod openings align to receive one of the pivot rods;

a plurality of spheres disposed in the belt modules, the spheres extending through the top and bottom surfaces of the modules, the spheres aligned in a plurality of rows extending along the belt in a direction of belt travel;

a plurality of cylindrical rollers having longitudinal axes disposed along the direction of belt travel, at least one cylindrical roller disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the belt module such that the roller is capable of simultaneously engaging at least two rows of spheres.

2. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, wherein each belt module has a pair of spheres.

3. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rollers are driven simultaneously.

4. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rollers are synchronously driven.

5. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, further comprising a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket.

6. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, wherein each cylindrical roller engages two rows of spheres.

7. The diverter conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the belt modules are disposed in rows constructed in bricklayed fashion.

8. A diverter conveyor system, comprising:

a modular belt comprising a plurality of belt modules disposed in rows connected by pivot rods, the modules having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of spheres disposed in the belt modules, the spheres extending through the top and bottom surfaces of the modules, the spheres aligned in a plurality of rows extending along the belt in a direction of belt travel;

a plurality of cylindrical rollers having longitudinal axes disposed along the direction of belt travel, at least one cylindrical roller disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the belt module such that one roller makes contact with at least two rows of spheres.

9. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein each belt module has a pair of spheres.

10. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical rollers are driven simultaneously.

11. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical rollers are synchronously driven.

12. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, further comprising a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket.

13. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein each cylindrical roller engages two rows of spheres.

14. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein the belt modules are disposed in rows constructed in bricklayed fashion.

15. The diverter conveyor system of claim 8, wherein the belt modules have an intermediate section, a first plurality of link ends extending from the intermediate section, and a second plurality of link ends extending from the intermediate section in a direction opposite to the first plurality of link ends.

16. The diverter conveyor system of claim 15, wherein the first and second link ends have transverse pivot rod openings.

17. The diverter conveyor system of claim 16, wherein the first and second link ends are offset such that the first link ends of a first module are capable of intercalating with the second link ends of an adjacent module such that the transverse pivot rod openings of the adjacent modules align.