Conveyor, Belt, and Module Having Multi-Directional Wheels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A conveyor belt comprising:
- an endless loop having an outer side and an inner side defining the thickness of the conveyor belt and a pair of opposite side edges defining the width of the conveyor belt;
a plurality of multi-directional wheels disposed at spaced apart locations along the endless loop, each wheel including;
a hub having a central axis of rotation and an outer periphery;
a plurality of rollers arranged on the periphery of the hub to rotate on roller axes transverse to the central axis of rotation of the hub.
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Abstract
A belt conveyor for diverting articles on actuated multi-directional wheels in a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has article-supporting multi-directional wheels rotatably mounted in cavities in the belt. The wheels are arranged to rotate on axes oblique to the direction of belt travel. A bearing surface underlies the belt along a carryway. As the belt advances along the carryway, the rollers on the periphery of the wheel ride on the bearing surface and cause the wheel to rotate on its oblique axis. Articles conveyed on the belt atop the wheels are diverted by the rotating wheels toward a side of the belt.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A conveyor belt comprising:
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an endless loop having an outer side and an inner side defining the thickness of the conveyor belt and a pair of opposite side edges defining the width of the conveyor belt; a plurality of multi-directional wheels disposed at spaced apart locations along the endless loop, each wheel including; a hub having a central axis of rotation and an outer periphery; a plurality of rollers arranged on the periphery of the hub to rotate on roller axes transverse to the central axis of rotation of the hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor belt having an inner side and an outer side and a pair of opposite side edges and including a plurality of multi-directional wheels, each wheel including; a hub having a central axis of rotation and an outer periphery; a plurality of rollers arranged on the periphery of the hub to rotate on roller axes transverse to the central axis of rotation of the hub; wherein the periphery of the hub extends past the inner and outer sides of the conveyor belt; and a bearing surface underlying the inner side of the conveyor belt and contacting the rollers on the periphery of the hub extending past the inner side of the conveyor belt to provide a surface for the rollers to ride on and cause the wheel to rotate on the central axis of rotation of the hub as the conveyor belt advances along the bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A conveyor belt module comprising:
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a module body extending in a length direction from a first end to a second end, in width from a first side edge to a second side edge, and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side; hinge elements disposed along the first and second ends; a cavity in the module body between the first and second ends opening onto at least one of the top side, the bottom side, the first side edge, and the second side edge; a multi-directional wheel including a hub having a central axis of rotation and an outer periphery with a plurality of rollers arranged on the periphery to rotate on roller axes transverse to the central axis of rotation of the hub; wherein the wheel is received in the cavity for rotation about the central axis of rotation of the hub. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification