OPERATION OF AN ACTIVE CONTROL ROLLER TOP CONVEYING ASSEMBLY

• US 20170334661A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rexnord Indistries LLC (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Indistries LLC (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Stefanko, Justin Michael, Gabor, Philip Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2811/0626 Orientation of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2811/0631 by varying the spacing between individual articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/2445 by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/268 by means of belt or chain conveyor

Abstract

A modular conveying assembly includes active roller control for reducing backline pressure without product to product contact when accumulating products. Methods are discussed for manipulating objects by a bump-through indexing operation, a slug-control indexing operation, a catch-and-release indexing operation, box or case turning operations, and zero-pressure accumulation operations.

Claims

1. A method of indexing a first object and a second object, the method comprising:

supporting the first object on rollers of a conveyor belt;

activating an actuator in a manipulation zone such that the rollers counter rotate within the manipulation zone;

conveying the first object in a first direction into the manipulation zone;

maintaining the first object in the manipulation zone with the counter rotating rollers;

supporting the second object on the rollers of the conveyor belt;

conveying the second object in the first direction and into contact with the first object;

moving the first object at least partially out of the manipulation zone with the second object; and

maintaining the second object in the manipulation zone with the counter rotating rollers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the actuator includes contacting a driven surface of the roller with a driving member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt defines a conveying direction, the rollers outside the manipulation zone moving the first object and the second object in the conveying direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rollers urge the second object to push the first object through the manipulation zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is continuously activated such that the rollers counter rotate within the manipulation zone whenever the conveyor belt is moving.

6. A method of indexing a first object and a second object, the method comprising:

supporting the first object on rollers of a conveyor belt;

conveying the first object in a first direction into a manipulation zone;

activating an actuator in the manipulation zone such that the rollers counter rotate to maintain the first object within the manipulation zone;

supporting the second object on the rollers of the conveyor belt;

conveying the second object in the first direction;

deactivating the actuator such that the conveyor moves the first object and the second object in the first direction within the manipulation zone;

activating the actuator such that the rollers counter rotate to maintain the first object and the second object within the manipulation zone; and

deactivating the actuator such that the conveyor moves the first object out of the manipulation zone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the actuator includes contacting a driven surface of the roller with a driving member.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein deactivating the actuator includes moving a driving member out of contact with a driven surface of the roller.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the manipulation zone is sized to receive at least the first object and the second object.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein deactivating the actuator such that the conveyor moves the first object and the second object in the first direction within the manipulation zone occurs after the second object contacts the first object.

11. A method of conveying an object, the method comprising:

supporting the object on rollers of a conveyor belt;

activating a first actuator in a first manipulation zone such that the rollers counter rotate within the first manipulation zone;

conveying the object in a first direction into the first manipulation zone;

maintaining the object in the first manipulation zone with the counter rotating rollers;

deactivating the first actuator such that the conveyor moves the object out of the first manipulation zone;

activating a second actuator in a second manipulation zone such that the rollers counter rotate within the second manipulation zone;

conveying the object in the first direction into the second manipulation zone;

maintaining the object in the second manipulation zone with the counter rotating rollers; and

deactivating the second actuator such that the conveyor moves the object out of the second manipulation zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the first actuator includes contacting a driven surface of the roller with a driving member.

13. The method of claim 11, and further comprising activating a third actuator in a third actuator zone such that the rollers counter rotate within the third manipulation zone substantially simultaneously with activating the second actuator in the second manipulation zone such that the rollers counter rotate within the second manipulation zone, and

maintaining the object in the second manipulation zone and the third manipulation zone with the counter rotating rollers.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the object is longer than the second manipulation zone.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the conveyor belt moves a predetermined distance before the second actuator is deactivated.

16. A method of turning an object on a conveyor assembly, the method comprising:

supporting the object on first rollers defining a first motion zone, and second rollers defining a second motion zone;

activating a first actuator such that the first rollers rotate in a first direction within a first manipulation zone;

activating a second actuator such that the second rollers rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, within a second manipulation zone; and

turning the object as a result of the relative rotation of the first rollers and the second rollers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are arranged on a first side of the conveyor assembly.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first motion zone and the second motion zone arc arranged side-by-side.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first rollers are carried on a first module body and the second roller are carried on a second module body.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein activating the first actuator and activating the second actuator occurs substantially simultaneously.