Modular power roller conveyor

• US 5,582,286 A
• Filed: 10/28/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Logistics LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Electrocom Automation L.P. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Langroodi, Morteza M., Kalm, W. Scott, Corrigan, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US08/331,063
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 198/781.06, 198/781.09, 198/781.1, 198/860.3
• US Class Current: 198/781.06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/261 Accumulating articles

Abstract

A modular power roller conveyor is described having a conveyor section for transporting a product unit. The conveyor section comprises a number of active zones, each active zone containing means for sensing the entry of a product unit into the active zone. A programmable controller generates activation signals to a drive roller in response to the means for sensing. A plurality of carrier rollers are slaved to the drive roller within the active zone such that activation of the drive roller actuates all of the carrier rollers to drive the product unit through the active zone and into the next active zone. The programmable controller also generates a deactuation signal to deactivate the active zone as a product unit exits the zone.

Claims

1. A modular power roller conveyor system, comprising:

a plurality of conveyor sections having at least one selectively actuable active zone for transporting a product unit, each conveyor section including;

a sensor in each active zone of a section for sensing entry of the product unit into the respective active zone and for generating a detection signal in response thereto;

a programmable controller responsive to the detection signal from the sensor for each active zone for generating a control signal to selectively actuate an active zone as the product unit enters the zone and for generating a control signal to deactivate the active zone as the product unit exits the zone; and

a hollow side rail housing having a wireway with an opening thereto and a removable cover for the opening to allow access to the wireway, said side rail housing including a channel for internally supporting the programmable controller, sensors, and interconnecting wiring.

2. The modular power roller conveyor system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of active zones includes:

a drive roller responsive to the control signal of the programmable controller;

a plurality of carrier rollers; and

means for connecting the drive roller to each of the plurality of carrier rollers such that actuation of the drive roller actuates each of the plurality of carrier rollers.

3. The modular power roller conveyor system of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a photosensor individually positioned to detect the entrance of the product unit into the respective active zone.

4. The modular power roller conveyor of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conveyor sections defines a curved pathway.

5. A modular power roller conveyor system of a plurality of conveyor sections, comprising:

each conveyor section having at least one selectively actuable active zone for transporting a product unit, each active zone comprising;

a drive roller;

a plurality of carrier rollers; and

means for connecting the drive roller to each of the plurality of carrier rollers such that actuation of the drive roller actuates each of the plurality of carrier rollers;

a photosensor for sensing entry of the product unit into the active zone and for generating a detection signal in response thereto; and

each conveyor section further including a programmable controller responsive to the detection signal from each active zone for generating a control signal to selectively actuate the drive roller within an active zone as the product unit enters the zone and for generating a control signal to selectively deactuate the drive roller within the active zone as the product unit exits the zone; and

a hollow side rail housing having a wireway with an opening thereto and a removable cover for the opening to allow access to the wireway, said housing supporting the drive roller and the plurality of carrier rollers, said side rail housing including a channel for internally supporting the programmable controller, photosensors, and interconnecting wiring.

6. The power roller modular conveyor system of claim 5 further including means for electrically connecting one conveyor section to other conveyor sections to interconnect the programmable controller of adjacent sections.

7. The power roller modular conveyor system of claim 5 further including means for mechanically interconnecting one conveyor section to an adjacent conveyor sections.

8. The power roller modular conveyor system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the conveyor sections defines a curved pathway.

9. A modular power roller conveyor system comprising:

at least one straight conveyor section having a plurality of selectively actuable active zones for transporting a product unit, each straight conveyor section including;

a sensor in each active zone of a section for sensing entry of the product unit into the respective active zone and for generating a detection signal in response thereto; and

a programmable controller responsive to the detection signal from the sensors for each active zone for generating a control signal to selectively actuate an active zone as the product unit enters the zone and for generating a control signal to deactuate the active zone as the product unit exits the zone; and

at least one curved conveyor section having a plurality of selectively actuable active zones for transporting a product unit, each curved conveyor section including;

a sensor in each active zone of a section for sensing entry of the product unit into the respective active zone and for generating a detection signal in response thereto; and

a programmable controller responsive to the detection signal from the sensors for each active zone for generating a control signal to selectively actuate an active zone as the product unit enters the zone and for generating a control signal to deactuate the active zone as the product unit exits the zone; and

each straight conveyor section and each curved conveyor section including a hollow side rail housing having a wireway with an opening thereto and a removable cover for the opening to allow access to the wireway, said side rail housing including a channel for internally supporting the programmable controller, sensors, and interconnecting wiring.

10. The modular power roller conveyor system of claim 9, wherein each of the straight and curved conveyor sections includes:

a drive roller responsive to the control signal of the programmable controller;

a plurality of carrier rollers; and

means for connecting the drive roller to the plurality of carrier rollers such that actuation of the drive roller actuates each of the plurality of carrier rollers.

11. The modular power roller conveyor system of claim 9, wherein each of the sensors includes photosensors positioned to detect the entrance of the product unit into a respective active zone.

12. A modular power roller conveyor system comprising:

at least one divert section having at least one selectively actuable active zone for transporting a product unit along a selective path, each divert section including;

a sensor in each active zone of a section for sensing entry of the product unit into the respective active zone and for generating a detection signal in response thereto;

means for diverting a product from a first direction to a second direction; and

a programmable controller responsive to the detection signal from the sensor for each active zone for generating a control signal to selectively actuate an active zone and the means for diverting as a product unit enters a zone and for generating a control signal to deactuate the active zone and the means for diverting as the product unit exits the zone; and

a hollow side rail housing having a wireway with an opening thereto and a removable cover for the opening to allow access to the wireway, said housing supporting the programmable controller, sensors, and interconnecting wiring.

13. The power roller modular conveyor system of claim 12 wherein the hollow side rail housing includes:

an opening at each zone; and

means for mounting the sensor for each active zone in the housing at one of the openings therein.