Modular folded sheet conveyor system
First Claim
1. A modular conveyor system for flat folded product including:
- (a) a central drive unit having a trapezoidally shaped horizontal conveying surface said surface having a pair of parallel edges and first and second obtuse angled edges, said horizontal conveying surface including a main pinch roller and endless belt conveyor assembly extending substantially between said first and second obtuse angled edges, and parallel to said pair of parallel edges;
(b) a drive motor associated with said central drive unit coupled to said pinch roller and endless belt conveyor assembly;
(c) a first driven conveyor unit detachably connectable to said central drive unit and having a first substantially rectangular horizontal conveying surface including a first conveyor belt, said first driven conveyor unit being coupled to said central drive unit along said first obtuse angled edge of said central drive unit; and
(c) a second driven conveyor unit detachably connectable to said central drive unit having a second substantially rectangular horizontal conveying surface including a second conveyor belt, said second driven conveyor unit being coupled to said central drive unit along said second obtuse angled edge of said central drive unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular conveyor system for flat folded product includes a generally trapezoidal central drive unit having an upper endless belt conveyor which extends at an obtuse angle to first and second edges thereof. The central drive unit includes a drive motor for driving its endless belt conveyor and further includes first and second output pulleys. First and second auxiliary driven units each have a substantially rectangular frame which supports an endless belt conveyor where each endless belt conveyor is driven by an input pulley coupled to the first and second output pulleys respectively. The three units may be locked together in various configurations to form a deserter, a bump turn or a lateral realigner.
29 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A modular conveyor system for flat folded product including:
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(a) a central drive unit having a trapezoidally shaped horizontal conveying surface said surface having a pair of parallel edges and first and second obtuse angled edges, said horizontal conveying surface including a main pinch roller and endless belt conveyor assembly extending substantially between said first and second obtuse angled edges, and parallel to said pair of parallel edges; (b) a drive motor associated with said central drive unit coupled to said pinch roller and endless belt conveyor assembly; (c) a first driven conveyor unit detachably connectable to said central drive unit and having a first substantially rectangular horizontal conveying surface including a first conveyor belt, said first driven conveyor unit being coupled to said central drive unit along said first obtuse angled edge of said central drive unit; and (c) a second driven conveyor unit detachably connectable to said central drive unit having a second substantially rectangular horizontal conveying surface including a second conveyor belt, said second driven conveyor unit being coupled to said central drive unit along said second obtuse angled edge of said central drive unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A modular conveyor system configured as a deserter for a shingled stream of nested flat folded product comprising:
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(a) a central drive unit having a trapezoidally shaped horizontal conveying surface, said conveying surface including an endless belt and pinch roller assembly extending substantially between first and second edges of said conveying surface, said first and second edges extending at an obtuse angle with respect to said endless belt; (b) a drive motor coupled to said endless belt and pinch roller assembly and further including at least a first output pulley; (c) a first driven conveyor unit having a first substantially rectangular horizontal conveying surface including a conveyor belt driven at a base speed by a first input pulley coupled to said first output pulley, said first driven conveyor unit having a side edge parallel to a forward direction of travel of said conveyor belt, said side edge being aligned with and abutting said first obtuse angled edge of said central drive unit; and (d) said endless belt and pinch roller assembly of said central drive unit having a speed component directed parallel to said forward direction of travel that exceeds said base speed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification