Conveyor roller with axial direct drive
First Claim
1. A conveying apparatus, including:
- a stationary support structure;
a plurality of elongate cylindrical rollers, each roller rotatable about a roll axis running lengthwise thereof, each of said rollers having a first end region and a second, opposite end region; and
a support system for mounting the rollers in side-by-side, substantially parallel and spaced apart relation, said support system including, with respect to each of the rollers;
a. a stationary first shaft segment integral with the support structure;
b. a drive mechanism for coupling said first end region of the respective one of said rollers substantially coaxially with the first shaft segment, for rotation about its respective roll axis relative to the first shaft segment;
c. a second shaft segment, and a shaft carrier for supporting the second shaft segment with respect to the support structure to align the second shaft segment substantially coaxially with the first shaft segment while allowing the second shaft segment to move axially relative to the support structure; and
d. an idler mechanism for coupling said second and opposite end region of the respective roller substantially coaxially with the second shaft segment, for rotation about the respective roll axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A roll conveyor includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart stationary beams and a plurality of elongate cylindrical rollers supported in parallel, side-by-side spaced apart relation for rotation relative to the beams. The rollers are supported and driven individually, each rotated with respect to a pair of non-rotating, coaxial and axially spaced apart first and second shafts. The first shaft is stationary and supports a motorized pulley. A cylindrical housing of the pulley is mounted concentrically and rotatably relative to the stationary shaft. An end plate integral with the housing is shaped to provide an interference fit with a flange secured to one end of the roller, to coaxially align the roller and motorized pulley. The opposite end of the roller includes an idler end region containing an axially inward portion of the second shaft. An axially outward portion of the second shaft is mounted slidably in the axial direction but prevented from rotating. The slidable shaft accommodates thermal expansions and contractions of the roller.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conveying apparatus, including:
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a stationary support structure; a plurality of elongate cylindrical rollers, each roller rotatable about a roll axis running lengthwise thereof, each of said rollers having a first end region and a second, opposite end region; and a support system for mounting the rollers in side-by-side, substantially parallel and spaced apart relation, said support system including, with respect to each of the rollers; a. a stationary first shaft segment integral with the support structure; b. a drive mechanism for coupling said first end region of the respective one of said rollers substantially coaxially with the first shaft segment, for rotation about its respective roll axis relative to the first shaft segment; c. a second shaft segment, and a shaft carrier for supporting the second shaft segment with respect to the support structure to align the second shaft segment substantially coaxially with the first shaft segment while allowing the second shaft segment to move axially relative to the support structure; and d. an idler mechanism for coupling said second and opposite end region of the respective roller substantially coaxially with the second shaft segment, for rotation about the respective roll axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A conveyor roller and support apparatus, including:
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an elongate cylindrical roller rotatable about a roller axis running lengthwise thereof, said roller having a first end region and a second, opposite end region; a stationary first support shaft; a drive mechanism including a housing surrounding the first support shaft and a bearing assembly supporting the housing for rotation relative to the first shaft about a first shaft axis; a coupling apparatus proximate the first end region for connecting the roller to the housing for rotation with the housing, with the roller axis substantially coaxial with the first shaft axis; a second shaft spaced apart axially from the first shaft, and a shaft carrier for supporting the second shaft coaxially with the first shaft while allowing the second shaft to move axially with respect to the first shaft; and an idler mechanism proximate the second end region for coupling the roller substantially coaxially with the second shaft, for rotation about the roller axis relative to the second shaft, and with the roller axis substantially coaxial with a second shaft axis of the second shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification