×

Sequential release control for a zoned conveyor system

DC
  • US 6,253,906 B1
  • Filed: 05/18/1998
  • Issued: 07/03/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A conveyor system for transporting a series of loads, comprising:

  • a series of suspended conveyor zones including a downstream conveyor zone and a plurality of upstream conveyor zones;

    a selectively operable drive arrangement interconnected with each conveyor zone for operating each conveyor zone to advance the loads along the conveyor system; and

    a control arrangement interconnected with each drive arrangement to reduce lateral inertial forces applied to the conveyor zones upon start-up of the drive arrangements of the conveyor zones which tend to cause swinging of the conveyor zones, wherein the control arrangement is operable to stop operation of the upstream and the downstream conveyor zones to maintain stationary any loads carried by the upstream and downstream conveyor zones, and to resume operation of the upstream and downstream conveyor zones by first initiating operation of the downstream conveyor zone, and subsequently sequentially controlling initiation of operation of each upstream conveyor zone, wherein the control arrangement is operable to initiate operation of one of the upstream conveyor zones subsequent to expiration of a controlled predetermined time period from initiation of operation of the conveyor zone downstream therefrom but before a load carried by the downstream conveyor zone has been discharged therefrom, so that operation of each conveyor zone is initiated in a controlled sequential timed manner in response to initiation of operation of the conveyor zone downstream therefrom.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×