Contact assembly for accumulation conveyors

• US 6,478,142 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dematic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corporation (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ehlert, Ronald C., Pelak, Thomas J., Kooistra, Kenneth J., Cotter, David H., LeMay, Curtis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US09/725,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 198/781.03, 198/781.06, 198/781.09, 198/781.1, 198/781.11, 198/790, 198/806
• US Class Current: 198/781.09
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/261 Accumulating articles

Abstract

A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.

Claims

1. A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor having a plurality of conveying rollers and an endless drive member having an upper portion traveling in a plane, said contact assembly selectively reciprocally movable into engagement with the endless drive member to bring the upper portion of the endless drive member into selective engagement with the conveying rollers, at least a portion of said contact assembly configured to move in said plane to align said contact assembly with said endless drive member.

2. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein movement of said portion of said contact assembly into alignment with the endless drive member displaces another portion of said contact assembly in a manner which moves the endless drive member into alignment with said contact assembly.

3. The contact assembly of claim 2, wherein said portion is upstream of said another portion with respect to movement of the endless drive member.

4. The contact assembly of claim 3, wherein said contact assembly pivots about an axis that is closer to said portion than to said another portion.

5. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein a surface of the endless drive member having a substantially vertical component engages a surface of said contact assembly to move said contact assembly in said plane.

6. The contact assembly of claim 5, wherein said surface of said contact assembly is at an upstream portion with respect to the movement of the endless drive member.

7. The contact assembly of claim 5, wherein said contact assembly pivots about a substantially vertical axis.

8. The contact assembly of claim 7, wherein said substantially vertical axis is closer to said upstream portion than to a downstream portion of said contact assembly.

9. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said contact assembly includes at least one contact roller having a crowned surface, wherein engagement between the endless drive member and said crowned surface moves said contact assembly in said plane.

10. The contact assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one contact roller has at least one end formed with a flange, wherein engagement between the endless drive member and said flange moves said contact assembly in said plane.

11. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein said contact assembly includes at least one contact roller having at least one end formed with a flange, wherein engagement between the endless drive member and said flange moves said contact assembly in said plane.

12. The contact assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one contact roller is a first contact roller and a second contact roller, wherein said first contact roller has at least one end formed with a flange and is positioned upstream of said second contact roller with respect to the movement of the endless drive member.

13. The contact assembly of claim 5, wherein the endless drive member has an inner surface formed with a protrusion, and wherein said contact assembly includes at least one pair of spaced apart contact rollers defining a space therebetween, wherein the protrusion is positioned within said space, and wherein said surface of said contact assembly is an inner surface of a contact roller of said at least one pair of contact rollers.

14. The contact assembly of claim 13, wherein said at least one pair of contact rollers is a first pair of contact rollers and a second pair of contact rollers, wherein said first pair of contact rollers is positioned upstream of said second pair of contact rollers with respect to the movement of the endless drive member.

15. The contact assembly of claim 1, further comprising a platform having at least one drive member engagement section, said at least one drive member engagement section reciprocally engaging the endless drive member.

16. The contact assembly of claim 15, further comprising a support member, said support member supporting said platform, said support member formed with an orientation member.

17. The contact assembly of claim 15, wherein said at least one drive member engagement section is configured to move said platform in said plane when said at least one drive member engagement section engages the endless drive member.

18. The contact assembly of claim 15, wherein said at least one drive member engagement section is a first drive member engagement section and a second drive member engagement section.

19. The contact assembly of claim 18, wherein said first drive member engagement section is a first contact roller and said second drive member engagement section is a second contact roller, said first contact roller positioned first in the direction of travel of the endless drive member, one of said contact rollers having a pair of ends, at least one end of said pair of ends formed with an out-turned flange, wherein contact between the endless drive member and said out-turned flange moves said platform in said plane.

20. The contact assembly of claim 19, wherein said out-turned flange is formed on an end of said first contact roller.

21. The contact assembly of claim 19, wherein said out-turned flange is formed on each end of said first contact roller.

22. The contact assembly of claim 18, wherein said first drive member engagement section is a first pair of contact rollers and said second drive member engagement section is a second pair of contact rollers.

23. The contact assembly of claim 22, wherein the endless drive member has an undersurface formed with a protrusion projecting therefrom and is positioned between said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers when said first pair and said second pair of contact rollers engage the endless drive member.

24. The contact assembly of claim 23, wherein the protrusion of the endless drive member has a width and each contact roller of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers has an inner surface, at least one pair of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers being spaced a preselected distance apart, wherein said preselected distance is slightly greater than the width of the protrusion so that contact between said inner surface of a contact roller and the protrusion moves said platform in said plane.

25. The contact assembly of claim 24, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced said preselected distance apart and positioned first in the direction of movement of the endless drive member.

26. The contact assembly of claim 25, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced a first distance apart and said second pair of contact rollers are spaced a second distance apart, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

27. An accumulation conveyor comprising:

a plurality of conveying rollers, and an endless drive member juxtaposed with said conveying rollers, said endless drive member having an upper portion traveling in a plane;

a support member having at least one generally vertical guide member;

a force-producing device carried by said support member; and

a contact member supported by said support member, wherein actuation of said force-producing device moves said contact member into engagement with said endless drive member and said endless drive member into engagement with said conveying rollers, wherein engagement between said contact member and said endless drive member pivotally moves said contact member about said at least one guide member in said plane to align said contact member with said endless drive member.

28. The accumulation conveyor of claim 27, wherein said at least one generally vertical guide member is a first generally vertical guide member and a second generally vertical guide member, wherein said contact member pivotally moves about said first generally vertical guide member and said second generally vertical guide member limits movement of said contact member.

29. The accumulation conveyor of claim 27, wherein said contact member has at least one drive member engagement section, wherein actuation of said force-producing device moves said at least one drive member engagement section into engagement with said endless drive member and said endless drive member into engagement with said conveying rollers, wherein engagement between said at least one drive member engagement section and said endless drive member pivotally moves said contact member about said at least one guide member to align said contact member with said endless drive member.

30. The accumulation conveyor of claim 29, wherein said at least one drive member engagement section is a first drive member engagement section and a second drive member engagement section.

31. The accumulation conveyor of claim 30, wherein said first drive member engagement section is at least a first contact roller and said second drive member engagement section is at least a second contact roller.

32. The accumulation conveyor of claim 31, wherein said first contact roller has a pair of ends, at least one end of said pair of ends formed with an out-turned flange, wherein contact between said out-turned flange and said endless drive member pivots said contact member about said at least one guide member to thereby align said contact member with said endless drive member.

33. The accumulation conveyor of claim 32, wherein at least one of said first contact roller and said second contact roller is a crowned contact roller.

34. The accumulation conveyor of claim 32, wherein each end of said first contact roller is formed with an out-turned flange.

35. The accumulation conveyor of claim 31, wherein said first contact roller is positioned first in the direction of travel of said endless drive member.

36. The accumulation conveyor of claim 30, wherein said contact member is formed with at least one post having a channel dimensioned to receive said at least one generally vertical guide member.

37. The accumulation conveyor of claim 36, wherein said generally vertical guide member is a first guide member and a second guide member, said contact assembly pivotally moving about said first guide member, wherein said first guide member is positioned closer to said first drive member engagement section than to said second drive member engagement section.

38. The accumulation conveyor of claim 37, wherein said at least one post is a first post and a second post, said first post having a first channel dimensioned to receive said first guide member, said second post having a second channel dimensioned to receive said second guide member.

39. The accumulation conveyor of claim 38, wherein said first channel has a first diameter, wherein said second channel has a second diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter.

40. The accumulation conveyor of claim 27, wherein said support member is formed with a rib extending therefrom in a substantially vertical direction.

41. The accumulation conveyor of claim 31, wherein said endless drive member has a substantially flat cross section.

42. The accumulation conveyor of claim 30, wherein said first drive member engagement section is a first pair of contact rollers and said second drive member engagement section is a second pair of contact rollers.

43. The accumulation conveyor of claim 42, wherein said endless drive member has an undersurface formed with a protrusion projecting therefrom, said protrusion positioned between said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers when said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers engage said endless drive member.

44. The accumulation conveyor of claim 43, wherein said protrusion has a width and each contact roller of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers has an inner surface, at least one pair of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers being spaced a preselected distance apart, wherein said preselected distance is slightly greater than said width of said protrusion so that contact between said inner surface of a contact roller and said protrusion pivots said contact member.

45. The accumulation conveyor of claim 44, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced said preselected distance apart and positioned first in the direction of travel of said endless drive member.

46. The accumulation conveyor of claim 45, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced a first distance apart and said second pair of contact rollers are spaced a second distance apart, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

47. The accumulation conveyor of claim 44, wherein said at least one generally vertical guide member is a first guide member and a second guide member, and said contact member includes a first post and a second post, said first post having a first channel dimensioned to receive said first guide member, said first post positioned proximate to said first pair of contact rollers, said second post having a second channel dimensioned to receive said second guide member, said second post positioned proximate to said second pair of contact rollers.

48. The accumulation conveyor of claim 47, wherein said first channel has a first diameter, wherein said second channel has a second diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter.

49. A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor having a plurality of conveying rollers, and an endless drive member having an upper portion juxtaposed with the conveying rollers, wherein the upper portion of the endless drive member travels in a plane, said contact assembly comprising:

a support member;

a force-producing device carried by said support member; and

a wheel assembly positioned between said force-producing device and the conveying rollers, wherein actuation of said force-producing device moves said wheel assembly into engagement with the upper portion of the endless drive member and the upper portion of the endless drive member into engagement with the conveying rollers, said wheel assembly including at least one upstream roller and at least one downstream roller, said wheel assembly pivoting about a substantially vertical axis, wherein contact between said at least one upstream roller and the endless drive member pivots said wheel assembly about said substantially vertical axis to maintain alignment between said wheel assembly and the endless drive member, said vertical axis being between said at least one upstream roller and said at least one downstream roller and closer to said at least one upstream roller.

50. The contact assembly of claim 49, wherein said at least one upstream roller has at least one end formed with an out-turned flange, wherein contact between said at least one out-turned flange and the endless drive member pivots said wheel assembly about said substantially vertical axis.

51. The contact assembly of claim 49, wherein said at least one upstream roller is a first pair of contact rollers and said at least one downstream roller is a second pair of contact rollers.

52. The contact assembly of claim 51, wherein the endless drive member has an undersurface formed with a protrusion projecting therefrom and positioned between said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers when said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers en gage the endless drive member.

53. The contact assembly of claim 52, wherein the protrusion has a width and each contact roller of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers has an inner surface, at least one pair of said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers being spaced a preselected distance apart, wherein said preselected distance is slightly greater than the width of the protrusion so that contact between said inner surface of a contact roller and said protrusion pivots said wheel assembly about said substantially vertical axis.

54. The contact assembly of claim 53, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced said preselected distance apart and positioned first in the direction of travel of the endless drive member.

55. The contact assembly of claim 54, wherein said first pair of contact rollers are spaced a first distance apart and said second pair of contact rollers are spaced a second distance apart, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

56. The contact assembly of claim 49, wherein said support member has a horizontal surface and at least one guide member extending from said horizontal surface, said wheel assembly pivoting about said at least one guide member.

57. The contact assembly of claim 56, wherein said wheel assembly is formed with at least one post, said at least one post having a channel dimensioned to receive said at least one guide member.

58. The contact assembly of claim 57, wherein said at least one guide member is a first guide member and a second guide member, and wherein said at least one post is a first post and a second post, said first post having a first channel dimensioned to receive said first guide member, said first post positioned proximate to said first pair of contact rollers, said second post having a second channel dimensioned to receive said second guide member, said second post positioned proximate to said second pair of contact rollers.

59. The contact assembly of claim 58, wherein said first channel has a first diameter, wherein said second channel has a second diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter.

60. The contact assembly of claim 49, wherein said support member is formed with an orientation member.

61. An accumulation conveyor comprising:

a plurality of conveying rollers and an endless drive member juxtaposed with said plurality of conveying rollers, said endless drive member formed with an undersurface having a protrusion extending therefrom, said protrusion having a width, said endless drive member traveling in a direction;

a support member, said support member having a horizontal surface and at least one guide member extending from said horizontal surface;

a force-producing device carried by said support member; and

a wheel assembly positioned between said force-producing device and said endless drive member and supported by said support member, said wheel assembly rotatably positioned on said at least one guide member to rotate about a generally vertical axis, said wheel assembly having a first pair of contact rollers and a second pair of contact rollers, said first pair of contact rollers positioned first in said direction of travel of said endless drive member, each contact roller of said first pair of contact rollers having an inner surface, wherein actuation of said force-producing device moves said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers into engagement with said endless drive member and said endless drive member into engagement with said conveying rollers, wherein said protrusion is positioned between said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers when said first pair of contact rollers and said second pair of contact rollers engage said endless drive member, and

wherein said first pair of contact rollers are positioned a preselected distance apart, said preselected distance being slightly greater than said width of said protrusion such that contact between an inner surface of a contact roller of said first pair contact rollers and said protrusion pivots said wheel assembly to thereby maintain alignment between said wheel assembly and said endless drive member.

62. The accumulation conveyor of claim 61, wherein said wheel assembly is formed with at least one post, said at least one post having a channel dimensioned to receive said at least one guide member.

63. The accumulation conveyor of claim 62, wherein said at least one guide member is a first guide member and a second guide member and wherein said at least one post is a first post and a second post, said first post having a first channel dimensioned to receive said first guide member, said first post positioned proximate to said first pair of contact rollers, said second post having a second channel dimensioned to receive said second guide member, said second post positioned proximate to said second pair of contact rollers, said wheel assembly pivoting about said first guide member when said protrusion contacts an inner surface of a contact roller of said first pair of contact rollers.

64. The accumulation conveyor of claim 63, wherein said first channel has a first diameter, wherein said second channel has a second diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter.

65. An accumulation conveyor comprising:

a plurality of conveying rollers and an endless drive member juxtaposed with said conveying rollers, an upper portion of said endless drive member traveling in a plane;

at least one sensor for sensing that said endless drive member is misaligned in said plane; and

at least one contact assembly operably interconnected with said at least one sensor, said at least one contact assembly selectively reciprocally movable into engagement with the endless drive member to bring the endless drive member into selective engagement with the conveying rollers, said at least one contact assembly including a portion that is moveable in said plane in response to said at least one sensor sensing that said endless member is misaligned in said plane.

66. The accumulation conveyor of claim 65, wherein said at least one contact assembly is configured to move into alignment with said endless drive member when said at least one sensor senses that said endless drive member is misaligned in said plane.

67. The accumulation conveyor of claim 66, wherein movement of a portion of said contact assembly into alignment with the endless drive member displaces another portion of said contact assembly in a manner which moves the endless drive member into alignment with said contact assembly.

68. The accumulation conveyor of claim 67, wherein said portion is upstream of said another portion with respect to the movement of said endless drive member.

69. The accumulation conveyor of claim 65, wherein said contact assembly is configured to pivot about a substantially vertical axis.