Switch conveyor
First Claim
1. A conveyor belt extending in width from a left side to a right side and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side and running longitudinally in a direction of belt travel along a carryway, comprising:
- a plurality of first rollers arranged to rotate about first axes disposed at a first angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of first rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal first lanes;
a plurality of second rollers arranged to rotate about second axes disposed at a different second angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of second rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal second lanes;
wherein the first lanes and the second lanes are alternately formed across the width of the conveyor belt.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch conveyor including a modular conveyor belt or mat divided into longitudinal lanes of rollers. All the rollers in a lane are arranged to rotate about axes oriented in a common direction. The rollers in an adjacent lane are arranged to rotate about axes oriented in a different direction. A switch mechanism underlying the conveyor belt along a carryway selectably contacts the bottom side of the belt or mat with bearing surfaces that rotate the rollers in selected lanes along the carryway to propel conveyed articles in one direction or another.
118 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A conveyor belt extending in width from a left side to a right side and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side and running longitudinally in a direction of belt travel along a carryway, comprising:
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a plurality of first rollers arranged to rotate about first axes disposed at a first angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of first rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal first lanes;
a plurality of second rollers arranged to rotate about second axes disposed at a different second angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of second rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal second lanes;
wherein the first lanes and the second lanes are alternately formed across the width of the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
a plurality of third rollers arranged to rotate about third axes disposed at a third angle relative to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of third rollers are arranged in parallel longitudinal third lanes.
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3. A conveyor belt as in claim 2 wherein the third angle is a right angle.
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4. A conveyor belt as in claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third lanes are alternately formed across the width of the belt.
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5. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the measure of the first angle measured clockwise from the direction of belt travel is the same as the measure of the second angle measured counterclockwise from the direction of belt travel.
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6. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the first and second lanes are each one roller wide.
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7. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the first and second lanes are the same width.
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8. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the rollers in each of the first and second lanes are linearly arranged in each lane.
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9. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the first and second rollers have outer peripheries that extend through the thickness of the conveyor belt.
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10. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the first and second rollers are adjustable between a raised position and a lowered position.
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11. A conveyor belt as in claim 10 wherein an outer periphery of a roller in the raised position extends above the top side of the conveyor belt and the outer periphery of a roller in the lowered position is at or below the top side of the conveyor belt.
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12. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 further comprising axles defining the first and second axes about which the first and second rollers rotate and wherein the belt supports the axles in openings having an area greater than the cross section of the axles to allow the axles to be adjusted between a raised position and a lowered position.
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13. A conveyor belt as in claim 1 further comprising axles defining the first and second axes about which the first and second rollers rotate and wherein the first and second rollers define bores having a diameter sufficiently greater than the diameter of the axles to allow the axles to be adjusted between a raised position and a lowered position.
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14. A switch conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor belt as in claim 1; and
a plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces underlying the conveyor belt along the carryway and selectably movable into and out of contact with the bottom side of the conveyor belt and the first and second rollers along the first lanes and the second lanes.
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15. A switch conveyor as in claim 14 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces translates between a first position underlying the first lanes and a second position underlying the second lanes.
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16. A switch conveyor as in claim 15 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces further translates to a third position offset from the first and second lanes.
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17. A switch conveyor as in claim 14 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces includes a first set of bearing surfaces adjustable into and out of contact with the bottom side of the conveyor belt along the first lanes and a second set of bearing surfaces adjustable into and out of contact with the bottom side of the conveyor belt along the second lanes.
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18. A switch conveyor comprising:
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a modular conveyor belt including;
a series of rows of belt modules hingedly connected end to end by hinge pins into a conveyor belt, at least some of the rows including rollers extendable above and below top and bottom sides of the belt;
wherein the rollers include a first group of rollers rotatable about axes generally in a first direction and a second group of rollers rotatable about axes generally in a different second direction; and
wherein the first group of rollers is arranged in spaced apart longitudinal first lanes and wherein the second group is arranged in spaced apart longitudinal second lanes; and
a switch mechanism underlying the belt along a carryway portion of the conveyor and selectably adjustable between contact with the first group of rollers at the bottom side of the belt under the first lanes to rotate the first group of rollers as the belt moves in a direction of belt travel and contact with the second group of rollers at the bottom side of the belt under the second lanes to rotate the second group of rollers as the belt moves in the direction of belt travel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
interior vertical walls bounding cavities opening onto the top and bottom sides of the belt module from which peripheries of the rollers extend, the vertical walls forming opposite openings;
axles extending through the rollers and defining the axes, the axles spanning the cavities and supported at opposite ends in the openings, wherein the openings have a vertical dimension greater than the diameter of the ends of the axles.
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23. A switch conveyor as in claim 18 wherein the switch mechanism includes a plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces.
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24. A switch conveyor as in claim 23 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces translates between a first position underlying the first lanes and a second position underlying the second lanes.
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25. A switch conveyor as in claim 24 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces further translates to a third position offset from the first and second lanes.
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26. A switch conveyor as in claim 23 wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinal bearing surfaces includes a first set of bearing surfaces adjustable into and out of contact with the bottom side of the conveyor belt along the first lanes and a second set of bearing surfaces adjustable into and out of contact with the bottom side of the conveyor belt along the second lanes.
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27. A switch conveyor as in claim 18 wherein the rollers define central bores therethrough and wherein the modular conveyor belt comprises axles defining the axes in the first and second directions and wherein the cross section of the bores is sufficiently greater than the cross section of the axles to allow the rollers to be adjusted vertically between two positions by contact with the switch mechanism.
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28. A switch conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor mat divided across its width into a plurality of longitudinal lanes of rollers wherein all the rollers in each lane are arranged to rotate about parallel axes and the rollers of adjacent lanes rotate about non-parallel axes; and
a switch mechanism underlying a carryway portion of the switch conveyor and adjustable between lanes to rotate the rollers of alternately selectable lanes. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification