Conveyor assembly
First Claim
1. A conveyor for moving an object comprising:
- a first rail having a rail aperture;
a second rail positioned substantially parallel to said first rail;
a roller coupled to said first rail;
a motor arranged to engage said roller;
a circuit board having a controller arranged to control said motor; and
a sensor mounted to said circuit board;
wherein said circuit board is mounted to said first rail such that said sensor may detect the presence of an object upon said roller through said rail aperture.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The conveyor apparatus disclosed herein is generally formed of a first rail and a second rail, each rail having a plurality of rollers. A portion of the rollers are desirably drive rollers, receiving power from an integral motor assembly. The motor generally comprises a stator that is coupled to the rail and an outer roller assembly rotatably coupled to the rail. The roller assembly includes an outer circumferential magnetized portion positioned in surrounding engagement to the motor stator and functions both as the motor rotor and the conveying surface of the roller. Non-slip roller covering material may be attached to the exterior of the roller assembly. A circuit board having logic controls is preferably in communication with at least one sensor and the motor rotor to regulate rotation of the motor rotor during use of the conveyor.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A conveyor for moving an object comprising:
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a first rail having a rail aperture;
a second rail positioned substantially parallel to said first rail;
a roller coupled to said first rail;
a motor arranged to engage said roller;
a circuit board having a controller arranged to control said motor; and
a sensor mounted to said circuit board;
wherein said circuit board is mounted to said first rail such that said sensor may detect the presence of an object upon said roller through said rail aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A conveyor for moving an object comprising:
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a first rail having a rail aperture;
a second rail positioned substantially parallel to said first rail;
a roller rotatably coupled to said first rail;
a motor arranged to rotate said roller, the motor comprising a stator and a rotor, the stator being mounted to the first rail;
a circuit board having a controller arranged to control said motor;
a sensor mounted to said circuit board;
said first rail comprising said circuit board wherein said sensor may detect the presence of an object upon roller through said rail aperture; and
said roller comprising the rotor, said rotor comprising a circumferential plurality of alternating magnetic poles arranged about the stator.
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Specification