Conveyor with a motorized transport element
First Claim
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1. A conveying system comprising:
- a conveyor conveying articles in a direction of travel along a carryway, the conveyor including;
a plurality of transport elements arranged on the conveyor to ride along parallel lateral tracks transverse to the direction of travel; and
a motor associated with each of the transport elements to drive the associated transport element along one of the tracks; and
a local controller associated with each of the transport elements and with the associated motor to control the activation of the motor;
wherein the local controller is located with its associated transport element to ride with the transport element along one of the tracks.
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Abstract
A conveying system including individually motorized transport elements or shoes that transport articles laterally across a conveyor. The motorized transport elements ride along tracks across the width of the conveyor. A motor drives each transport element across the conveyor. Local controllers in the transport elements or in the conveyor control the application of power to the motors and, thereby, the lateral positioning of the transport elements and the conveyed articles.
35 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A conveying system comprising:
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a conveyor conveying articles in a direction of travel along a carryway, the conveyor including; a plurality of transport elements arranged on the conveyor to ride along parallel lateral tracks transverse to the direction of travel; and a motor associated with each of the transport elements to drive the associated transport element along one of the tracks; and a local controller associated with each of the transport elements and with the associated motor to control the activation of the motor; wherein the local controller is located with its associated transport element to ride with the transport element along one of the tracks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A conveying system comprising:
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a slat conveyor conveying articles in a direction of travel along a carryway, the slat conveyor including; a plurality of parallel drag chains driven in the direction of travel; a plurality of parallel slats attached to and spanning the drag chains, at least some of the slats including; a lateral slot formed in the slat in a direction transverse to the direction of travel; a transport element arranged to ride along the slat a motor arranged to drive the transport element along the slot; and a local controller associated with the motor to control the activation of the motor; wherein the local controller is located with the transport element to ride with the transport element along the lateral slot. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification