Modular mat gravity-advance roller conveyor
First Claim
1. A modular gravity-advance roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path, the conveyor comprising:
- a mat including;
a plurality of rows of one or more modules, each row extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, transversely in a transverse direction from a left side to a right side, and in thickness from a top surface to a bottom surface, each row including linked connecting elements along the first end and the second end connecting consecutive rows together end to end to form the mat extending longitudinally from an entrance end to an exit end, at least some of the rows including rollers extending above the top surface of the row;
wherein at least some of the rollers are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane;
a conveyor frame including an inclined base supporting the mat with the entrance end of the mat positioned at a higher elevation on the inclined base than the exit end of the mat;
whereby the weight of articles introduced onto the mat causes the rollers in contact with the articles to rotate and move the articles down the mat.
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Abstract
A modular gravity-advance roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path. The conveyor comprises an easy-to-configure modular conveyor mat supported in a conveyor frame with an inclined base. The conveyor mat is constructed of a series of rows of roller-top modules with rollers that extend above the top surface of the mat. Connecting elements along the ends of each row are connected to the connecting elements of adjacent rows to form the mat. The rollers on a roller-top module rotate about an axis of rotation. Modules with rollers that rotate about a given axis of rotation can be combined with modules with rollers that rotate about a different axis of rotation in a variety of patterns to meet common or special conveying requirements.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A modular gravity-advance roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path, the conveyor comprising:
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a mat including;
a plurality of rows of one or more modules, each row extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, transversely in a transverse direction from a left side to a right side, and in thickness from a top surface to a bottom surface, each row including linked connecting elements along the first end and the second end connecting consecutive rows together end to end to form the mat extending longitudinally from an entrance end to an exit end, at least some of the rows including rollers extending above the top surface of the row;
wherein at least some of the rollers are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane;
a conveyor frame including an inclined base supporting the mat with the entrance end of the mat positioned at a higher elevation on the inclined base than the exit end of the mat;
whereby the weight of articles introduced onto the mat causes the rollers in contact with the articles to rotate and move the articles down the mat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A modular gravity roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path, the conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor frame including an inclined base;
a length of modular plastic roller-top conveyor belt supported stationarily on the inclined base and extending longitudinally from an upper end to a lower end and transversely in a transverse direction from a left side to a right side and including rollers, at least some of which are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for constructing a gravity conveyor, the method comprising:
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providing a conveyor frame with an inclined base;
supporting a length of modular roller-top conveyor belt stationarily on the inclined base of the conveyor frame;
wherein the modular roller-top belt includes rollers, at least some of which are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane.
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22. A modular gravity-advance roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path, the conveyor comprising:
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a stationary mat including;
a plurality of modules linked together in rows to form the mat, at least some of the modules including rollers extending above the top surface of the mat wherein at least some of the rollers are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane;
a conveyor frame including an inclined base supporting the mat between a higher end and a lower end;
whereby the weight of articles introduced onto the mat causes the rollers in contact with the articles to rotate and move the articles toward the lower end of the mat. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification