Compensating roller system
First Claim
1. A compensating roller system, comprising:
- a first rail supporting a first conveyor belt;
a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller is pivotally mounted on the first rail and biased to resist deflection of the first conveyor belt, and wherein each roller is configured for pivotal movement independent of pivotal movement of other rollers;
a belt-supporting roller, pivotally attached to the rail and in contact with an outer surface of the conveyor belt;
at least one linkage, between the belt-supporting roller and an adjacent roller, to result in pivotal movement of the belt-supporting roller when the adjacent roller pivots; and
a second rail configured as the first rail, wherein each of the first and second rails is oriented to direct rollers at the other rail and to define a channel for product movement between the first and second rails.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compensating roller system is adapted to adjust to size variation of product moving through a conveyor system. In one example, the compensating roller system is used to control a force resulting in deflection of a conveyor belt. In a specific implementation of such an example, a first rail is configured to support a first conveyor belt. A plurality of rollers is attached to the first rail and supports a conveyor belt moving over the rollers. The attachment allows each roller to pivot independently of movement of other rollers. Each of the rollers'"'"' movement is against a bias, and allows for deflection of the conveyor belt. A second rail may be configured as the first rail, and oriented define a channel for product movement between conveyor belts carried by the first and second rails.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A compensating roller system, comprising:
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a first rail supporting a first conveyor belt; a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller is pivotally mounted on the first rail and biased to resist deflection of the first conveyor belt, and wherein each roller is configured for pivotal movement independent of pivotal movement of other rollers; a belt-supporting roller, pivotally attached to the rail and in contact with an outer surface of the conveyor belt; at least one linkage, between the belt-supporting roller and an adjacent roller, to result in pivotal movement of the belt-supporting roller when the adjacent roller pivots; and a second rail configured as the first rail, wherein each of the first and second rails is oriented to direct rollers at the other rail and to define a channel for product movement between the first and second rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A conveyor system, comprising:
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a rail supporting a conveyor belt; rollers pivotally mounted on the rail and in contract with an inner surface of the conveyor belt, wherein a bias against pivotal movement of the rollers resists deviation from a nominal course of travel of the conveyor belt; and a belt-supporting roller, attached by two linkages to two adjacent rollers, to result in movement of the belt-supporting roller in concert with pivotal movement of the two adjacent rollers. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A product conveyor, comprising:
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a plurality of rollers supporting a conveyor belt, wherein; the rollers are pivotally mounted on a rail such that at least two rollers pivot independently; and a biasing element resists pivotal movement of each roller and deflection of the conveyor belt; a tail roller attached to the rail, wherein the tail roller is configured to pivot against bias in a direction opposite to pivotal movement against bias of the rollers; and a belt-supporting roller, linked to two adjacent rollers, and in contact with an outside surface of the conveyor belt to result in a local deformation of the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification