Conveyors, belts, and modules with actuated rollers
First Claim
1. A conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor belt extending in thickness from a first side to an opposite second side and having a conveying surface on the first side and an outermost surface on the second side with parallel slots formed in the outermost surface;
belt rollers extending outward of the conveyor belt past the conveying surface on the first side and into the parallel slots on the second side;
bearing surfaces arranged to extend into the parallel slots in the conveyor belt at the second side to contact the belt rollers recessed into the conveyor belt.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor, a conveyor belt used in the conveyor, and a belt module used to construct the conveyor belt, in which the module includes belt rollers that extend outward of a conveyor surface of the modules to support conveyed articles. The belt rollers are mounted in cavities in the modules that open onto the conveying surface and a recessed surface recessed inward of an outermost surface opposite the conveying surface through the thickness of the modules. Bearing surfaces, such as the peripheries of conveyor rollers underlying the conveyor belt along a carryway run, extend into the conveyor belt past the outer surface to contact the belt rollers. As the belt advances, the belt rollers rotate on the bearing surfaces to push conveyed articles along or across the belt.
48 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A conveyor comprising:
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a conveyor belt extending in thickness from a first side to an opposite second side and having a conveying surface on the first side and an outermost surface on the second side with parallel slots formed in the outermost surface; belt rollers extending outward of the conveyor belt past the conveying surface on the first side and into the parallel slots on the second side; bearing surfaces arranged to extend into the parallel slots in the conveyor belt at the second side to contact the belt rollers recessed into the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A conveyor comprising:
a conveyor belt including; a series of belt modules hingedly linked together by hinge pins into a conveyor belt having; a first side and an opposite second side through the thickness of the belt modules; a conveying surface on the first side and an outermost surface on the second side; recessed surfaces recessed inward of the outermost surface on the second side and forming slots in the outermost surface extending the length of the conveyor belt modules; and cavities opening onto the conveying surface on the first side and into the slots on the second side; a plurality of belt rollers mounted in the cavities, wherein the belt rollers extend outward of the cavities past the conveying surface and the recessed surfaces and are recessed inward from the outermost surface in the slots; bearing surfaces extending outward into contact with the recessed belt rollers in the slots at the second side of the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A conveyor belt comprising:
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a series of belt modules hingedly linked together into a conveyor belt including; a first side and an opposite second side through the thickness of the belt modules; a conveying surface on the first side and an outermost surface on the second side; recessed surfaces recessed inward of the outermost surface on the second side and forming slots in the outermost surface extending the length of the belt modules; and cavities opening onto the conveying surface on the first side and into the slots on the second side; a plurality of belt rollers mounted in the cavities, wherein the belt rollers extend outward of the cavities past the conveying surface and the recessed surfaces and are recessed inward from the outermost surface in the slots. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A conveyor belt module comprising:
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a first surface and an opposite second surface defining the thickness of the conveyor belt module and extending in a length direction between a first end and a second end; a recessed surface recessed inward of the second surface and forming a slot in the second surface extending in the length direction from the first end to the second end of the conveyor belt module; a cavity extending through the thickness of the conveyor belt module and opening onto the first surface and into the slot; and a belt roller mounted in the cavity, wherein the belt roller extends outward of the cavity past the first surface and the recessed surface to a position recessed inward of the second surface in the slot.
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Specification