Accumulation conveyor with piezoelectric activation
First Claim
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1. An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles, said accumulation conveyor comprising:
- a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface;
a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers are rotatable relative to the frame;
a drive belt electively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers; and
an actuator assembly comprising at least one piezoelectric actuator for multiplying output motion of a piezoelectric element thereof, the at least one piezoelectric actuator having an output arm movable relative to the piezoelectric actuator and the actuator assembly having a lift member coupled with the output arm, the actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers.
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Abstract
An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles includes a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface, a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, a drive belt selectively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers, and an actuator assembly having at least one piezoelectric actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles, said accumulation conveyor comprising:
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a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface; a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers are rotatable relative to the frame; a drive belt electively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers; and an actuator assembly comprising at least one piezoelectric actuator for multiplying output motion of a piezoelectric element thereof, the at least one piezoelectric actuator having an output arm movable relative to the piezoelectric actuator and the actuator assembly having a lift member coupled with the output arm, the actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles, said accumulation conveyor comprising:
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a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface; a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, wherein the rollers are rotatable relative to the frame; a drive belt selectively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers; and an actuator assembly comprising at least one piezoelectric actuator for multiplying output motion of a piezoelectric element thereof, the actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers, wherein the actuator assembly comprises at least one support bracket, and the at least one piezoelectric actuator is mounted to the at least one support bracket, and the actuator assembly further comprises at least one lift member carried by a respective support bracket of the at least one support bracket, the at least one lift member comprising at least one guide arm, the respective support bracket defining a respective guide configured to receive the at least one guide arm.
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12. An actuation assembly for an accumulation conveyor, the actuation assembly comprising:
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a support bracket; a lift member translatable relative to the support bracket; and at least one piezoelectric actuator coupled with the support bracket, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises an output arm movable relative to the support bracket, wherein the output arm is coupled with the lift member such that the piezoelectric actuator is configured to move the lift member relative to the support bracket;
wherein the actuation assembly is configured to selectively urge a drive belt into driving engagement with a plurality of rollers of the accumulation conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification