CONVEYOR SYSTEM ALIGNER AND METHOD OF ALIGNING
First Claim
1. A conveyor system aligner, comprising:
- a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in said support surface;
a belt drive; and
a continuous aligning belt that is driven by said belt drive, said aligning belt having a contact portion and a guide member, said contact portion having a contact surface and a glide surface, said glide surface is configured to travel along said support surface, said guide member adapted to be captured by said channel and travel in said channel to support said belt;
wherein at least a portion of said guide member has a cross section that increases in width away from said contact portion and wherein said channel has an interior surface configuration that engages said portion of said guide member.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor system aligner, method of aligning and continuous aligning belt includes providing a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in the support surface. A belt drive propels the aligning belt along the support surface and items, such as cartons, are conveyed past the aligning belt. A continuous aligning belt is provided that has a contact portion and a guide member. The contact portion has a contact surface and a glide surface. The glide surface is configured to travel along the support surface. The guide member is adapted to be captured by the channel and travels in the channel to support the aligning belt.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conveyor system aligner, comprising:
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a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in said support surface; a belt drive; and a continuous aligning belt that is driven by said belt drive, said aligning belt having a contact portion and a guide member, said contact portion having a contact surface and a glide surface, said glide surface is configured to travel along said support surface, said guide member adapted to be captured by said channel and travel in said channel to support said belt; wherein at least a portion of said guide member has a cross section that increases in width away from said contact portion and wherein said channel has an interior surface configuration that engages said portion of said guide member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A conveyor system aligner, comprising:
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a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in said support surface; a belt drive; and a continuous aligning belt that is driven by said belt drive, said aligning belt having a contact portion and a guide member, said contact portion having a contact surface and a glide surface, said glide surface is configured to travel along said support surface, said guide member adapted to be captured by said channel and travel in said channel to support said belt; wherein at least a portion of said guide member has a V-shaped cross section defining outer surface portions that diverge away from said contact portion and wherein at least a portion of said channel has V-shaped surface portions that engage said outer surface portions of said guide member.
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19. A method of aligning items, said method comprising:
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providing a belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in said support surface; providing a continuous aligning belt, said aligning belt having a contact portion and a guide member, said contact portion having a contact surface and a glide surface, said glide surface configured to travel along said support surface; wherein at least a portion of said guide member has a cross section that increases in width away from said contact portion and said channel has an interior surface configuration that is adapted to engage said guide member; capturing said guide member with said channel; propelling said aligning belt along said support surface; and conveying items past said aligning belt.
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20. A continuous aligning belt for use with a belt drive and a belt support assembly, said belt support assembly having a generally vertical support surface and a channel defined in said support surface, said aligning belt comprising:
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a contact portion having a contact surface and a glide surface, said glide surface configured to travel along the support surface; and a guide member joined with said contact portion at said glide surface, wherein at least a portion of said guide member has a cross section that increases in width away from said contact portion.
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Specification