Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A dedicated access module inserted between standard conveyor belt modules in a conveyor belt forms a dedicated opening and closing point for the conveyor belt. The dedicated access module comprises two mating portions, each portion including standard, articulating hinge elements on an outside end and non-articulating connection means on an inside end for connecting to the other, corresponding mating portion.

Abstract: A shrimp processing system conveys raw peeled shrimps to an imaging chamber in which shrimp bits and shrimps with residual shell are detected and diverted from the stream of acceptable shrimps allowed to pass on to downstream processing. An ultraviolet (UV) light source in the imaging chamber is constantly on. A visual inspection system takes images of the passing stream of shrimp when a white-light source is turned on to illuminate an exposure region to detect bits, clumps of shrimps, and acceptable individual shrimps. The visual inspection system takes images of the passing stream when the white-light source is turned off and the exposure region is subjected only to ultraviolet radiation. The visual inspection system detects shrimps with residual shell in the UV images. Shrimp bits and shrimps with residual shell are diverted from the stream of shrimps by air jet nozzles to corresponding reject destinations.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor and a method for sorting packages to selected destinations. A neural network executed by a multi-core classification processor uses captured images of package units conveyed on an infeed conveyor to classify each package unit. A control processor controls a sorting conveyor to direct each package unit to a destination depending on the package unit's classification.

Abstract: A sprocket having a series of circumferentially spaced tooth blades bridging the peripheries of two axially spaced outer rings. An optional locking ring between the outer rings provides additional support for the tooth blades or the outer rings and helps lock the tooth blades in place. The sprocket can be a split sprocket for easier installation onto and removal from a shaft.

Abstract: A magnetic tray for a tray conveyor has a permanent-magnet array producing a magnetic field that interacts with an electromagnetic flux wave produced by a linear-motor stator to propel the tray in a conveying direction. The tray includes a top conveying platform supported on a mover housing the permanent-magnet array and a tray-clearing tool that removes conveyed articles or debris from the platform. The tray-clearing tool is powered by the stator.

Abstract: A drive assembly for conveyor belt comprises a pair of opposing end plates for mounting a conveyor drive and mounting assemblies for mounting at least one of a position limiter assembly, a scraper assembly, a combined limiter-scraper assembly and side guards. The scraper assembly and combined limiter-scraper assembly include a leaf spring that is selectively tensioned by a tensioning element on an end plate to bias the scraper blade of the scraper assembly into an operational position.

Abstract: A rotatable retainer for hinge rods in modular conveyor belts. The rod retainer includes a plug that is rotatably received in a socket in the edge portion of a conveyor belt module. An aperture through the plug is adjustable between a first locked and operational position guiding a hinge rod obliquely into a hinge-joint passageway between adjacent rows of belt modules and an unlocked second position guiding the hinge rod straight into the passageway. A sideguard, such as for a stacker belt, can optionally be formed with the plug.

Abstract: A cleanable conveyor frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are movable between operating and cleaning positions. An outfeed assembly includes a drive for a conveyor belt and a scraper assembly. The scraper assembly comprises a scraper blade mounted to a mounting bar extending between two connecting plates and a leaf spring extending rearward from the mounting bar for biasing the scraper blade into contact with the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Belt modules with wear pads for constructing modular plastic conveyor belts. A conveyor belt made of the modules is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.

Abstract: A separation and singulation system for presenting shrimps or other product individually to a processor. The separation and singulation system includes a divider pan that separates a layer of shrimp into several lanes, a shaker pan that receives the lanes of shrimp and agitates them to separate clumps of shrimp and a flume for providing further singulation and acceleration of the shrimp. The singulated, separated shrimps are then sent to a processor.

Abstract: A tray shuttle and a tray conveyor using the tray shuttle to route magnetic conveyor trays from one conveyor section to another. The trays and the shuttles are propelled by linear-motor stators that produce electromagnetic flux waves that interact with the magnetic fields of permanent-magnet arrays in movers in each tray. Each shuttle has a main holder mover and one or more other movers connected to a linkage that operates one or more pushers that push trays off a tray holder on the shuttles.

Abstract: An overhead tray conveyor system conveying tray movers holding trays carrying products to a workstation area for processing. Soiled trays are transferred from the tray movers to a wash system. Once sanitized, the trays are returned from the wash system to the tray movers advancing around a track circuit.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of article-diverting conveyor belt rollers. An underlying drive roller assembly includes a plurality of pivotable rollers carriers, each having a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below. An actuator engages an orientation device to pivot the carriers and change the orientation of the drive rollers. The drive rollers may also move into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as their orientation changes. The orientation device is sandwiched between three-dimensional support plates to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers. A top support plate includes corrugated vertical walls forming wearstrip holders. The orientation device may raise or lower the drive rollers during pivoting of the roller carriers. The drive roller assembly may be a modular assembly that can be customized for varying sizes, shapes and configurations.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor system (46) comprising a main conveyor line (48) intersected by cross conveyors (18) having roller-top conveyor belts (20). The roller-top conveyor belts, which can be driven bidirectionally perpendicular to the conveying direction of the main conveyor line, have article-supporting belt rollers (22) that can rotate freely in the main conveying direction (14). Articles (38) fed from the main conveying line onto the cross conveyor can be sorted to the left or the right by the conveyor belt. Articles destined for sorting downstream pass over the stopped roller-top conveyor belt atop the freely rotatable belt rollers and back onto the main conveyor line. A booster (40), such as a motorized roller (40), between the main conveyor line and the cross conveyor applies a force in the main conveying direction against articles destined to cross the cross conveyor.

Abstract: A dedicated access assembly for a conveyor belt forms a dedicated opening and closing point for the conveyor belt. The dedicated access assembly includes a female portion having one or more open hooks and a male portion including a hinge rod extending between linking elements. The open hook disengages from and engages the hinge rod to selectively open and close the conveyor belt. A latching mechanism can selectively lock the dedicated access assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the elongation, or stretch, of a modular plastic conveyor belt. The belt-stretch measuring system measures stretch as the ratio less one of an actual belt travel distance or actual belt speed to an expected belt travel distance or expected belt speed for a new, unstretched belt. The actual belt travel distances or actual belt speeds are measured by sensors. The expected belt travel distances or expected belt speeds are calculated from the pulse outputs of encoders measuring the rotation of sprockets engaging the conveyor belt and from the known number of teeth on the sprockets. Actual belt pitch and catenary sag are also calculated.