Abstract: A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group.

Abstract: A conveyor belt module has a conveying surface and a drive surface having a skewed drive edge for engaging a sprocket tooth. The skewed drive edge is skewed relative to the conveying surface. The skewed drive edge is formed on an interior drive surface in a sprocket pocket and—or an exterior drive surface on a drive element. The skewed drive edge is parallel to a corresponding downwardly-angled drive shaft accommodating sprockets of increasing size for driving a radius conveyor belt formed of a plurality of conveyor belt modules with skewed drive edges.

Abstract: A conveyor belt and a weighing system for weighing articles conveyed on a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes an array of force-sensing elements embedded in the belt to measure forces normal to the belt's conveying surface. The force-sensing elements form parts of passive resonant circuits that each include a capacitor and an inductive coil. Either the capacitor or the inductive coil can be a force-sensitive element. Measuring circuits external to the belt include an oscillator having a coil that inductively couples to the resonant circuit in the belt as it passes closely by. A force applied to the belt at a force-sensitive element changes the resonant frequency of its resonant circuit, which also causes a change in the oscillator frequency. Frequency detectors in the measuring circuits measure that frequency change and convert it into a proportional force value used to compute the weights of conveyed articles on the fly.

Abstract: An article-diverting modular conveyor belt employs a gear-driven article mover on a conveyor belt module for selectively moving a conveyed article towards a side of the module. The article mover may be a transversely-extending flexible band or helical blade for carrying articles across the belt towards a side of the module. A toothed wheel connected to the article mover is selectively driven by a gear to induce movement of the article mover.

Abstract: A deveining device efficiently removes veins from shrimp while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The deveining device comprises a channel having a blade extending along a section of the channel for cutting the back of the shrimp as it rolls through the channel to expose a vein. A downstream vein remover severs the exposed vein from the shrimp body. Nozzles spray fluid into the channel to propel the shrimp through the channel.

Abstract: A conveyor system with a pop-up transfer assembly for transferring articles off the end of conveyor belt having protrusions extending above the belt's outer conveying surface. The transfer assembly is cantilevered over the reversing path of the conveyor belt from a pivot. When a protrusion from the belt hits the transfer assembly, the transfer assembly pivots away from the belt about the pivot. When the protrusion is clear, the transfer assembly drops, by gravity, back to its home position proximate the belt. A bilateral transfer assembly is cantilevered in opposite directions to transfer articles off the end of one conveyor belt onto another conveyor belt that may or may not have protrusions.

Abstract: An article-diverting modular conveyor belt employs an article mover on a conveyor belt module for selectively moving a conveyed article towards a side of the module. The article mover may be a transversely-extending endless belt for carrying articles across the belt towards a side of the module. Rollers below the conveyor belt are selectively activated to induce movement of the article mover.

Abstract: Viscoelastic dampers and belt conveyor systems using viscoelastic dampers to attenuate belt vibration and methods for damping belt speed variations. One version of the viscoelastic dampers includes a low-friction carryway element mounted to a viscoelastic pad that is firmly attached to stationary conveyor framework at various locations along the length and width of the conveyor system. Speed fluctuations of the conveyor belt supported on and advancing along the low-friction carryway elements are damped by the viscoelastic dampers. In some versions, magnetic forces are used to clamp the conveyor belt to the dampers to increase the effective damping.

Abstract: Conveyor rollers rotated by electromagnetic induction to propel articles conveyed atop the rollers. A magnetic-field source induces a current in the electrically conductive rollers that causes them to rotate. The rollers can be mounted in conveyor belts or immobile mats. The magnetic-field source can be static if the rollers are advance through the field or dynamic. Alternatively, the rollers can be magnetic and induce a current in a stationary electrically conductive plate that creates interacting magnetic fields to rotate the rollers.

Abstract: A conveyor belt comprising a plurality of modules hingedly connected together includes a first type of module including raised ribs arranged in columns and a second type of module including chock segments aligned with the columns. A transfer device includes fingers aligned with gaps between the chock segments and valleys between the columns. Each chock segment is substantially triangular in shape.

Abstract: A magnetic conveyor belt module integrates a magnetic element into the body of the module to attract conveyed articles to the body. The magnetic conveyor belt module includes a recess for seating a magnetic element and a retention element for retaining the magnetic element within the recess. A cover encapsulates the magnetic element within the body of the module.

Abstract: A cleanable shoe-type diverter belt having pegs that travel across the width of the diverter belt. Guides extending diagonally across the width of the belt contact the pegs to translate the pegs along their slots. In some versions vertical plates are attached to the pegs.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a hinged, modular 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 extending from the bottom to the top of the tower for engaging the inside edges of the belt. In one version, the ridges at the entrance end of the spiral are movable to provide a gradually decreasing spacing between consecutive ridges as the belt enters the spiral. In another version, alignment elements at the entrance end align belt-edge structure with the tip ends of associated ridges to help engagement. In another version, the ridges at a discharge end of the tower are retractable between an extended position driving the belt and a retracted position.

Abstract: A conveyor and method for moving articles across a conveying surface using electromagnetically operated movers in a conveyor belt. The movers are retained in tracks in the conveyor belt. A magnetic field source produces a magnetic field that varies across the width of the belt. The magnetic field interacts with electrically conductive material, ferromagnetic material, or permanent magnets in the movers to propel the movers and divert articles engaged by the movers across the belt. Movers with retractable pushers fold down at the sides of the belt to allow articles pushed by other movers to pass over and off the side of the belt.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor having electromagnetically actuated rollers for sorting articles off one or both sides of the conveyor. A linear stator creates a magnetic flux wave that rotates rotors in the article-supporting rollers and selects their direction of rotation. In one version the magnetic flux wave swivels the rollers to change the sorting direction. In another version the magnetic flux wave causes one set of rollers or another set of orthogonally disposed rollers to contact conveyed articles.

Abstract: Components of a conveyor system designed to facilitate tight transfer of products onto and off a positively-driven, low tension conveyor belt. The conveyor system includes a tension amplifier in a returnway of a conveyor belt circuit for selectively increasing tension in the conveyor belt prior to infeed without increasing the low tension in the returnway prior to the tension amplifier.

Abstract: A zone-controlled in-line, stacked-roller conveyor belt. The belt has pairs of stacked rollers—a top article-supporting roller and a bottom driven roller. The top and bottom rollers contact each other so that when the bottom roller is driven in one direction by contact with a bearing surface under the belt as the belt advances, the top roller rotates in the opposite direction—opposite to the direction of belt travel. Articles atop the actuated roller pairs mark time. When the bottom roller is out of contact with a bearing surface, the rollers are braked and do not rotate so that the articles atop the braked rollers advance with the belt. The bearing surfaces are arranged in individually controllable segments that are dynamically grouped into zones that are actuated to halt an article in that zone. An imaging system is used by a controller to change the zone grouping dynamically.

Abstract: A conveyor and method for moving articles comprising a conductive material across a conveying surface using a touchless guide device disposed adjacent to a product path. The guide device generates a repelling force on a conveyed product to propel the conveyed product along the product path. Embodiments of the guide device include a linear induction motor and an array of alternating permanent magnets.

Abstract: Peeling apparatus and cam followers for lowering and raising the finger frames of roller-type peeling apparatus. The cam followers have monolithic hardened stainless steel cam rollers with journals extending outward of central wheels into bronze bushings retained stationarily in holders. The monolithic cam rollers roll on pivoting cams at the four corners of the finger frame to raise and lower the finger frame in synchrony with the back and forth rotation of peeling rollers forming peeling channels. Support rollers supporting the ends of the peeling rollers also rotate in stationary bronze bushings.

Abstract: A roller-type peeler having a rack gear retractable for servicing peeler rollers and a method for servicing peeler rollers by retracting the rack gear. A jack attached to the rack gear allows an operator to jack the rack gear up to a service position and out of engagement with roller gears so that the rollers can be removed and replaced and to lower the rack gear back into engagement with the gears of the replaced rollers.