Abstract: Various shaped abrasive particles are disclosed. Each shaped abrasive particle includes a body having at least one major surface and a side surface extending from the major surface.

Abstract: A method of replacing a continuous belt on a belt conveyor having a frame assembly includes providing a removable belt module with a removable belt module frame, the removable belt module frame having at one end a rotatably mounted drive pulley and having at an opposite end a rotatably mounted other pulley. The continuous belt is reeved around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The removable belt module is removed from at least one attachment surface of the frame assembly while the continuous belt remains under tension. A replacement removable belt module is then placed at the attachment surface. Optionally, the continuous belt has a low modulus characteristic, and the removable belt module may include at least one pivot arm for mounting at least one of the drive pulley and the other pulley to the removable belt module frame.

Abstract: A belt conveyor includes at least one belt module defined by at least one drive pulley and at least one other pulley that is generally an idler pulley positioned between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and having a continuous belt routed around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The drive pulley is operable to drive the continuous belt around the pulleys to move articles along the zone assembly. The belt conveyor may incorporate features that allow for improved maintenance methods and reduced down time during service intervals. These features may include a removable belt module, at least one pulley mounted on at least one pivot arm, or a combination thereof. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched when the belt is reeved or routed around the pulleys and the pivot arms are moved into their operating position.

Abstract: A method of replacing a continuous belt on a belt conveyor having a frame assembly includes providing a removable belt module with a removable belt module frame, the removable belt module frame having at one end a rotatably mounted drive pulley and having at an opposite end a rotatably mounted other pulley. The continuous belt is reeved around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The removable belt module is removed from at least one attachment surface of the frame assembly while the continuous belt remains under tension. A replacement removable belt module is then placed at the attachment surface. Optionally, the continuous belt has a low modulus characteristic, and the removable belt module may include at least one pivot arm for mounting at least one of the drive pulley and the other pulley to the removable belt module frame.

Abstract: An article sorter is made up of a web defined by a plurality of interconnected, laterally elongated, slats. An upper portion of the web defines a longitudinally extending conveying surface. Each of the slats has a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of the conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel laterally of the conveying surface to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A drive assembly is provided. The drive includes at least one sprocket and a motor. The motor is adapted to rotate the sprocket(s). The sprocket(s) engage the slats to propel the web.

Abstract: A belt conveyor includes a driven roller and at least one other roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the driven roller and the other roller or rollers. The driven roller is drivable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt has a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75 percent in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The driven roller may be drivable in response to an article sensor that senses articles on the conveyor belt, in order to convey or accumulate articles on the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A belt conveyor includes spaced-apart opposite sidewalls and at least two rollers positioned along and between the sidewalls defining a zone in which two of the rollers are end rollers located at opposite ends of the zone. A continuous conveying belt is reeved around the rollers and defines a conveying surface between the sidewalls. At least one of the rollers is a driven roller to drive the conveying belt and move articles along the belt conveyor. The conveying belt is initially stretched lengthwise at least 0.75 percent when it is reeved around the rollers. The conveying belt is tracked around the rollers, without a take up device, by engaging with the rollers. End rollers are mounted to axles, each axle extending through and protruding from both sidewalls. Axle retainers may receive the ends the end roller axles and connect the axle ends to their respective sidewalls.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes a plurality of idler rollers positioned along and between opposite sidewalls and a transverse drive system operable to rotatably drive at least some of the idler rollers of the roller conveyer. The transverse drive system includes a motorized roller positioned generally transverse to the idler rollers and a plurality of drive members drivably connected between the motorized roller and respective ones of the idler rollers. Actuation of the motorized roller drives each of the drive members, which in turn independently rotatably drive the respective idler rollers. The transverse drive system may be selectively operable to accumulate articles on one or more zones of the roller conveyor. The roller conveyor may include a right angle transfer unit operable to transfer articles in a direction generally normal to the direction of conveyance of the idler rollers.

Abstract: An article sorter is made up of a web defined by a plurality of interconnected, laterally elongated, slats. An upper portion of the web defines a longitudinally extending conveying surface. Each of the slats has a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of the conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel laterally of the conveying surface to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A drive assembly is provided. The drive includes at least one sprocket and a motor. The motor is adapted to rotate the sprocket(s). The sprocket(s) engage the slats to propel the web.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor and method, according to the invention, includes providing a plurality of tandem accumulation zones, each of the zones including a conveying surface and at least one drive roller selectively driving the conveying surface. A drive member below the conveying surface extends a length of the plurality of tandem accumulation zones. Each of the zones includes a clutch roller rotated by the drive member and an electromagnetic clutch. The clutch selectively transfers rotation of the clutch roller to the drive roller to drive the conveying surface. The clutch may be made up of a pair of concentric cylinders aligned in a vertical plane and a force transmission member between the concentric cylinders with the force transmission member transmitting force between the concentric cylinders when the clutch is electrically actuated. The clutch may be a wrapped-spring clutch.

Abstract: A belt conveyor includes at least one belt module defined by at least one drive pulley and at least one other pulley that is generally an idler pulley positioned between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and having a continuous belt routed around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The drive pulley is operable to drive the continuous belt around the pulleys to move articles along the zone assembly. The belt conveyor may incorporate features that allow for improved maintenance methods and reduced down time during service intervals. These features may include a removable belt module, at least one pulley mounted on at least one pivot arm, or a combination thereof. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched when the belt is reeved or routed around the pulleys and the pivot arms are moved into their operating position.

Abstract: An article sorter is made up of a web defined by a plurality of interconnected, laterally elongated, slats. An upper portion of the web defines a longitudinally extending conveying surface. Each of the slats has a generally planar upper surface forming a portion of the conveying surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travel laterally of the conveying surface to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A drive assembly is provided to propel the web. The drive includes at least one sprocket and a motor. The motor rotates the sprocket(s). The sprocket(s) engage the lower surface of the slats.

Abstract: A roller shaft mount or support secures a shaft end of a conveyor roller at and between opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The shaft support includes a mounting portion mountable to a sidewall of the conveyor and a clamping portion. The clamping portion is movably attached to the mounting portion and movable relative thereto. The shaft support receives a roller shaft at least partially therethrough. The clamping portion is movable relative to the mounting portion so as to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support in response to movement of the clamping portion relative to the mounting portion. The clamping portion may move along a ramped surface toward and into engagement with the shaft of the roller in response to adjustment of a fastener to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support.

Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.

Abstract: A belt conveyor or belt accumulator includes at least two tandem zones, each of which is defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the motorized roller and the idler roller or rollers. The motorized roller is operable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75% in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The motorized roller of each zone may be independently operable, such as in response to an article sensor at each zone, to convey or accumulate articles on the respective zone of the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes opposite sidewalls and at least two tandem zones. Each zone includes a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted at and between the opposite sidewalls, and a drive system having a motorized or directly driven roller. The driven roller is operable to drive the idler rollers via a drive member, which is positioned substantially beneath the idler rollers and in substantially continuous contact with a lower portion of at least some of the idler rollers. The driven roller may be selectively operable to provide accumulation of at least two articles in each of the zones. The roller conveyor may include a control which is operable to selectively operate the driven roller, such as in response to at least one article sensor along the roller conveyor or in response to a current sensor for sensing a current draw by the driven roller.

Abstract: A belt conveyor or belt accumulator includes at least two tandem zones, each of which is defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the motorized roller and the idler roller or rollers. The motorized roller is operable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75% in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The motorized roller of each zone may be independently operable, such as in response to an article sensor at each zone, to convey or accumulate articles on the respective zone of the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes opposite sidewalls and at least two tandem zones. Each zone includes a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted at and between the opposite sidewalls, and a drive system having a motorized or directly driven roller. The driven roller is operable to drive the idler rollers via a drive member, which is positioned substantially beneath the idler rollers and in substantially continuous contact with a lower portion of at least some of the idler rollers. The driven roller may be selectively operable to provide accumulation of at least two articles in each of the zones. The roller conveyor may include a control which is operable to selectively operate the driven roller, such as in response to at least one article sensor along the roller conveyor or in response to a current sensor for sensing a current draw by the driven roller.