Abstract: A hygienic magnetic tray and conveyor. The low-profile tray includes a forcer sandwiched between an article-supporting top and an opposite bottom. The top is made of hygienic material, and the bottom can be made of a low-friction material. The tray is propelled along a guide surface on an enclosure housing stator coils supported in a conveyor frame. The stator forms a linear motor with the forcer in the tray. Various disposal systems provide escape routes for removing fluids and debris from the guide surface of the stator enclosure.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation conveying system conveys products on trays and measures the weight of the product without requiring removal of the product or tray. A track below the trays has magnetic levitation coils that generate a magnetic field when energized. The trays include magnets or other levitation elements that interact with the magnetic levitation coils to generate a propulsive levitating force on the tray. A sensor measures a parameter in the system to correlate the parameter with the weight of the conveyed product. The parameter can be a floating height of the tray above the track, an amount of energy necessary to maintain a particular floating height of the tray above the track, a force resulting from accelerating or decelerating the tray, a force required to maintain a desired curve radius when the tray moves around a curve, a force that counteracts an acceleration caused by an incline or other suitable indicator of weight.

Abstract: A hygienic magnetic tray and conveyor. The low-profile tray includes a forcer sandwiched between an article-supporting top and an opposite bottom. The top is made of hygienic material, and the bottom can be made of a low-friction material. The tray is propelled along a guide surface on an enclosure housing stator coils supported in a conveyor frame. The stator forms a linear motor with the forcer in the tray. Various disposal systems provide escape routes for removing fluids and debris from the guide surface of the stator enclosure.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A trough-belt conveyor with adjustable bearing support wings and methods for operating the conveyor to sort or destack articles. The conveyor includes a flexible conveyor belt supported in a series of support beds. Adjustable support beds have a base bearing member flanked by a pair of bearing wings. One or both of the wings are adjustable to raise or lower the sides of the belt above and below the plane of the center of the belt supported atop the base member.

Abstract: A drive system for a motorized roller that includes a secondary stator external to the motorized roller. The outer shell of the motorized roller contains electrically conductive or magnetic material to form an induction, permanent-magnet, or reluctance motor with the secondary stator and boosts or bucks the torque of the motorized roller.

Abstract: A drive system for a motorized roller that includes a secondary stator external to the motorized roller. The outer shell of the motorized roller contains electrically conductive or magnetic material to form an induction, permanent-magnet, or reluctance motor with the secondary stator and boosts or bucks the torque of the motorized roller.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A trough-belt conveyor with adjustable bearing support wings and methods for operating the conveyor to sort or destack articles. The conveyor includes a flexible conveyor belt supported in a series of support beds. Adjustable support beds have a base bearing member flanked by a pair of bearing wings. One or both of the wings are adjustable to raise or lower the sides of the belt above and below the plane of the center of the belt supported atop the base member.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A conveyor for transferring articles off the end of a conveyor belt onto a discharge conveyor. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt overlain by belt strands along a carryway. The belt strands are received in recesses below the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt travels an inner circuit inside an outer circuit encircled by the belt strands. The outer circuit diverges from the inner circuit at an end of the carryway. The belt strands extend the carryway and strip articles from the conveyor belt to transfer them to a downstream discharge conveyor or receive articles from an upstream infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A platform member for a knuckle-linked conveyor belt includes a stabilizer for pushing a conveyed product towards a side rail to stabilize the product during conveyance. The platform member may include an upper portion forming a conveying surface and a lower portion stepped down from the upper port for receiving the forward end of an adjacent platform member. A connector on the lower portion connects the platform member to a corresponding body member in the conveyor belt. The upper portion overlies and protrudes forward from the front of the lower portion. Shaped side rails on the platform member are configured to allow overlapping between adjacent side rails to minimize gaps.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A conveyor for transferring articles off the end of a conveyor belt onto a discharge conveyor. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt overlain by belt strands along a carryway. The belt strands are received in recesses below the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt travels an inner circuit inside an outer circuit encircled by the belt strands. The outer circuit diverges from the inner circuit at an end of the carryway. The belt strands extend the carryway and strip articles from the conveyor belt to transfer them to a downstream discharge conveyor or receive articles from an upstream infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A platform member for a knuckle-linked conveyor belt includes a stabilizer for pushing a conveyed product towards a side rail to stabilize the product during conveyance. The platform member may include an upper portion forming a conveying surface and a lower portion stepped down from the upper port for receiving the forward end of an adjacent platform member. A connector on the lower portion connects the platform member to a corresponding body member in the conveyor belt. The upper portion overlies and protrudes forward from the front of the lower portion. Shaped side rails on the platform member are configured to allow overlapping between adjacent side rails to minimize gaps.

Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

Abstract: A conveyor having a conveyor belt with magnetic properties that allow the belt's position to be controlled by externally generated magnetic fields and methods for controlling such a conveyor belt. Sensors sense an operating condition of the belt, such as belt speed, belt tension, belt loading, belt lateral, or radial, position, or belt elevation, and send those measurements to a controller. Electromagnets in the conveyor frame generate magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic properties of the belt to apply selected forces to position the belt in the conveyor. The controller adjusts the strength and direction of the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets to control the operating conditions of the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor having a conveyor belt with magnetic properties that allow the belt's position to be controlled by externally generated magnetic fields and methods for controlling such a conveyor belt. Sensors sense an operating condition of the belt, such as belt speed, belt tension, belt loading, belt lateral, or radial, position, or belt elevation, and send those measurements to a controller. Electromagnets in the conveyor frame generate magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic properties of the belt to apply selected forces to position the belt in the conveyor. The controller adjusts the strength and direction of the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets to control the operating conditions of the belt.