Modules Connectable End-to-end With No Relative Movement Patents (Class 198/860.2)
  • Publication number: 20030047425
    Abstract: A conveyor 20 comprising a continuous conveyor belt 35, driven at a constant speed, and configured for compression and expansion along the direction of travel of the continuous conveyor belt 35. The continuous conveyor belt 35 passes over a drive pulley 32 and a secondary pulley 34 that freely rotates. At least one impulse linkage 37 engages the continuous conveyor belt 35, the impulse linkage 37 extends beyond the continuous conveyor belt 35 such that it may be contacted by an impulse striker 49 that is configured to intermittently contact said impulse linkage 37. By so contacting the impulse linkage 37, a displacement of a portion of the continuous conveyor belt 35 relative to the rest of the continuous conveyor belt 35 is caused due to the subsequent expansion or compression of the continuous conveyor belt 35, resulting in a localized acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Lessard, Jean-Louis Bergeron, Camille Menier
  • Patent number: 6510935
    Abstract: An extended flow track system has a pair of inner and outer splice members for linking the side rails of tandem flow tracks. The splice members eliminate horizontal shifting between the front and rear flow track members. Thus, extending flow track members are perfectly aligned along their length. The splice ends of each side rail have a cutout in them so that a low profile configuration is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Unex Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Howard McIlvaine
  • Publication number: 20020175039
    Abstract: A support structure for an escalator includes a bottom landing, a top landing, and a rise that interconnects the bottom and top landings. An improved truss design comprised of steel modules that are stamped or bent is used to form the rise, the top landing, and the bottom landing. The modules have closed sides, which increases the strength and stiffness of the truss while also providing the enclosure for internal escalator components. The modules are either formed as a single piece or formed from multiple pieces that are welded or fastened together. The modules are then secured to each other to form the rise, the top landing, and the bottom landing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Matthew John Dunlavey, Jennifer Melanie Bastiaan, Michaelpaul Costa, Catalin H. Popa
  • Patent number: 6478143
    Abstract: A conveyor is provided with a casing (2), an endless conveyor belt (9) located in the casing (2) to circulate. The conveyor belt (9) has a pair of roller chains (11) attached to the peripheral edges on each side of the belt. Each roller chain (11) has a plurality of rollers (13). The casing (2) is provided with a lower split body (14) and an upper split body (15) fixed on the lower split body (14). The lower split body (14) has a pair of side frame members (17 and 18) formed by press molding. The side frames (17 and 18) each have a lower supporting portion (20) and an upper supporting portion (22), for supporting the rollers (13). That is, some portions of the casing (2) serve as the roller supporting portions (20,22). This reduces the number of steps in the manufacture of conveyors, facilitates manufacture of the same, and reduces the manufacturers' cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Enomoto Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20020125110
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system (10) comprising multiple modules such as a straight module (18), a powered module (20). a return module (23), and a radius turn module (22) The modules can be directly connected or connected by one or more connection assemblies (26). The radius turn module includes bendable side walls (131) that can be combined or cut as needed to obtain the desired angle of turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Kuharevicz, Curtis D. Chambers, Cory Slotman, Daughn Majeski
  • Patent number: 6427831
    Abstract: A conveyor bed has opposed sides and transverse nose bars on the ends of the sides to form an open frame. The sides carry also rungs. Elongated wear strips lay on the rungs to form a deck for a conveyor to slide thereon. The ends of the sides are formed with open mortises. The nose bars extend between opposite lateral ends formed a T-headed tenons. The tenons releasably couple with the open mortises. Hence the nose bars are adapted to couple onto the ends of the sides be locked there by the felt weight of the conveyor rolling over the nose bars. The elongated wear strips have an upper edge forming a conveyor supporting surface and a lower edge formed with notches. The notches are sized for receiving the rungs. Thus the notched wear strips are adapted to be weighted down in place on the rungs by the weight of the conveyor sliding thereon. The notches are sized for closely fitting the rungs to better stabilize the wear strips from unwanted displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Frank B. Norton
  • Publication number: 20020060145
    Abstract: A modular conveyor is provided that is assembled from components shipped as a kit to form a conveyor of variable configuration. The conveyor has side rails on opposing sides of the conveyor belt, with holes in the side rails adapted to allow mounting of supports at various locations. Holes in the ends of the side rails allow connections to end supports that contain hoppers, chutes or belt drive units comprising motors, gearboxes and drive shafts. Adjustable length legs have a U-shaped bracket that may be locked in a vertical position for supporting a horizontal conveyor, or angled to support an inclined conveyor segment. The legs are preferably pinned together for increased stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Richard E. Doerfer, Sharon La Fontaine, Willy R. Hidalgo, Richard P. Scherch
  • Patent number: 6325202
    Abstract: An interconnection for a modular support for a conveyor system includes a first modular frame suitable to support a conveyor and the first modular frame includes a first frame member defining a first cavity therein. A first opening is defined by a first cavity. A second opening opposes the first opening defined by the first cavity. A second modular frame is suitable to support the conveyor and the second modular frame includes a second frame member defining a second cavity therein. A third opening is defined by the second cavity. A fourth opening opposes the first opening defined by the second cavity. A securement structure passes through the first opening and the third opening to rigidly interconnect the first frame member with respect to the second frame member. A first cover is detachably engageable with the first frame member in such a manner as to at least partially overlay the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Doug Gaines
  • Patent number: 6296111
    Abstract: A modular conveyor beam assembly is disclosed using readily removable stock components comprising a conveyor beam having an upper surface; a plurality of brackets mounted on the upper surface; a wearstrip mounted to the plurality of brackets; an endless chain having a conveying portion and a return portion, the conveying portion supported by the wearstrip; a plurality of support segments to receive the return portion of the endless chain; and an apex formed in the upper surface of the conveyor beam to drain the conveyor beam after washing. In a preferred embodiment, the modular conveyor beam assembly further comprises a first member contained in at least one bracket for mounting a guide rail section and a first mount element wherein a position of the guide rail section is adjustable, and wherein the support segments join substantially flat, planar side surfaces of the conveyor beam and are freely removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Danville Automation Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Mekanik, Richard A. Smith, James F. Murphy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6276521
    Abstract: A conveyor truss module for constructing conveyor support spans includes a substantially rectangular base assembly and a single-pin top chord joint. The conveyor truss module also includes a plurality of lacing struts coupled to the single-pin top chord joint and the corners of the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Rotec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Arndt, A. Steven Ledger, Robert F. Oury
  • Patent number: 6269944
    Abstract: A beam extruded of aluminum alloy for use in cranes and conveyors is formed with a channel having runs that straddle an open bottom and are strengthened by pin receivers formed in C-shapes with material integrally extruded under the runs. An upper region of the channel is formed with upright parallel fins that serve as a mounting element. T-shaped strengthening upper beam elements can be secured to the channel by sliding them between the parallel fins where they are held in place by fasteners. The upright fins also accommodate a variety of mounting arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Gorbel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Taylor