Multi-belt conveyor system with removable cartridges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11584591-B2
Application number	US-202117192251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2021
Priority date	Aug 1, 2019
Publication date	Feb 21, 2023
Grant date	Feb 21, 2023

Abstract

A multi-belt conveyor is described. The multi-belt conveyor comprises a base assembly comprising a base frame that extends along a length of the multi-belt conveyor. Further, the multi-belt conveyor comprises a conveyor bed having a plurality of cartridges positioned adjacently to each other and mounted to the base frame. In this regard, each cartridge of the plurality of cartridges comprises a set of conveyor belts configured to move in a direction along the conveyor bed at a defined speed. Further, in accordance with example embodiments, a cartridge of the plurality of cartridges is configured to be removed from the conveyor bed without removing an adjacent cartridge from the plurality of cartridges. Further, each cartridge of the multi-belt conveyor comprises an actuation assembly comprising: a drive pulley, a roller-slider bed comprising a plurality of rollers, and the set of conveyor belts mounted around the roller-slider bed and the drive pulley.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor comprising:
a conveyor bed comprising a cartridge having a set of conveyor belts and a set of rollers, wherein each conveyor belt of the set of conveyor belts is individually mounted over an associated roller of the set of rollers, and wherein each of the conveyor belts of the set of conveyor belts are configured to move in a direction along the conveyor bed over the associated roller of the set of rollers at respective and individually defined speeds; and
a plurality of T bolts, wherein each of the plurality of T bolts is configured to engage cartridge frame tops of two adjacently positioned cartridges of a plurality of cartridges.

2. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
an actuation assembly comprising a drive pulley configured to be rotated about an axis;
a roller-slider bed comprising a plurality of rollers configured to be rotated by the actuation assembly; and
the set of conveyor belts mounted around the roller-slider bed and the drive pulley, wherein the set of conveyor belts are configured to move over the roller-slider bed in response to rotation of the drive pulley and the plurality of rollers.

3. The conveyor of claim 2 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises, a sprocket wheel mechanically coupled to a ball bearing and a shaft of the drive pulley, wherein the sprocket wheel is configured to be rotated by actuation of the actuation assembly that comprises: movement of a timing belt mounted around the sprocket wheel to cause rotation of the sprocket wheel, the ball bearing, and the shaft of the drive pulley.

4. The conveyor of claim 3 , wherein the actuation assembly is actuated by a drive motor and wherein the timing belt is mounted around the sprocket wheel of the cartridge and a sprocket comprising a bushing that is mechanically coupled to a shaft of the drive motor.

5. The conveyor of claim 4 , wherein the cartridge comprises a conveyor belt tensioning assembly comprising a first tensioning plate and first tensioning bolt, configured to adjust a tension of the set of conveyor belts mounted around the drive pulley and the roller-slider bed and wherein the base assembly comprises a timing belt tensioning assembly comprising a second tensioning plate and a second tensioning bolt, configured to adjust a tension of the timing belt mounted around the sprocket wheel of the cartridge and the sprocket with bushing at the base assembly.

6. The conveyor of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
a cartridge frame defined by a cartridge frame top and a cartridge frame base and wherein the cartridge frame base is defined at an angle relative to the cartridge frame top and mechanically coupled to the cartridge frame top by a spring pin and a nut and bolt assembly; and
a machined cross member comprising grooves and wherein the machined cross member is configured to support positioning of the plurality of rollers of the roller-slider bed of the cartridge, wherein the machined cross member is configured to engage with the cartridge frame top.

7. The conveyor of claim 6 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably mounted over a base assembly of the conveyor by:
positioning the cartridge over the base assembly so that the cartridge frame base mates over a portion defined by a base frame of the base assembly;
engaging the cartridge frame base with the base frame by the nut and bolt assembly; and
engaging a T-bolt between the cartridge and another cartridge positioned adjacently to the cartridge.

8. The conveyor of claim 6 , wherein the cartridge is configured to control a positioning of the cartridge frame base relative to a conveying surface defined by the conveyor bed based on engagement of the cartridge frame top with the cartridge frame base and the base frame, and engagement of the cartridge frame top with the machined cross member.

9. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein a base assembly of the conveyor comprises:
a drive motor mounted to a base frame, the drive motor comprising a shaft through passing at least a portion of the base frame;
a sprocket comprising a bushing mechanically coupled to the shaft of the drive motor; and
a tensioning plate positioned between the sprocket comprising the bushing and the base frame,
wherein the tensioning plate comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive a plurality of face bolts to engage the tensioning plate on the base frame.

10. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises:
a first cartridge removably mounted to a base frame of the conveyor, the first cartridge comprising:
a first actuation assembly comprising at least a first drive pulley;
a first roller-slider bed comprising a first set of rollers configured to rotate by the first actuation assembly; and
a first set of conveyor belts mounted around the first roller-slider bed and the first drive pulley, wherein the first set of conveyor belts are moved in response to rotation of the first set of rollers and the first drive pulley of the first actuation assembly; and
a second cartridge removably mounted to the base frame, the second cartridge comprising:
a second actuation assembly comprising at least a second drive pulley;
a second roller-slider bed comprising a second set of rollers configured to rotate by the second actuation assembly; and
a second set of conveyor belts mounted around the second roller-slider bed and the second drive pulley, and wherein the second set of conveyor belts are moved in response to rotation of the second set of rollers and the second drive pulley of the second actuation assembly; and

wherein, the first set of conveyor belts are configured to be moved over the first set of rollers at a first speed and the second set of conveyor belts are configured to be moved over the second set of rollers at a second speed different from the first speed to create a gap between items on the conveyor bed of the conveyor.

11. The conveyor of claim 1 , comprising the plurality of cartridges, wherein each of the plurality of cartridges is configured to be removed from the conveyor bed without removing an adjacent cartridge from the plurality of cartridges.

12. A cartridge of a conveyor comprising:
a roller-slider bed comprising a plurality of rollers;
a set of conveyor belts, wherein each conveyor belt of the set of conveyor belts is individually mounted over an associated roller of the roller-slider bed, and wherein each of the conveyor belts of the set of conveyor belts are configured to move over the roller-slider bed at respective and individually defined speeds in response to rotation of the plurality of rollers; and
a conveyor belt tensioning assembly comprising a tensioning plate and tensioning bolt configured to adjust a tension of a set of conveyor belts mounted around the roller-slider bed.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably mounted to a base frame of the conveyor comprising a conveyor bed that is defined by a plurality of conveyor belts, wherein each conveyor belt of the plurality of conveyor belts is configured to operate in a direction along the conveyor bed with at least one of, a same speed, a different speed, a same acceleration, or a different acceleration, at which a remaining conveyor belt of the plurality of conveyor belts of respective cartridges is to be operated.

14. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge frame having a cartridge frame top and wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably mounted to a base assembly of the conveyor by:
positioning the cartridge over a base frame of the base assembly so

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Wilkins John Joseph
• Robbe Zachary Lee

Classifications

• B65G2201/025

  Boxes · CPC title

• B65G15/58

  with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic · CPC title

• B65G47/31 Primary

  by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series · CPC title

• B65G2811/092

  a single conveyor having more than one driving means · CPC title

• B65G15/60

  Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets · CPC title