EP0264254A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor systems
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1987-10-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A roller conveyor system (1) has a plurality of driven roller assemblies (6, 11). Each driven roller assembly (6, 11) comprises a roller (11) and a driven pulley (8), the driven pulley (8) being connected to a driving device, such as a drive motor (18), via a drive belt (24) which transmits the driving torque. The roller (11) is frictionally coupled to the driven pulley (8) so as normally to be driven by the driving torque transmitted from the driven pulley (8), but resistance to rotation of the roller (11) causes it to slip relative to the driven pulley (8). An auxilliary driving mechanism (33) may be provided in the conveyor system (1) for driving some of the driven roller assemblies (6 , 11). The auxiliary driving mechanism (33) has a variable driving speed, so as to facilitate rapid stop and feed of an object (A) at a production station.
Inventors
- 👤 Motosuke C/O Patent Division Usui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:15
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G13/00; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/261; B65G13/02; B65G13/06; B65G13/07; B65G2203/00; B65G2203/04; B65G2203/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A conveyor system (1) comprising: a pair of frames (2) extending longitudinally and in substantially parallel relationship to each other; a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) mounted on said frames (2), each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a roller (11) rotatably supported on said frame (2) and aligned with rollers (11) of other roller assemblies (6, 11) to define a conveying path through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said rollers (11) in said roller assemblies (6, 11) for exerting feed force on said object; (A); characterized by: friction means (11b, 10) interposed between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) of each said roller assembly (6, 11) for connecting and disconnecting said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11), said friction means (11b, 10) normally being operative to connect said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11) for transmitting the driving force of said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11) for rotation, and being responsive to a resistance against rotation exerted on a said roller (11) and of greater than a given magnitude to disconnect said driving mechanism (30) from the said roller (11) on which said resistance greater than said given magnitude is exerted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A conveyor system (1) comprising: a pair of frames (2) extending longitudinally and in substantially parallel relationship to each other; a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) mounted on said frames (2), each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a roller (11) rotatably supported on said frame (2) and aligned with rollers (11) of other roller assemblies (6, 11) to define a conveying path through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said rollers (11) in said roller assemblies (6, 11) for exerting feed force on said object; (A); characterized by: friction means (11b, 10) interposed between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) of each said roller assembly (6, 11) for connecting and disconnecting said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11), said friction means (11b, 10) normally being operative to connect said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11) for transmitting the driving force of said driving mechanism (30) to said rollers (11) for rotation, and being responsive to a resistance against rotation exerted on a said roller (11) and of greater than a given magnitude to disconnect said driving mechanism (30) from the said roller (11) on which said resistance greater than said given magnitude is exerted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
A conveyor system (1) comprising: a pair of frames (2) extending longitudinally and in substantially parallel relationship to each other; a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) mounted on said frames (2), each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a roller (11) rotatably supported on said frame (2) and aligned with rollers (11) of other roller assemblies (6, 11) to define a conveying path through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said rollers (11) in said roller assemblies (6, 11) for exerting feed force on said object (A); characterized by: friction means (11b, 10) interposed between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) of said roller assemblies (6, 11) for allowing slip to occur between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) when the load on said rollers (11) causes the resistance of said rollers (11) to rotation to exceed a given magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
A conveyor system (1) comprising: a pair of frames (2) extending longitudinally and in substantially parallel relationship to each other; a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) mounted on said frames (2), each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a roller (11) rotatably supported on said frame (2) and aligned with rollers (11) of other roller assemblies (6, 11) to define a conveying path through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said rollers (11) in said roller assemblies (6, 11) for exerting feed force on said object (A); characterized by: friction means (11b, 10) interposed between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) of said roller assemblies (6, 11) for allowing slip to occur between said driving mechanism (30) and said rollers (11) when the load on said rollers (11) causes the resistance of said rollers (11) to rotation to exceed a given magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said friction means (11b, 10) is provided for each of said rollers (11) so as to limit power transmission between said driving mechanism (30) and each of said rollers (11) and independently of the other said rollers (11), so that when one of said rollers (11) is sliping relative to said driving mechanism (30), other said rollers (11) are driven to rotate by said driving mechanism (30).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 3 wherein said driving mechanism (30) comprises a drive motor (18), a power train (17) for transmitting the driving torque of said drive motor (18), and a plurality of pulleys (8) drivingly associated with said power train (17) to be driven by said driving torque of said drive motor (18), each of said pulleys (8) being associated with one of said rollers (11) for rotation therewith, and said friction means (11b, 10) being effective to connect said driving mechanism (30) to the corresponding said roller (11).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 4 wherein said friction means (11b, 10) comprises a first periphery (11b) of said roller (11) and a second periphery (10) of said pulley (8) associated therewith, said first and second peripheries (11b, 10) frictionally engaging for transmitting driving torque from said drive motor (18) via said power train (17), said first and second peripheries (11b, 10) allowing mutual slip for allowing rotation of said roller (11) to stop in response to said resistance greater than said given magnitude while said pulley (8) continues to rotate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 5 wherein said roller (11) and said pulley (8) associated therewith are coaxially arranged and supported by a common shaft (6) extending from said frame (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 5 which further comprises means (11c, 10b) for limiting the contact area between said first and second peripheries (11b, 10), which contact area limiting means (11c, 10b) determines the contact area between said first and second peripheries (11b, 10) and whereby determines the magnitude of the friction between said first and second peripheries (11c, 10b).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 2 further comprising means (43), at a prede mined position in said conveyor path, for quickly stopping and quickly feeding out said object (A), said means (43) including an auxiliary driving mechanism (33) associated with said rollers (11) located at positions corresponding to the position of said means (43) and having a variable driving speed for varying the rotational speed of the associated said rollers (11).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 8 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) decreases the rotational speed of said associated rollers (11) when said object (A) reaches a first predetermined point in said conveyor line and stops rotation for a given period of time when said object (A) reaches a second predetermined point for stopping said object (A) at said second point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 8 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) increases the rotational speed of said associated rollers (11) when said object (A) reaches a first predetermined point in said conveyor line, decelerates the rotational speed of said associated rollers (11) when said object (A) reaches a second predetermined point downstream of said first predetermined point, and stops rotation for a given period of time when said object (A) reaches a third predetermined point for stopping said object (A) at said third point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) resumes rotation after said given period of time for driving said associated rollers (11) at a given speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said quickly stopping and quickly feeding out means (43) further comprises a lifting means (59) operable between an initial down position and a lifted-up position where it lifts up said object (A) away from said conveyor line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 12 wherein said lifting means (59) is located at said second point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 13 wherein said quickly stopping and quickly feeding out means (43) further comprises a braking means (44) at a position corresponding to said first point and active on one or more said rollers (11) located at said first point for slowing down the rotational speed of the corresponding said rollers (11).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
196 words
A roller conveyor system (1) characterized by: a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) arranged in alignment to define a conveying path, through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred, each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a first rotary component (11) having a first periphery (11a) contacting said object (A) for exerting feeding force thereon and a second periphery (11b), and a second rotary component (8) having a third periphery (10) frictionally engaging with said second periphery (11b) of said first rotary component (11) for coupling said first and second rotary components (11, 8), the magnitude of the friction established between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10) being so determined as normally to maintain frictional engagement and to break frictional engagement to allow slip between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10) for stopping rotation of said first rotary component (11) while said second rotary component (8) maintains rotation, in response to a resistance against rotation of said first rotary component (11) exerted on said first periphery (11a) greater than a given magnitude; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said second components (8) of said roller assemblies (6, 11).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
A roller conveyor system (1) characterized by: a plurality of roller assemblies (6, 11) arranged in alignment to define a conveying path, through which an object (A) to be conveyed is transferred, each of said roller assemblies (6, 11) including a first rotary component (11) having a first periphery (11a) contacting said object (A) for exerting feeding force thereon and a second periphery (11b), and a second rotary component (8) having a third periphery (10) frictionally engaging with said second periphery (11b) of said first rotary component (11) for coupling said first and second rotary components (11, 8), the magnitude of the friction established between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10) being so determined as normally to maintain frictional engagement and to break frictional engagement to allow slip between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10) for stopping rotation of said first rotary component (11) while said second rotary component (8) maintains rotation, in response to a resistance against rotation of said first rotary component (11) exerted on said first periphery (11a) greater than a given magnitude; and a driving mechanism (30) for rotatingly driving said second components (8) of said roller assemblies (6, 11).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 15 wherein said driving mechanism (30) comprises a drive motor (18) and a power train (17) for transmitting the driving torque of said drive motor (18), said power train (17) including a drive belt 24) wound around said second rotary components (8) of said roller assemblies (6, 11) for transmitting driving torque.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A conveyor sys tem (1) according to claim 16 wherein said first rotary component (11) and said second rotary component (8) are coaxially arranged and supported by a common shaft (6) extending from a pair of support frames (2) respectively extending along said conveyor path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 15 further comprising means (11c, 10b) for limiting the contact area between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10), which contact area limiting means (11c, 10b) determines the contact area between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10) and thereby determines the magnitude of the friction between said second and third peripheries (11b, 10).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 15 further comprising means (43), at a predetermined position in said conveyor path, for quickly stopping and quickly feeding out said object (A), said means (43) including an auxiliary driving mechanism (33) associated with said first rotary components (11) of said roller assemblies (6, 11) located at positions corresponding to the position of said means (43) and having a variable driving speed for varying the rotational speed of the associated first rotary components (11).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 19 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) decelerates the rotational speed of said associated first rotary components (11) when said object (A) reaches a first predetermined point in said conveyor line, and stops rotating for a given period of time when said object (A) reaches a second predetermined point for stopping said object (A) at said second point.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 19 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) accelerates the rotational speed of said associated first rotary components (11) when said object (A) reaches a first predetermined point in said conveyor line, decelerates the rotational speed of said associated first rotary components (11) when said object (A) reaches a second predetermined point downstream of said first predetermined point, and stops rotation for a given period of time when said object (A) reaches a third predetermined point for stopping said object (A) at said third point.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein said auxiliary driving mechanism (33) resumes rotation after said given period of time for drivng said associated first rotary components (11) at a given speed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 20 wherein said quickly stopping and quickly feeding out means (43) further comprises a lifting means (59) operable between an initial down position and a lifted-up position where it lifts up said object (A) away from said conveyor path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 23 wherein said lifting means (59) is positioned at said second point.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
A conveyor system (1) according to claim 23 wherein said quickly stopping and quickly feeding out means (43) further comprises a braking means (44) at a position corresponding to said first point and active on one or more of said first rotary components (11) located at said first point for slowing down the rotational speed of the corresponding said first rotary components (11).
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