Transport belt alignment system

Claim 2

In a transport system having a transport belt wrapped about a belt support member, said belt support member having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing a shift in the lateral position of said belt away from the center of said belt support member and along the longitudinal axis thereof; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; mechanical belt support member adjusting means, mechanically coupled to said first sensing lever by means of a coupling member for tilting the longitudinal axis of said belt support member in a direction to cause said belt to shift toward the center of said belt support member and along the longitudinal axis thereof to maintain said belt aligned with respect to its direction of motion.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the distance along said first sensing lever between said sensing means for sensing the position of said belt and said lever support means to the distance along said first lever between said lever support means and said coupling member is greater than two and said belt is substantially non-stretchable.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ratio is about 7.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mechanical belt support member adjusting means includes a belt support member adjusting lever coupled between said first sensing lever and said belt support member for tilting the longitudinal axis of said belt support member and for increasing the mechanical advantage of forces applied to said roller adjusting lever by said first belt position sensing lever.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said belt sensing means includes a pulley rotatably coupled to said first sensing lever, said pulley having a cutout therein for sensing the position of an edge of said belt.

Claim 7

In a transport system including a machine frame and a transport belt supported by an elongated belt support member having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge portion of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said belt support member; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge portion of said belt opposite said first edge of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first belt support member; a second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; mechanical belt support member adjusting means mechanically coupled to said first and second sensing levers, through a coupling member, for tilting the longItudinal axis of said belt support member in a direction to cause said belt to shift along said longitudinal axis of said belt support member toward the center thereof to maintain said belt aligned with respect to its direction of motion.

Claim 8

In a transport system including a machine frame and a transport belt supported by an elongated belt support member having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge portion of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said belt support member; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge portion of said belt opposite said first edge of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first belt support member; a second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; mechanical belt support member adjusting means mechanically coupled to said first and second sensing levers, through a coupling member, for tilting the longItudinal axis of said belt support member in a direction to cause said belt to shift along said longitudinal axis of said belt support member toward the center thereof to maintain said belt aligned with respect to its direction of motion.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said belt sensing means comprise rotatable pullies mounted upon said first and second belt position sensing levers, said rotatable pullies having indented portions formed therein for encompassing the edges of said belt.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the ratio of the distance along said first and second sensing levers between said belt sensing means and said lever support means to the distance along said levers between said lever support means and said coupling member coupled thereto is greater than two.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said ratio is about seven.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 8 further including a pair of floating blocks slidably coupled to said machine frame; means for coupling said belt support member to said floating blocks; and means for coupling said belt support member adjusting means to said floating blocks to cause said blocks to be translated with respect to said machine frame upon actuation of said mechanical belt support member adjusting means by said belt position sensing levers.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transport belt is substantially non-elastic.

Claim 14

In a transport system having a transport belt wrapped about a first and second roller, each of said rollers having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; a machine frame; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge portion of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge portion of said belt, opposite said first edge, along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; a mechanical roller adjusting lever coupled to said first and second sensing levers through a coupling member, said roller adjusting lever having an elongated portion for increasing the mechanical advantage of forces applied thereto by said coupling member to facilitate tipping of the longitudinal axis of said first roller.

Claim 15

In a transport system having a transport belt wrapped about a first and second roller, each of said rollers having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; a machine frame; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge portion of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge portion of said belt, opposite said first edge, along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; a mechanical roller adjusting lever coupled to said first and second sensing levers through a coupling member, said roller adjusting lever having an elongated portion for increasing the mechanical advantage of forces applied thereto by said coupling member to facilitate tipping of the longitudinal axis of said first roller.

Claim 16

The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second lever support means and said coupling member are positioned with respect to said machine frame to cause the forces applied by said belt to said sensing means mounted upon said sensing levers to be magnified before being applied to said roller adjusting lever.

Claim 17

The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said belt is substantially non-stretchable.

Claim 18

In a transport system having a machine frame and a transport belt wrapped about a first and second roller, each of said rollers having a longitudinal axis about which said rollers rotate; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge of said belt, opposite said first edge, along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; a mechanical roller adjusting lever coupled to said first and second sensing levers through a coupling member, said roller adjusting lever having a first elongated portion extending traverse to the longitudinal axis of said first roller, and a second elOngated portion extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; a pair of slidable floating blocks coupled to said machine frame, said floating blocks having stop portions associated therewith; means for mechanically biasing said second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever against said stop portions to cause said second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever to bear against said stops and to translate said floating blocks upon actuation of said mechanical roller adjusting lever.

Claim 19

In a transport system having a machine frame and a transport belt wrapped about a first and second roller, each of said rollers having a longitudinal axis about which said rollers rotate; a first belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a first edge of said belt along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; a first lever support means for supporting said first sensing lever; a second belt position sensing lever having sensing means associated therewith for sensing the lateral position of a second edge of said belt, opposite said first edge, along the longitudinal axis of said first roller; second lever support means for supporting said second sensing lever; a mechanical roller adjusting lever coupled to said first and second sensing levers through a coupling member, said roller adjusting lever having a first elongated portion extending traverse to the longitudinal axis of said first roller, and a second elOngated portion extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; a pair of slidable floating blocks coupled to said machine frame, said floating blocks having stop portions associated therewith; means for mechanically biasing said second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever against said stop portions to cause said second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever to bear against said stops and to translate said floating blocks upon actuation of said mechanical roller adjusting lever.

Claim 20

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second lever support means and said coupling member are positioned with respect to said machine frame to cause the forces applied to said sensing means mounted upon said sensing levers to be magnified before being applied to said roller adjusting lever.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein the coupling member coupled between said sensing levers and said roller adjusting lever is positioned with respect to the first elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever to cause forces applied to said roller adjusting lever by said coupling member to be again magnified before being applied to said stop portions of said floating blocks.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 17 further including biasing means for spring biasing the second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever against said stop portions of said floating blocks.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said biasing means further includes a block slidably coupled to said machine frame and pivotably coupled to said roller adjusting lever and spring means for producing reaction forces between said machine frame and the second elongated portion of said roller adjusting lever.