Accumulating live roller conveyor

Claim 2

In an accumulating type live roller conveyor, the combination of several groups of transport rollers, a depressible sensing roller between every two adjacent groups of transport rollers, said transport rollers and sensing rollers constituting an article supporting bed which is divided into a plurality of successive zones each containing one group of transport rollers and one sensing roller, a plurality of driving belts each constantly engaging the group of transport rollers in the respective zones, a common drive source, separate driving means independently propelling the respective driving belts from said common drive source, and control means responsive to depression of the sensing roller in each zone by passage of an article thereover, said control means in each zone being operative to disengage the driving means in a preceding zone so that the driving belt in the preceding zone is stopped until the depressed roller in the following zone is raised after passage of an article thereover.

Claim 3

In an accumulating type live roller conveyor, the combination of several groups of transport rollers, a depressible sensing roller between every two adjacent groups of transport rollers, said transport rollers and sensing rollers constituting an article supporting bed which is divided into a plurality of successive zones each containing one group of transport rollers and one sensing roller, a plurality of driving belts each constantly engaging the group of transport rollers in the respective zones, a common drive source, separate driving means independently propelling the respective driving belts from said common drive source, and control means responsive to depression of the sensing roller in each zone by passage of an article thereover, said control means in each zone being operative to disengage the driving means in a preceding zone so that the driving belt in the preceding zone is stopped until the depressed roller in the following zone is raised after passage of an article thereover.

Claim 4

In an accumulating type live roller conveyor, the combination of several groups of transport rollers, a depressible sensing roller between every two adjacent groups of transport rollers, said transport rollers and sensing rollers constituting an article supporting bed which is divided into a plurality of successive zones each containing one group of transport rollers and one sensing roller, a plurality of driving belts each constantly engaging the group of transport rollers in the respective zones, a common drive source, separate driving means independently propelling the respective driving belts from said common drive source, and control means responsive to depression of the sensing roller in each zone by passage of an article thereover, said control means in each zone being operative to disengage the driving means in a preceding zone so that the driving belt in the preceding zone is stopped until the depressed roller in the following zone is raised after passage of an article thereover.

Claim 5

The conveyor as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that the sensing roller in eAch zone, when depressed engages the driving belt of that zone.

Claim 6

The conveyor as defined in claim 1 wherein each zone includes a set of sheaves including a driving sheave having the driving belt of that zone trained thereover, said separate driving means including clutch means operatively connecting said driving sheave to said common drive source, said control means being operative to disengage said clutch means when the sensing roller in the following zone is depressed.

Claim 7

The conveyor as defined in claim 3 wherein said separate driving means in each zone also includes a driving roller continuously actuated by said common drive source, said clutch means being operative between said driving roller and said driving sheave.

Claim 8

The conveyor as defined in claim 4 wherein said common drive source comprises a main driving belt extending over all the zones of said article supporting bed, said main driving belt constantly engaging the driving rollers in the respective zones.

Claim 9

The conveyor as defined in claim 1 wherein each zone includes a set of sheaves including a driving sheave having the driving belt of that zone trained thereover, said common drive source comprising a main driving belt extending over all the zones of said article supporting bed, and said separate driving means for each zone comprising a driving roller continuously actuated by said main driving belt, and clutch means operatively connecting said driving sheave to said driving roller in each zone, said control means being operative to disengage said clutch means when the sensing roller in the following zone is depressed.

Claim 10

The conveyor as defined in claim 6 which is further characterized in that the sensing roller in each zone, when depressed engages the driving belt of that zone.

Claim 11

The conveyor as defined in claim 3 wherein each zone includes a set of sheaves including a driving sheave having the driving belt of that zone trained thereover, said separate driving means for each zone comprising a driving roller coaxial with said driving sheave and constantly actuated by said common drive source, and clutch means operative between said driving roller and said driving sheave, said clutch means including a projectable and retractable clutch member carried by said driving sheave, and a cooperating detent carried by said driving roller and engaged by said clutch member when the latter is projected, said control means being operative to retract and disengage said clutch member from said detent when the sensing roller in the following zone is depressed.

Claim 12

The conveyor as defined in claim 8 wherein said common drive source comprises a main driving belt extending over all the zones of said article supporting bed, said main driving belt constantly engaging the driving rollers in the respective zones.

Claim 13

The conveyor as defined in claim 8 wherein said control means in each zone includes a push rod having one end portion thereof disposed adjacent said driving sheave of that zone for retracting said clutch member, the other end of said push rod being operatively connected to the sensing roller of the following zone.

Claim 14

In an accumulating type live roller conveyor, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, several groups of transport rollers rotatably journalled in said frame, a sensing roller depressibly mounted in the frame between every two adjacent groups of transport rollers and biased to a raised position above the level of the transport rollers, said transport rollers and sensing rollers constituting an article supporting bed which is divided into a plurality of successive zones each containing one group of transport rollers and one sensing roller following the transport rollers in the direction of conveyor movement, a plurality of driving belts each constantly engaging the underside of the group of transport rollers in the respective zones, each zone including a set of sheaves including a driving sheave rotatably mounted in said frame and having the driving belt of that zone trained thEreover, separate driving means for the driving sheave in each zone, said driving means including a driving roller rotatable in said frame coaxially with the driving sheave, and clutch means operative between said driving roller and the driving sheave, a common drive source comprising a main driving belt extending in said frame over all the zones of said article supporting bed and constantly engaging the underside of the driving rollers in the respective zones, and control means responsive to depression of the sensing roller in each zone by passage of an article thereover, said control means in each zone being operative to disengage said clutch means in a preceding zone so that the driving belt in the preceding zone is stopped until the depressed roller in the following zone is raised after passage of an article thereover.

Claim 15

In an accumulating type live roller conveyor, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, several groups of transport rollers rotatably journalled in said frame, a sensing roller depressibly mounted in the frame between every two adjacent groups of transport rollers and biased to a raised position above the level of the transport rollers, said transport rollers and sensing rollers constituting an article supporting bed which is divided into a plurality of successive zones each containing one group of transport rollers and one sensing roller following the transport rollers in the direction of conveyor movement, a plurality of driving belts each constantly engaging the underside of the group of transport rollers in the respective zones, each zone including a set of sheaves including a driving sheave rotatably mounted in said frame and having the driving belt of that zone trained thEreover, separate driving means for the driving sheave in each zone, said driving means including a driving roller rotatable in said frame coaxially with the driving sheave, and clutch means operative between said driving roller and the driving sheave, a common drive source comprising a main driving belt extending in said frame over all the zones of said article supporting bed and constantly engaging the underside of the driving rollers in the respective zones, and control means responsive to depression of the sensing roller in each zone by passage of an article thereover, said control means in each zone being operative to disengage said clutch means in a preceding zone so that the driving belt in the preceding zone is stopped until the depressed roller in the following zone is raised after passage of an article thereover.

Claim 16

The conveyor as defined in claim 11 which is further characterized in that the sensing roller in each zone, when depressed engages the driving belt of that zone.

Claim 17

The conveyor as defined in claim 11 wherein the clutch means of each zone includes a projectable and retractable clutch member carried by said driving sheave, and a cooperating detent carried by said driving roller and engaged by said clutch member when the latter is projected, said control means being operative to retract and disengage said clutch member from said detent when the sensing roller in the following zone is depressed.