Abstract A roller conveyor of the kind in which rollers are free to turn between side members and are driven by means of an endless driving belt or the like which engages the undersides of the rollers is so constructed that at least one group of rollers together with the supporting side members form a unit mounted for movement in a generally horizontal plane in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying against a resilient biasing force, movement in this direction in excess of a predetermined amount serving to actuate a control member to operate an independently powered mechanism for separating the rollers of the unit from the driving belt or the like so that the frictional drag is completely removed. The independently powered mechanism is released again when the control member is released and a braking pad is provided to engage a few rollers at the leading end of the unit when the rollers are separated from the driving belt or the like. The independently powered mechanism preferably lifts the unit as a whole to separate the rollers from the driving belt and may be pneumatically operated, the control member controlling the flow of compressed air to the mechanism.
Inventors
👤 Courcy Rowland J J De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-31 19:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G13/00; B65G13/075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In a roLler conveyor comprising side members, a plurality of rollers mounted to rotate freely between said side members and a support carrying endless driving means which engages the undersides of said rollers, the improvement comprising means mounting at least one group of rollers and their supporting side members for movement as a unit in a generally horizontal plane in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying, resilient biasing means opposing said movement, a control member actuated by movement of said unit against said biasing means in excess of a predetermined amount, an independently powered mechanism actuated by said control member for separating the rollers of said unit from said endless driving means, and released by said control member when said control member is released by reverse movement of said unit, and braking means for engaging a few rollers at the leading end of said unit when said rollers are separated from said endless driving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a roLler conveyor comprising side members, a plurality of rollers mounted to rotate freely between said side members and a support carrying endless driving means which engages the undersides of said rollers, the improvement comprising means mounting at least one group of rollers and their supporting side members for movement as a unit in a generally horizontal plane in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying, resilient biasing means opposing said movement, a control member actuated by movement of said unit against said biasing means in excess of a predetermined amount, an independently powered mechanism actuated by said control member for separating the rollers of said unit from said endless driving means, and released by said control member when said control member is released by reverse movement of said unit, and braking means for engaging a few rollers at the leading end of said unit when said rollers are separated from said endless driving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A roller conveyor according to claim 1, in which said independently powered mechanism operates to lift said unit as a whole including said braking means whereby to bring said braking means into engagement with the undersides of said few rollers in said unit before said rollers also are lifted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A roller conveyor according to claim 2, in which said independently powered mechanism includes a plurality of rollers whereby to assist free horizontal movement of said unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A roller conveyor according to claim 2, in which said independently powered mechanism includes a pair of inflatable members of generally tubular configuration, one of said inflatable members being located substantially below the centre of gravity of said braking means.