Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In a drive system operatively connected to a conveyor, including gear means operatively connected to said conveyor, and a drive motor adapted to drive said conveyor through said gear means, the improvement which comprises means for providing a soft start to said conveyor upon activation of said drive motor, said soft start providing means being operatively connected between said motor and said gear means, including a clutch assembly having a first member connected to said motor and a second member connected to said gear means, clutch facing means between said first and said second members, said clutch facing means being constructed from a material having a coefficient of friction at 40° C. chosen from a range between 0.198-0.242, said clutch facing material permitting relative rotation of said first and said second members upon activation of said drive motor, means for maintaining said first and said second members in abutment with one another along said clutch facing means, electrical means for increasing the force between said first and said second clutch members, and electric circuit means for varying the voltage applied to said electrical force increasing means between at least a first level and a second higher level during energization of said drive motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a drive system operatively connected to a conveyor, including gear means operatively connected to said conveyor, and a drive motor adapted to drive said conveyor through said gear means, the improvement which comprises means for providing a soft start to said conveyor upon activation of said drive motor, said soft start providing means being operatively connected between said motor and said gear means, including a clutch assembly having a first member connected to said motor and a second member connected to said gear means, clutch facing means between said first and said second members, said clutch facing means being constructed from a material having a coefficient of friction at 40° C. chosen from a range between 0.198-0.242, said clutch facing material permitting relative rotation of said first and said second members upon activation of said drive motor, means for maintaining said first and said second members in abutment with one another along said clutch facing means, electrical means for increasing the force between said first and said second clutch members, and electric circuit means for varying the voltage applied to said electrical force increasing means between at least a first level and a second higher level during energization of said drive motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said electric circuit voltage varying means comprises a potentiometer electrically connected to said electrical force increasing means, switch means electrically connected to said potentiometer for removing said potentiometer electrically from the circuit of said electric circuit voltage varying means, and means responsive to a predetermined condition for actuating said switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said predetermined condition responsive means comprises time delay means for actuating said switch after the expiration of a predetermined elapsed time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining said first and said second members in abutment comprises spring means interconnected between said first and said second members for exerting a biasing force on said first and said second members toward abutment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein the breakdown torque of said electromechanical clutch assembly at said second higher voltage level is greater than the breakdown torque of said drive motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said predetermined condition responsive means comprises means responsive to the speed of said drive motor for controlling operation of said switch means.