Abstract Disclosed are powered roller, accumulating conveyors incorporating improved friction wheel drive means for transmitting driving forces to any given zone of the conveyor, independently of all other zones, from a single powered endless belt in a first embodiment and from a powered chain in second, third and fourth embodiments. In the first embodiment a pressure roller is pivoted longitudinally and downwardly to a position in which it is wedged between the lower course of a belt and a friction wheel to transmit drive forces from the former to the latter and thus to the load carrying rollers; and in the second, third and fourth embodiments a chain driven pressure roller is pivoted longitudinally and downwardly into driving engagement with a friction wheel to transmit drive forces from the pressure roller to the load carrying rollers in a zone, a plurality of load carrying rollers in each zone being drivingly interconnected by a separate chain system in the second and third embodiments, and being drivingly engaged by a V-belt in the fourth embodiment. In all four embodiments the pressure roller is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the friction wheel it engages, and the parts are arranged so that the pressure roller engages the friction wheel at a highly oblique angle to give a wedging action capable of transmitting relatively high drive forces. There is also disclosed a modified drive means for use with endless belts which maintains constant belt length regardless of the number of conveyor zones being powered at one time.
A drive module for a conveyor having a plurality of load carrying rollers arranged in generally parallel, side-by-side relationship and mounted for rotation on transversely extending shafts supported by parallel side rails, said drive module comprising: (a) power means for driving said module comprising at least two endless powered force transmitting members disposed below said load carrying rollers; (b) a generally vertically extending supporting device mounted to one of said side rails; (c) rotatable means supported by said supporting device for supporting two of said powered endless force transmitting members; (d) a rotatable friction wheel operatively connected to said load carrying rollers so that when said friction wheel is rotated it will cause said load carrying rollers to rotate; (e) a rotatable pressure roller movable between a first position out of engagement with said friction wheel and a second position in which said roller drivingly engages said friction wheel; (f) power means for drivingly engaging said pressure roller and engageable with said force transmitting power means, including a first continuously driven rotating sprocket disposed on the pivotal axis of said support means, a second rotating sprocket disposed on the rotational axis of and concentrically connected to said pressure roller, and an additional endless chain drivingly interconnecting said two sprockets; (g) support means on said supporting device for supporting said pressure roller for movement between said first and second positions, said second position being said driving position; and (h) actuating means for moving said support means from said first position to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A drive module for a conveyor having a plurality of load carrying rollers arranged in generally parallel, side-by-side relationship and mounted for rotation on transversely extending shafts supported by parallel side rails, said drive module comprising: (a) power means for driving said module comprising at least two endless powered force transmitting members disposed below said load carrying rollers; (b) a generally vertically extending supporting device mounted to one of said side rails; (c) rotatable means supported by said supporting device for supporting two of said powered endless force transmitting members; (d) a rotatable friction wheel operatively connected to said load carrying rollers so that when said friction wheel is rotated it will cause said load carrying rollers to rotate; (e) a rotatable pressure roller movable between a first position out of engagement with said friction wheel and a second position in which said roller drivingly engages said friction wheel; (f) power means for drivingly engaging said pressure roller and engageable with said force transmitting power means, including a first continuously driven rotating sprocket disposed on the pivotal axis of said support means, a second rotating sprocket disposed on the rotational axis of and concentrically connected to said pressure roller, and an additional endless chain drivingly interconnecting said two sprockets; (g) support means on said supporting device for supporting said pressure roller for movement between said first and second positions, said second position being said driving position; and (h) actuating means for moving said support means from said first position to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drive module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction wheel rotates on the same axis of rotation as one of said load carrying rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A drive module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotatable friction wheel rotates on the same axis of rotation as one of said load carrying rollers and causes said one load carrying roller to rotate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A drive module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means on said supporting device for supporting said pressure roller also supports said power means.