US3610406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor constructions and torque-limiting transmissions therefor
Assignee: Ermanco Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-20
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1988-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A number of limited torque conveyor constructions are disclosed, which are suitable for a variety of uses. Each roller of the conveyor, or at least in that portion thereof where accumulation may occur, is coupled to a torque-limiting transmission such that the rollers are not rotated when in contact with articles stopped upon the conveyor. By thus limiting the driving torques applied to the conveyor rollers, damage-producing forces cannot build up in a line of stopped or accumulated articles. When arranged for accumulation, the disclosed conveyors apply only that torque which is necessary to overcome the rolling friction of the loaded conveyor rollers. The summation of the tangential forces acting upon accumulated or stopped articles is very small in comparison to the forces developed by positively driven or live conventional rollers which continue to rotate while contacting stopped articles. The invention also contemplates a number of forms of torque-limiting transmissions. Singulation devices are disclosed in combination with the torque-limiting feature. A conveyor construction suitable for use partially within a sealed enclosure also is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred J Fleischauer
- 👤 John D Amore
- 👤 Ralph C Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A torque-limiting transmission for coupling adjacent members mounted for rotation relative to a common axle, a sleeve secured to one of said members for rotation therewith and spaced juxtaposed to an end portion of the other of said members, magnetic attraction means mounted on one of said sleeve and said end portion and positioned to attract the other of said sleeve and said end portion to transmit torque between said members, and means mounted on said axle for spacing said members one from the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A torque-limiting transmission for coupling adjacent members mounted for rotation relative to a common axle, a sleeve secured to one of said members for rotation therewith and spaced juxtaposed to an end portion of the other of said members, magnetic attraction means mounted on one of said sleeve and said end portion and positioned to attract the other of said sleeve and said end portion to transmit torque between said members, and means mounted on said axle for spacing said members one from the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic means includes a pair of permanent magnets secured to said sleeve and to said end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve closely surrounds said end portion and a cYlindrical magnet is mounted on said sleeve and polarized so as to induce eddy currents in said end portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein an annular magnet is secured to said portion and closely fitted within said sleeve, said annular magnet being circumferentially polarized to induce eddy currents in said sleeve, said sleeve being fabricated from an electrically conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between said supports and mounted thereon adjacent their ends respectively, a driven roller rotatably mounted on each of said axles, a torque-limiting transmission mounted adjacent each of said axles for applying a predetermined maximum torque to the associated one of said rollers, said transmission including a magnet mounted on each of said axles for rotation relative to the associated driven roller, and magnetic means on each of said rollers and juxtaposed to said magnets for limited magnetically attractive coupling between said magnets and said rollers respectively, and means coupled to said conveyor for varying the speed of the driven rollers relative to the remainder thereof in order to change the spacing between adjacent articles carried by the conveyor structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between said supports and mounted thereon adjacent their ends respectively, a driven roller rotatably mounted on each of said axles, a torque-limiting transmission mounted adjacent each of said axles for applying a predetermined maximum torque to the associated one of said rollers, said transmission including a magnet mounted on each of said axles for rotation relative to the associated driven roller, and magnetic means on each of said rollers and juxtaposed to said magnets for limited magnetically attractive coupling between said magnets and said rollers respectively, and means coupled to said conveyor for varying the speed of the driven rollers relative to the remainder thereof in order to change the spacing between adjacent articles carried by the conveyor structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conveyor as set forth in claim 5 wherein driving means are coupled to each of the torque-limiting transmissions for actuating the same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between said supports and mounted thereon adjacent their ends respectively, a driven roller rotatably mounted on each of said axles, a torque-limiting transmission mounted adjacent each of said axles for applying a predetermined maximum torque to the associated one of said rollers, driving rollers rotatably mounted respectively on said axles adjacent said driven rollers for relative rotation with respect thereto, and said torque-limiting transmissions being coupled respectively between the driving and driven rollers of each axle, and means coupled to said conveyor for varying the speed of some of said driven rollers relative to the remainder thereof in order to change the spacing between adjacent articles carried by said conveyor structure, said speed-varying means including a section of said conveyor wherein the driving rollers of said section are provided with selectively increased diameters so that the driven rollers associated respectively therewith are rotated at selectively increased speeds such that the gaps between articles conveyed by said conveyor are opened or closed depending upon the direction of the movement of said articles relative to said section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between said supports and mounted thereon adjacent their ends respectively, a driven roller rotatably mounted on each of said axles, a torque-limiting transmission mounted adjacent each of said axles for applying a predetermined maximum torque to the associated one of said rollers, driving rollers rotatably mounted respectively on said axles adjacent said driven rollers for relative rotation with respect thereto, and said torque-limiting transmissions being coupled respectively between the driving and driven rollers of each axle, and means coupled to said conveyor for varying the speed of some of said driven rollers relative to the remainder thereof in order to change the spacing between adjacent articles carried by said conveyor structure, said speed-varying means including a section of said conveyor wherein the driving rollers of said section are provided with selectively increased diameters so that the driven rollers associated respectively therewith are rotated at selectively increased speeds such that the gaps between articles conveyed by said conveyor are opened or closed depending upon the direction of the movement of said articles relative to said section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between the supports, adjacent first and second members rotatively mounted upon each of said axles and a torque-limiting transmission for coupling said first and second members and including a sleeve secured to one of the members for rotation therewith and spaced juxtaposed to an end portion of the other of said members, magnetic attraction means mounted on one of said sleeve and said end portion and positioned to attract the other of said sleeve and said end portion to transmit torque between said members, and means mounted on said axle for spacing said members one from the other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A conveyor construction comprising a pair of elongated spaced supports and mounting means therefor, a plurality of spaced axles extending transversely between the supports, adjacent first and second members rotatively mounted upon each of said axles and a torque-limiting transmission for coupling said first and second members and including a sleeve secured to one of the members for rotation therewith and spaced juxtaposed to an end portion of the other of said members, magnetic attraction means mounted on one of said sleeve and said end portion and positioned to attract the other of said sleeve and said end portion to transmit torque between said members, and means mounted on said axle for spacing said members one from the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conveyor construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein one of said members is a driving roller and said other is a driven roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said magnetic means includes a pair of permanent magnets secured to said sleeve and to said end portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveyor is an accumulation conveyor, and means are provided for stopping a number of articles supported thereon And engaging at least some of said members, said transmissions limiting the total force exerted by said same members upon said articles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |