Speed-variable conveyor

Claim 2

A speed variable conveyor, comprising: a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction; movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said fibrous body; a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said fibrous body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said fibrous body; a support moving body provided in contact with a lower surface of said fibrous body; a drive roller provided in contact with an inner surface of said support moving body; a motor for driving said drive roller, said motor transmitting output torque directly to said drive roller; and a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

Claim 3

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is provided in a constant-speed section of said fibrous body.

Claim 4

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is an endless belt.

Claim 5

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support moving body is an endless belt.

Claim 6

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of a protrusion and a recess provided in said fibrous body and the other of a protrusion and a recess provided in said support moving body engage with each other for synchronizing said fibrous body with said support moving body.

Claim 7

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said support moving body is provided in a constant-speed moving section of said fibrous body, and a synchronization screw is provided in a speed-change section between said support moving bodies, said synchronization screw having a spiral groove which changes in pitch from an end towards the other end and engages said protrusion of said fibrous body.

Claim 8

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a roller, and said roller is moved in synchronization with said support moving body.

Claim 9

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed-variable conveyor is a speed-variable moving footway, the width of said guide rails is increased at a get-on port and a get-off port of said speed-variable moving footway so that said fibrous body moves at a first speed, the width of said guide rails is narrowed in an intermediate section of said speed-variable moving footway so that said fibrous body moves at a second speed higher than the first speed, the width of the guide rails is gradually decreased in a boundary section from the get-on port to said intermediate section so that the moving speed of said fibrous body is gradually increased, and the width of said guide rails is gradually increased in a boundary section from said intermediate section to the get-off port so that the moving speed of said fibrous body is gradually decreased.

Claim 10

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed-variable conveyor is a speed-variable moving footway and a speed-variable handrail provide along said speed-variable moving footway, the width of said guide rails is increased at a get-on port and a get-off port of said speed-variable moving footway and said speed-variable handrail to decrease the moving speed of said fibrous body, the width of the guide rails is decreased in an intermediate section of said speed-variable moving footway and said speed-variable handrail to increase the moving speed of said fibrous body, the width of the guide rails is gradually decreased in a boundary section from the get-on port to said intermediate section to gradually increase the moving speed of said fibrous body, and the width of said guide rails is gradually increased in a boundary section from said intermediate section to the get-off port to gradually decrease the moving speed of said fibrous body, so that said speed-variable moving footway and the speed-variable handrail move in synchronization with each other.

Claim 11

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fibrous body is in a form of a mesh.

Claim 12

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body sustains load placed on said fibrous body.

Claim 13

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said roller is connected to said fibrous body by a rope.

Claim 14

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one tire which moves said fibrous body in the moving direction; and a motor for driving said at least one tire.

Claim 15

A speed variable conveyor, comprising: a belt-formed body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction; movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said body; a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said body; a support moving body provided in contact with an inner surface of said fibrous body; a drive roller provided in contact with an inner surface of said support moving body; a motor for driving said drive roller, said motor transmitting output torque directly to said drive roller; and a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

Claim 16

A speed variable conveyor, comprising: a belt-formed body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction; movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said body; a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said body; a support moving body provided in contact with an inner surface of said fibrous body; a drive roller provided in contact with an inner surface of said support moving body; a motor for driving said drive roller, said motor transmitting output torque directly to said drive roller; and a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

Claim 17

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a stationary guide member provided in contact with the inner surface of support moving body.

Claim 18

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 15, wherein said guide being disposed where said drive roller is not provided.

Claim 19

The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is provided in a form of a horizontal loop, said horizontal loop having an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion, wherein an upper surface of said drive roller makes contact with the inner surface of the upper horizontal portion and a lower surface of said drive roller makes contact with the inner surface of the lower horizontal portion simultaneously.

Claim 20

A speed variable conveyor, comprising: a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction; movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said fibrous body; a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said fibrous body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said fibrous body; a support moving body provided in contact with a lower surface of said fibrous body, said support moving body being provided in a form of a horizontal loop having an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion; a drive roller driven by a motor, an upper surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the upper horizontal portion and a lower surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the lower horizontal portion simultaneously; and a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

Claim 21

A speed variable conveyor, comprising: a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction; movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said fibrous body; a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said fibrous body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said fibrous body; a support moving body provided in contact with a lower surface of said fibrous body, said support moving body being provided in a form of a horizontal loop having an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion; a drive roller driven by a motor, an upper surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the upper horizontal portion and a lower surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the lower horizontal portion simultaneously; and a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.