Rexnord Industries, Inc.

Rexnord Flattop Europe B.v.

Justin Michael Stefanko

Philip Michael Gabor

Cornelis Hendrik Mijndert Menke

Andrea Andreoli

Robert E Mitchell

Eric Medin Chinnock

Tad Chandler Rinehart

Joseph Robert Labermeier

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for monitoring and removing contaminants from a conveyor surface based upon predicted frictional engagement qualities detected on a conveyor surface. In some examples, the methods may include monitoring the conveyor surface with at least one sensor configured to sense a condition on the conveyor surface. The sensor may detect the presence of a contaminant, and communicate the location of the detected contaminant to a processor. A treatment cycle may then be initiated to remove or displace the contaminant from the conveyor surface after the presence of a contaminant has been detected.

Conveyor systems and methods

A modular conveying assembly includes active roller control for reducing backline pressure without product to product contact when accumulating products. Methods are discussed for manipulating objects by a bump-through indexing operation, a slug-control indexing operation, a catch-and-release indexing operation, box or case turning operations, and zero-pressure accumulation operations.

Operation of an active control roller top conveying assembly

A modular conveying assembly including a plurality of modules joined together, each module including a bushing housing, a coupling housed in the bushing housing, an axle coupled to the coupling and supported for rotation relative to the module, a drive pin coupled to the coupling, and a driven surface fixed to the drive pin. The modular conveying assembly also including a driving member that is in selective engagement with the driven surface to affect rotation of the axle.

Drive assembly for a modular conveyor

Method and system () for transporting products (). A conveyor surface () is moving at a conveyor velocity (VI). Products () are provided on the conveyor surface () in a measurement zone (M). The products () move through the measurement zone (M) with a product velocity (V) that is at least initially different than the conveyor velocity (VI). A contact between the products () and the relatively moving conveyor surface () causes the products () to accelerate or decelerate (a) in the measurement zone (M) depending on a kinetic friction coefficient (&#x3bc;k) there between. A control signal (S) is indicative of the acceleration or deceleration (a) of the products () in the measurement zone (M). The kinetic friction coefficient (&#x3bc;k) is controlled based on the control signal (S) to keep the acceleration or deceleration (a) within a predetermined threshold range.

Method and system for controlling the coefficient of friction between a conveyor surface and the transported products

A modular conveying assembly that includes a plurality of roller bodies, a driving member, a positive stop body, and a positive stop actuator. Each roller body includes a top surface, a driven axle mounted to the roller body for conveyance therewith, a roller fixed to the driven axle, and a driven surface fixed to the driven axle. The rollers define a support plane. The driving member selectively engages the driven surfaces to affect rotation of the driven axle. The positive stop body is coupled to the plurality of roller bodies and includes a positive stop that is movable relative to the positive stop body between a first position and a second position. The positive stop extends above the support plane in the second position. The positive stop actuator selectively engages the positive stop to move the positive stop between the first position and the second position.

Activated variable height rollers for an active control roller top conveying assembly

An accumulation system for a conveyor that supports an object for movement along a path. The accumulation system including a clutch mechanism that selectively manipulates the operation of the conveyor via eddy currents to affect the movement of the object.

Non contact active control conveying assembly

A conveyor belt module includes a body, a link end formed by the body, and an opening through the link end along a hinge axis. A cover extends from the body in a direction of the hinge axis and a post extends from the cover; a bearing is rotatably engaged with the post. A fastener engages the post to capture the bearing between the cover and the fastener, such that the bearing is housed at least partially between the upper and lower extremes of the body. A track for supporting and guiding the conveyor belt module includes a guide arm extending into a guide channel defined by the body to engage the bearing. The conveyor belt module may also include laterally offset protrusions extending from the link end in opposite directions to inhibit engagement with a drive member.

Conveyor belt module with bearing retainer

A modular conveying assembly includes active roller control for reducing backline pressure without product to product contact when accumulating products. The conveying assembly includes a first roller belt module having a top surface and at least one first roller axle support extending above the top surface. The first axle support supports at least one roller above the top surface. The at least one roller is rotatably coupled to a rotatably driven drive axle, such that rotation of the drive axle causes rotation of the roller. A clutch including a driven surface fixed to the drive axle engages a driving member to rotatably drive the drive axle and, thus the roller.

Growing community of inventors

Pewaukee, WI, United States of America

Justin Michael Stefanko