Dematic Gmbh

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.

Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp.

Kenneth J Kooistra

David H Cotter

Dennis J Schuitema

Curtis E LeMay

Ronald C Ehlert

Thomas J Pelak

Floyd W Butler

Paul Kreys

Richard E Hoisington, Ii

Stephen C Wolf

Paul L Wetters

David M Berghorn

Thomas H Triesenberg

Randall J Carlson

David D Sayers

Ted W Haan

Matthew A Steenwyk

Ryan D Tasma

Michael J Kasper

Mohan A Ramankutty

Randall D Houtman

Michael Thane McGettigan

Curtis E Lemay

Richard E Hoisington

A multiple cable strain relief and electronic assembly having such multiple cable strain relief includes a body, a plurality of cable cutouts and a compression member. The body has at least two spaced apart sidewalls thereby defining a cavity between the sidewalls. The plurality of cable cutouts are in each of the sidewalls. Each cable cutout in one of the sidewalls is aligned with a cable cutout in the other of sidewalls thereby defining a cable cutout pair. The compression member has a retention position that is at least partially extending into the cavity. With the compression member in the retention position a cable extending though a cable cutout pair is deflected in the cavity to retain that cable between the sidewalls and the compression member.

Multiple cable strain relief

A positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. The web has upper and lower runs and transition sections between the upper and lower runs. An upper surface of the upper run of the web defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface is capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters selectively diverts at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. A propulsion system propels the web. The propulsion system includes at least one drive assembly engaging a lower surface of the upper run or an upper surface of the lower run.

Positive displacement sorter

A conveyor system includes a conveying surface for conveying articles as defined by a plurality of rollers and a frame. Each of the rollers has an axle. The frame is made up of at least two frame members that are spaced apart a distance that corresponds with a length of at least one of the plurality of rollers. A plurality of axle retainers is connected with at least one of the frame members. Each of the axle retainers has a base and a plurality of axle retaining openings that are each adapted to receiving an axle at an end of one of the rollers. At least two of the openings are fixedly at different angles to the base. In this manner, the axle retainers are capable of mounting the rollers at more than one angle with respect to the at least one of the frame members as determined by which of the axle-retaining openings receives the axle. Each roller-mounting angle corresponds to a different orientation of the base with respect to the at least one of the frame members.

Roller conveyor system and axle retainer for use in mounting the rollers

A conveyor system and method of laterally displacing articles includes a conveyor defining a conveying surface and conveying articles in a longitudinal direction with the conveying surface. A diverting assembly is positioned diagonally at least partially across the conveying surface. The diverting assembly travels generally vertically between a non-actuated position below the conveying surface and an actuated position extending above the conveying surface. The diverting assembly has a diverting surface that is adapted to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface when in the actuated position.

Conveyor system and method of laterally displacing articles

A technique is provided for diagnosing deficiencies in a material handling system having a track and a material support member adapted to travel on the track. A diagnostic device travels with the material support member and includes one or more sensors that measure one or more parameters of the material support member. Such parameters may include an amount of force exerted laterally against one or more restraining members or the accelerations of the material support member. The material handling system may include a plurality of slats connected in an endless web that defines a conveying surface upon which articles are transported.

Diagnostic device for material handling system and method of diagnosing

A method of reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter is used with a web made up of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected at their opposite ends with chain assemblies in an endless loop. A plurality of pusher shoes each travel along at least one of said slats. The sorter further includes a driven sprocket assembly and a non-driven sprocket assembly. Each of the sprocket assemblies includes at least two sprockets on a shaft, each for engaging one of the chain assemblies. The sprocket assemblies support the chain assemblies at opposite ends of the web. The method includes auditing the sorter including determining if the slats are skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the web. If it is determined that the slats are skewed, then the chain assemblies and the non-driven sprocket assembly are modified. The chain assemblies are modified by adding side thrust wheels on opposite sides of the web. The non-driven sprocket is modified by locking the sprockets to the shaft such that the sprockets rotate together.

Reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter

A belt conveyor includes a driven roller and at least one other roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the driven roller and the other roller or rollers. The driven roller is drivable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt has a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75 percent in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The driven roller may be drivable in response to an article sensor that senses articles on the conveyor belt, in order to convey or accumulate articles on the belt conveyor.

Belt conveyor

A belt conveyor includes spaced-apart opposite sidewalls and at least two rollers positioned along and between the sidewalls defining a zone in which two of the rollers are end rollers located at opposite ends of the zone. A continuous conveying belt is reeved around the rollers and defines a conveying surface between the sidewalls. At least one of the rollers is a driven roller to drive the conveying belt and move articles along the belt conveyor. The conveying belt is initially stretched lengthwise at least 0.75 percent when it is reeved around the rollers. The conveying belt is tracked around the rollers, without a take up device, by engaging with the rollers. End rollers are mounted to axles, each axle extending through and protruding from both sidewalls. Axle retainers may receive the ends the end roller axles and connect the axle ends to their respective sidewalls. The rollers may be driven in response to an article sensor that senses articles on the conveying belt, in order to convey or accumulate articles on the belt conveyor. The belt may be applied as a retrofit to an existing roller conveyor system, and the belt may be incorporated into a kit which may also include replacement end rollers and/or axle retainers for use at either end of a zone.

Belt conveyor and method of converting a roller conveyor to a belt conveyor, and retrofit kit

A roller shaft mount or support secures a shaft end of a conveyor roller at and between opposite sidewalls of a conveyor. The shaft support includes a mounting portion mountable to a sidewall of the conveyor and a clamping portion. The clamping portion is movably attached to the mounting portion and movable relative thereto. The shaft support receives a roller shaft at least partially therethrough. The clamping portion is movable relative to the mounting portion so as to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support in response to movement of the clamping portion relative to the mounting portion. The clamping portion may move along a ramped surface toward and into engagement with the shaft of the roller in response to adjustment of a fastener to clamp the roller shaft within the shaft support.

Roller shaft mount

A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.

Curved belt conveyor

A belt conveyor or belt accumulator includes at least two tandem zones, each of which is defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the motorized roller and the idler roller or rollers. The motorized roller is operable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75% in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The motorized roller of each zone may be independently operable, such as in response to an article sensor at each zone, to convey or accumulate articles on the respective zone of the belt conveyor.

A conveyor roller or pulley includes an axle portion mountable to opposite sidewalls of a conveyor and a roller portion rotatable relative to said axle portion. The roller includes a braking device positioned at least partially within said roller portion and selectively operable to restrict rotation of said roller portion relative to said axle portion. The braking device may be biased to restrict rotation, such that the braking device restricts rotation when an actuator of the braking device is deactivated, and allows substantially unrestricted rotation when the actuator is activated. The actuator may be activated when a drive motor of the conveyor is activated to drive one of the rollers of the conveyor, and may be deactivated when the drive motor is deactivated. The conveyor may comprise a roller conveyor or a belted conveyor.

Conveyor roller with brake

A roller conveyor which includes idler rollers which are drivable in a driving direction in response to rotational driving of a drive portion of the rollers, and which are freely rotatable in the driving direction relative to the drive portions of the rollers, in order to allow for coasting of articles or products on the roller conveyor. The rollers include one-way clutch devices which may drive the rollers in the driving direction in response to activation or engagement of a drive means to convey products along the conveyor. The clutch devices also allow the rollers to continue to rotate in the driving direction after the driving means has been deactivated or disengaged from the rollers. The roller conveyor thus may convey articles along multiple zones of the conveyor and may accumulate articles on the zones, such as in response to article sensors positioned along the roller conveyor.

Growing community of inventors

Byron Center, MI, United States of America

Kenneth J Kooistra