Tekno, Inc.

Simplimatic Engineering Company

Other

Robert T Clopton

Mike H Goad

A system is provided, in which the drive chain has features that permit control of the threshold driving force that will be reached before the chain's carrier rollers begin to rotate to permit accumulation or slip. The threshold driving force is controlled by friction members which are located between split portions of the carrier rollers and by the angle of the outer surface of the carrier rollers as well as by the amount of force provided by a biasing member. The threshold force depends upon the angle and the amount of biasing force.

Chain drive with adjustable friction

A conveyor system is provided, in which the drive chain which drives products along the conveyor has features that permit control of the threshold driving force that will be reached before the chain's carrier rollers begin to rotate to permit accumulation of product on the conveyor. The threshold driving force is controlled by friction members which are located between split portions of the carrier rollers and by the angle of the outer surface of the carrier rollers. The steeper the angle, the greater the threshold force.

Accumulating conveyor chain with controlled friction

A conveyor chain is made up of carrier links and connector links connected together by non-cylindrical pins. The non-cylindrical pins abut corresponding non-arcuate surfaces of the connector links, which prevents rotation of the pins relative to the connector links. Also, the non-cylindrical pins fit into non-cylindrical holes defined by the carrier links, which limit rotation of the pins relative to the carrier links.

Smooth-driving conveyor chain with non-cylindrical pin

A conveyor is provided for conveying cantilevered loads on wheeled carriages. The frame of the conveyor includes carriage roller support surfaces, which support the weight of the carriage and the load and guide the carriage along the conveyor. There is a belt along the frame which drives the carriages. Since the belt does not support the weight of the carriage, the force between the carriage and the belt need only be sufficient to drive the load. This reduces the energy used by the conveyor, reduces the wear on the conveyor, and reduces jostling of the products being conveyed.

Conveyor for cantilevered loads

A conveyor includes an assembly for bridging the gap at the end of a conveyor section. It includes an idler roller at the end of the conveyor section. The idler roller is seated in upwardly open slots and can lift completely out of the conveyor frame if an article becomes entrapped between the idler roller and the conveyor belt, in order to release the article.

Conveyor with bridge roller assembly

A high tension roller chain has sidebars which are contoured so that the sprocket can drive on both the roller and the sidebar or only on the sidebar, thereby permitting long stretches of chain to be driven by a single drive without damaging the rollers.

High tension conveyor chain with rollers

A conveyor frame supports a chain which rides on small rollers, with a large roller projecting upwardly from the frame. The frame includes rails on which the small rollers roll. The rails are retained in the frame by spring pins, which fit into slots in the frame. The rails can be inserted into the frame from the top and can readily be installed and replaced.

Conveyor frame with removable tracks retained by spring pins

A conveyor includes electrification rails and modules mounted on those rails to provide electricity to a pallet, so that appliances being carried on the pallet can be plugged in as they travel along the conveyor. The modules include an improved T-shaped shoe for contacting the bottom surface of the pallet, toe bars which prevent the shoe from pivoting sideways as the pallet pushes on the shoe, and a switch for turning power to the shoe on and off, depending upon whether there is a pallet on top of the shoe.

Electrification module for conveyor

A conveyor chain is made up of carrier links and connector links, and the carrier links provide forward and rear drive surfaces, so as to provide a smooth drive.

Smooth-driving conveyor chain

A conveyor chain carries products at a speed which is higher than the speed at which the chain moves and provides a low backline pressure when it accumulates products. The product-carrying roller is driven by two side rollers which run on rails on the conveyor frame.

Chain for accumulating conveyor

A stop for a conveyor includes an inflatable bladder to lift products up, off of the conveyor.

Lift stop

A pallet conveyor is provided comprising a pallet having a tab movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a conveying surface for receiving the pallet to transport it along a conveyor path to a workstation, and an actuator along portions of the conveyor path for moving the tab to the extended position to connect the pallet to the conveying surface for transport along the portions while permitting accumulation of the pallet at workstations with the tab in the retracted position. In another aspect the invention comprises a method of conveying pallets.

Pallet conveyor and method of conveying pallets

A conveyor frame includes removable rails for supporting a roller chain.

Conveyor frame with removable tracks

A conveyor which uses roller chain to carry products has a modular frame with guide slots for receiving bar stock guides and has a drive which is in line with the modular frame.

Conveyor frame for chain conveyor

A conveyor using roller chain to carry products has a clip for closing the gaps between rollers.

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Magnolia, KY, United States of America

Robert T Clopton