Key Technology Corporation

Rodolfo Sanchez

Hans G Haimberger

A bulk product stabilization conveyor 10 is described having a continuous-length wide belt 30 extending in an upper flight 44 and in a lower flight 46 between an infeed end 32 and an outfeed end 34. The outfeed end 34 is elevationally below the infeed end 32 and the distance between the infeed end 32 and outfeed end 34 is such that the upper flight 44 is slack with the upper flight forming a dynamic catenary profile as it is being driven at a high velocity in excess of 400 feet per minute and preferably between 400-800 feet per minute. The upper flight 44 has an inclined downward and forward section 52 adjacent the infeed end that has an inclination of between 30 and 45 degrees to initially receive a wide swath of articles from an article feeder 14. The upper flight 44 has an intermediate section 54 with a progressively decreasing radius of curvatures to progressively apply an increasing centrifugal force on the articles to stabilize the articles on the high velocity upper flight. The upper flight 44 has an inclined upward section 56 adjacent the outfeed end 34 to propel the articles from the outfeed end to an optical inspection station 36 with an upward and forward trajectory 68.

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College Place, WA, United States of America

Rodolfo Sanchez