The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1990
Bernard H Woltjer, Jenison, MI (US);
Arthur J Terpstra, Jr, Allendale, MI (US);
Rapistan Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A conveyor system includes an accumulation conveyor that is particularly useful in a location outbound of a sortation spur in combination with a receiving conveyor which receives products from the accumulation conveyor at a generally constant rate. The accumulation conveyor includes a plurality of powered rollers that are selectively actuatable in groups of tandemly arranged zones in order to convey product to the receiving conveyor. A product sensor associated with each zone senses the presence of product in that zone, and a control that is responsive to the product sensor actuates all of the rollers associated with zones upstream of any sensor that is not sensing product in order to transport product to the receiving conveyor without singulation, yet provide an accumulation capability. The control is pneumatic and uses pilot-actuated valves configured in a manner that connects the associated roller drive actuator directly with a source of pneumatic fluid in order to provide an exceptionally responsive control.