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:
Oct. 10, 1995
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1994
Larry E Whetsel, Stow, OH (US);
Leon A Downing, Peninsula, OH (US);
Axia Incorporated, Oak Brook, IL (US);
Abstract
A powdered, flexible, expandable conveyor comprises a pair of flexible, expandable link assemblies, preferably in the form of a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in an X-shaped chain. The conveyor surface preferably includes a plurality of individually powered rollers. The individually powered rollers are mounted between the link assemblies at spaced locations along the length of the conveyor. Each of the powered rollers is rotatably driven by a motor housed inside the roller together with an individual gear box. Each motor is electrically connected to a terminal block located outside the powered roller which in turn is connected to a power supply. The gear boxes individually associated with the various motors may have different gear ratios in order to accommodate different loading. The conveyor is sufficiently flexible to be able to form a curved conveyor surface.