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. 24, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1996
Weston Loomer, Walton, KY (US);
HK Systems, Inc., , US;
Abstract
An apparatus for optimizing the gap between objects on a roller conveyor is provide which enables independent precise speed and acceleration control of individual rollers and articles carried thereon using small, relatively inexpensive motors and control equipment. The present invention consists of adding a differential drive to the roller, arranged so that the majority of the power is transmitted from a common drive through a low ratio input of the differential drive of each roller. A smaller motor capable of more precise control is connected to the high ratio input of the differential drive of each roller. Thus the speed of an individual roller can be altered by adding to or subtracting from the speed of the main drive.