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:
Jun. 09, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 14, 1997
Richard Lee Baker, Hallstead, PA (US);
Wayne David Klossner, Vestal, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved conveyor is provided which has a plurality of rotatable shafts with a plurality of first disc rollers mounted on each of the shafts for rotation therewith. The first disc rollers are located at a first location on each of the shafts and are spaced from each other at at least a distance X on the shaft. The disc rollers on adjacent shafts are spaced from the disc rollers on each adjacent shaft and are adapted to support and transport a flat product having a width of at least about 2X. A plurality of second rollers are mounted on each of the shafts for rotation therewith at a second location on the shafts. Preferably, each of the second rollers has a length of at least about 2X and preferably a circumference substantially equal to that of the disc rollers. Thus, the second rollers are adapted to support a flat panel product having a width less than about 2X. The conveyor can support and transport both wide and narrow panels and, in some instances, can support both wide and narrow panels at the same time. In one embodiment, the second rollers are provided with edge guides to track the narrow panels thereon.