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:
Jul. 16, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2000
Robert M. Wolfe, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
Lucas Western Inc., Jamestown, ND (US);
Abstract
A power drive unit having drive roller elements that transport cargo and a sensor that detects motion of the cargo, e.g., the speed at which the cargo is transported, where the sensor operates substantially independently of the motion of the-drive roller elements. Specifically, the power drive unit comprises a motor, an output shaft driven by a motor, at least one drive roller element fixedly mounted on the output shaft, the drive roller element thereby driven by the motor, a sensor frictionally coupled to the output shaft conditionally permitting relative rotation between the sensor and the output shaft, and a motion detector that detects motion of the sensor. Associated electronics are configured to remove power from the motor driven roller elements where cargo is jammed or parked upon them, thereby increasing the useful lifetimes of the motor and the drive roller elements of the power drive unit.