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:
May. 31, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2003
David H. Cotter, Coopersville, MI (US);
Ryan D. Tasma, Middleville, MI (US);
David H. Cotter, Coopersville, MI (US);
Ryan D. Tasma, Middleville, MI (US);
Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A roller conveyor includes opposite sidewalls and at least two tandem zones. Each zone includes a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted at and between the opposite sidewalls, and a drive system having a motorized or directly driven roller. The driven roller is operable to drive the idler rollers via a drive member, which is positioned substantially beneath the idler rollers and in substantially continuous contact with a lower portion of at least some of the idler rollers. The driven roller may be selectively operable to provide accumulation of at least two articles in each of the zones. The roller conveyor may include a control which is operable to selectively operate the driven roller, such as in response to at least one article sensor along the roller conveyor or in response to a current sensor for sensing a current draw by the driven roller.