Powered flexible conveyor
US5456348A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G13/07
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.