Article-orienting conveyor
US6923309B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/2445
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A conveyor for orienting and registering articles in a preferred orientation and position for accurate downstream processing. The conveyor includes a conveyor belt running in a conveyance direction next to an orientation belt running parallel in an opposite direction or more slowly in the same direction. The orientation belt has upstanding structure, such as flights, or a high-friction surface. The conveyor belt includes article-supporting rollers on a top side. The rollers are arranged to rotate about axes oblique to the conveyance direction. The rollers also extend below the bottom side of the belt and are rotated by dynamic contact with bearing surfaces supporting the belt as it advances in the conveying direction. The rotating rollers direct conveyed articles toward a side rail. If a portion of a conveyed article extends past the side edge of the conveyor belt into the path of the orientation belt, the obstructions or high-friction surface of the slower- or oppositely-moving orientation belt strikes the conveyed articles and cause them to rotate clockwise toward an alignment of the article in the conveyance direction and into registration against the side rail at the downstream…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.