Dynamic singulator
US7854314B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G13/04
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An article singulating conveyor assembly and method of singulating articles includes providing a conveying surface defining a plurality of tandem zones. The conveying surface travels in a longitudinal direction. Each of the zones includes a pair of laterally spaced side frame members and a plurality of generally parallel elongated driven rollers that are supported at the side frame members. The driven rollers are adapted to provide lateral variation in the longitudinal speed of the conveying surface. Each of the zones includes at least one drive motor that is adapted to drive the driven rollers in that zone. At least one article sensor is provided that is adapted to sensing articles in the zones. The driven rollers may be divided into a plurality of segmented rollers that are separately rotatable with a separate drive motor to drive corresponding segments for a zone. The drive motors for adjacent zones may be activated in a manner that creates a longitudinal gap between longitudinally adjacent articles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.