GB2079233A - Powered roller conveyor - Google Patents
Powered roller conveyor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2079233A GB2079233A GB8021929A GB8021929A GB2079233A GB 2079233 A GB2079233 A GB 2079233A GB 8021929 A GB8021929 A GB 8021929A GB 8021929 A GB8021929 A GB 8021929A GB 2079233 A GB2079233 A GB 2079233A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- rollers
- group
- conveyor according
- control means
- downstream
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
- B65G47/26—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
- B65G47/261—Accumulating articles
- B65G47/263—Accumulating articles the conveyor drive is taken from a longitudinally extending shaft
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G2203/00—Indexing code relating to control or detection of the articles or the load carriers during conveying
- B65G2203/04—Detection means
- B65G2203/042—Sensors
Abstract
A powered roller conveyor comprises a plurality of friction driven rollers and is provided with an arresting means (20) at an arresting station (A) whereby a flow of articles (P1, P2) carried by the conveyor may be arrested while the conveyor continues to operate. The accumulation station has a first group (12a) of said rollers, a second group (12b) of said rollers and control means to control the rotation of the rollers of the second group relative to the rotation of the rollers of the first group (12a) to permit of variation of the driving force to be applied to an article (P1) to be conveyed. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Conveyor apparatus
This invention relates to a powered roller conveyor of the type, hereinafter referred to as of the type specified, comprising a plurality of friction driven rollers and provided with an arresting means at an arresting station whereby a flow of articles carried by the conveyor may be arrested while the conveyor continues to operate upstream of the said arresting station so that the articles accumulate in an accumulation station upstream of said arresting station.
When articles are accumulated on a conveyor of the type specified, an undesirably high end load may be applied to the article at the arresting station and also on the arresting means particularly when a high number of articles are accumulated.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor of the type specified wherein the imposition of such high end loads is avoided.
According to the present invention we provide a conveyor of the type specified comprising, at the
accumulation station, a first group of said rollers, a
second group of said rollers and control means to
control the rotation of the rollers of the second group relative to the rotation of the rollers of the first group to permit of variation of the driving force to be applied to an article to be conveyed.
The control means may be operable normally to
cause rollers of the first and second groups to
rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the
rollers of the second group to rotate in an
upstream direction, whilst the rollers of the first
group continue to rotate in the downstream
direction.
The control means may be operable normally to
cause rollers of the first and second groups to
rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the
rollers of the second group to stop rotation, whilst
the rollers of the first group continue to rotate in the downstream direction.
The control means may be operable normally to
cause rollers of the first and second groups to
rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the
rollers of the second group to rotate at a reduced
downstream speed, while the rollers of the first
group continue to rotate in the downstream
direction.
In each of the above cases, the number of rollers
in each group is preselected so as to provide a
reduced downstream driving force on articles at
the accumulation station; preferably, a resultant
zero or very small downstream driving force; the control means causing said change in the mode of rotation of the rollers of the second group when a predetermined accumulation condition occurs.
The control means may sense the end load applied to the arresting means and cause the second group of rollers to change their mode of rotation when a predetermined end load is sensed.
Alternatively, the control means may sense the presence of a predetermined number, or length, of accumulated articles and cause the second group of rollers to change their mode of rotation when a predetermined number or length is sensed.
The control means may cause the rollers of the second group to change their mode of rotation when it is desired to cease accumulation and to feed articles downstream.
When it is desired to cease accumulation, the control means may cause the second group of rollers to rotate in downstream direction, if stopped or rotating in an upstream direction, or, to rotate at the same downstream speed as the roller of the first group if rotating in a downstream direction at a reduced speed.
Upstream of the accumulation station all the rollers may normally be caused to rotate in a downstream direction at all times. Alternatively, upstream of the accumulation station the rollers may again be divided into first and second groups, the rollers of the two groups rotating in the downstream direction during normal operation and the control means causing the rollers of the second group to rotate in an upstream direction when the control means causes the rollers of the second group in the accumulation station to feed articles previously accumulated thereat downstream.
Thus, as articles, previously accumulated at the accumulation station, are fed downstream, articles upstream of the accumulation station are fed downstream but with reduced driving force.
Alternatively, at the accumulation station the rollers of the first group may normally be driven in a downstream direction and the rollers of the second group may normally be driven in an upstream direction.
In this case, as a result of driving the rollers of the second group in an upstream direction, the driving force applied to an article at the accumulation station is reduced thereby reducing the end load applied between accumulated articles and to the arresting means. The nett downstream driving force ensures that an article is transported into engagement with the arresting means and other articles are transported into engagement with each other. In this version the means to cause reduction in end load is always operative during use of the conveyor.
In this version, when it is desired to cease accumulation the control means may cause the second group of rollers to be stopped or rotated in a downstream direction.
In both version: The control means may cause the articles at the accumulation station to be fed downstream when a predetermined number of articles have been accumulated, for example, by sensing the number of articles which passes a sensing means such as a photoelectric cell or sensing when a plurality of accumulated articles extends upstream to a predetermined position, at which a sensing means, such as a photoelectric cell, is located.
The number of rollers in the first group is in a proportion to the number of rollers in the second group to ensure that the desired resultant driving force is applied to the articles, in use.
The rollers of the first group may alternate with the rollers of the second group or alternatively a plurality of rollers of the first group may alternate with a plurality of rollers of the second group.
If desired, one or more idler rollers may be provided between rollers of the first and second groups.
The rollers of the first group may be driven by a friction drive from a first drive shaft and the rollers of the second group may be driven by a friction drive from a second drive shaft.
The control means may control the mode of rotation of the first and second drive shafts.
The friction drive may comprise a drive belt frictionally engaged with the drive shaft and an associated roller.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein.
FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of
part of a conveyor embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic representation of part of the conveyor of Figure 1 illustrating an
accumulation condition; and
FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic representation of
another embodiment of a conveyor similar to that
of Figure 1 and illustrating an accumulation
condition.
Referring to the drawings, part of a powered
roller conveyor embodying the invention is
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As best shown in
Figure 1, the conveyor comprises a pair of spaced
channel section side members 10 interconnected
by transversely extending braces 11. Cylindrical
rollers are rotatably mounted between the side
members 10 and comprise two groups, the rollers of the first group being indicated at 1 2a and the
rollers of the second group being indicated at 1 2b.
Each roller is provided with a part-circular
circumferential groove 1 3a, 1 3b respectively in which is received an elastomeric belt 1 4a, 1 4b of
circular cross-section and engaged with pulleys
1 5a, 1 sub. The pulleys 1 spa which drive the rollers
1 2a are mounted on a first drive shaft 1 6a whilst the pulleys 1 sub which drive the rollers 1 2b are
mounted on a second drive shaft 1 6b.
In the present example, the conveyor is of the
above described configuration throughout its
length. However, except for an accumulation station, as hereinafter to be described, the conveyor may be of different drive arrangement. In particular, all the rollers may be driven from a single drive shaft.
Referring now particularly to Figure 2, a section of the conveyor is illustrated which includes an accumulation station indicated at A. The direction of advance of articles along the conveyor is in the direction of the arrow B and at the downstream end of the accumulation station is an arresting station S at which is located an arresting means in the form of a stop 20 which is movable from its operative position, shown in Figure 2, to an inoperative position (not shown) where it is below the level of the conveying surface and thus does not prevent transport of articles along the conveyor.
When the stop 20 is in its operative position and an article P1 is moved into engagement therewith by the conveyor, as hereinafter to be described, the article P1 is arrested and as further articles P2, P3 and P4 are moved successively into engagement with each other they are likewise stopped.
If all the rollers are rotating in a downstream direction i.e. in a direction to cause transport of an article engaged with the roller in the downstream direction B, it will be appreciated that an increasing end load will be applied to the stop 20 and a successively increasing load to the articles
P3, P2 and P,.
It is to limit such end loads that the present invention was devised.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, limitation of the end loads is achieved by providing a sensing means 21, in the present example a photoelectric cell, at a predetermined location upstream of the arresting station S. When the sensing means detects the presence of a predetermined number of articles upstream of the arresting station S, in the present example four, it provides a signal to a control means to cause the second drive shaft 1 6b to rotate in the reverse direction i.e. an upstream direction.If there were an equal number of rollers 1 2a and 1 2b in the accumulation station i.e. between the arresting station S and sensing station 21, and since half of these rollers would be rotating in the downstream direction i.e. the rollers 1 2a and the other half of the rollers in the upstream direction i.e. the rollers 1 2b then the resultant driving force applied to the articles P1-P4 would be, in theory, zero. In practice, because of variation in friction between the bottom of a package and the rollers, the resultant force may not be zero and to ensure that there is not a nett upstream driving force, in practice slightly more rollers 1 2a of the first group are provided to ensure a small nett driving force downstream.
Upstream of the accumulation station all the
rollers may continue to rotate in a downstream direction.
If desired, the conveyor may be provided with a plurality of accumulation stations upstream of the accumulation station A, each provided with appropriate sensing means at further sensing locations so as to change the mode of rotation of the second group of rollers when a predetermined further number of articles is accumulated in the or each successive further accumulation station.
When it is desired to convey the articles accumulated at the accumulation station downstream, the stop 20 is withdrawn to its inoperative position and the control means is caused to again change the mode of rotation of the rollers 1 2b of the second group so that they are again caused to rotate in a downstream direction to feed the articles P1-P4 downstream in the normal manner.
If desired, the stop 20 may be moved to its
inoperative position and the rollers of the second
group caused to rotate in the downstream
direction automatically as a result of a sensing
means detecting the presence of a predetermined
number of articles at the accumulation station.
This is illustrated in Figure 2 where a further
sensing means 22 is located to detect the
presence of eight articles at the accumulation
station. Thus in this example reverse rotation of
the rollers 1 2b of the second group occurs when four articles have been accumulated to reduce the
end loads and when eight articles have been
accumulated the stop 20 is withdrawn to its inoperative position and the eight articles fed forwardly.
It should be appreciated that if desired other
criteria may be selected for causing the control
system to perform said operations. For example the first mode of direction of rotation change of the second group of rollers i.e. to initiate a reduced end load mode, can be initiated as a result of a sensing means detecting a predetermined load on the stop 20. Also the control means may cause the rollers to perform a second mode of rotational change i.e. to transport accumulated articles, by detecting other criteria than a predetermined number of articles such as a predetermined time
limit to merely manually or as a result of a signal provided by some extraneous factor.
Instead of the roller of the second group 1 2b being caused to rotate in the reverse direction they may alternatively merely be caused to stop rotation thus proportionately reducing the end loads or they may merely be caused to rotate at a slower speed than the rollers 1 2a of the first group, again proportionately reducing the end loads
Referring now to Figure 3, in an alternative embodiment all the rollers 126 of the second group at the accumulation station are normally driven in the upstream direction whilst the rollers of the first group rotate in the downstream direction. There are again more rollers of the first group than the second group so that there is a relatively small net driving force in the downstream direction.
In this embodiment as an article enters the accumulation station A it experiences a reduced driving force in the downstream direction and in this embodiment this reduced force is present at all times under accumulation conditions.
In this embodiment when accumulation is no longer desired and the control means causes the stop 20 to be moved to its inoperative position, for example, as a result of the sensor 22 detecting the presence of articles, the mode of rotation of the second group of rollers is reversed so that these rollers will now drive downstream to rapidly convey the accumulated articles downstream. At the same time the rollers of the second group upstream of the accumulation station A which, until now, have been rotating in the downstream direction, will be caused to rotate in the upstream direction so that articles upstream of the accumulation station A will continue to be fed downstream but with a reduced driving force.
In the last embodiment the upstream rotation of the rollers of the second group in the accumulation station can be conveniently achieved by reversing the twist of the drive belts in the accumulation station compared with those extending from the second drive shaft 1 6b to the rollers of the second group upstream, and downstream of the accumulation station.
However, if desired, the differential direction of rotation of the rollers of the second group in the accumulation compared with upstream and downstream thereof may be achieved by other means, for example, by providing a section of the second drive shaft 1 6b which rotates in the reverse direction as a result of appropriate gearing from the other parts of the secondary drive shaft.
Alternatively the second drive shaft may be provided in separate sections driven in the appropriate direction from a suitable drive means or means.
Claims (28)
1. A conveyor of the type specified comprising, at the accumulation station, a first group of said rollers, a second group of said rollers and control means to control the rotation of the rollers of the second group relative to the rotation of the rollers of the first group to permit of variation of the driving force to be applied to an article to be conveyed.
2. A conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the control means is operable normally to cause rollers of the first and second groups to rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the rollers of the second group to rotate in an upstream direction, whilst the rollers of the first group continue to rotate in the downstream direction.
3. A conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the control means is operable normally to cause rollers of the first and second groups to rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the rollers of the second group to stop rotation, whilst the rollers of the first group continue to rotate in the downstream direction.
4. A conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the control means is operable normally to cause rollers of the first and second groups to rotate in a downstream direction and to cause the rollers of the second group to rotate at a reduced downstream speed, whilst the rollers of the first group continue to rotate in the downstream direction.
5. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the number of rollers in each group is preselected so as to provide a reduced downstream driving force on articles at the accumulation station.
6. A conveyor according to Claim 5 wherein the downstream driving force is reduced to a zero or a very small downstream driving force.
7. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means causes a change in the mode of rotation of the rollers of the second group when a predetermined accumulation condition occurs.
8. A conveyor according to Claim 7 wherein the control means senses the end load applied to the arresting means and causes the second group of rollers to change their mode of rotaJun when a predetermined end load is sensed.
9. A conveyor according to Claim 7 wherein the control means senses the presence of a predetermined number, or length, of accumulated articles and causes the second group of rollers to change their mode of rotation when a predetermined number or length is sensed.
10. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means causes the rollers of the second group to change their mode of rotation when it is desired to cease accumulation and to feed articles downstream.
11. A conveyor according to Claim 10 when dependent upon Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the control means causes the second group of rollers to again rotate in downstream direction.
12. A conveyor according to Claim 10 when dependent upon Claim 4 wherein the control means causes the second group of rollers to again rotate at the same downstream speed as the rollers of the first group.
13. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein upstream of the accumulation station all the rollers rotate in a downstream direction at all times.
14. A conveyor according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 wherein upstream of the accumulation station the rollers are divided into first and second groups, the rollers of the two groups rotating in the downstream direction during normal operation and the control means causing the rollers of the second group to rotate in an upstream direction when the control means causes the rollers of the second group in the accumulation station to feed articles previously accumulated thereat downstream.
1 5. A conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein at the accumulation station the rollers of the first group may normally be driven in a downstream direction and the rollers of the second group may normally be driven in an upstream direction, the
rollers upstream of the accumulation station
imparting a nett downstream driving force on an
article being conveyed to ensure that the article is transported into engagement with the arresting
means and other articles are transported into engagement therewith.
16. A conveyor according to Claim 1 5 wherein when it is desired to cease accumulation, the control means causes the second group of rollers to be stopped or rotated in a downstream direction.
1 7. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means causes the articles at the accumulation station to be fed downstream when a predetermined number of articles have been accumulated.
18. A conveyor according to Claim 17 wherein the control means senses the number of articles which passes a sensing means such as a photoelectric cell to cause the articles to be fed downstream.
1 9. A conveyor according to Claim 1 7 wherein the control means senses when a plurality of accumulated articles extends upstream to a predetermined position, at which a sensing means, such as a photoelectric cell, is located, to cause said articles to be fed downstream.
20. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein number of rollers in the first group of the accumulation station is in a proportion to the number of rollers in the second group to ensure that a desired resultant driving force is applied to the articles, when the driving force at the accumulation station is varied.
21. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rollers of the first group alternate with the rollers of the second group.
22. A conveyor according to any one of Claims
1 to 20 wherein a plurality of rollers of the first group alternate with a plurality of rollers of the second group.
23. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more idler rollers are provided between rollers of the first and second groups.
24. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rollers of the first group are driven by a friction drive from a first drive shaft and the rollers of the second group are driven by a friction drive from a second drive shaft.
25. A conveyor according to Claim 24 wherein the control means controls the mode of rotation of the first and second drive shafts.
26. A conveyor according to Claim 24 or Claim 25 wherein the friction drive comprises a drive belt frictionally engaged with the drive shaft and an associated roller.
27. A conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
28. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8021929A GB2079233B (en) | 1980-07-04 | 1980-07-04 | Powered roller conveyor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8021929A GB2079233B (en) | 1980-07-04 | 1980-07-04 | Powered roller conveyor |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2079233A true GB2079233A (en) | 1982-01-20 |
| GB2079233B GB2079233B (en) | 1983-10-12 |
Family
ID=10514533
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8021929A Expired GB2079233B (en) | 1980-07-04 | 1980-07-04 | Powered roller conveyor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2079233B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4566106A (en) * | 1982-01-29 | 1986-01-21 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Electronic postage meter having redundant memory |
| DE3636668A1 (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1988-05-19 | Schmotzer Agrartech | Method for the conveyance and cleaning of beet in beet-harvesting machines, beet-cleaning appliances and the like and arrangement for carrying out the method |
| DE3701611A1 (en) * | 1987-01-21 | 1988-08-04 | Haver & Boecker | Device for filling and closing valve bags |
| GB2200884A (en) * | 1986-12-22 | 1988-08-17 | Carrier Vibrating Equip | System and process for sorting and conveying articles |
| EP0336258A2 (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1989-10-11 | Conveyor Units Limited | Live roller conveyor |
-
1980
- 1980-07-04 GB GB8021929A patent/GB2079233B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4566106A (en) * | 1982-01-29 | 1986-01-21 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Electronic postage meter having redundant memory |
| DE3636668A1 (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1988-05-19 | Schmotzer Agrartech | Method for the conveyance and cleaning of beet in beet-harvesting machines, beet-cleaning appliances and the like and arrangement for carrying out the method |
| GB2200884A (en) * | 1986-12-22 | 1988-08-17 | Carrier Vibrating Equip | System and process for sorting and conveying articles |
| GB2200884B (en) * | 1986-12-22 | 1991-09-04 | Carrier Vibrating Equip | System and process for sorting and conveying articles |
| DE3701611A1 (en) * | 1987-01-21 | 1988-08-04 | Haver & Boecker | Device for filling and closing valve bags |
| EP0336258A2 (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1989-10-11 | Conveyor Units Limited | Live roller conveyor |
| GB2217284A (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1989-10-25 | Conveyor Units Ltd | Accumulator roller conveyor. |
| EP0336258A3 (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1990-07-04 | Conveyor Units Limited | Live roller conveyor |
| US4974723A (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1990-12-04 | Conveyor Units Limited | Live roller conveyor |
| GB2217284B (en) * | 1988-04-08 | 1992-07-08 | Conveyor Units Ltd | Live roller conveyor |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2079233B (en) | 1983-10-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |