Conveyor systems for diverting objects

摘要

A conveyor system including a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveyor belt rollers configured to divert objects on the conveyor belt. A roller drive mechanism engages the conveyor belt rollers to actuate the conveyor belt rollers into rotation as the conveyor belt advances. The drive mechanism is adjustable to cause the conveyor belt rollers to rotate in a first angular direction and a second, opposite angular direction so that objects can be selectively diverted to either side of the conveyor belt at a desired diverting angle. The roller drive mechanism has drive rollers mounted in cartridges with pinion gears engaged by rack gears to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers and the engagement of the belt rollers with the drive rollers as a function of the orientation by selective raising and lowering or laterally shifting the drive rollers.

主权项

1. A conveyor system comprising:
a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveyor belt rollers configured to divert objects atop the conveyor belt rollers as the conveyor belt advances; and a roller drive mechanism including:
a plurality of pivotable cartridges, each cartridge having a cartridge gear and a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below the conveyor belt;a plurality of actuator gears, each engaged with one of the cartridge gears to pivot the cartridges to change the orientation of the drive rollers with respect to the conveyor belt rollers and to move the drive rollers into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as a function of the orientation of the drive rollers with respect to the conveyor belt rollers; andan actuator moving the plurality of actuator gears to pivot the cartridges.