Patent ID: 11858752
Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 18:
19. A modular transfer system comprising:
a main belt comprising a plurality of spherical balls, the main belt configured to convey an article along a primary flow path;
a main drive roller engaged with the main belt, the main drive roller comprising a plurality of recesses and a longitudinal axis;
a diverter belt oriented generally perpendicular to the primary flow path, the diverter belt comprising:
an upper surface in contact with a bottom of the plurality of the spherical balls of the main belt; and
a lower surface comprising a rib; and

a diverter drive roller configured to move the diverter belt relative to the main belt, the diverter drive roller comprising a channel that receives the rib of the diverter belt; and
a filler element that is positioned under the diverter belt, the filler element extending outward of a lateral edge of the diverter belt and outward of an opposite lateral edge of the diverter belt, the filler element configured to contact the bottom of the plurality of the spherical balls such that the spherical balls rotate;
wherein movement of the diverter belt relative to the main belt causes the spherical balls of the main belt to rotate with a component of motion toward a side of the main belt, thereby enabling the article conveyed on the main belt to be diverted from the primary flow path; and
wherein the spherical balls are longitudinally spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis by less than or equal to about 1 inch center-to-center.