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

Claim 9:
10. A modular transfer system comprising:
a main belt comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of spherical balls, the spherical balls having an upper portion that protrudes above the upper surface and a lower portion that protrudes below the lower surface, the spherical balls being spaced apart by less than or equal to about 1 inch center-to-center, the spherical balls configured to rotate relative to the upper and lower surfaces, the main belt configured to travel in a first direction;
a diverter belt configured to travel in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction, the diverter belt in contact with the protruding lower portion of the spherical balls such that relative movement of the main and diverter belts causes the spherical balls to rotate; and
a motorized drive roller configured to drive the main belt in the first direction, motorized drive roller comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a radially outer surface comprising a plurality of engagement regions that are configured to engage with the lower surface of the main belt to provide frictional driving force on the main belt,
a plurality of semi-circular recesses that are configured to accommodate the lower portion of a respective one of the spherical balls, the semi-circular recesses being longitudinally spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein longitudinally neighboring semi-circular recesses are spaced apart by at least one of the engagement regions.