Patent ID: 6409010
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A conveyor for moving an article comprising:a frame; a plurality of drive shafts rotatably mounted on said frame and positioned substantially parallel to each other, each of said drive shafts including an axis of rotation; a plurality of cluster roller assemblies mounted with a spaced arrangement on said plurality of drive shafts, each of said cluster roller assemblies having a roller support member and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to said roller support member, said roller support member having a first half member, a second half member joined with said first half member, and an opening extending through said first and said second half members, said opening receiving one of said drive shafts and having a central axis aligned with one of said axes of rotation, said first and said second half members bisected along a dividing plane containing said central axis and spaced apart relative to said dividing plane by a gap; a plurality of alignment holes in said roller support member, each of said alignment holes divided by said gap and aligned with said central axis; a plurality of spacer pins received within respective ones of said alignment holes; and a motor connected to rotatably drive at least one of said drive shafts relative to said axis of rotation for moving the article on said cluster roller assemblies relative to said frame.