Patent ID: 6012568
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
In an adjustable conveyor for printed circuit boards to interconnect work stations of a production line, the improvement comprising providing said conveyor with a support structure having:(a) a pair of parallel rail assemblies mounted on said structure;(b) a continuous, horizontally-disposed flexible belt coextensive with each of said rail assemblies and carried thereby, for transporting said circuit boards for the length of said rail assemblies, each of said belts being rotatably mounted on pulleys and having an upper support portion for edge-supporting said printed circuit boards;(c) each of sail rail assemblies having at each end thereof, an extruded rail for supporting each of said belts, each of said extruded rails carrying, at the extremity of said rail assembly, a pulley for said flexible belt, and each of said extruded rails being extendible to bridge the space to each adjacent work station of said production line;(d) guide means, coextensive with each of said extruded rails and mounted thereon outboard of said flexible belt, for longitudinally guiding said belt and said circuit boards; each of said belts having independent tensioning means, and having mechanical means adapted to drive said belts in a coordinated manner.