Abstract:
A diverter conveyor system for a modular belt. The modular belt has at least two belt modules disposed in rows. At least two rows of spheres are disposed in the belt modules and extend through the top and bottom surfaces of the modules. The rows of spheres may be supported by a single cylindrical roller.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains generally to modular conveying belts and particularly to modular belts with spheres or rollers on the top surface for diverting products on a conveying system. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Roller conveyors using cylindrical rollers or spheres at the top surface of conveying belts are known. The function of the rollers may be accumulation of conveyed products on the moving belt with reduced back pressure, acceleration of the conveyed products, or diversion of conveyed products to either side of the conveyor belt for sorting purposes or for alignment along a guide. For diversion type applications, in most cases, the rollers are driven from underneath the running belt either passively by sliding the belt with the rollers over a support surface, or actively by driving them with another driven belt touching the rollers from the bottom side of the roller belt. Passive drive solutions are shown in the following patents and publications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,758,323; 7,191,894; 7,249,671; WO 2007/108852. 
     In FIG. 6 of WO 2007/108852, parallel longitudinal cylinders are disclosed as an alternative driving support surface. Such cylinders are used in both passive (non-driven) and active driven function in the following patents and publications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,237,670; 7,249,669; 7,344,018; and US 2008/0023301. In addition to rollers on the top surface of the belt, balls or spheres can be used for the same purpose as well. As shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,099; balls may be driven by a conveyor belt disposed in contact with the balls from underneath the belt. 
     There is a need for a system that reduces the distance between the spheres to improve the support of smaller products during conveying and that reduces the number of cylinders per belt to reduce the cost. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the above described need by providing a diverter conveyor system with a modular belt having at least two rows of spheres supported by a cylindrical roller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing the system of the present invention in a different application; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the system of the present invention with a portion of the belt removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the system from a different angle; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the conveyor of the present invention with a portion of the belt removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a portion of the system; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing the relation between the rollers and the spheres in the belt. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , a plurality of products  10  are shown on a conveyor system. The conveyor system-includes a first belt  13  disposed upstream of the diverter conveyor system  16  of the present invention. The products  10  are conveyed on the upper surface  12  of belt  13  in the direction of arrow  19 . Once the products  10  reach the diverter system  16 , the products  10  are conveyed on belt  17  from the left to the right hand side with respect to  FIG. 1  and are simultaneously conveyed toward one of the sides of the belt  17  by means of spheres  25 . Belt  17  travels in the direction of arrow  18 . The spheres  25  extend above the top surface  14  of belt  17  and engage with the products  10 . Rotation of the spheres  25  can be used to move the products along curved paths indicated by arrows  26 ,  27 . The curved paths provide for conveying between opposite sides  29  and  32  of the belt  17 . Downstream of the diverter system  16 , a pair of belts  35 ,  38  move the products  10  along different paths. By rotating the spheres  25  in the downward direction with respect to  FIG. 1 , the products  10  moves in the direction of arrow  26 . Opposite rotation of spheres  25  causes the products  10  to move along the path defined by arrow  27 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , another example showing the diverter system  16  of the present invention is shown. The first belt  13  conveys the products  10  to the diverter system  16 . A pair of belts  41 ,  44  extend perpendicular to belt  17 . The action of the spheres  25  transfers the products  10  to belts,  41 ,  44  as will be described in greater detail below. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a modular belt  17  of the present invention is constructed of modules  47  with intermediate sections  48 . A first plurality of link ends  50 , having transverse pivot rod openings  51 , extend in a first direction from intermediate section  48 . A second plurality of link ends  53 , having transverse pivot rod openings  54 , extend in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first and second link ends  50 ,  53  are offset from each other such that the first and second link ends  50 ,  53  on adjacent modules  47  intercalate as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. The intercalated link ends  50 ,  53  may be pivotally connected by pivot rods  55 . The intercalated link ends  50 ,  53  may be arranged so that transverse pivot rod openings  51 ,  54  align to receive one or more pivot rods  55 . The spheres  25  are disposed in the intermediate section  48 . The spheres  25  may be disposed in pairs with two spheres  25  spaced a short distance apart. The pairs  56  are aligned with pairs  56  on adjacent rows  59  of modules. The aligned pairs  56  form rows  62  extending along the length of the belt in the direction of travel of the belt indicated by arrow  65 . The belt  17  may be conveyed by a sprocket  68  having teeth  71  for engaging with belt  17 . 
     A plurality of cylindrical rollers  74  are disposed underneath the belt  17 . The spheres  25  extend above the top surface of the belt  17  and extend below the bottom surface of the belt such that the cylindrical rollers  74  may be engaged with the spheres  25  in driving relation. The cylindrical rollers  74  may be driven simultaneously and synchronized. Turning to  FIG. 4 , clockwise rotation of cylinders  74  causes the spheres  25  to rotate counterclockwise and the products  10  to follow the path indicated by arrow  77 . Counterclockwise rotation of the cylinders  74  causes the spheres  25  to rotate clockwise and the products  10  to follow the path indicated by arrow  80 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the arrangement of the belt  17  with respect to the cylindrical rollers  74  is shown. The spheres  25  are disposed in pairs in the modules  47 . Each row  59  of modules  47  extends from a first belt edge  90  to a second belt edge  93 . The pairs of spheres  25  are aligned in the direction of belt travel indicated by arrow  96 . The belt modules  47  may be configured in bricklayed fashion from row-to-row as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , each cylindrical roller  74  makes contact with two rows of spheres  25 . By driving more than one row of spheres  25 , the number of cylindrical rollers  74  required for the system, and therefore, the cost is reduced. Also, the closer spacing of the spheres  25  improves the support of smaller products  10 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , the belt  17  and sprocket  68  are shown in greater detail. The sprocket  68  has a central opening  100  for receiving a shaft (not shown). The sprocket  68  engages with the belt  17  as it passes over and around. The sprocket  68  has teeth  71  that engage a rib  103  and/or the link ends to drive the belt  17 . As shown, the spheres  25  extend above the top surface  72  of belt  17  to contact the products  10  on the belt  17  and extend below the bottom surface  73  of belt  17  to make contact with the cylindrical rollers  74 . 
     In  FIG. 8  a schematic diagram shows the simultaneous engagement of a cylindrical roller  74  with two spheres  25 . Rotation of the roller  74  in a first direction indicated by arrow  110  causes each of the spheres  25  to rotate in the opposition direction indicated by arrow  113 .