Conveyor systems, adjustment mechanisms, and methods of use
Methods, systems, mechanisms, and/or the like are provided. According to various embodiments, there is provided a conveyor system including a track defining a track length; two or more conveyor segments, wherein each conveyor segment including: a belt; a frame configured to support the belt; a hitch configured to operably connect the two or more conveyor segments; an adjustment point, wherein each conveyor segment defines a conveyor length; and an adjustment mechanism including a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one of the plurality of surfaces is a nonconcentric surface, wherein the nonconcentric surface is configured to operably engage with the adjustment point such that the adjustment mechanism may be rotated in a first direction to increase the conveyor length by one increment and in a second direction to decrease the conveyor length by one increment.
1 . A conveyor system comprising:
a track defining a track length;
two or more conveyor segments, wherein each conveyor segment comprises:
a belt;
a frame configured to support the belt;
a hitch configured to operably connect the two or more conveyor segments, wherein the hitch comprises one or more slots, and wherein an adjustment mechanism is disposed through one of the one or more slots;
an adjustment point,
wherein each conveyor segment defines a conveyor length; and
the adjustment mechanism corresponds to an elongated, substantially cylindrical piece defining a plurality of surfaces,
wherein at least one surface of the plurality of surfaces is concentric about a different axis than other surfaces of the plurality of surfaces,
wherein the at least one surface is configured to operably engage with the adjustment point such that the adjustment mechanism is rotatable in a first direction to increase the conveyor length by one increment and in a second direction to decrease the conveyor length by the one increment.
2 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein each conveyor segment further comprises one or more hitch fasteners configured to fixedly attach the adjustment mechanism to the hitch.
3 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , further comprising a gauge comprising one or more gauge elements, wherein the one or more gauge elements are disposed on the hitch, wherein the adjustment mechanism is rotatable in the first direction to a first gauge element of the one or more gauge elements, and the adjustment mechanism is rotatable in the second direction to a second gauge element of the one or more gauge elements.
4 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the track length ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 meters.
5 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor length ranges between 1195 and 1205 millimeters.
6 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the one increment is 1 millimeter.
7 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an eccentric design.
8 . The conveyor system of claim 3 , wherein, when the adjustment mechanism is installed in the conveyor system, the adjustment mechanism is rotatable to a third gauge element of the one or more gauge elements.
9 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor system is a cross-belt conveyor.
10 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor segment is a cart.
11 . A method of using an adjustment mechanism, the method comprising:
unfastening, by a tool, one or more hitch fasteners, such that the adjustment mechanism may be rotated relative to a hitch connecting a first conveyor segment to a second conveyor segment, wherein the adjustment mechanism corresponds to an elongated, substantially cylindrical piece defining a plurality of surfaces, and wherein the hitch comprises one or more slots, wherein the adjustment mechanism is disposed through one of the one or more slots;
adjusting, by the tool, the adjustment mechanism, such that the adjustment mechanism increases a conveyor length of the first conveyor segment by one increment; and
fastening, by the tool, the one or more hitch fasteners, such that the adjustment mechanism is secured to the hitch.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
unfastening, by the tool, the one or more hitch fasteners, such that the adjustment mechanism may be rotated relative to the hitch connecting the first conveyor segment to the second conveyor segment;
adjusting, by the tool, the adjustment mechanism, such that the adjustment mechanism decreases the conveyor length of the first conveyor segment by the one increment; and
fastening, by the tool, the one or more hitch fasteners, such that the adjustment mechanism is secured to the hitch.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one increment is 1 millimeter.