CONVEYOR SYSTEM
A conveyor system is disclosed. The conveyor system comprising a plurality of conveyor modules. Further, each of the plurality of conveyor modules comprises a first plate comprising a first surface defining a plurality of cavities, and a plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies that each comprise an omnidirectional wheel that is positioned within a respective cavity of the plurality of cavities and configured to transfer one or more objects in one or more directions, and a second plate coupled to a second surface of the first plate. Further, the second plate comprises a plurality of sides, and a plurality of connectors, each connector coupled to a respective side of the plurality of sides. Further, each connector is configured to detachably attach a conveyor module with another conveyor module of the plurality of conveyor modules.
1 . A conveyor system comprising:
a plurality of conveyor modules, wherein each of the plurality of conveyor modules comprises:
a first plate comprising:
a first surface defining a plurality of cavities; and
a plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies that each comprise an omnidirectional wheel that is positioned within a respective cavity of the plurality of cavities and configured to transfer one or more objects in one or more directions; and
a second plate coupled to a second surface of the first plate, wherein the second plate comprises:
a plurality of sides; and
a plurality of connectors, each connector coupled to a respective side of the plurality of sides, wherein each connector is configured to detachably attach a conveyor module with another conveyor module of the plurality of conveyor modules.
2 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the first plate corresponds to an upper plate and the second plate corresponds to a lower plate.
3 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein each connector comprises at least two adjustable rings, wherein one of the at least two adjustable rings is connected to the second plate of the conveyor module and another of the at least two adjustable rings is connected to a second plate of the another conveyor module.
4 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises:
a housing, wherein the omnidirectional wheel is positioned partially within the housing; and
a gear assembly or a spherical wheel assembly to provide rotational movement to the omnidirectional wheel.
5 . The conveyor system of claim 4 , wherein:
each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises the gear assembly,
the gear assembly comprises a first motor that is configured to rotate a gear, and
the gear is configured to rotate the omnidirectional wheel on a horizontal axis.
6 . The conveyor system of claim 5 , wherein:
the first motor, the gear, and the omnidirectional wheel are vertically aligned, and
each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises a second motor that is configured to collectively rotate the first motor, the gear, and the omnidirectional wheel on a vertical axis.
7 . The conveyor system of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheels comprise an indentation, wherein each gear is configured to mesh with the indentation of a respective omnidirectional wheel.
8 . The conveyor system of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises the spherical wheel assembly, and wherein the spherical wheel assembly comprises:
a plurality of linking rods;
a plurality of spherical wheels, each of the plurality of spherical wheels being rotatably coupled to a respective linking rod; and
a first motor configured to rotate at least one of the spherical wheels,
wherein the plurality of linking rods are radially positioned within the housing to form a base for the omnidirectional wheel.
9 . The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the spherical wheels that is configured to be rotated by the first motor is configured to rotate on a horizontal axis, and wherein the spherical wheel assembly comprises a second motor that is configured to collectively rotate the plurality of linking rods and the plurality of spherical wheels on a vertical axis.
10 . The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein each of the spherical wheels have a textured surface that corresponds to a textured surface of the omnidirectional wheel that is configured to provide a grip for moving the omnidirectional wheel.
11 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conveyor modules comprises:
an actuator positioned at each corner of the second plate and in contact with a lower surface of the first plate; and
at least one tilt sensor, wherein the actuator at each corner of the second plate is configured to adjust an angle of the first plate based at least on signals generated by the at least one tilt sensor.
12 . The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conveyor modules comprises:
a plurality of motorized tracks, each motorized track being positioned on a different side of the second plate; and
a plurality of lifting arms, each lifting arm being coupled to a respective motorized track and to the second surface,
wherein the motorized tracks are configured to move the plurality of lifting arms to vertically lift the first plate to adjust height of the conveyor module.
13 . A method comprising:
coupling a second plate to a second surface of a first plate to form a conveyor module, wherein:
the first plate comprises:
a first surface defining a plurality of cavities; and
a plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies that each comprise an omnidirectional wheel that is positioned within a respective cavity of the plurality of cavities and configured to transfer one or more objects in one or more directions; and
the second plate comprises:
a plurality of sides; and
a plurality of connectors, each connector coupled to a respective side of the plurality of sides, wherein each connector is configured to detachably attach a conveyor module with another conveyor module of the plurality of conveyor modules.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first plate corresponds to an upper plate and the second plate corresponds to a lower plate.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each connector comprises at least two adjustable rings, wherein the method further comprises connecting one of the at least two adjustable rings to the second plate of the conveyor module and another of the at least two adjustable rings to a second plate of the another conveyor module.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises:
a housing, wherein the omnidirectional wheel is positioned partially within the housing; and
a gear assembly or a spherical wheel assembly to provide rotational movement to the omnidirectional wheel.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises the gear assembly,
the gear assembly comprises a first motor that is configured to rotate a gear, and
the gear is configured to rotate the omnidirectional wheel on a horizontal axis.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
aligning vertically the first motor, the gear, and the omnidirectional wheel; and
rotating, via second motor within each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies, the first motor, the gear, and the omnidirectional wheel on a vertical axis collectively.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheels comprise an indentation, and further comprising meshing each gear with the indentation of a respective omnidirectional wheel.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of omnidirectional wheel assemblies comprises the spherical wheel assembly, and wherein the spherical wheel assembly comprises:
a plurality of linking rods;
a plurality of spherical wheels, each of the plurality of spherical wheels being rotatably coupled to a respective linking rod; and
a first motor configured to rotate at least one of the spherical wheels,
wherein the plurality of linking rods are radially positioned within the housing to form a base for the omnidirectional wheel.