Crossover conveyor system
A crossover conveyor system that allows people to safely cross over a portion of a conveyor line is disclosed. The crossover conveyor system includes a frame that has at least a first side member and a second side member. A plurality of rollers may be connected between the first and second side members. A first and second drive shaft may be connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the frame. At least one endless belt extends or wraps around an upper surface of the frame, the rollers and the first and second drive shaft. A drive belt may be connected with a drive mechanism. Pressure rollers are included for constantly applying pressure to the drive belt or selectively applying pressure to the drive belt. The drive belt is located between the endless belt and the pressure rollers such that when the drive mechanism rotates the drive belt and the endless belt rotates.
1. A crossover conveyor system, comprising:
a frame including at least a first side member and a second side member;
a plurality of rollers positioned between the first and second side members;
at least one endless belt extending around an upper surface of the frame and the rollers, wherein at least a portion of a lower surface of the at least one endless belt makes contact with at least a portion of the upper surface of the frame;
a drive belt connected with a drive mechanism;
a plurality of pressure rollers for applying pressure to the drive belt; and
wherein the drive belt is positioned between the endless belt and the pressure rollers, wherein rotation of the drive belt by the drive mechanism causes rotation of the endless belt.
2. The crossover conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a plurality of legs.
3. The crossover conveyor system of claim 1 , further comprising a first and second drive shaft connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the frame, wherein the endless belt extends around the first and second drive shafts.
4. The crossover conveyor system of claim 3 , wherein the drive shafts include at least one sprocket having a plurality of teeth that engage at least one notch of the endless belt.
5. The crossover conveyor system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit connected with a user interface unit.
6. The crossover conveyor system of claim 5 , wherein the user interface unit includes a stop mechanism that stops rotation of the endless belt.
7. The crossover conveyor system of claim 5 , wherein the user interface unit includes a start mechanism capable of informing the control unit that it is safe to start rotation of the endless belt.
8. The crossover conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the frame includes a recessed portion, wherein the endless belt fits within the recessed portion such that a minimal portion of the endless belt protrudes above the upper surface of the frame for making contact with an article to be moved.
9. A crossover conveyor system, comprising:
a frame including at least a first side member and a second side member;
a plurality of rollers positioned between the first and second side members;
at least one endless belt extending around an upper surface of the frame and the rollers;
a drive belt connected with a drive mechanism, wherein the drive belt is positioned below the endless belt;
a pressure tray positioned below the drive belt; and
a pressure tray lifting mechanism connected with the pressure tray for selectively raising the pressure tray such that the drive belt makes contact with the endless belt thereby causing the endless belt to rotate when the drive belt is being driven by the drive mechanism.
10. The crossover conveyor system of claim 9 , wherein the frame further includes a plurality of legs.
11. The crossover conveyor system of claim 9 , further comprising a first and second drive shaft connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the frame, wherein the endless belt extends around the first and second drive shafts.
12. The crossover conveyor system of claim 11 , wherein the drive shafts include a sprocket having a plurality of teeth that engage at least one notch of the endless belt.
13. The crossover conveyor system of claim 9 , further comprising a control unit connected with a user interface unit.
14. The crossover conveyor system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface unit includes a stop mechanism capable of stopping rotation of the endless belt.
15. The crossover conveyor system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface unit includes a start mechanism capable of informing the control unit that it is safe to start rotation of the endless belt.
16. The crossover conveyor system of claim 9 , wherein the upper surface of the frame includes a recessed portion, wherein the endless belt fits within the recessed portion such that a minimal portion of the endless belt protrudes above the upper surface of the frame for making contact with an article to be moved.
17. The crossover conveyor system of claim 9 , wherein the pressure tray lifting mechanism comprises an air bag.
18. A crossover conveyor module in a roller conveyor system, comprising:
a crossover conveyor frame including at least a first side member and a second side member;
a plurality of crossover conveyor rollers positioned between the first and second side members;
an endless belt extending around an upper surface of the crossover conveyor frame and the crossover conveyor rollers;
a roller conveyor frame including a third side member and a fourth side member, wherein the crossover conveyor frame is positioned between the third side member and the fourth side member of the roller conveyor frame;
a plurality of load carrying rollers connected between the third side member and the fourth side member of the roller conveyor frame;
a plurality of pressure rollers positioned below the endless belt of the crossover conveyor frame and the load carrying rollers of the roller conveyor frame; and
a drive belt connected with a drive mechanism, wherein the drive belt is positioned between the load carrying rollers and the pressure rollers, wherein the drive belt is further positioned between the endless belt and the pressure rollers.
19. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 18 , wherein the drive mechanism rotates the drive belt thereby causing rotation of the load carrying rollers and the endless belt.
20. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 18 , further comprising a pressure roller tray, wherein the pressure rollers are connected with the pressure roller tray.
21. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 20 , further comprising a pressure roller tray lifting mechanism connected with the pressure roller tray.
22. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 21 , wherein the pressure roller tray lifting mechanism selectively raises the pressure roller tray such that the drive belt makes contact with the load carrying rollers and the endless belt thereby causing the load carrying rollers and the endless belt to rotate when the drive belt is being driven by the drive mechanism.
23. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 18 , further comprising a first and second drive shaft connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the crossover conveyor frame, wherein the endless belt extends around the first and second drive shafts.
24. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 23 , wherein the drive shafts include a sprocket having a plurality of teeth that engage at least one notch of the endless belt.
25. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 18 , further comprising a control unit connected with a user interface unit.
26. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 25 , wherein the user interface unit includes a stop mechanism capable of stopping rotation of the endless belt.
27. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 25 , wherein the user interface unit includes a start mechanism capable of informing the control unit that it is safe to start rotation of the endless belt.
28. The crossover conveyor module for a roller conveyor system of claim 18 , further comprising a first and second drive shaft connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the crossover conveyor frame, wherein the endless belt, a second endless belt and a third endless belt extend around the first and second drive shafts, wherein the second and third endless belts are rotated by the drive shafts while the drive belt is rotated by the drive mechanism.
29. A crossover conveyor system, comprising:
a frame including at least a first side member and a second side member;
a plurality of rollers connected between the first and second side members;
at least one endless belt extending around an upper surface of the frame and the rollers;
a drive belt connected with a drive mechanism;
a slide plate for applying pressure to the drive belt such that the drive belt makes contact with the endless belt; and
wherein the drive belt is positioned between the endless belt and the slide plate, wherein rotation of the drive belt by the drive mechanism causes rotation of the endless belt.
30. A crossover conveyor system, comprising:
a plurality of rollers connected between a first side member and a second side member of a frame;
at least one endless belt extending around an upper surface of the frame and the rollers, wherein at least a portion of a lower surface of the at least one endless belt makes contact with at least a portion of the upper surface of the frame;
means for rotating a drive belt positioned below at least a portion of the endless belt; and
means for forcing the drive belt to make contact with the at least one endless belt thereby causing the at least one endless belt to rotate when the drive belt is rotating.
31. The crossover conveyor system of claim 30 , wherein the means for forcing the drive belt to make contact with the at least one endless belt comprises a slide plate.
32. The crossover conveyor system of claim 30 , wherein the means for forcing the drive belt to make contact with the at least one endless belt comprises at least one pressure roller.
33. The crossover conveyor system of claim 32 , wherein the at least one pressure roller is positioned in a pressure roller tray.
34. The crossover conveyor system of claim 33 , wherein the pressure roller tray is connected with a pressure roller tray lifting mechanism that raises the pressure roller tray so that the at least one pressure roller makes contact with the drive belt.
35. A crossover conveyor system, comprising:
a frame including at least a first side member and a second side member;
a plurality of rollers positioned between the first and second side members;
at least one endless belt extending around an upper surface of the frame and the rollers;
a drive belt connected with a drive mechanism;
a plurality of pressure rollers for applying pressure to the drive belt, wherein the drive belt is positioned between the endless belt and the pressure rollers, wherein rotation of the drive belt by the drive mechanism causes rotation of the endless belt; and
a first and second drive shaft connected between the first and second side members at opposing ends of the frame, wherein the endless belt extends around the first and second drive shafts, wherein the drive shafts include at least one sprocket having a plurality of teeth that engage at least one notch of the endless belt.