US 11,787,637 B2
Active direct drive spiral conveyor belt systems and methods
Frank Salsone, Glen Head, NY (US); Thomas O. Perdue, Salisbury, MD (US); and Robert E. Maine, Jr., Salisbury, MD (US)
Assigned to Cambridge International, Inc., Cambridge, MD (US)
Filed by Cambridge International, Inc., Cambridge, MD (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/706,334.
Application 17/706,334 is a continuation of application No. 17/004,560, filed on Aug. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,305,938.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/893,496, filed on Aug. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212873 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 15/02 (2006.01); B65G 21/18 (2006.01); B65G 15/64 (2006.01); B65G 23/06 (2006.01); B65G 15/30 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 15/02 (2013.01) [B65G 15/30 (2013.01); B65G 15/64 (2013.01); B65G 21/18 (2013.01); B65G 23/06 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); B65G 2207/24 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An active direct drive spiral conveyor belt system comprising:
a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis, the drum including multiple drive members spaced about the drum;
a conveyor belt including multiple modules that are collapsible and expandable relative to adjacent ones of the modules, and multiple drive ends that are configured to engage with the drive members;
an infeed system configured to adjust a tension in the conveyor belt by selectively varying the relative velocity between the drum and the conveyor belt;
a drum motor drive configured to rotate the drum about the drum axis; and
an infeed motor drive configured to advance the conveyor belt within a transitional zone toward a helical spiral segment;
wherein the infeed system is configured to adjust the tension in the conveyor belt by adjusting the synchronization between the drum motor drive and the infeed motor drive.