Guy L Irwin

US Patent:

52038610, Apr 20, 1993

Filed:

Dec 18, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/809869

Inventors:

Guy L. Irwin - Oreland PA
Andre Robin - Fair Oaks CA

International Classification:

F16H 5512

US Classification:

474161

Abstract:

A plastic sprocket wheel includes a sprocket body having a series of circularly spaced recesses located around a body circumferential edge, there also being a body side face opening in at least one body side face which communicates with the recess edge openings so that replaceable tooth elements can be slidably inserted into an associated recess when tooth replacement such as required when one or more teeth of an operating sprocket break or are rendered unusable. The replacement mounting requires no separate fastening devices for holding replacement teeth securely to the sprocket body, friction fit being sufficient to that end. The sprocket body is of resilient material such as an acetal, a polyethylene, a polypropylene etc. , and the tooth elements can be of metal or the same material as the sprocket body, or such can be a combination of materials, e. g. , a strong metal tooth piece molded in a resilient or plastic material core.

US Patent:

51371413, Aug 11, 1992

Filed:

Aug 22, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/748440

Inventors:

Guy L. Irwin - Oreland PA

International Classification:

B65G 2118

US Classification:

198778

Abstract:

A conveyor belt has a textured edge for use in a spiral conveyor which includes a plurality of protrusions on the edge of the belt engaging the capstan, providing enhanced friction between the belt and the capstan. The protrusions may be placed on end links or reenforcement links, and may be a part of rods connecting links of the belt. In one of the embodiments, the capstan is textured as well to provide an additional friction. As the result, the driving force is transmitted to the belt much more efficiently, and the practical use of the plastic conveyor belt in the spiral conveyor systems is possible. In one of the embodiments, the conveyor belt is made predominantly of plastic.

US Patent:

49415662, Jul 17, 1990

Filed:

Feb 21, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/312810

Inventors:

Guy L. Irwin - Oreland PA

International Classification:

B65G 2118

US Classification:

198778

Abstract:

A capstan for a spiral conveyor includes a plurality of grooves in the external surface thereof for controlling the driving friction between the outer surface of the capstan and the inner edge of a conveyor belt in contact with it. In one embodiment of the invention, the grooves are oriented vertically such that they contact the inner edge at an angle relative to motion therebetween. In another embodiment, the grooves are inclined to the vertical such that they contact the inner edge at right angles to the relative motion. In a further embodiment, the grooves are inclined generally parallel to the relative motion.

US Patent:

51391350, Aug 18, 1992

Filed:

Feb 19, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/656853

Inventors:

Guy Irwin - Oreland PA
Andre Robin - Fair Oaks CA

International Classification:

B65G 1706

US Classification:

198852

Abstract:

An improved conveyor belt and an improved capstan coact to yield a spiral conveyor having a reduced lateral turning radius. Power transmission from the capstan to the conveyor is increased by projections on the inner edge of the belt that cooperate with grooves on the peripheral surface of the capstan. The projections have a cross section in the form of half a teardrop to facilitate disengagement from the rotating capstan. The grooves are longitudinally formed in bars disposed in parallel about the periphery of the capstan. The bars are inclined such that the grooves are generally parallel to the relative motion of the belt inner edge and the capstan peripheral surface. The conveyor belt is further provided with a central tension fibre comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed interconnecting links, each in the form of an asymmetrical clevis, specially adapted to transmit power from the capstan driven inner edge of the conveyor belt to the dragging outer edge. To reduce weight, the belt is predominantly formed of plastic.

US Patent:

53460596, Sep 13, 1994

Filed:

Aug 17, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/930179

Inventors:

Guy Irwin - Oreland PA

International Classification:

B65G 1706

US Classification:

198852

Abstract:

A conveyor belt which traverses a belt transport course that can include course turns wherein the belt traverses an arcuate path comprises a succession of link members formed as individual modules having a center body part and unitary forwardly and rearwardly facing finger sets at each of two opposite sides of the center body part. In traversing a turn, the belt shortens at a first side and lengthens at an opposite side. During a turn, tractive drive transmission for pulling a link member with a next preceding link member by way of a connecting rod passing through the two link members, the connecting rod being in tractive relationship with the rearwardly facing fingers of the preceding link member at only two locations, viz. , at the rearwardly facing finger thereof most proximal the belt opposite edge, and at the rearwardly facing finger first alongside the preceding link member center body part at the side of the conveyor belt first edge. In this way, shear locations on the rod during drive are minimized and moved away from the center of the belt.

US Patent:

49575970, Sep 18, 1990

Filed:

Sep 20, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/409691

Inventors:

Guy L. Irwin - Oreland PA

Assignee:

I. J. White Co. - Farmingdale NY

International Classification:

B65G 1502

US Classification:

198831

Abstract:

A fixed radius conveyor belt for turn conveyors has a radially positioned plurality of rods which are wrapped with helically wound filaments bridging spaces between the rods to prevent conveyed objects from falling through the spaces between the rods. The filaments are maintained in the radial space between links which are attached to the rods at their ends close to an inside edge, and retainers attached at the ends of the rods close to an outside edge of the belt. The links engage one sprocket wheel of a conveyor, and the second wheel of the conveyor engages rods in an area adjacent to the retainers. Such an arrangement results in a belt which is structurally strong and can withstand conveyor jams and other irregularities in the conveying action without disintegration of the belt structure. The relatively simple construction of the belt permits easy assembly and allows production at a relatively low cost.

US Patent:

54678650, Nov 21, 1995

Filed:

Aug 6, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/927923

Inventors:

Guy L. Irwin - Oreland PA

International Classification:

B65G 2118

US Classification:

198778

Abstract:

A conveyor belt has a textured edge for use in a spiral conveyor which includes a plurality of protrusions on the edge of the belt engaging the capstan, providing enhanced friction between the belt and the capstan. The protrusions may be placed on end links or reenforcement links, and may be a part of rods connecting links of the belt. In one of the embodiments, the capstan is textured as well to provide an additional friction. As the result, the driving force is transmitted to the belt much more efficiently, and the practical use of the plastic conveyor belt in the spiral conveyor systems is possible. In one of the embodiments, the conveyor belt is made predominantly of plastic.

US Patent:

52714918, Dec 21, 1993

Filed:

Feb 18, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/019217

Inventors:

Guy Irwin - Oreland PA

International Classification:

B65G 1706

US Classification:

198778

Abstract:

A bi-directional short radius turn conveyor belt includes a longitudinal succession of spaced rods transverse to the belt transport course, these rods being interconnected with lines of links, the link lines including outboard such lines at the belt sides and inboard link lines spaced inwardly from the belt sides. The inboard links have a first pitch and the outboard links a larger pitch so that in straight line travel, the links of the inboard lines are tractive and those of the outboard lines non-tractive and partially collapsed. In following a turn course, the links of the inboard line of such remote from the turn side will be tractive and those of the inboard line nearest the turn partially collapsed. In the turn, the links of the outboard link line at the belt outer side or one remote from the turn side will expand and those at of the turn side link line will collapse. Where the turn is one following a spiral or a helical course as in a drive relationship with a drive capstan, the links of the outboard line at the turn side fully collapse as much as possible to insure sustained drive transmission from the capstan to the belt.