Modular Conveyors
Modular Conveyor is a conveyor constructed with standardized units or dimensions, allowing for high layout flexibility.Modular conveyors allow for improved carton control, quieter operation, and less energy consumption. The Modular Conveyor was specially designed to transport four Class-E Cargo Containers. These containers were affixed in pairs on the port and starboard surfaces of the vessel's fuselage. One Class-A Cargo Container could also be attached beneath the cockpit module. The craft only required a crew of six, and was armed with three, turret mounted, dual laser cannons. The vessel was also equipped withdeflector shields and hyperdrive.
An underguard assembly is provided for use with a modular conveyor of a conveyor system. The underguard is formed of a flexible web that hangs beneath the Conveyors to catch debris falling from the sides of or through the conveying surface. To support the web, a stiffener rod is placed in an elongate pocket formed along each longitudinal edge. Opposed support assemblies spaced along the sides of the conveyor frame hold the enlarged pocket formed by the stiffener rod. An adjustment means is provided on each support assembly that allows the web to be easily attached and detached from the conveyor frame. Further, the support assemblies adjacent the end of the conveyor are modified to support the web beyond the end of the conveyor. This allows the web of a first modular conveyor to overlap with the web at the start of an adjacent modular conveyor, thereby providing a substantially seamless underguard function for a conveyor system.
Modular chain conveyors use plastic chain, which is also modular. The chain is usually made from links that mix and match to fit the application. For instance, a cleated link at every fifth link could move items along an incline as steep as 90°. In the future, cleated links at every tenth position, or perhaps a taller cleat, will better serve the purpose.Conventional conveyors are satisfactory for a single application but they don’t easily accommodate field changes. It is not uncommon for the layout of a packaging line to change repeatedly until the moment it goes on line.