Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-08-07
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269943
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to conveyor systems, and more particularly to conveyor systems using a flat conveyor belt which has its marginal side portions is deflected upwardly to form a troughed configuration in the load zone of the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, a conveyor belt is supported by rollers or a slider bed. The sides of the belt are normally angled upwardly to form a trough in the belt. Usually the trough is either 20, 35, or 45 degrees.
In a slider bed the belt slides on steel or some type of low friction plastic. As the width, load and speed of the belt increases the friction increases to a point that the heat build-up between the belt and the slider bed causes destruction of both the belt and the slider bed.
In high impact loading situations, the conveyor belt may be damaged when a slider bed is used. When sharp material falls on the belt supported by the slider bed, the slider bed does not absorb or dissipate the energy sufficiently, so the conveyor belt may be cut or gouged. In certain situations, a cushioning layer is disposed beneath the slider bars to dissipate the impact forces. However, the cushioning layer may not sufficiently dissipate the impact energy for large sharp materials, leading to belt damage.
In a belt supported by rollers the friction is substantially eliminated. However, the belt tends to sag between successive rollers due to the weight of the material and the belt. This sagging causes several problems. For instance, the metal skirt in the area where material is loaded onto the belt tends to become scalloped causing converging pinch points to develop between the belt and the bottom edge of the skirtboard. These pinch points cause material entrapment and resultant damage to the belt.
Further, a resilient seal is typically provided on the outside of the skirtboard. The seal is adjusted to operate in contact with the surface of the belt to seal the fine particles of material and dust from spilling. The sagging of the belt and material between the rollers causes loss of contact between the seal and the belt thus allowing spillage of material from the belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides an improved conveyor assembly for limiting or preventing spillage of material as the material is conveyed. In addition, the conveyor assembly reduces or eliminates heat build-up between the load bearing portions of the belt and the belt supports that support the belt, thereby reducing wear on the belt and the supports. The present invention also provides increased dissipation of impact forces in the loading zone of the belt to reduce or eliminate damage to the belt.
More specifically, the present invention provides a conveyor assembly comprising a continuous troughing belt trained about a head pulley and a tail pulley. The assembly has a loading zone onto which bulk material is deposited, and a transport zone between the loading zone and the head pulley. A pair of skirts extend longitudinally along the marginal edges of the conveyor belt in operative engagement with the outer surface of the belt prevent material from spilling from the belt.
A plurality of belt supports are longitudinally aligned along the length of the belt for supporting the belt. Each belt support comprises a base extending across the width of the belt. A central roller connected to the base intermediate the edges of the belt supports an intermediate portion of the belt. A pair of wing supports connected to the base straddle the central roller to support the troughing sides of the belt.
Each wing support includes an elongated slider bar extending along one of the marginal edges of the belt, engaging the inner surface of the belt. The slider bar supports the marginal edge to maintain the marginal edge in operative engagement with one of the skirts.
Each wing support also includes a wing roller disposed intermediate the slider bar and the central roller. The wing roller is in operative engagement with the inner surface of the belt to support a troughing side of the belt adjacent the intermediate portion of the belt. The wing roller has an axis of rotation that is transverse the axis of rotation of the central roller.
In addition, preferably, the belt supports are arranged so that the pitch between the belts supports varies between the load zone and the head pulley. Specifically, preferably the distance between adjacent belt supports in the transport zone is greater than the distance between adjacent belt supports in the loading zone.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3300023 (1967-01-01), Lseutzmann et al.
patent: 4359156 (1982-11-01), Austin
patent: 4789056 (1988-12-01), Bourbeau
patent: 4793470 (1988-12-01), Anderson
patent: 4848540 (1989-07-01), Gray
patent: 4917232 (1990-04-01), Densmore
patent: 4927007 (1990-05-01), Krameer
patent: 4932516 (1990-06-01), Andersson
patent: 4989727 (1991-02-01), Gordon
patent: 5007528 (1991-04-01), Hideharu
patent: 5038924 (1991-08-01), Stoll
patent: 5044490 (1991-09-01), East
patent: 5131530 (1992-07-01), Rappen
patent: 5197592 (1993-03-01), East
patent: 5267642 (1993-12-01), Gharpurey et al.
patent: 5350053 (1994-09-01), Archer
patent: 5351810 (1994-10-01), Tingskog
patent: 5353920 (1994-10-01), Szalankiewicz et al.
patent: 5368154 (1994-11-01), Campbell
patent: 5467866 (1995-11-01), Swinderman
patent: 5564557 (1996-10-01), Morita
patent: 5590757 (1997-01-01), Walter
patent: 5927478 (1999-07-01), Archer
patent: 1088779 (1955-03-01), None
patent: 63-247207 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 4-112113 (1992-04-01), None
ASGCO Manufacturing, Inc.
Bidwell James R.
Dann Dorfman Herrell and Skillman
Eland Stephen H.
LandOfFree
Conveyor assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Conveyor assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conveyor assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2500750