Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-07-31
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S814000, C198S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267228
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method of manufacture and a device for controlling the behavior of a moving conveyor belt, and more specifically to an apparatus for providing a tensile force to a conveyor belt.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY
An endless moving conveyor belt is useful for transporting articles from one location to another. Existing devices thread or train the endless moving belt around spaced apart shafts. Typically, some means is provided for adjusting the location of at least one of the shafts in order to provide proper tension to the moving belt. Additionally, some means is provided to adjust the angle of the shafts relative to each other in order to urge the conveyor belt to track consistently along a desired path. One problem with such devices is that an excessive amount of force may sometimes be applied to one or both sides of the adjustable shaft, thereby causing damage to the conveyor belt or premature failure of the shaft bearings. Examples of such belt guides are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 752,202; 2,160,057; 2,532,987 and 2,553,473.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Ideally, the mechanism that provides belt tensioning should be completely independent of the device that adjusts the belt tracking angle via the movable shaft. Further, the belt tensioning force should be predetermined and fixed, remaining constant while the belt tracking path remains adjustable during normal conveyor operation. The present invention provides an apparatus for manually adjusting the tracking position of a conveyor belt while providing constant, predetermined belt tension. Conveyor belt tension is provided by a spring. The spring deflection is selected to provide a force within an acceptable range determined by each specific application and allows for slight variation within the tolerance limits of the positioning components. A second mechanical linkage can be manipulated to control the angle within the horizontal plane of the tensioning linkage relative to the direction of belt travel in order to urge the belt to track in the desired direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 752202 (1904-02-01), Chritton
patent: 2160057 (1939-05-01), Carus et al.
patent: 2532987 (1950-12-01), Berndt
patent: 2553473 (1951-05-01), Reimel
patent: 3702131 (1972-11-01), Stokes et al.
patent: 5186313 (1993-02-01), Denker et al.
patent: 5717984 (1998-02-01), Wong
patent: 5896979 (1999-04-01), Hokari et al.
patent: 491550 (1976-09-01), None
Cadwell Lawrence O.
Nesdahl Kevin A.
Deuble Mark A.
Ellis Christopher P.
Johnson David George
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