Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2001-10-09
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S812000, C198S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298981
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to conveyors, and more particularly to a number of features in a conveyor which facilitate manufacture, assembly, operation and maintenance of a conveyor.
The present invention contemplates a number of improvements to a conveyor construction, such as that generally disclosed in Dorner et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,435, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The '435 patent generally discloses a conveyor construction including a frame and a tensioning section mounted for movement relative to the frame. The tensioning section includes a spindle about which a conveyor belt is trained, and movement of the tensioning section functions to control the tension of the belt. The tensioning section is extended and retracted in response to rotation of a drive pinion rotatably mounted to the frame. The frame includes a channel or slot on each side, and slide bars are located within each slot for longitudinal movement therewithin. The slide bars are interconnected with the tensioning section via an outer plate and one or more threaded screws which extend through openings formed in the outer plate and into threaded engagement with threaded openings formed in the slide bars. When a desired position of the tensioning mechanism has been attained by rotation of the drive pinion, the screws are tightened so as to clamp the portions of the frame adjacent the slot between the outer plate and the slide bars. In this arrangement, the tensioning section is locked in position separate from the drive pinion which functions to provide movement of the tensioning section. In addition, the conveyor disclosed in the '435 patent contemplates a spindle which extends the full width of the belt. Cavities are formed in the ends of the spindle, and a bearing assembly is mounted within each cavity. A collar extends into the cavity and into engagement with the bearing assembly. The collar includes an outer end which is mounted to the side plate for rotatably mounting the spindle to and between the side plates. This construction is generally satisfactory, but can present problems in a wash-down application and presents the possibility that water can make its way into the bearing assembly from the outside of the conveyor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified conveyor construction providing enhancements in the components, assembly, operation and maintenance of the conveyor construction. Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor construction in which the tensioning section can be locked in position utilizing a single-point locking mechanism. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a locking mechanism which is operable on the drive pinion, which functions to move the tensioning section relative to the frame. A still further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor construction in which the belt is engaged with the frame between the drive spindle and the idler spindle, to prevent skewing of the belt. A still further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor construction providing an improved structure for engaging the drive pinion with the tensioning section. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor construction which is capable of use in a wash-down environment by preventing ingress of water into the spindle bearing cavity. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simplified conveyor frame construction facilitating attachment of conveyor accessories to the frame.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a conveyor construction includes a frame, a pair of spindles mounted to the frame and a belt trained about the spindles. An upper support member is associated with the frame and located between the spindles. The upper support member is disposed below the belt, so as to support the belt between the spindles. Mating engagement structure is interposed between the belt, the spindles and the upper support member for preventing lateral movement of the belt relative to the spindles and relative to the frame between the spindles. In this manner, the belt is maintained in a tracked relationship relative to the spindles and to the frame, to prevent skewing of the belt or other lateral movement of the belt. Preferably, the engagement structure is in the form of a rib extending from the underside of the belt, which is received within a longitudinal groove formed in the upper support member within which the rib is received when the belt is engaged with the upper support member. Each spindle includes a groove in alignment with the groove in the upper support member for receiving the rib. The upper support member defmes a first end and a second end, and the groove preferably extends the full length of the upper support member between its first and second ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a conveyor construction includes a frame having a pair of side members, in combination with a belt and a belt tensioning mechanism movably mounted to the frame and including a spindle engageable with the belt. A pair of side members are located one adjacent each frame side member, and a drive member is rotatably mounted to the frame. This aspect of the invention contemplates an improvement in the form of engagement structure provided on both of the side plate members. The drive member is engaged with the engagement structure so as to effect movement of the belt tensioning mechanism relative to the frame upon rotation of the drive member. The drive member is preferably in the form of a rotatable drive pinion having a series of outwardly extending gear teeth, and the side plate member engagement structure is preferably in the form of a series of gear teeth provided on the side plate member and engageable with the drive pinion gear teeth. The side plate member gear teeth cooperate to define an axially extending gear rack which extends along an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the belt tensioning mechanism relative to the frame. Each side plate member preferably includes an axially extending slot located adjacent the gear rack defined by the series of spaced gear teeth. The drive pinion is mounted to the frame side member via a pinion mounting member or carrier, which extends through the side plate member slot and which is interconnected with the frame side member. The pinion mounting member or carrier includes an inner pinion mounting section for rotatably supporting the pinion, and an outer frame connection section extending from the pinion mounting section and disposed within the side plate member slot and engaged with the frame side member. The side plate member gear teeth are preferably formed integrally with the side plate member. This arrangement provides positive engagement of the side plate members with the drive pinion to ensure that the side plate members are simultaneously and synchronously advanced and retracted upon rotation of the drive pinion, to maintain constant tension on the belt throughout the width of the belt.
Another aspect of the invention contemplates a spindle mounting arrangement for a conveyor construction including a belt and at least one spindle about which the belt is trained. The spindle mounting arrangement includes a spindle mounting member having a cavity defined at least in part by an upper wall and a side wall. The cavity includes an inwardly facing opening, and a bearing arrangement is disposed within the cavity for rotatably mounting the spindle to the spindle mounting member. The cavity opening faces the spindle, and the mounting member upper wall and side wall are configured so as to enclose the cavity from the exterior of the mounting member. The spindle includes a belt engaging surface, and the upper wall and side wall of the spindle mounting member terminate in an inner edge at least in part defining the opening. The inner edge is located adjacent the belt engaging surface of the spindle, and the belt is in engagement with the belt engaging surface a
Ertel Daniel E.
Hall Scott M.
Hansen Kenneth A.
Hosch Michael A.
Andrus Sceales Starke & Sawall LLP
Crawford Gene O.
Dorner Mfg. Corp.
Ellis Christopher P.
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