Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor frame or casing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-17
2003-06-17
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor frame or casing
C198S813000, C198S810040, C198S835000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06578705
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention is related to conveyor belt systems used to transport objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of powered conveyor systems have been developed for transporting objects. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a simple conveyor system
100
typically includes a conveyor belt
101
, pulleys
103
and a drive mechanism
105
. The conveyor belt
101
is mounted on the pulleys
103
and a drive mechanism
105
which rotates one of the pulleys
103
causing the conveyor belt
101
to move. Objects
107
placed on the conveyor belt
101
are transported by the movement of the conveyor belt
101
.
It is often necessary to disassemble these conveyor systems for various reasons including equipment maintenance and cleaning. When a component of the conveyor system breaks, disassembly of the conveyor system is required to replace the broken components. Similarly, when the conveyor system is exposed to industrial environments regular disassembly and inspection are necessary as part of a preventative maintenance program. Cleaning of the conveyor system is also required to maintain a sanitary environment for food products which come in contact with the conveyor system. Conveyor system components must be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to prevent bacteria, foreign particulates or other contamination from coming in contact with the food products.
The time required to disassemble a conveyor system for cleaning or repairs can result in a loss of production time while the conveyor system is inoperable and a corresponding loss of revenues. What is needed is a conveyor system which is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a conveyor belt system which allows the components to be easily disassembled for maintenance and cleaning. The inventive conveyor belt system includes a free pulley assembly, a drive pulley assembly and a conveyor belt. In the assembled state, the conveyor belt rotates around the free pulley assembly which is held to the drive assembly with releasable fasteners. When the releasable fasteners are released, the drive assembly can be separated from the free pulley assembly and the conveyor belt can be removed from the free pulley frame for cleaning, replacement or maintenance. The drive pulley assembly comprises a drive frame and a drive pulley which transmits force to the conveyor belt. The free pulley assembly includes a pulley frame which holds at least two pulleys about which the conveyer belt moves.
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Dergosits & Noah LLP
Eldetco, Inc.
Ellis Christopher P.
Ridley Richard
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