Cutting – Tool or tool with support – Joint or connection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2002-05-07
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Tool or tool with support
Joint or connection
C083S698110, C083S666000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06382065
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to free wheeling or idling pulley wheels and, more particularly, to a removable pulley wheel arrangement for use in a meat band saw wherein the pulley wheel is mounted on a shaft in a quick-release manner to permit simple removal for cleaning and replacement purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the food processing industry large upright band saws such as band saw
10
of
FIG. 1
are commonly used for cutting meat products of a variety of sizes. Such band saws typically include a frame
12
upon which is mounted a support surface
14
for positioning meat products to be cut. A housing portion
16
of the frame extends above support surface
14
and a housing portion
18
of the frame extends below support surface
14
. A band saw blade
20
passes though a plane defined by support surface
14
and extends around pulley wheel members
22
and
24
located within housing portions
16
and
18
. Pulley wheel
24
is connected to a drive mechanism for drivingly moving the band saw blade
20
as it rotates. In particular, a drive motor may be connected for rotating pulley wheel
24
. Pulley wheel
22
acts as an idler wheel, rotating freely along with the blade.
One embodiment of a prior arrangement for an idler wheel is depicted in the exploded view of
FIG. 2
where idler pulley wheel
22
is mounted on the end of shaft
26
. Idler wheel
22
is a unitary member with a central hub
28
which defines an opening. The interior side of the hub
28
includes a slot or keyway
30
for receiving pin extensions
32
of the shaft
26
. The shaft
26
is mounted to the frame
12
for rotation via assembly
34
. When the wheel
22
is positioned on the end of the shaft
26
rotation of the wheel
22
caused by movement of blade
20
likewise causes the shaft
26
to rotate via inter-engagement of the slot
30
and pin extension
32
. The wheel
22
is maintained on the end of the shaft
26
using a latch mechanism which is mounted to the exterior hub
28
of the wheel. The latch mechanism includes a retaining latch
36
rotatably secured to the wheel hub via a shoulder screw
38
. An outwardly biased catch
40
of the spring-loaded type is also positioned in the outer surface of the hub
28
and contacts the retaining latch
36
to hold the latch in its latching state. In this regard, when in the latching state, a portion of the retaining latch
36
sits within a groove
42
positioned toward the end of the shaft to prevent the wheel
22
from being slid off the end of the shaft. As the wheel
22
and shaft
26
rotate, the retaining latch
36
and catch
40
also rotate, with a portion of the retaining latch
36
remaining in the groove
42
during rotation.
The present invention provides a new idler pulley wheel arrangement for use in food product band saws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an idler pulley wheel arrangement for a bandsaw includes a non-rotating idler shaft and an idler pulley wheel assembly positioned on the shaft for rotation relative thereto. A latch mechanism is positioned on an end of the shaft and includes a latch part connected to the end of the shaft for movement between a first position defining a latching state of the mechanism in which a portion of the latch part extends beyond an outer surface of the shaft and a second position defining a non-latching state of the mechanism in which the latch part is positioned entirely within or in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the shaft. The latch mechanism also includes a catch positioned on the end of the shaft for holding the latch part in the non-latching state such that the idler pulley wheel assembly can be slid off the end of the shaft when the latch mechanism is in the non-latching state.
In another aspect of the invention, an idler pulley wheel arrangement for a bandsaw includes a non-rotating idler shaft and an idler pulley wheel assembly positioned on the shaft. The idler pulley wheel assembly includes a pulley wheel with a central opening, a bushing positioned within the central opening, and bearings positioned between an outer surface of the bushing and an inner surface of the pulley wheel. The pulley wheel is rotatable relative to the bushing and an inner surface of the bushing contacts an outer surface of the shaft for preventing relative rotation therebetween. A latch mechanism mounted on an end of the shaft includes a latch part connected to the end of the shaft for movement between a first position defining a latching state of the mechanism in which a portion of the latch part extends beyond an outer surface of the shaft and a second position defining a non-latching state of the mechanism in which the latch part is positioned entirely within or in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the shaft.
Still a further aspect of the invention provides a band saw apparatus including a frame, a driving pulley wheel mounted for rotation on the frame, and an idler shaft extending from the frame and spaced from the driving pulley wheel, the shaft fixed in a non-rotatable state. An idler pulley wheel assembly is positioned on the shaft for rotation relative thereto and a latch mechanism is positioned on an end of the shaft. The latch mechanism includes a latch part rotatably connected to the end of the shaft and movable between a first position defining a latching state of the mechanism in which a portion of the latch part extends beyond an outer surface of the shaft and a second position defining a non-latching state of the mechanism in which the latch part is positioned entirely within or in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the shaft, wherein the idler pulley wheel assembly can be slid off the end of the shaft when the latch mechanism is in the non-latching state.
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Premark FEG L.L.C.
Rachuba M.
Thompson Hine LLP
Tran Kim Ngoc
LandOfFree
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