Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-06-05
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S808000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241078
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of conveyor belts for conveying materials. Specifically, the present invention relates to an alignment mechanism for aligning a conveyor belt that is operable in a forward direction and a reverse direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Endless belt conveyors made from a fabric carcass such as nylon, polyester, kevlar, fiberglass, steel, monofilament etc. and covered with a rubber compound and/or urethane PVC from {fraction (1/16)}″ to over 1″ thick are used to convey many types of raw and processed materials in many environmental conditions. As a result, many factors such as temperature, moisture, loading characteristics, design characteristics and wind forces cause problems keeping the conveyor belt aligned on both the troughing (carrying side) and the return side of the belt. The misalignment of the belt causes damage to the belt, damage to the structure carrying the belt, and spillage problems.
Typically, the training rollers utilized to monitor and return the belt to proper alignment have been mounted below the belt where the residue adhering to the carrying surface of the belt can transfer to the training roller causing inaccurate alignment. Additionally, the only force acting directly on the trainer is the weight of the conveyor belt. Typically other types of training idlers are pivoted from a center gudgeon and have guide rollers mounted several inches from the edge of the belt so that the belt has to move considerably out of alignment to cause actuation of the training idler or the pivot was mounted for universal angular movement and contact with a braking mechanism caused the idler to be displaced in a direction to restore the belt to alignment. The center gudgeon builds up with material from the dirty side of the belt causing it to “freeze” in place or just “jam” itself from working properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for aligning a conveyor belt. The apparatus pivots about a pivot axis in response to the imbalance caused by misalignment of the conveyor belt. The pivoting of the trainer causes the conveyor belt to move towards the proper alignment. When the direction of the conveyor belt is reversed, the pivot axis of the training apparatus is rotated so that the training device aligns the conveyor belt while the conveyor belt is traveling in the reverse direction.
The apparatus includes an inner shaft having a longitudinal axis, the inner shaft being rotatable about the longitudinal axis between a first and second position. A training roller circumscribes the shaft and is in operable engagement with a conveyor belt. The roller is pivotable about an axis transverse the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A driving mechanism engages the shaft and the roller and is operable to rotate the shaft from the first position to the second position in response to the conveyor belt changing directions from the forward direction to the reverse direction.
The invention also provides a method for aligning a conveyor belt operable in a forward direction and a reverse direction. The method includes the steps of conveying a conveyor belt in a forward direction along a conveyor path. Material is deposited onto the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is aligned along the conveyor path as the conveyor belt travels in the forward direction. The deposited material is discharged from the conveyor belt. The direction of the conveyor belt is reversed so that the conveyor belt travels in a reverse direction. After the direction of the conveyor belt is reversed, the conveyor belt is aligned as the conveyor belt travels in the reverse direction. In addition, preferably, the method includes the step of providing a training device for aligning the conveyor belt, wherein the training device is pivotable about a pivot axis and reversing the conveyor belt from the forward direction to the reverse direction rotates the pivot axis.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1833180 (1931-11-01), Robins
patent: 2305036 (1942-12-01), Salfisberg
patent: 2399913 (1946-05-01), Dodge
patent: 2655251 (1953-10-01), Bankauf
patent: 3993186 (1976-11-01), Sokolowski
patent: 4196803 (1980-04-01), Lovett
patent: 5467171 (1995-11-01), Castelli
patent: 5911304 (1999-06-01), Cumberlege
patent: 1462465 (1966-12-01), None
ASGCO Manufacturing, Inc.
Dann Dorfman Herrell and Skillman
Deuble Mark A.
Eland Stephen H.
Ellis Christopher P.
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