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US 11,597,602 B2Granted
Conveyor including modular frame and spindle adjustment mechanism
AssigneeDorner Mfg. Corp.
InventorsMichael A. Hosch, Scott Grahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor construction for a continuous belt conveyor. The conveyor includes a conveyor frame assembly constructed from a plurality of separate extruded and joined frame sections. The frame assembly can include a pair of side frame extrusions joined to a center frame extrusion by a pair of attachment rails. The conveyor construction further includes a series of spindle mounting assemblies that support a tensioning spindle on opposite ends of the conveyor frame. Each of the spindle mounting assemblies includes a gear rack and a pinion head that is rotatable to move the gear racks. The gear racks contact one of a pair of head plates that support the tensioning spindle relative to the frame.
Claims20
A conveyor frame assembly, comprising:
- a first side frame extrusion having a width extending between an attachment edge and a mounting edge, the first side frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall joined by a plurality of support ribs;
- a second side frame extrusion having a width extending between an attachment edge and a mounting edge, the first side frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall joined by a plurality of support ribs;
- a center frame extrusion having a width extending between a first side edge and a second side edge, the center frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall;
- and
- a pair of attachment rails,
- wherein the attachment edge of the first side frame member is joined to the first side edge of the center frame extrusion by one of the pair of attachment rails and the attachment edge of the second side frame member is joined to the second side edge of the center frame extrusion by another of the pair of attachment rails.
3 more elements
A conveyor construction, comprising:
- a conveyor frame assembly including a pair of spaced apart mounting edges that each include an outer side wall and a recessed receiving slot;
- a top wall extending between the pair of spaced apart attachment edges;
- a pair of spindle mounting assemblies movably mounted to a first end of the conveyor frame assembly, each of the spindle mounting assemblies including a head plate supported in contact with the outer side wall and a gear rack movably mounted within an axially extending passage formed in the conveyor frame assembly, the gear rack being in contact with the head plate;
- a tensioning spindle supported between the pair of spaced apart head plates;
- and
- a pair of pinions joined to each other by a connection rod extending across a width of the conveyor frame, wherein each of the pinions are engaged with one of the gear racks such that rotation of either one of the pinions results in movement of the gear racks and the head plates in contact with the gear racks.
3 more elements
A conveyor assembly comprising:
- a first side frame extrusion having a width extending between an attachment edge and a mounting edge, the first side frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall joined by a plurality of support ribs;
- a second side frame extrusion having a width extending between an attachment edge and a mounting edge, the first side frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall joined by a plurality of support ribs, wherein the attachment edges of the first and second extrusions each include an outer side wall and a recessed receiving slot;
- a center frame extrusion having a width extending between a first side edge and a second side edge, the center frame extrusion including a top wall and a bottom wall;
- a pair of attachment rails, wherein the attachment edge of the first side frame member is joined to the first side edge of the center frame extrusion by one of the pair of attachment rails and the attachment edge of the second side frame member is joined to the second side edge of the center frame extrusion by another of the pair of attachment rails;
- a pair of spindle mounting assemblies movably mounted to a first end of the conveyor frame assembly, each of the spindle mounting assemblies including a head plate supported in contact with the outer side wall and a gear rack movably mounted within an axially extending passage formed in the conveyor frame assembly, the gear rack in contact with the head plate;
- a tensioning spindle supported between the pair of spaced apart head plates;
- and
- a pair of pinions joined to each other by a connection rod extending across a width of the conveyor frame, wherein each of the pinions are engaged with one of the gear racks such that rotation of either one of the pinions results in movement of the gear racks and the head plates in contact with the gear racks.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.