Hygienic conveyor roller
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMichael Hendrik DeGroot, Paul A. Marsman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hygienic, cleanable conveyor roller for use in a conveyor includes a segmented hub, a plurality of spokes and a rim for contacting a conveyor belt. The segmented hub comprises a plurality of arcuate segments in different axial planes connected to each other. The conveyor roller is mounted upon and rotatable about a mounting shaft that may axially constrain the roller. During a single revolution of the conveyor roller about the mounting shaft, all surfaces of both the conveyor roller and the mounting shaft are fully exposed, allowing the surfaces to be cleaned in place, without requiring removal of the conveyor roller from the mounting shaft.
Claims16
A roller for a conveyor, comprising:
- a segmented hub formed of a plurality of arcuate segments in different axial planes that connect to each other and overlap each other at each end of a segment to form a complete, unitary hub defining an opening having a circular cross-section for receiving a shaft about which the roller is mounted;
- at least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub;
- and
- a rim connected to the segmented hub via the at least one spoke.
A roller assembly for a conveyor, comprising:
- a mounting shaft including a cylindrical body extending along an axis and a mounting region formed in the cylindrical body;
- and
- a conveyor roller rotatably mounted in the mounting region, the conveyor roller comprising a segmented hub formed of a plurality of arcuate segments in different axial planes that connect to each other and overlap each other at each end of a segment to form a complete, unitary hub defining an opening having a circular cross-section for receiving the mounting shaft, at least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub and a rim connected to the segmented hub via the at least one spoke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.