US 12,269,686 B2Granted

Curved belt conveyor

AssigneeMechanica Sistemi S.R.L.

InventorGiorgio Cristoforetti

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Abstract

A curved belt conveyor includes a supporting structure having a base for supporting the conveyor on a floor and a curved top portion engaged to the base. The curved top portion defines at least one curved advancing plane for one or more objects and/or articles to be moved along a curvilinear advancing path and has an arched wide side and an arched narrow side opposite each other. An endless conveyor belt is operatively engaged to the curved top portion to define the curved advancing plane and the conveyor belt is at least partially around at least two revolving rollers rotatively engaged to the curved top portion. At least one of the rollers is movable relative to the other between a distant position, wherein the conveyor belt is under tension and not removable from the rollers and a close position, wherein the conveyor belt is loose and removable from the rollers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A curved belt conveyor comprising:

a supporting structure having a base for supporting the curved belt conveyor on a floor and a curved top portion engaged to the base, the curved top portion defining at least one curved advancing plane for one or more objects and/or articles to be moved along a curvilinear advancing path and being provided with an arched wide side and an arched narrow side opposite each other;
and
an endless conveyor belt operatively engaged to the curved top portion of the supporting structure to define the curved advancing plane of the curved top portion, the endless conveyor belt moving at least partially around at least two revolving rollers rotatively engaged to the curved top portion of the supporting structure;
wherein at least one revolving roller of the at least two revolving rollers is movable with respect to the other roller of the at least two revolving rollers between a relatively distant position, wherein the endless conveyor belt is kept under tension and is not removable from the at least two revolving rollers, and a relatively close position, wherein the endless conveyor belt is loose and removable from the at least two revolving rollers, through the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the supporting structure;
wherein at least one connection mechanism is operatively interposed between the at least one revolving roller of the at least two revolving rollers that is movable and a corresponding arched side of the curved top portion of the supporting structure, the connection mechanism being switchable between a locking condition wherein the at least one corresponding revolving roller is maintained in the relatively distant position, and an unlocking condition, wherein the at least one revolving roller can be moved between the relatively distant position and the relatively close position.

2 more elements

A curved belt conveyor comprising:

a supporting structure having a base for supporting the curved belt conveyor on a floor and a curved top portion engaged to the base, the curved top portion defining at least one curved advancing plane for one or more objects and/or articles to be moved along a curvilinear advancing path and being provided with an arched wide side and an arched narrow side opposite each other;
and
an endless conveyor belt operatively engaged to the curved top portion of the supporting structure to define the curved advancing plane of the curved top portion, the endless conveyor belt moving at least partially around at least two revolving rollers rotatively engaged to the curved top portion of the supporting structure, at least one revolving roller of the at least two revolving rollers being movable with respect to the other roller of the at least two revolving rollers between a relatively distant position wherein the endless conveyor belt is kept under tension being not removable from the at least two revolving rollers and a relatively close position wherein the endless conveyor belt is loose and removable from the at least two revolving rollers,
wherein the curved top portion of the supporting structure comprises:
a plurality of structural rods configured to define a supporting assembly having an opening corresponding with the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the curved belt conveyor and being closed at the arched wide side of the curved top portion of the curved belt conveyor by elements, wherein a first plurality of substantially radial structural rods and a second plurality of substantially radial structural rods are placed below the first plurality of substantially radial structural rods, wherein in working conditions, the endless conveyor belt has an upper portion placed above the first plurality of substantially radial structural rods and a lower portion placed between the first plurality of substantially radial structural rods and the second plurality of substantially radial structural rods, each of the first plurality of substantially radial structural rods and each of the second plurality of substantially radial structural rods having a free end in communication with the arched narrow side of the curved top portion, the free ends of the first plurality of substantially radial structural rods being separate from the free ends of the second plurality of substantially radial structural rods at the arched narrow side allowing the endless conveyor belt to be removed through the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the supporting structure;
and
a protective case removably engaged at the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the curved belt conveyor, the supporting assembly being openable at the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the curved belt conveyor by removing the protective case and being closable at the arched narrow side of the curved top portion of the curved belt conveyor by applying the protective case.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/297,718Filed 10 Apr 2023
Priority: IT 10202200000740013 Apr 2022
Published: US 2023/0331489 A119 Oct 2023
Granted: 8 Apr 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65G 15/02
Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other…:…
B65G 21/06
Consisting essentially of struts, ties, or like structural elements: constructed to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling
B65G 21/105
Movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof: having demountable driving or…
B65G 23/44
Driving gear for endless conveyors; Belt- or chain-tensioning arrangements: belt or chain tensioning arrangements