Self-aligning belt pulley

A self-aligning belt pulley, comprising:

• a cylindrical roller having a circumferential roller surface;
• wherein a pair of raised peaks extend circumferentially along, and radially outwardly from, the circumferential roller surface;
• the pair of raised peaks being positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of an intermediate portion of the circumferential roller surface;
• wherein at least one raised peak extends circumferentially along, and radially outwardly from, the intermediate portion of the circumferential roller surface;
• and
• a pivot mechanism operatively coupled with the cylindrical roller;
• the pivot mechanism comprising:
• an elongated frame member with opposite end portions and a connection point intermediate the opposite end portions;
• the elongated frame member being offset and generally parallel to the roller surface of the cylindrical roller;
• a pivot bracket operatively, pivotably coupled with the connection point;
• the pivot bracket being further operatively coupled with an anchor point.

A self-aligning belt pulley, comprising:

• a cylindrical roller having a circumferential roller surface;
• a pair of concave portions formed linearly and continuously around the circumferential roller surface;
• the pair of concave portions being positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of an intermediate portion of the circumferential roller surface;
• the cylindrical roller being configured to form a winged pulley;
• and
• a pivot mechanism operatively coupled with the cylindrical roller;
• the pivot mechanism comprising:
• an elongated frame member with opposite end portions and a connection point intermediate the opposite end portions;
• the elongated frame member being offset and generally parallel to the roller surface of the cylindrical roller;
• a pivot bracket operatively, pivotably coupled with the connection point;
• the pivot bracket being further operatively coupled with an anchor point.

A self-aligning belt pulley for use within a conveyor system, the self-aligning belt pulley comprising:

• a cylindrical roller having a circumferential roller surface;
• an opposing pair of spindles extending outwardly from opposite end portions of the cylindrical roller and defining a rolling axis for the cylindrical roller;
• an opposing pair of roller brackets operatively coupled with the opposing pair of spindles such that the cylindrical roller may rotate about the rolling axis;
• the opposing pair of roller brackets being configured to slide, in a direction perpendicular with the rolling axis, within a fixed framework of the conveyor system;
• a pivot mechanism operatively coupled with the cylindrical roller;
• the pivot mechanism comprising:
• an elongated frame member with opposite end portions and a connection point intermediate the opposite end portions;
• the elongated frame member being offset and parallel to the roller surface of the cylindrical roller;
• the opposite end portions of the elongated frame member being operatively coupled with the opposing pair of roller brackets;
• a pivot bracket operatively, pivotably coupled with the connection point;
• the pivot bracket being further operatively coupled with an anchor point;
• and
• an adjustment stem having proximal and distal end portions;
• the proximal end portion of the adjustment stem being operatively coupled with the pivot bracket;
• the distal end portion of the adjustment stem being operatively coupled with an anchor point;
• the adjustment stem being threaded, such that rotation of the adjustment stem in one direction draws the pivot bracket toward the anchor point and rotation of the adjustment stem in an opposite, second direction increases a distance between the pivot bracket and the anchor point.

A self-aligning belt pulley for use within a conveyor system, the self-aligning belt pulley comprising:

• a cylindrical roller having a circumferential roller surface;
• a pair of raised peaks extending circumferentially along, and radially outwardly from, the circumferential roller surface;
• the pair of raised peaks being positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of an intermediate portion of the circumferential roller surface;
• at least one raised peak extending circumferentially along, and radially outwardly from, the intermediate portion of the circumferential roller surface;
• an opposing pair of spindles extending outwardly from opposite end portions of the cylindrical roller and defining a rolling axis for the cylindrical roller;
• an opposing pair of roller brackets operatively coupled with the opposing pair of spindles such that the cylindrical roller may rotate about the rolling axis;
• the opposing pair of roller brackets being configured to slide, in a direction perpendicular with the rolling axis, within a fixed framework of the conveyor system;
• a pivot mechanism operatively coupled with the cylindrical roller;
• the pivot mechanism comprising:
• an elongated frame member with opposite end portions and a connection point intermediate the opposite end portions;
• the elongated frame member being offset and parallel to the roller surface of the cylindrical roller;
• the opposite end portions of the elongated frame member being operatively coupled with the opposing pair of roller brackets;
• and
• a pivot bracket operatively, pivotably coupled with the connection point;
• the pivot bracket being further operatively coupled with an anchor point.

A self-aligning belt pulley for use within a conveyor system, the self-aligning belt pulley comprising:

• a cylindrical roller having a circumferential roller surface;
• and
• a pivot mechanism operatively coupled with the cylindrical roller;
• the pivot mechanism comprising:
• an elongated frame member with opposite end portions;
• the elongated frame member being offset from the roller surface of the cylindrical roller;
• and
• tensioning means operatively coupled with the elongated frame member for selectively applying tension to the cylindrical roller from a pivot point.