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US 12,534,301 B2Granted
Tensioning system for dual belt conveyor
AssigneeDorner Mfg. Corp.
InventorDaniel E. Ertel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tensioning system for a conveyor belt having a center drive. The tensioning system allows a user to increase or decrease the tension in a conveyor belt that passes around a drive pulley and a pair of tension rollers. The tensioning system allows a user to simultaneously rotate each of the tension rollers into a different position relative to the drive pulley by means of adjustment arms controlled by a pinion to increase or decrease the tension on the conveyor belt.
Claims20
A tension adjustment assembly for use with a conveyor, comprising:
- a drive shaft;
- a drive pulley mounted on the drive shaft;
- a first tension roller disposed in spaced apart relation to the drive pulley, the first tension roller having a first surface configured to rotate about a first central axis;
- a second tension roller disposed in spaced apart relation to the drive pulley, the second tension roller having a second surface configured to rotate about a second central axis;
- a belt disposed in contact with the first surface on the first tension roller and the second surface on the second tension roller, the belt configured for driven engagement with the drive pulley;
- the first tension roller being supported on a first inner face that is configured to rotate about a first fixed point disposed in spaced apart relation to the first central axis, the first inner face configured to rotate between a first position and a second position relative to the drive pulley;
- the second tension roller being supported on a second inner face that rotates about a second fixed point disposed in spaced apart relation to the second central axis, the second inner face configured to rotate between a first position and a second position relative to the drive pulley;
- a first adjustment arm connected to the first tension roller, the first adjustment arm having an opening bordered by a series of spaced teeth;
- a second adjustment arm connected to the second tension roller, the second adjust arm having an opening bordered by a series of spaced teeth;
- a pinion having teeth disposed thereon, the pinion extending into the openings in the first and second adjustment arms such that the teeth on the pinion engage with the series of spaced teeth on the first and second adjustment arms;
- wherein rotation of the pinion in a first direction causes the first and second tension rollers to rotate away from the drive pulley which decreases the path length for the belt thereby reducing the tension on the belt.
8 more elements
A tensioning system for a dual belt conveyor, the tensioning device comprising:
- a first tension adjustment assembly having a plate with an opening for receiving a drive shaft;
- a drive pulley mounted on a first end of the drive shaft;
- a first tension roller disposed in spaced apart relation to the first drive pulley;
- a second tension roller disposed in spaced apart relation to the first drive pulley;
- a belt disposed in contact with the first tension roller and the second tension roller, the belt configured for driven engagement with the first drive pulley;
- the first tension roller having a first inner face rotatably supported independently of the first tension roller by a first fixed mounting pin attached to the plate;
- a first adjustment pin connected to the first inner face of the first tension roller, the first adjustment pin configured to rotate about the first fixed mounting pin;
- the second tension roller having a second inner face rotatably supported independently of the second tension roller by a second fixed mounting pin attached to the plate;
- a second adjustment pin connected to the second inner face of the second tension roller, the second adjustment pin configured to rotate about the fixed mounting pin;
- a first adjustment arm connected to the first adjustment pin, the first adjustment arm having an opening bordered by a series of spaced teeth;
- a second adjustment arm connected to the second adjustment pin, the second adjust arm having an opening bordered by a series of spaced teeth;
- a pinion having teeth disposed thereon, the pinion extending into the openings in the first and second adjustment arms such that the teeth on the pinion engage with the series of spaced teeth on the first and second adjustment arms;
- wherein rotation of the pinion in a first direction causes the first and second adjustment arms to move the first adjustment pin and the second adjustment pin away from each other such that the first and second tension rollers move away from the first drive pulley which decreases the path length for the belt thereby reducing the tension on the belt.
10 more elements
A conveyor, comprising:
- a conveyor frame extending from a first end to a second end, the conveyor frame defining a horizontal conveying surface for receiving a conveyor belt;
- a side rail extending upward from the conveyor frame, the side rail extending above the horizontal conveying surface, the side rail connected to the conveyor frame by at least one frangible portion;
- and,
- wherein the conveyor is configured such that at least a portion of the side rail of the conveyor frame can be removed via the frangible portion such that lateral access to the conveyor belt is provided at the location where the side rail has been removed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.