Conveyor component with flexible hub and conveyor assembly
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMatthew Vulpetti, Ryan Hale, Jake A. Mohan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor component for use in a conveyor includes a flexible hub for mounting a shaft and a continuous rim connected to the flexible hub for contacting a conveyor belt. The flexible hub includes a peripheral gap that can be widened using an expansion tool to enlarge a shaft-receiving opening formed by the flexible hub. A flexible finger terminating in a positioning tab on a radially inner surface of the flexible hub moves into engagement with a groove on the shaft when the conveyor component is in a relaxed state and out of engagement with the groove when the flexible hub is flexed.
Claims19
A component for a conveyor, comprising:
- a flexible hub for receiving a shaft, the flexible hub including a flexible finger with a locking tab for engaging a recess on the shaft and a sheath surrounding the flexible finger, the sheath providing clearance to allow vertical movement of the flexible finger;
- and
- a rim connected to the flexible hub, the rim having a continuous periphery for contacting a conveyor belt.
A conveyor assembly comprising:
- an axially-extending shaft, the shaft including a peripheral recess in a first face;
- and
- a component mounted to the shaft, the component including a hub for receiving a shaft, the hub including a flexible finger with a locking tab for engaging the peripheral recess on the shaft, wherein the flexible finger extends laterally across a face of the hub, with the locking tab flaring inwards from a tip of the flexible finger, and the flexible finger further includes a shaped handle extending outwards from the tip of the flexible finger for lifting the locking tab out of engagement with the peripheral recess, the component further comprising a rim connected to the hub, the rim having a continuous periphery for contacting a conveyor belt.
A component for a conveyor, comprising:
- a hub for receiving a shaft, the hub including a flexible finger with a locking tab for engaging a recess on the shaft and a lifting handle extending away from the locking tab at a tip of the flexible finger;
- and
- a rim connected to the hub, the rim having a continuous periphery for contacting a conveyor belt.
A component for a conveyor, comprising:
- a hub for receiving a shaft, the hub including a flexible finger with a locking tab for engaging a recess on the shaft, wherein the locking tab flares from a tip of the flexible finger, the locking tab including a flat-rectangular-shaped bottom surface, flat front and rear surfaces, a first angled side wall extending at an angled from the tip of the flexible finger and a second curving side wall that flares from the flexible finger;
- and
- a rim connected to the hub, the rim having a continuous periphery for contacting a conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.