US 2003/0136643 A1 · Dynamically variable diameter, drive roller mounting system for companioned-belt speed synchronization, and a method of operating the same

Abstract

A mounting system for a compressible conveyor belt drive roller comprises lower and upper bearing assemblies, and in accordance with a first embodiment, a jack screw mechanism is provided for engaging the upper bearing assembly so as to cause axial movement of the upper bearing assembly toward and away from the lower bearing assembly. As a result of such axial movement, the compressible conveyor belt drive roller is axially compressed or expanded so as to accordingly cause radial expansion and contraction of the drive roller. The radial expansion and contraction of the drive roller alters the circumferential extent of the drive roller which alters the conveying speed of a conveyor belt operatively engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller such that the conveyance speed of the conveyor belt can be synchronized with the conveyance speed of an oppositely disposed paired or companioned conveyor belt. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic control system is utilized in lieu of the mechanical jack screw mechanism.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A mounting system for a conveyor belt drive roller of a conveyor belt drive system, comprising:

a compressible conveyor belt drive roller adapted to have its external peripheral surface disposed in contact with a conveyor belt so as to drive the conveyor belt along a conveying path;
a first bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a first axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller;
a second bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a second axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller;
and
means operatively associated with said second bearing support assembly for moving said second bearing support assembly axially toward and away from said first bearing support assembly so as to respectively cause axial compression, and permit axial expansion, of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby cause radial expansion and radial contraction of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller so as to alter the circumferential extent of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby in turn alter the conveyance speed of the conveyor belt disposed in contact with said external peripheral surface of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller.

2 more elements

A conveyor belt drive system for conveying a first conveyor belt of a set of oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belts, comprising:

a conveyor belt;
a compressible conveyor belt drive roller adapted to have its external peripheral surface disposed in contact with said conveyor belt so as to drive said conveyor belt along a conveying path;
a first bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a first axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller;
rotary drive means operatively connected to said first bearing support assembly for imparting rotation to said first bearing support assembly for in turn rotating said conveyor belt drive roller at a predetermined rate of revolution;
a second bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a second axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller;
and
means operatively associated with said second bearing support assembly for moving said second bearing support assembly axially toward and away from said first bearing support assembly so as to respectively cause axial compression, and permit axial expansion, of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby cause radial expansion and radial contraction of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller so as to alter the circumferential extent of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby in turn alter the conveyance speed of said conveyor belt disposed in contact with said external peripheral surface of said compressible conveyor belt drive roller such that said conveyance speed of said conveyor belt can be synchronized with its oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belt.

4 more elements

A mounting system for a conveyor belt drive roller of a conveyor belt drive system, comprising:

a conveyor belt drive roller shaft;
an expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller mounted upon said conveyor belt drive roller shaft and adapted to have its external peripheral surface disposed in contact with a conveyor belt so as to drive the conveyor belt along a conveying path;
a first bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a first axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller shaft;
a second bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a second axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller shaft;
and
means for fluidically connecting an interior portion of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller to an external source of pressurized fluid for controllably radially expanding and contracting said expansible conveyor belt drive roller so as to alter the circumferential extent of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby in turn alter the conveyance speed of the conveyor belt disposed in contact with said external peripheral surface of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller.

3 more elements

A conveyor belt drive system for conveying a conveyor belt of a set of oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belts, comprising:

a conveyor belt;
a conveyor belt drive roller shaft;
an expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller mounted upon said conveyor belt drive roller shaft and adapted to have its external peripheral surface disposed in contact with said conveyor belt so as to drive said conveyor belt along a conveying path;
a first bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a first axial end of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller;
rotary drive means operatively connected to said first axial end of said conveyor belt drive roller shaft for imparting rotation to said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller at a predetermined rate of revolution;
a second bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a second axial end of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller;
and
means for fluidically connecting an interior portion of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller to an external source of pressurized fluid for controllably radially expanding and contracting said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller so as to alter the circumferential extent of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby in turn alter the conveyance speed of said conveyor belt disposed in contact with said external peripheral surface of said expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller such that said conveyance speed of said conveyor belt can be synchronized with its oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belt.

5 more elements

A conveyor belt drive system for conveying a first conveyor belt of a set of oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belts, comprising:

a conveyor belt;
a radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller adapted to have its external peripheral surface disposed in contact with said conveyor belt so as to drive said conveyor belt along a conveying path;
a first bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a first axial end of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller;
a second bearing support assembly for rotatably supporting a second axial end of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller;
and
means operatively acting upon said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller for causing radial expansion and radial contraction of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller so as to alter the circumferential extent of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller and thereby in turn alter the conveyance speed of said conveyor belt disposed in contact with said external peripheral surface of said radially expansible and contractible conveyor belt drive roller such that said conveyance speed of said conveyor belt can be synchronized with its oppositely disposed paired and companioned conveyor belt.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamically variable diameter, drive roller mounting system for companioned-belt speed synchronization, and a method of operating the same

Life of this patent

Dynamically variable diameter, drive roller mounting system for companioned-belt speed synchronization, and a method of operating the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31