Compact Spring Tensioner for Belt Cleaners

A spring tensioner apparatus for providing torque to an elongate pole of a belt cleaner, the spring tensioner mechanism comprising:

• a bracket for being mounted to a conveyor frame structure;
• a collar member for being secured to an end of the elongate pole member;
• a split lever arm having opposite, spaced lever arm portions extending away from the collar;
• a slot between the spaced lever arm portions having an open distal end at distal ends of the lever arm portions;
• a rod member configured to be received between the spaced lever arm portions;
• a pivot connection between the bracket and the rod member to allow the rod member to pivot thereabout into the slot between the spaced lever arm portions and out therefrom;
• a spring seat member mounted on the rod member and configured to engage the distal ends of the spaced lever arm portions with the rod member positioned between the spaced lever arm portions;
• a spring member mounted on the rod member and against the spring seat member for urging the spring seat member into engagement with the distal ends of the lever arm portions;
• an arcuate interface between the spaced distal ends and spring seat member that allows the lever arm portions and the spring seat member to shift along a curved path relative to one another;
• and
• an interfering portion of the spring seat member oriented to extend along the spaced distal ends of the lever arm portions to keep the rod member in the slot therebetween against pivoting out therefrom.

A spring tensioning assembly of a belt cleaning mechanism for providing torque to an elongate pole member extending below a conveyor belt, the spring tensioning assembly comprising:

• a bracket for being mounted to a conveyor frame structure;
• a lever arm device configured for being mounted to the elongate pole member;
• a spring member for applying a bias force to the lever arm device;
• a spring rod to which the spring member is mounted;
• a first orientation of the lever arm device, spring rod and spring member to provide a clockwise rotary force on the pole;
• a second orientation of the lever arm device, spring rod and spring member to provide a counterclockwise rotary force on the pole;
• and
• a pivot connection between the spring rod and the bracket for pivoting the spring rod between the first and second orientations.

A method of installing a spring tensioning apparatus for a belt cleaner, the method comprising:

• pivotably connecting an elongate spring mount to a mounting bracket;
• securing the bracket to a conveyor frame structure;
• mounting a collar having an open-ended split lever arm to an elongate mounting pole for the belt cleaner;
• and
• pivoting the elongate spring mount through the open end of the split lever arm into a slot thereof.

A method of replacing scraper blades secured to an elongate pole, the method comprising:

• decompressing a spring mechanism of a spring tensioner;
• pivoting the decompressed spring mechanism away from a lever arm secured to the elongate pole;
• and
• rotating the elongate pole having the lever arm secured thereto so that the scraper blades mounted on the elongate pole shift away from the belt to allow for removal of the scraper blades.

A spring tensioner apparatus for providing torque on an elongate pole of a belt cleaner, the spring tensioner mechanism comprising:

• a short, compact lever arm device for being mounted to and for extending radially away from the elongate pole member;
• a spring bias assembly configured to exert a predetermined, large bias force on the short, compact lever arm device for providing torque on the elongate pole;
• and
• an enlarged end portion of the lever arm for receiving the predetermined, large bias force applied by the spring bias assembly.

A spring tensioner for a conveyor belt cleaner, the spring tensioner comprising:

• a mounting plate;
• a collar for being secured to an elongate pole to which the conveyor belt cleaner is mounted;
• a lever arm connected to the collar and extending radially away therefrom;
• a spring assembly for applying a bias force to the lever arm which generates a rotary bias force on the collar;
• an elongate rod for carrying the spring assembly thereon;
• an adjustment interface between the spring assembly and the lever arm to allow the lever arm to shift or rotate relative to the spring assembly during conveyor belt operation;
• and
• a fixed connection between an end of the elongate rod and the mounting plate so that the rod does not pivot or translate relative to the plate during conveyor belt operation.