Braking system for a molded fiberglass spiral chute

A molded fiberglass spiral chute for transporting articles from an upper location to a lower location comprising:

• a molded fiberglass spiral chute extending from an upper location to a lower location;
• said molded fiberglass spiral chute having an upper surface over which articles are adapted to move;
• said molded fiberglass spiral chute having an inner wall extending upwardly from said upper surface and an outer wall extending upwardly from said upper surface and having an inner surface;
• a coating on said upper surface of said molded fiberglass spiral chute and said inner surface of said outer wall;
• said coating providing a low frictional surface so that articles placed thereon will move readily in a direction toward said lower location;
• friction applying means on at least a portion of said upper surface of said molded fiberglass spiral chute for applying a frictional force on articles passing thereover so as to reduce the velocity thereof;
• a recess formed in a portion of said upper surface and located in the first 90 degrees portion of said molded fiberglass spiral chute;
• said friction applying means being located in said recess;
• said friction applying means having an outer surface having spaced apart peaks and valleys;
• and
• the highest peaks of said friction applying means being substantially flush with the adjacent portions of said upper surface of said molded fiberglass spiral chute.

A method for applying a braking force on articles passing over an upper surface of a molded fiberglass spiral chute comprising:

• providing a molded fiberglass spiral chute having an upper surface over which articles are adapted to move and a vertical inner wall having an outer surface and a vertical outer wall having an inner surface extending upwardly from said upper surface;
• mounting one end of said molded fiberglass spiral chute at an upper location and mounting the other end of said molded fiberglass spiral chute at a lower location;
• applying a coating on said upper surface and said inner surface of said outer wall so that articles placed on said upper surface at said upper location have self-starting movement in a direction toward said lower location;
• forming a recess in a portion of said upper surface of said molded fiberglass spiral chute, said recess having an upper surface;
• and
• applying a friction applying means on said upper surface of said recess to apply a frictional braking force on articles passing thereover so as to reduce the velocity thereof and applying said friction applying means so that said friction applying means has an upper surface which is substantially flush with adjacent portions of said upper surface of said molded fiberglass spiral chute.