Floating top conveyor having endless belt with dual independently movable tensioning rollers

A roll slicing machine, comprising:

• a substantially horizontal endless conveyor movably driven in a first horizontal direction;
• pressure applying means spaced above said conveyor;
• and roll slicing means provided vertically between said conveyor and said pressure applying means;
• wherein said pressure applying means includes an elongate belt portion supported for movement approximately in said first horizontal direction, first and second roller support portions provided above said belt portion and movable approximately vertically toward and away from said belt portion, first and second rollers respectively rotatably supported on said first and second roller support portions for rotational movement about respective first and second axes each extending in a second horizontal direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction, and means yieldably urging each said roller support portion toward said belt portion, said rollers engaging said belt portion on a side thereof remote from said conveyor, said rollers being approximately aligned with each other with respect to said first horizontal direction and being adjacent each other in said second horizontal direction;
• wherein said first and second roller support portions respectively are elongate first and second arms which are supported for rotation about a common pivot axis extending parallel to said first and second axes and which each have rotatably supported on an opposite end thereof a respective one of said first and second rollers;
• including a pair of rods which are each fixedly secured to a respective one of said first and second arms at a location near said pivot axis and which extend approximately radially outwardly away from said pivot axis;
• wherein said means for yieldably urging includes resilient means cooperable with each of said rods at an end thereof remote from said pivot axis;
• including a pair of spaced, stationary side members and means movably supporting said belt portion thereon and pivotally supporting said arms thereon, a spring support plate having ends slidably supported on said side members for movement in directions parallel to said first horizontal direction, and means for releasably holding said ends of said spring plate against movement with respect to said side members;
• and wherein said resilient means includes two springs which each have one end coupled to said spring plate and a further end coupled to a respective one of said rods at an end thereof remote from said pivot axis.

A roll slicing machine, comprising:

• a substantially horizontal endless conveyor movably driven in a first horizontal direction;
• pressure applying means spaced above said conveyor;
• and roll slicing means provided vertically between said conveyor and said pressure applying means;
• wherein said pressure applying means includes an elongate belt portion supported for movement approximately in said first horizontal direction, first and second roller support portions provided above said belt portion and movable approximately vertically toward and away from said belt portion, first and second rollers respectively rotatably supported on said first and second roller support portions for rotational movement about respective first and second axes each extending in a second horizontal direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction, and means yieldably urging each said roller support portion toward said belt portion, said rollers engaging said belt portion on a side thereof remote from said conveyor, said rollers being approximately aligned with each other with respect to said first horizontal direction and being adjacent each other in said second horizontal direction;
• wherein said first and second roller support portions respectively are elongate first and second arms which are supported for rotation about a common pivot axis extending parallel to said first and second axes and which each have rotatably supported on an opposite end thereof a respective one of said first and second rollers;
• including a stationary shaft extending approximately in said second horizontal direction and rotatably supporting spaced first and second sleeves and a third sleeve disposed between and having tis axial ends engaging said first and second sleeves, said first and second sleeves each having at an end thereof remote from said third sleeve a radially outwardly extending flange, said first and second sleeves each extending through an opening provided in a respective one of said first and second arms, and said first and second arms being respectively fixedly secured to said first and second sleeves at axial locations adjacent said flanges thereon.

A roll slicing machine, comprising:

• a substantially horizontal endless conveyor movably driven in a first horizontal direction;
• pressure applying means spaced above said conveyor;
• and roll slicing means provided vertically between said conveyor and said pressure applying means;
• wherein said pressure applying means includes an elongate belt portion supported for movement approximately in said first horizontal direction, first and second roller support arms provided above said belt portion and each supported at a first end for pivotal movement about a respective horizontal pivot axis transverse to said first horizontal direction and each extending downwardly and in said first direction from said first end thereof to a second end thereof which moves approximately vertically toward and away from said belt portion in response to pivotal movement of the arm;
• first and second rollers respectively rotatably supported on said first and second roller support arms at said second ends thereof for rotational movement about respective axes each extending approximately parallel to said pivot axes;
• and means yieldably urging each said roller support arm to pivot so that said second engaging said belt portion on a side thereof remote from said conveyor and being spaced from each other in said first horizontal direction, said slicing means being between said first and second rollers with respect to said first horizontal direction.