US 5,394,977 AGranted

Apparatus and method for use in replacing conveyor belts

AssigneePortec, Inc.

InventorKenneth N. Cline

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for facilitating the replacement of an endless conveyor belt having arcuate outer and inner edge portions. During the operation of the endless conveyor belt a plurality of cooperating pairs of guide rollers are in contact with shoulder portions of the endless conveyor belt adjacent to the arcuate outer edge portion to maintain the endless conveyor belt moving in a desired path. One of each cooperating pairs of rollers is mounted for movement between a first location whereat the cooperating pair of rollers are located to contact the shoulder portions and a second location whereat the cooperating pairs of rollers are spaced apart a distance permitting passage of the shoulder portions therebetween.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Apparatus for mounting guide means for guiding the movement of an endless conveyor belt having arcuate outer and inner edge portions to facilitate the replacement of the endless conveyor belt wherein the guide means contact shoulder portions adjacent to the arcuate outer edge portion of the endless conveyor belt during the operation thereof to maintain the endless conveyor belt moving in a desired path comprising:

a plurality of bearing standoffs fixedly mounted at spaced apart locations;
at least one support mounted on at least some of said plurality of bearing standoffs;
at least a pair of guide means mounted on said supports;
each of said guide means having a surface for contacting the radially inner side of shoulder portions on said endless conveyor belt;
mounting means for mounting said at least one support so that said at least one support can be moved relative to at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs between a first location whereat at least one of said at least a pair of guide means cannot be moved relative to said at least one support and said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs to permit said shoulder portions to pass between said at least a pair of guide means and a second location whereat said at least one of said at least a pair of guide means can be moved relative to said at least one support and said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs so that said shoulder portions can pass between said at least a pair of guide means and wherein said mounting means comprise:
pivot means for permitting pivotal movement of said at least one support relative to said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs around a pivotal axis so that said at least one support moves between said first location at which said at least one of said pair of guide means cannot be moved in radial directions toward or away from said pivotal axis and said second location at which said at least one of said pair of guide means can be moved in radial directions toward or away from said pivotal axis.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a plurality of bearing standoffs fixedly mounted at spaced apart locations;
at least one support mounted on at least some of said plurality of bearing standoffs;
at least a pair of guide means mounted on said supports;
each of said guide means having a surface for contacting the radially inner side of shoulder portions on said endless conveyor belt;
mounting means for mounting said at least one support so that said at least one support can be moved relative to at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs between a first location whereat at least one of said at least a pair of guide means cannot be moved relative to said at least one support and said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs to permit said shoulder portions to pass between said at least a pair of guide means and a second location whereat said at least one of said at least a pair of guide means can be moved relative to said at least one support and said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs so that said shoulder portions can pass between said at least a pair of guide means and wherein said mounting means comprise:
pivot means for permitting pivotal movement of said at least one support relative to said at least one of said plurality of bearing standoffs around a pivotal axis so that said at least one support moves between said first location at which said at least one of said pair of guide means cannot be moved in radial directions toward or away from said pivotal axis and said second location at which said at least one of said pair of guide means can be moved in radial directions toward or away from said pivotal axis.

3 more elements