Conveyor tensioning assembly

In an article conveyor system of the type having a frame, a series of sprockets mounted about the frame and a conveyor chain extended about the sprockets and rotated along a conveying path, the improvement therein comprising:

• a movable rack mounted to the system frame and connected to a take-up sprocket for the conveyor chain for moving said take-up sprocket outwardly to tension the conveyor chain;
• means for moving said rack in a first direction for moving said take-up sprocket to a tensioning position to enable adjustment of the tension in the conveyor chain, said means for moving said rack including a cylinder assembly mounted adjacent said rack and an advancing member connected to said cylinder assembly and engaging said rack so that as said cylinder assembly moves said advancing member in said first direction, said advancing member urges said rack in said first direction;
• said advancing member including an advancing gear mounted on a one-way clutch so as to be rotatable in one direction while resisting rotation in an opposite direction;
• and
• means for securing said rack against movement in a second direction opposite said first direction, said means for securing being positioned along and in engagement with said rack, said means for securing including a clutch constructed and arranged to resist movement of said rack in said second direction while permitting movement of said rack in said first direction to retard backlash of said rack and maintain the conveyor chain under tension.

In an article conveyor system of the type having a frame, a series of sprockets mounted about the frame and a conveyor chain extended about the sprockets and rotated along a conveying path, the improvement therein comprising:

• a movable rack mounted to the system frame and connected to a take-up sprocket for the conveyor chain for moving said take-up sprocket outwardly to tension the conveyor chain:
• means for moving said rack in a first direction for moving said take-up sprocket to a tensioning position to enable adjustment of the tension in the conveyor chain;
• means for securing said rack against movement in a second direction opposite said first direction, said means for securing being positioned along and in engagement with said rack and including a clutch constructed and arranged to resist movement of said rack in said second direction while permitting movement of said rack in said first direction to retard backlash of said rack and maintain the conveyor chain under tension;
• and
• a sensor positioned along said rack in a position for detecting a second end of said rack indicating tensioning of the conveyor chain.

A method of tensioning a conveyor chain to remove slack therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• actuating a cylinder assembly;
• engaging and moving a rack in a first direction with an advancing member so as to move a take-up sprocket outwardly;
• tensioning the conveyor chain until the tension in the chain substantially balances the force of the cylinder assembly moving the take-up sprocket outwardly;
• and
• providing an advancing gear mounted on a one-way clutch rotatable in said first direction only, and rotating said advancing gear on said rack as said rack is moved in said first direction so as to enable the rack to move in said first direction while resisting movement of the rack in an opposite direction once the conveyor chain has been tensioned to prevent backlash of the rack and the forming of slack therein.

A method of tensioning a conveyor chain to remove slack therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• actuating a cylinder assembly;
• engaging and moving a rack in a first direction with an advancing member so as to move a take-up sprocket outwardly by moving an advancing gear in said first direction in response to the actuation of the cylinder assembly, said advancing gear engaging and urging the rack in said first direction;
• tensioning the conveyor chain until the tension in the chain substantially balances the force of the cylinder assembly moving the take-up sprocket outwardly;
• and
• providing a clutch means that engages and rotates as the rack is moved in said first direction to enable the rack to move in said first direction while resisting movement of the rack in an opposite direction once the conveyor chain has been tensioned to prevent backlash of the rack and the forming of slack therein.