Belt shifting idler pulley for reciprocating an abrasive belt

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a platform for supporting said idler wheel, said platform having a pivot axis and a first side;
• c. support means for connecting said idler wheel to said platform;
• d. means for pivotally supporting said platform about said pivot axis;
• e. tension actuator means connected to said support means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering actuator means for urging said platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley, said steering actuator means comprising first biasing means intermediate said stand and said platform positioned laterally of said pivot axis for urging said first side of said platform away from said stand, and second biasing means positioned opposite said first biasing means in relation to said pivot axis for biasing said first side of said platform toward said stand.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a platform for supporting said idler wheel, said platform having a pivot axis;
• c. support means for connecting said idler wheel to said platform;
• d. means for pivotally supporting said platform about said pivot axis, comprising:
• i. a stand;
• ii. a pivot bar mounted on said stand along said pivot axis, and wherein said platform means rests on said pivot bar for pivotal motion about said pivot axis in response to actuation of said steering actuator means;
• and
• iii. means for biasing said platform against said pivot bar so that said pivot axis remains fixed relative to said pivotal supporting means;
• e. tension actuator means connected to said support means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering actuator means for urging said platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a platform for supporting said idler wheel, said platform having a pivot axis;
• c. support means for connecting said idler wheel to said platform, said support means comprising a support arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said platform, said first end oriented on said platform such that said arm pivots in a transverse direction relative to said pivot axis, and a second end rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said platform;
• d. means for pivotally supporting said platform about said pivot axis;
• e. tension actuator means connected to said support means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering actuator means for urging said platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a first platform, said first platform including a pivot bar mounted thereon to pivotally support said second platform along said pivot axis, and wherein said first platform includes means for biasing said second platform against said pivot bar at said pivot axis;
• c. a second platform pivotally mounted above said first platform in substantially parallel relationship to said first platform, said second platform movable about a pivot axis;
• d. support means connected to said second platform for rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said second platform;
• e. tension means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering means for urging said second platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a first platform;
• c. a second platform pivotally mounted above said first platform in substantially parallel relationship to said first platform, said second platform movable about a pivot axis;
• d. support means connected to said second platform for rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said second platform;
• e. tension means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering means for urging said second platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position laterally on said drive pulley.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a first platform;
• c. a second platform pivotally mounted above said first platform in substantially parallel relationship to said first platform, said second platform movable about a pivot axis;
• d. support means connected to said second platform for rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said second platform, said support means comprising a support arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said second platform and a second end rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said platform, wherein said first end is oriented on said platform such that said arm pivots in a transverse direction relative to said pivot axis;
• e. tension means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt;
• and
• f. steering means for urging said second platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley.

An idler pulley for reciprocating an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and said idler pulley, comprising:

• a. an idler wheel;
• b. a first platform;
• c. a second platform pivotally mounted above said first platform in substantially parallel relationship to said first platform, said second platform movable about a pivot axis;
• d. support means connected to said second platform for rotatably supporting said idler wheel above said second platform;
• e. tension means for urging said idler wheel away from said drive pulley and into pressing engagement with said belt, said tension means comprising a linear actuator having one end connected to said second platform and an other end having means for connecting to said idler wheel;
• and
• f. steering means for urging said second platform to pivot about said pivot axis causing reciprocal movement of said idler wheel so that said belt shifts position on said drive pulley.