US 7,407,051 B1 · Nozzleless conveyor belt and sprocket cleaning shaft

Abstract

A nozzleless belt-cleaning sprocket support shaft for cleaning endless conveyor belts has a first end, a second end, a central portion of generally square transverse cross section with a plurality of elongate narrow slits in each of the side walls in longitudinally spaced apart relation along its length, and a plurality of sprockets mounted thereon. Cleaning fluid is simultaneously discharged through the slits in a fan spray pattern onto the inside surface of the conveyor, through crevasses, joints, hinges, interfaces and openings in the belt to effect cleaning of the belt, and between the exterior surfaces of the shaft and interior surfaces of the bores of the sprockets and the bearings that support the shaft to effect cleaning of the overlapping surfaces, during rotation of the belt. The cleaning shaft may be used with various types of conveyor belts and the ends may be mounted in conventional bearings.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A nozzleless belt-cleaning sprocket support shaft for cleaning endless conveyor belts, comprising:

a sprocket support shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, a central portion of generally square transverse cross section with parallel spaced opposed side walls defining an interior chamber, and at least one elongate narrow slit integrally formed in each of said side walls along the length of said central portion in fluid communication with said interior chamber;
and
a plurality of sprockets removably mounted on said central portion of said shaft, each having a generally square central bore with an interior surface received on the exterior surface of said central portion and an outer periphery adapted to engage a conveyor belt;
wherein
said sprockets and said shaft rotate as a unit about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and said narrow slits are adapted to discharge a cleaning fluid under pressure in a flat fan spray pattern upon the width of the conveyor belt, and simultaneously discharge the cleaning fluid between the exterior surface of said shaft central portion and said interior surface of said central bore of each of said sprockets.

2 more elements

A conveyor belt cleaning method for cleaning endless conveyor belts and the sprockets over which the belt is supported, comprising the steps of:

providing a sprocket support shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, a central portion of generally square transverse cross section with parallel spaced opposed side walls defining an interior chamber, and at least one elongate narrow slit integrally formed in each of said side walls along the length of said central portion in fluid communication with said interior chamber, and a plurality of sprockets mounted on said central portion of said shaft, each having a generally square central bore with an interior surface received on the exterior surface of said central portion and an outer periphery over which the belt is supported;
and
discharging a cleaning fluid under pressure through said narrow slits in a flat fan spray pattern upon the width of the conveyor belt, and simultaneously discharging the cleaning fluid between the exterior surface of said shaft central portion and said interior surface of said central bore of each of said sprockets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nozzleless conveyor belt and sprocket cleaning shaft

Life of this patent

Nozzleless conveyor belt and sprocket cleaning shaft

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12