Snap-on position limiter for a conveyor belt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077156-B2
Application number	US-201615376056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A conveyor employs a low-tension, direct drive conveyor belt, and a snap-on position limiter for ensuring proper engagement of the belt and a drive sprocket. The position limiter includes a body, a limiting surface and a snap clap opposite the limiting surface for snapping the position limiter to a mounting shaft. The position limiter may include a mounting arm for mounting a conveyor belt scraper at the front of the position limiter. Mounting plates at the end of the conveyor support a mounting shaft for mounting the position limiter or other conveyor components in place relative to the drive sprocket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting plate for a conveyor frame, comprising:
a planar plate portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a rear edge;
a connecting portion for mounting the plate portion to another component in the conveyor frame;
a top receptacle formed in the plate portion for mounting a drive member; and
a lower receptacle formed in the plate portion comprising a slot extending from the front edge of the planar plate portion to below the top receptacle, the slot terminating in an outward-extending cap for receiving an end of a mounting shaft to locate the mounting shaft relative to the central axis of the top receptacle.

2. The mounting plate of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is homogenous.

3. The mounting plate of claim 1 , wherein the top receptacle extends outward of the planar plate portion.

4. The mounting plate of claim 3 , wherein the top receptacle further includes openings to facilitate hygiene.

5. The mounting plate of claim 1 , wherein the outward-extending cap has a central opening.

6. The mounting plate of claim 5 , wherein the outward-extending cap includes a recess, and the mounting plate further comprises a pin inserted in the recess and extending outward from the outward-extending cap.

7. The mounting plate of claim 6 , wherein the lower receptacle is inset from the front edge of the plate portion relative to the top receptacle.

8. The mounting plate of claim 1 , wherein the slot includes a widened portion to facilitate insertion of the mounting shaft.

9. The mounting plate of claim 5 , wherein a front side of the cap aligns with a vertical line that bisects the top receptacle.

10. A conveyor frame for a conveyor belt, comprising:
a mounting plate including an integrated receptacle for receiving an end of a mounting shaft, the integrated receptacle including an opening extending through the mounting plate and a recess in an outward-facing surface of the integrated receptacle; and
a handle coupled to the mounting plate, the handle comprising a circular boss for insertion in the opening of the integrated receptacle and a curved channel for engaging a pin inserted in the recess.

11. The conveyor frame of claim 10 , wherein the integrated receptacle comprises a cap extending outward from the mounting plate.

12. The conveyor frame of claim 10 , further comprising a mounting shaft inserted in the circular boss and extending inwards from the mounting plate.

13. The conveyor frame of claim 12 , wherein the mounting shaft has an end face with a slot therein, and the handle has an eccentric pin extending from the circular boss for engaging the slot, such that rotation of the handle about a pivot point moves the mounting bar forward or rearward relative to the mounting plate.

14. The conveyor frame of claim 10 , further comprising an upper receptacle in the mounting plate for mounting a drive member.

15. The conveyor frame of claim 14 , wherein the upper receptacle extends outwards from the outward-facing surface of the mounting plate.

16. A conveyor frame for a conveyor belt, comprising:
a mounting plate having an upper receptacle and a lower receptacle;
a mounting shaft received in the lower receptacle;
a drive member received in the upper receptacle;
a drive for a conveyor belt mounted on the drive member;
a position limiter mounted to the mounting shaft, the position limiter having a limiting surface opposing the drive; and
a scraper assembly mounted to the mounting shaft, the scraper assembly comprising a scraper mount mounted to the mounting shaft, a scraper base inserted in the scraper mount, a scraper blade receptacle extending from the scraper base and a scraper blade inserted in the scraper blade receptacle.

17. The conveyor frame of claim 16 , further comprising a tool for moving the mounting shaft relative to the mounting plate.

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

• Fourney Matthew L
• Degroot Michael Hendrik
• Ma Ruizhe

Classifications

• B65G23/06

  with projections engaging abutments on belts or chains, e.g. sprocket wheels · CPC title

• B65G45/12

  comprising scrapers · CPC title

• B65G15/62 Primary

  Guides for sliding belts · CPC title

• B65G21/105

  having demountable driving or return heads · CPC title

• B65G23/12

  Arrangements of co-operating drums or rollers to augment tractive effort applied to the belts · CPC title