Cleanable conveyor frame assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246263-B2
Application number	US-201715676007-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 20, 2012
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor frame comprising a plurality of modular frame components assembled to form a plurality of legs and a plurality of longitudinally-extending rails connecting the legs and defining a carryway, the plurality of modular frame components comprising:
a first longitudinal rail;
a first t-shaped connector having a first end connected to a first end of the first longitudinal rail,
a first vertical rail forming a first leg connected to a second, downward-extending end of the t-shaped connector;
a second longitudinal rail connected to a third end of the t-shaped connector opposite the first end;
a third longitudinal rail;
a second t-shaped connector having a first end connected to a first end of the third longitudinal rail;
a second vertical rail forming a second leg connected to a second, downward-extending end of the second t-shaped connector;
a fourth longitudinal rail connected to a third end of the second t-shaped connector opposite the first end; and
a lateral rail extending between the first leg and second leg below the first longitudinal rail, the second longitudinal rail, the third longitudinal rail, the fourth longitudinal rail, the first t-shaped connector, and the second t-shaped connector, the lateral rail including a returnway support.

2. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising a first curved end rail connected to a second end of the first longitudinal rail.

3. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising a second curved end rail connected to a second end of third longitudinal rail opposite the first curved end rail, forming reversing element for a conveyor belt.

4. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein the returnway support comprises a curved rail extending longitudinally from the lateral rail.

5. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein the t-shaped connectors include protrusions and the longitudinal rails include openings for receiving the protrusions.

6. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth longitudinal rail defining a central portion of the carryway between the first and third longitudinal rails.

7. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinally-extending portion of the first t-shaped connector forms part of the carryway.

8. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth vertical legs connected to the carryway.

9. A conveyor frame comprising a plurality of modular frame components assembled to form a plurality of legs and a plurality of longitudinally-extending rails connecting the legs to define a carryway, the plurality of modular frame components comprising:
a first longitudinal rail having a curved end and a non-curved end;
a first t-shaped connector having a first end connected to the non-curved end of the first longitudinal rail,
a first vertical rail forming a first leg connected to a second, downward extending end of the first t-shaped connector;
a second longitudinal rail connected to a third end of the first t-shaped connector; and
a third longitudinal rail with a curved end opposite the curved end of the first longitudinal rail and a non-curved end;
a second t-shaped connector having a first end connected to an end of the third longitudinal rail opposite the curved end,
a second vertical rail forming a second leg connected to a second, downward-extending end of the second t-shaped connector; and
a fourth longitudinal rail connected to a third end of the second t-shaped connector.

10. The conveyor frame of claim 9 , further comprising:
a lateral rail extending between the first leg and second leg below the first longitudinal rail, second longitudinal rail, third longitudinal rail, fourth longitudinal rail, first t-shaped connector, and second t-shaped connector, the lateral rail including a returnway support.

11. The conveyor frame of claim 9 , further comprising third and fourth vertical legs connected to the carryway.

12. The conveyor frame of claim 9 , further comprising a fifth longitudinal rail defining a central portion of the carryway between the first and third longitudinal rails.

13. The conveyor frame of claim 9 , wherein each of the t-shaped connectors include a protrusion and each of the longitudinal rails includes an opening for receiving a protrusion of a t-shaped connector.

14. A conveyor frame comprising a plurality of modular frame components assembled to form a plurality of legs and a plurality of longitudinally-extending rails connecting the legs to define a carryway, the plurality of modular frame components comprising:
a first longitudinal rail having a curved end, a non-curved end and a downward extending shaft;
a first vertical rail forming a first leg connected to the downward extending shaft;
a second longitudinal rail connected in series to the non-curved end of the first longitudinal rail;
a first t-shaped connector having a first end connected to an end of the second longitudinal rail,
a second vertical rail forming a second leg connected to a second, downward-extending end of the second t-shaped connector; and
a third longitudinal rail connected to a third end of the second t-shaped connector.

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

• Guernsey Kevin W
• Landrum John F
• Drapanas Mark T
• Thomas Manoj

Classifications

• B65G15/60

  Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets · CPC title

• B65G21/06 Primary

  constructed to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling · CPC title

• B65G2207/26

  Hygienic features, e.g. easy to sanitize · CPC title

• B65G21/02 Primary

  consisting essentially of struts, ties, or like structural elements · CPC title

• B65G2207/30

  Modular constructions · CPC title