Cleanable conveyor frame assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764902-B2
Application number	US-201615344744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2012
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

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 first longitudinally-extending rail forming a first side edge of a carryway;
a second longitudinally-extending rail forming a second side edge of the carryway;
a first curved shaft connected to the first longitudinally-extending rail using a first connector to form a reversing element at a first end of the carryway;
a second curved shaft connected to the second longitudinally-extending rail using a second connector to form a reversing element at the first end of the carryway; and
support rails extending perpendicular to the first and second longitudinally-extending rails for connecting the frame to a support structure.

2. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein the support rails comprise a first leg connected to a first location of the first longitudinally-extending rail, a second leg connected to a first location of the second longitudinally-extending rail, a third leg connected to a second location of the first longitudinally-extending rail and a fourth leg connected to a second location on the second longitudinally-extending rail.

3. The conveyor frame of claim 2 , further comprising a first lateral rail extending between the first leg and the second leg.

4. The conveyor frame of claim 3 , further comprising curved returnway rails extending from the first lateral rail in the longitudinal direction.

5. The conveyor frame of claim 2 , further comprising a second lateral rail extending between the third leg and the fourth leg.

6. The conveyor frame of claim 5 , further comprising curved returnway rails extending from the second lateral rail in the longitudinal direction.

7. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a t-shaped connector having a first leg connecting to a support rail, a second leg connecting to the first longitudinally-extending rail and third leg connecting to the first curved shaft.

8. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a t-shaped connector having a first leg connecting to a support rail, a second leg connecting to the second longitudinally-extending rail and third leg connecting to the second curved shaft.

9. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising a third curved shaft connected to the first longitudinally-extending rail using a third connector to form a reversing element at a second end of the carryway.

10. The conveyor frame of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth curved shaft connected to the second longitudinally-extending rail using a fourth connector to form a reversing element at the second end of the carryway.

11. A conveyor frame, comprising:
a first longitudinally-extending rail forming a first side edge of a carryway;
a second longitudinally-extending rail forming a second side edge of the carryway;
a first leg extending down from a first location on the first longitudinally-extending rail;
a second leg extending down from a first location on the second longitudinally-extending rail;
a third leg extending down from a second location on the first longitudinally-extending rail;
a fourth leg extending down from a second location on the second longitudinally-extending rail;
a first lateral rail extending between the first leg and the second leg; and
at least one returnway rail extending from the first lateral rail in the longitudinal direction for supporting a conveyor belt in a returnway below the carryway.

12. The conveyor frame of claim 11 , wherein each longitudinally-extending rail terminates at each end in a curved portion forming a reversing element between the carryway and the returnway below the carryway.

13. The conveyor frame of claim 11 , wherein the returnway rail is curved.

14. The conveyor frame of claim 11 , further comprising a second lateral rail extending between the third leg and fourth leg.

15. The conveyor frame of claim 12 , further comprising returnway rails extending from the second lateral rail and extending in the longitudinal direction for supporting the conveyor belt in the returnway.

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• 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