Cleanable conveyor frame assembly including snap-on components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914591-B2
Application number	US-201615372593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. The conveyor includes at least one toolbar and one or more auxiliary components mounted to the toolbar using a snap clamp having a protrusion that mates with a channel on the toolbar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snap clamp for mounting a component to a shaft, comprising
a curved body having a first leg and a second leg, the second leg terminating in a tapered tip;
a protrusion extending inwards from the tapered tip; and
an axial tab extending between the protrusion and an inner surface of the curved body.

2. The snap clamp of claim 1 , wherein the curved body is flexible.

3. The snap-clamp of claim 1 , wherein the first leg terminates in a flat end surface.

4. The snap clamp of claim 1 , further comprising a functional portion connected to the curved body for performing a function in a conveying system.

5. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises a shoe for guiding a conveyor belt, the shoe comprising an outer perimeter for contacting the conveyor belt and a central hub connected to the outer perimeter forming the curved body.

6. The snap clamp of claim 5 , wherein the outer perimeter includes a peripheral edge extending perpendicular to the outer surface of the outer perimeter.

7. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises a roller having an axle inserted in a receiver connected to the snap clamp.

8. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises a containment block connected to the curved body by a connecting body.

9. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises peripheral teeth about a sprocket body.

10. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises a side wall connected to the curved body by a vertical connector.

11. The snap clamp of claim 4 , wherein the functional portion comprises a wearstrip terminating in the curved body.

12. The snap clamp of claim 1 , further comprising a j-hook connected to the curved body.

13. A conveyor component, comprising:
a functional portion for performing a function in a conveying system;
a flexible, semi-annular body connected to the functional portion;
a first leg of the semi-annular body terminating in a flat end surface; and
a second leg of the semi-annular body terminating in a barbed tip for anchoring the conveyor component.

14. The conveyor component of claim 13 , further comprising:
an axial tab extending between the barbed tip and an inner surface of the semi-annular body.

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

• Degroot Michael Hendrik
• Oonk Friso Antonius Maria
• Wolters Laurentius G J
• Honeycutt Jr James R
• Mol Edward T

Classifications

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• B65G21/06 Primary

  constructed to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling · CPC title

• B65G15/62 Primary

  Guides for sliding belts · CPC title