Material-handling conveyor means

Claim 2

A material-handling conveyor means, comprising, a support beam having opposite ends and sides, a conveyor casing operatively secured to said beam at one side thereof and having a top, a bottom and opposite sides, said casing having an intake opening formed in its top adjacent one end thereof and a discharge opening formed therein in its bottom adjacent its other end, a conveyor means in said casing, and a power means driving aid conveyor means, a first bearing means secured to said beam at one end thereof, a first shaft means mounted in said first bearing means and being connected at one end to said power means, said first shaft means extending transversely from said beam into said casing, a first pulley mounted on said first shaft means in said casing, a second bearing means operatively secured to said beam at the other end thereof and having a second shaft means mounted therein extending transversely from said beam into said casing, a second pulley on said second shaft in said casing, a conveyor belt mounted on said first and second pulleys and extending therebetween, and a takeup assembly connected to said second shaft means for moving said second shaft means and said second pulley towards and away from said first shaft and first pulley, said takeup assembly including means to maintain said second shaft means parallel to said first shaft means.

Claim 3

The conveyor means of claim 1 wherein said second shaft means slidably and rotatably extends through one side of said casing, said second shaft means having a first shaft portion in said casing and a second shaft portion outside of said casing, a housing rotatably mounted on said second shaft portion and having first and second spaced-apart sprockets rigidly secured thereto, a third shaft means operatively secured to said beam outwardly of said second shaft portion and parallel thereto, a third sprocket means on said third shaft means in alignment with said first sprocket, a first chain means having one end operatively anchored to said beam between said first and third sprockets; said first chain extending first around and over said first sprocket and thence over and around said third sprocket, the rotation of said third shaft in one direction causing said first chain means to rotate said housing about said second shaft portion and to slidably move said second shaft means away from said first shaft means, and a second chain means having one end operatively anchored to said beam between said first and second shaft means and extending first beneath and around said second sprocket means and thence extending towards said one end of said beam.

Claim 4

The conveyor means of claim 2 wherein said thIrd shaft means has a ratchet means secured thereto for selectively preventing rotation of said third shaft means in a direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 5

The conveyor means of claim 3 wherein said third shaft means has an outwardly extending lug means operatively connected thereto adjacent said ratchet means for rotating said third shaft means in said one direction.

Claim 6

The conveyor means of claim 2 wherein said one end of said second chain means is adjustably anchored to permit the angular adjustment of said second shaft means with respect to said conveyor means.

Claim 7

A material-handling conveyor means, comprising, a horizontally disposed support beam having opposite ends and sides, a plurality of spaced-apart support assemblies secured to said beam along the length thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, a conveyor casing secured to and supported by said support assemblies, said casing being horizontally spaced from said beam at one side thereof, said casing having an intake opening formed at one end thereof and a discharge opening formed at its other end, a conveyor means in said casing, and a power means driving said conveyor means, said casing having one side thereof closed by a removable cover means, said conveyor means including at least a driven shaft extending into said casing adjacent one end thereof and an idler shaft extending into said casing adjacent the other end thereof, said driven and idler shafts having pulleys mounted thereon, said conveyor means including a conveyor belt extending around and between said pulleys, said conveyor belt and pulleys being removable from the interior of said casing through said one side thereof when said cover means has been removed to permit the cleaning of said conveyor belt and pulleys and to permit the cleaning of the interior of said casing, at least a pair of posts being positioned in said casing between said driven and idler shafts, a belt guide trough detachably mounted on said posts adapted to support the conveyor belt thereon, said guide trough also being removable from the interior of said casing through said one side when said cover means has been removed.

Claim 8

A material-handling conveyor means, comprising, a horizontally disposed support beam having opposite ends and sides, a plurality of spaced-apart support assemblies secured to said beam along the length thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, a conveyor casing secured to and supported by said support assemblies, said casing being horizontally spaced from said beam at one side thereof, said casing having an intake opening formed at one end thereof and a discharge opening formed at its other end, a conveyor means in said casing, and a power means driving said conveyor means, said casing having one side thereof closed by a removable cover means, said conveyor means including at least a driven shaft extending into said casing adjacent one end thereof and an idler shaft extending into said casing adjacent the other end thereof, said driven and idler shafts having pulleys mounted thereon, said conveyor means including a conveyor belt extending around and between said pulleys, said conveyor belt and pulleys being removable from the interior of said casing through said one side thereof when said cover means has been removed to permit the cleaning of said conveyor belt and pulleys and to permit the cleaning of the interior of said casing, at least a pair of posts being positioned in said casing between said driven and idler shafts, a belt guide trough detachably mounted on said posts adapted to support the conveyor belt thereon, said guide trough also being removable from the interior of said casing through said one side when said cover means has been removed.