Transport conveyor structure

Claim 2

An article-transporting screw conveyor of the axially rotatable rail type including a plurality of cylindrical conveyor sections each having a helical screw portion on its peripheral outer surface, said conveyor sections supporting the article to be conveyed and with the article being suspended at all times below a conveyor section, a suspension member having a thin plate interposed between the ends of adjacent conveyor sections and supporting the conveyor sections in end-to-end relation with the separated ends of the screw portions thereof in helical prolongation with each other, said suspension member including an elongated bushing having a bearing portion disposed axially of and within the ends of the confronting sections, a rotatable coupling means journalled in said bushing and connected to the respective confronting conveyor sections internally of the sections, and motor means connected to the assembled conveyor sections for driving the same with an axial rotation while the article is suspended from said sections.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor means is connected to the outer end of a conveyor section at the extreme end of the conveyor.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor means is connected to a conveyor section intermediate the ends of the conveyor.

Claim 5

In an article-transporting screw conveyor of the axially rotatable rail type having a pair of conveyor sections of tubular form, means for supporting said sections and for coupling the same for rotation as a unit and comprising, a thin plate adapted for interposition between the confronting ends of the conveyor sections normal to the axis of said sections, said plate having a bracket attached to the lower end thereof and extending to an elevated support, a tubular bushing attached to said plate and extending axially into the ends of the confronting conveyor sections and surrounding an axial aperture in said plate, a shaft within said bushing extending through said aperture, a pair of plugs disposed within the respective confronting tubular ends of said sections and rigidly attached to the ends of said shaft, and means for securing said plugs to the inner surfaces of said sections whereby upon rotation of one of said sections the other of said sections will be rotated simultaneously and with the conveyor supported by said plate.

Claim 6

In an article-transporting screw conveyor of the axially rotatable rail type having a pair of conveyor sections of tubular form, means for supporting said sections and for coupling the same for rotation as a unit and comprising, a thin plate adapted for interposition between the confronting ends of the conveyor sections normal to the axis of said sections, said plate having a bracket attached to the lower end thereof and extending to an elevated support, a tubular bushing attached to said plate and extending axially into the ends of the confronting conveyor sections and surrounding an axial aperture in said plate, a shaft within said bushing extending through said aperture, a pair of plugs disposed within the respective confronting tubular ends of said sections and rigidly attached to the ends of said shaft, and means for securing said plugs to the inner surfaces of said sections whereby upon rotation of one of said sections the other of said sections will be rotated simultaneously and with the conveyor supported by said plate.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, including bearings mounted interiorly of the ends of said bushing and engaging with said shaft.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said plugs include biFurcated distal ends separated by a diametrical slot and said conveyor sections include inwardly pressed longitudinally extending portions engageable within the slots of said plugs thereby to restrain said plugs against radial shifting after assembly of the coupling means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means adjustable externally of the conveyor sections for expanding the distal ends of said plugs into tight engagement with the inner surface of said tubular conveyor sections.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including thrust washers attached to said shaft and engageable with the proximate ends of said plugs thereby to restrain longitudinal shifting of one of said conveyor sections with respect to the other.