US3693781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Training apparatus for driven belts
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1971-02-08
•
Granted: 1972-09-26
•
Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for training the carrying or return run of a conveyor belt supported on a plurality of spaced idler roller assemblies, includes a pair of rotatably mounted actuating rolls disposed adjacent the edges of the belt in a position to be contacted by the belt when the belt becomes off-centered. One end of a flexible shaft is operatively connected to each actuating roll to turn in unison therewith while the other end of the flexible shaft is operatively connected to the input shaft of a planetary gear reducing unit. The output shaft from the reducing unit is connected through bevel gears to a pivoting vertical shaft upon which an idler roller supporting frame is mounted. Pivotal movement of the supporting frame angularly displaces a belt supporting idler roller mounted thereon to urge the belt toward a centered position between the actuating rolls where it is out of contact with either roll. In an alternative embodiment the actuating rolls upon a predetermined pivotal movement, contact limit switches to actuate a reversible electric motor that drives the planetary gear reducing unit. The reducing unit is linked to an idler roller supporting frame just as in the first embodiment to pivot the idler roller about a vertical axis. Over-travel limit switches are also provided to shut the motor off in the event the supporting frame is pivoted to its pivotal limit.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald F Homeier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G39/00; B65G39/10; B65G39/12; B65G39/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In a conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member mounted rigidly upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main rotatable frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a rigid frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, said roll assemblies consisting of roll members rotatably mounted on shafts which are tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising a planetary gear reduction unit having input and output shafts, first and second flexible shafts operably connecting the respective actuating rolls to the input shaft of the reduction unit for transmitting rotary motion from the actuating rolls to the input shaft, and means connecting the output shaft of the reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the said vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member mounted rigidly upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main rotatable frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a rigid frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, said roll assemblies consisting of roll members rotatably mounted on shafts which are tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising a planetary gear reduction unit having input and output shafts, first and second flexible shafts operably connecting the respective actuating rolls to the input shaft of the reduction unit for transmitting rotary motion from the actuating rolls to the input shaft, and means connecting the output shaft of the reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the said vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main rotatable frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a rigid stationary frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, said roll assemblies consisting of roll members rotatably mounted on the shafts which are tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising a gear reduction unit having input and output shafts, first and second flexible shafts operably connecting the respective actuating rolls to the input shaft of the gear reduction unit for transmitting rotary motion from the actuating rolls to the input shaft, said first flexible shaft fixedly secured to said input shaft, a first gear wheel rigidly affixed to said input shaft for unitary rotation therewith and with said first flexible shaft, a second gear wheel meshing with said first gear wheel and mounted for unitary rotation with said second flexible shaft, and means connecting the output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the said vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main rotatable frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a rigid stationary frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, said roll assemblies consisting of roll members rotatably mounted on the shafts which are tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising a gear reduction unit having input and output shafts, first and second flexible shafts operably connecting the respective actuating rolls to the input shaft of the gear reduction unit for transmitting rotary motion from the actuating rolls to the input shaft, said first flexible shaft fixedly secured to said input shaft, a first gear wheel rigidly affixed to said input shaft for unitary rotation therewith and with said first flexible shaft, a second gear wheel meshing with said first gear wheel and mounted for unitary rotation with said second flexible shaft, and means connecting the output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the said vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said actuating roll assemblies are adjustably counterbalanced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said actuating roll assemblies normally assume an orientation leaning outwardly from the conveyor belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said rigid frame member has means for mounting the said actuating roll assemblies in any one of a plurality of positions to vary the horizontal spacing between said assemblies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 2 further including a second rotatable roller supporting frame member operably linked to said main rotatable frame member for corresponding movement therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a belt conveyor system having a pivOtal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a stationary rigid frame member rotatably supporting the vertical shaft, and a pair of actuating roll assemblies mounted on the stationary frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising each actuating roll assembly having a roll member rotatably mounted on a shaft, each of said actuating roll assemblies being tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt in the mounting of the roll assemblies on the stationary frame member, a counterweight adjustably mounted on each actuating roll assembly, a high ratio planetary gear reduction unit having an input and an output shaft, said reduction unit supported from the stationary frame member, means connecting each of the actuating roll shafts to the input of said gear reduction unit, and means connecting said output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal frame member so that the low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a belt conveyor system having a pivOtal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the main frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a stationary rigid frame member rotatably supporting the vertical shaft, and a pair of actuating roll assemblies mounted on the stationary frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising each actuating roll assembly having a roll member rotatably mounted on a shaft, each of said actuating roll assemblies being tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt in the mounting of the roll assemblies on the stationary frame member, a counterweight adjustably mounted on each actuating roll assembly, a high ratio planetary gear reduction unit having an input and an output shaft, said reduction unit supported from the stationary frame member, means connecting each of the actuating roll shafts to the input of said gear reduction unit, and means connecting said output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal frame member so that the low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a belt conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the pivotal main frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a stationary rigid frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising each of said actuating roll assemblies being adjustably counterbalanced and tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt in the mounting of the actuating roll assembly on the stationary frame member, a high ratio planetary gear reduction unit having an input and output shaft, a reversible electric motor operably connected to said input shaft, switches electrically connected to said reversible electric motor and disposed adjacent said actuating roll assemblies so as to be actuated and released upon tilting movement of the roll assemblies to then operate said reversible motor, and means connecting the output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that the low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a belt conveyor system having a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the pivotal main frame member, a moving endless conveyor belt partially supported by said roller, a stationary rigid frame member, and first and second actuating roll assemblies mounted on the rigid frame member adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt, the improvement comprising each of said actuating roll assemblies being adjustably counterbalanced and tiltable toward and away from the conveyor belt in the mounting of the actuating roll assembly on the stationary frame member, a high ratio planetary gear reduction unit having an input and output shaft, a reversible electric motor operably connected to said input shaft, switches electrically connected to said reversible electric motor and disposed adjacent said actuating roll assemblies so as to be actuated and released upon tilting movement of the roll assemblies to then operate said reversible motor, and means connecting the output shaft of the gear reduction unit to the vertical shaft supporting the pivotal main frame member so that the low speed rotary motion of the output shaft will impart rotary motion to the vertical shaft to rotate the pivotal main frame member under high torque and thereby urge movement of the belt in a lateral direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 8 further including limit switches electrically connected to said reversible motor and disposed so as to be operated upon a predetermined rotary movement of said pivotal main frame member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 8 further including a second rotatable roller supporting frame member operably linked to said pivotal main frame member for corresponding movement therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a training idler adapted for use with a driven endless belt in a belt conveyor system including a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the pivotal main frame member, the roller partially supporting the belt, a fixed frame member rotatably supporting the vertical shaft, the improvement comprising a pair of actuating roll assemblies pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the fixed frame member adjacent but normally spaced from the lateral edges of the driven belt, an adjustable counterweight within each of said pivoted actuating roll assemblies to maintain minimum frictional contact of the actuating rolls with the belt sufficient to rotate said actuating roll assemblies, a flexible shaft connected to each of said actuating roll assemblies and to be driven thereby, a planetary gear reduction unit having an input and an output shaft, reversing gear means operatively connecting said input shaft to each of said flexible shafts and said output shaft being operatively connected to said vertical shaft of the pivotal main frame member, whereby when the belt shifts transversely to contact one of the actuating roll assemblies, one of the rotating roll assemblies drives one of the flexible shafts and rotates the input shaft of the gear reduction unit whose output shaft then rotates at a much reduced speed to provide high torque pivotal movement of the main frame member and to thereby urge the belt to its centered position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a training idler adapted for use with a driven endless belt in a belt conveyor system including a pivotal main frame member rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft, at least one roller supported by the pivotal main frame member, the roller partially supporting the belt, a fixed frame member rotatably supporting the vertical shaft, the improvement comprising a pair of actuating roll assemblies pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the fixed frame member adjacent but normally spaced from the lateral edges of the driven belt, an adjustable counterweight within each of said pivoted actuating roll assemblies to maintain minimum frictional contact of the actuating rolls with the belt sufficient to rotate said actuating roll assemblies, a flexible shaft connected to each of said actuating roll assemblies and to be driven thereby, a planetary gear reduction unit having an input and an output shaft, reversing gear means operatively connecting said input shaft to each of said flexible shafts and said output shaft being operatively connected to said vertical shaft of the pivotal main frame member, whereby when the belt shifts transversely to contact one of the actuating roll assemblies, one of the rotating roll assemblies drives one of the flexible shafts and rotates the input shaft of the gear reduction unit whose output shaft then rotates at a much reduced speed to provide high torque pivotal movement of the main frame member and to thereby urge the belt to its centered position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
The training idler of claim 11 further comprising a second pivotal main frame member mounted on a vertical shaft, a fixed frame member rotatably supporting the vertical shaft, and at least one roller supported in said second pivotal main frame member, said second pivotal main frame member operably linked to said pivotal main frame member in tandem relation for corresponding pivotal movement therewith to provide greater traction in training the conveyor belt upon rotation of one of the actuating roll assemblies when the belt is displaced from its centered position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |