Tapered roll conveyor curve construction

Claim 2

A tapered roll conveyor curve construction including frame means having outer and inner arcuate mounting rails; a plurality of roll means supported on and between the rails, each roll means having a tapered portion and a cylindrical section, said tapered portion having a small end and a large end, the small tapered end being located adjacent the inner rail; said cylindrical section extending at least from the tapered portion large end to the outer rail; shaft means extending through the cylindrical section and tapered portion and outward from each end of the roll means for mounting the roll means on said rails; a pair of spaced inner and outer chain drive sprockets mounted on the cylindrical section of each roll means beyond the large tapEred section end; and a plurality of continuous drive chains alternately connecting the adjacent inner and outer drive sprockets of adjacent roll means.

Claim 3

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the shaft means includes a shaft extending throughout the length of the roll means; in which the tapered portion includes a tapered sleeve journalled at its small end on one end of said shaft; and fixed at its large end on the cylindrical section; and in which the cylindrical section includes a cylindrical tube telescoped within the large end of the tapered sleeve and having an outer end journalled on the other end of said shaft.

Claim 4

The construction defined in claim 2 in which the cylindrical tube section has a portion extending within the tapered sleeve throughout the length of the tapered sleeve; in which said cylindrical tube is formed with open ends; in which bearing means are mounted within said open tube ends; in which the shaft extends through openings formed in said bearing means; and in which said shaft is non-rotatably mounted on the mounting rails, whereby the cylindrical tube and tapered sleeve rotate about said shaft on said bearing means.

Claim 5

The construction defined in claim 2 in which the tapered sleeve is formed with open ends; in which bearing means are secured within the small open tapered sleeve end; in which a collar is secured within the large open tapered sleeve end; in which one end of the cylindrical tube section is secured to said collar; and in which the other end of the cylindrical tube section has bearing means secured therein.

Claim 6

The construction defined in claim 2 in which bearing means are journalled on each end of the shaft; in which first retainer means is mounted on said shaft adjacent the bearing means at one shaft end; in which spring means is mounted on said shaft adjacent the bearing means at the other shaft end; and in which second retainer means is mounted on the shaft spaced from said other shaft end confining the spring means in partial compression, enabling the shaft to be moved axially within the tapered sleeve and cylindrical sections to further compress the spring means, whereby one end of the shaft may be withdrawn into its end bearing means for mounting and removing said roll means on and from the mounting rails.

Claim 7

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the shaft means is formed with at least one flat side; in which the outer and inner rails are formed with holes complementary to the cross sectional shape of said shaft means; in which said shaft means extends through said rail holes; and in which the inner rail holes are higher in elevation than the outer rail holes whereby the material supporting surface of the tapered portion lies in a horizontal plane.

Claim 8

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the diameters of the drive sprockets are smaller than the diameter of the larger end of the tapered portion.

Claim 9

A tapered roll construction including a central shaft; a cylindrical section formed with open ends journalled on said shaft; bearing means mounted on each end of the shaft and secured within the cylindrical section open ends rotatably supporting the cylindrical section on the shaft; a tapered sleeve formed with open small and large ends journalled on the shaft and surrounding a portion of the cylindrical section; the small tapered sleeve end being adjacent one end of the shaft and surrounding and being connected to one end of the cylindrical section; collar means secured within the large tapered sleeve end, the cylindrical section being connected with the collar means and extending through and outwardly from the collar means toward the other shaft end; and a pair of spaced chain drive sprockets mounted on the cylindrical section adjacent the tapered sleeve large end.

Claim 10

A tapered roll construction including a central shaft; a cylindrical section formed with open ends journalled on said shaft; bearing means mounted on each end of the shaft and secured within the cylindrical section open ends rotatably supporting the cylindrical section on the shaft; a tapered sleeve formed with open small and large ends journalled on the shaft and surrounding a portion of the cylindrical section; the small tapered sleeve end being adjacent one end of the shaft and surrounding and being connected to one end of the cylindrical section; collar means secured within the large tapered sleeve end, the cylindrical section being connected with the collar means and extending through and outwardly from the collar means toward the other shaft end; and a pair of spaced chain drive sprockets mounted on the cylindrical section adjacent the tapered sleeve large end.

Claim 11

A tapered roll construction including a central shaft; a cylindrical section and a tapered sleeve journalled on said shaft; the tapered sleeve having a small end and a large end with the small end being adjacent one end of the shaft; the cylindrical section being connected with the tapered sleeve large end and extending outward therefrom toward the other shaft end; a pair of spaced chain drive sprockets mounted on the cylindrical section adjacent the tapered sleeve large end; bearing means mounted on each end of the shaft rotatably supporting said cylindrical section and tapered sleeve; first retainer means mounted on the shaft adjacent the bearing means on one shaft end; spring means mounted on the shaft adjacent the bearing means at the other shaft end; and second retainer means mounted on the shaft spaced from the other shaft end confining the spring means in partial compression biasing said first retainer means against said adjacent one shaft and bearing means.

Claim 12

A tapered roll construction including a central shaft; a cylindrical section and a tapered sleeve journalled on said shaft; the tapered sleeve having a small end and a large end with the small end being adjacent one end of the shaft; the cylindrical section being connected with the tapered sleeve large end and extending outward therefrom toward the other shaft end; a pair of spaced chain drive sprockets mounted on the cylindrical section adjacent the tapered sleeve large end; bearing means mounted on each end of the shaft rotatably supporting said cylindrical section and tapered sleeve; first retainer means mounted on the shaft adjacent the bearing means on one shaft end; spring means mounted on the shaft adjacent the bearing means at the other shaft end; and second retainer means mounted on the shaft spaced from the other shaft end confining the spring means in partial compression biasing said first retainer means against said adjacent one shaft and bearing means.