Brake for roller conveyors

Claim 2

An improved brake mechanism for roller conveyors having a plurality of spaced, generally parallel aligned rollers; said brake mechanism comprising: (a) a movable brake plate having a first, non-braking, orientaion and a second, braking, orientation; (i) said brake plate having a brake shoe engaging surface with first and second end edges; (ii) said brake plate having a first rigid extension mounted substantially adjacent said first end edge, and a second rigid extension mounted substantially adjacent said second end edge; (b) motive means for selectively motivating said brake plate between said first, non-braking, orientation and said second, braking, orientation; (c) a brake shoe comprising an elongated band of resilient material formed in a substantially continuous loop; (i) said brake shoe being mounted on said brake shoe engaging surface by extension between said first and second rigid extensions, and being securely held thereon by resiliency of said loop; (ii) said brake shoe forming first and second discrete braking sections extending between said first and second rigid extensions and over said brake shoe engaging surface; (d) whereby whenever said brake plate is in said braking orientation, at least one roller is engaged by both of said transverse braking members, said roller being prevented from rotation thereby; and (e) whereby said brake shoe may be rapidly removed from said brake mechanism and replaced therein.

Claim 3

A brake mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said band of resilient material comprises an elongate, tubular, extension of said resilient material having first and second ends; said ends of tubular material being mounted in alignment with one another to form said substantially continuous loop.

Claim 4

A brake mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said band of resilient material is tubular, and has an inner longitudinal chamber extending therethrough.

Claim 5

An improved brake mechanism for roller conveyors having a plurality of spaced, generally parallel aligned rollers; said brake mechanism comprising: (a) a movable brake plate having a first, non-braking, orientation and a second, braking, orientation; (i) said brake plate being substantially rectangular and having first and second, opposite, end edges; (ii) said brake plate having a brake shoe engaging surface; (iii) said first and second end edges each having a pair of indentations therein, forming first and second oppositely oriented rigid extensions, each of said extensions being oriented to extend generally coplanar with said brake shoe engaging surface; (b) motive means for selectively motivating said brake plate between said first, non-braking, orientation and said second, braking, orientation; (c) a brake shoe comprising an elongated band of resilient material formed in a substantially continuous loop of; (i) said brake shoe being mounted on said brake shoe engaging surface by extension between said first and second rigid extensions, and being held thereon by resiliency of said loop; (ii) said brake shoe forming first and second discrete braking sections extending between said first and second rigid extensions and over said brake shoe engaging surface; (d) whereby whenever said brake plate is in said braking orientation, at least one roller is engaged by both of said transverse braking members, the roller being prevented from rotation thereby; and (e) whereby said brake shoe may be rapidly removed from said brake mechanism and replaced therein.

Claim 6

An improved brake mechanism for roller conveyors having a plurality of spaced, generally parallel aligned rollers; said brake mechanism comprising: (a) a movable brake plate having a first, non-braking, orientation and a second, braking, orientation; (i) said brake plate being substantially rectangular and having first and second, opposite, end edges; (ii) said brake plate having a brake shoe engaging surface; (iii) said first and second end edges each having a pair of indentations therein, forming first and second oppositely oriented rigid extensions, each of said extensions being oriented to extend generally coplanar with said brake shoe engaging surface; (b) motive means for selectively motivating said brake plate between said first, non-braking, orientation and said second, braking, orientation; (c) a brake shoe comprising an elongated band of resilient material formed in a substantially continuous loop of; (i) said brake shoe being mounted on said brake shoe engaging surface by extension between said first and second rigid extensions, and being held thereon by resiliency of said loop; (ii) said brake shoe forming first and second discrete braking sections extending between said first and second rigid extensions and over said brake shoe engaging surface; (d) whereby whenever said brake plate is in said braking orientation, at least one roller is engaged by both of said transverse braking members, the roller being prevented from rotation thereby; and (e) whereby said brake shoe may be rapidly removed from said brake mechanism and replaced therein.

Claim 7

A brake mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said band of resilient material comprises an elongate, tubular, extension of said resilient material having first and second ends; said ends of tubular material being mounted in alignment with one another to form said substantially continuous loop.

Claim 8

A brake mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said band of resilient material is tubular, and has an inner longitudinal chamber extending therethrough.