Releasable conveyor belt system

• US 20030034233A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eldetco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eldetco, Inc.
• Inventors: Lunghi, Don
• Granted Patent: US 6,578,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/835
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/00 Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration having load-conveying surfaces formed by interconnected longitudinal links B65G17/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/30 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/04 Drums, rollers, or wheels B65G23/18 takes precedence

Abstract

Method and apparatus for quickly and efficiently disassembling a conveyor belt system. The conveyor belt rotates about pulleys which are mounted on a first frame. A drive pulley is mounted on a second frame. When assembled, the drive pulley mounted on the second frame contacts the conveyor belt system causing it to tighten around the pulleys mounted on the first frame. The first and second frames are held together by a quick release mechanism. When the quick release mechanism is released, the first and second frames can be separated and the conveyor belt tension is released and the conveyor belt may be easily removed from the pulleys mounted on the first frame.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt drive apparatus comprising:

at least two free pulleys mounted on a first frame;

a drive pulley mounted on a second frame;

a conveyor belt which rotates about the at least two free pulleys and the drive pulley; and

a releasable fastener which connects the first frame to the second frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the drive pulley tensions the conveyor belt around the free pulleys mounted on the first frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the conveyor belt is made at least partially of rubber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the conveyor belt has a ribbed surface; and

the drive pulley is splined.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plate mounted on the first frame between two free pulleys, such that in the assembled configuration, the plate is adjacent and substantially parallel to the conveyor belt.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the plate has a dimpled surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the releasable fastener comprises a buckle or a clamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the conveyor belt contacts at least 120 degrees of the circumference of the drive cylinder.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the conveyor belt can be removed from the free pulleys mounted on the first frame when the releasable fastener is released and the first frame is separated from the second frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the free pulleys rotate on bearings.

11. A conveyor belt drive apparatus comprising:

at least two free pulleys mounted on a first frame;

a drive pulley mounted on a second frame; and

a conveyor belt which rotates about the at least two free pulleys and the drive pulley;

wherein the first frame is releasably engaged to the second frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the drive pulley tensions the conveyor belt around the free pulleys mounted on the first frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the conveyor belt has a ribbed surface; and

the drive pulley is splined.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a plate mounted on the first frame between two of the pulleys, such that in the assembled configuration, the plate is adjacent and substantially parallel to the conveyor belt.

13. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein:

the conveyor belt is made at least partially of rubber.

16. A method of disassembling a conveyor belt system comprising the steps of:

providing at least two free pulleys mounted on a first frame, a drive pulley mounted on a second frame, a conveyor belt mounted around the at least two free pulleys on the first frame and a releasable fastener which connects the first frame to the second frame;

releasing the releasable fastener which holds the first frame to the second frame; and

separating the first frame from the second frame.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

removing the conveyor belt from the at least two free pulleys mounted on the first frame.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

cleaning the conveyor belt.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

cleaning exposed surfaces of the free pulleys or the drive pulley.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

replacing a component of the conveyor belt system which is broken or defective.