Motorized pulley with internal mounts

• US 5,180,344 A
• Filed: 03/23/1992
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
• Inventors: Hall, David V.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUIZ, MIKADO RYAN
• Application Number:
  US07/856,376
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 474/148, 474/167, 198/864, 198/832, 198/844.1, 198/860.1, 198/348
• US Class Current: 474/148
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/08 with self-contained driving mechanisms, e.g. motors and associated gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/46 Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, i.e. systems having three or more central gears

Abstract

A drive pulley assembly is disclosed for a conveyor belt assembly which permits a reduction in the overall size of the conveyor assembly without any reduction in the size or width of the conveyor belt. The overall width of the conveyor assembly is reduced by providing recessed end cavities in the ends of the drive pulley to accommodate the mounting brackets for the pulley. In accordance with the present invention, the mounting brackets are secured to the inside of respective frame members and extend therefrom into the recessed end cavities of the drive pulley such that substantially the entirety of the mounting bracket lies within the drive pulley. Because the mounting brackets are contained substantially within the confines of the drive pulley, the drive pulley assembly of the present invention requires less space than conventional conveyor assemblies in which the mounts are disposed beyond the ends of the drive pulley.

Claims

1. A drive pulley assembly comprising:

(a) a stationary shaft;

(b) a generally cylindrical drum having two open ends mounted on the stationary shaft for rotation around the axis of the shaft;

(c) drive means mounted on the stationary shaft and disposed inside the cylindrical drum for rotating the drum around the stationary shaft; and

(d) a pair of mounting brackets for mounting the drive pulley assembly between a pair of parallel frame members, said mounting brackets being so sized and shaped to fit inside the open ends of the drum such that a substantial majority of the mounting bracket is contained inside the ends of the drum when the drum is mounted between the frame members.

2. The drive pulley assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting brackets include a resilient shaft support member for engaging the stationary shaft.

3. The drive pulley assembly of claim 1 wherein the ends of the stationary shaft terminate inwardly from the ends of the drum.

4. The drive pulley assembly of claim 1 further including a pair of end caps mounted inside the drum a predetermined distance from the end of the drum, said end caps defining a closed central compartment which contains the drive assembly, and a pair of recessed end cavities for receiving the mounting brackets.

5. A drive pulley assembly comprising:

(a) a generally cylindrical drum having two open ends;

(b) a pair of end caps disposed inside the drum a predetermined distance from the open ends, said end caps defining a closed central compartment and a pair of recessed end cavities at each end of the drum;

(c) a stationary shaft extending axially through the drum, said drum being rotatably mounted on the stationary shaft;

(d) drive means connected to the stationary shaft and disposed within the central compartment of the drum for rotating the drum around the stationary shaft; and

(e) a pair of mounting brackets contained substantially entirely within the recessed end cavities of the drum for engaging the ends of the stationary shaft and supporting the drum.

6. The drive pulley assembly of claim 5 wherein the mounting brackets include a resilient shaft support member for engaging the stationary shaft.

7. A conveyor assembly comprising:

(a) a frame having two generally parallel frame members;

(b) a drive pulley assembly including;

(1) a generally cylindrical drum having two open ends;

(2) a stationary shaft extending axially through the drum, said drum being rotatably mounted on the shaft; and

(3) drive means connected to the shaft and disposed inside the drum for rotating the drum around the shaft;

(c) a pair of mounting brackets for mounting the drive pulley assembly between the frame members at one end of the conveyor frame, said mounting brackets being secured to the inside of the frame members and extending therefrom into the open ends of the drum such that substantially the entirety of the mounting brackets are disposed within the drum;

(d) an idler pulley mounted between the frame members at the end of the frame opposite the drive pulley assembly; and

(e) a conveyor belt entrained around the drive pulley and idler pulley.

8. The drive pulley assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting brackets include a resilient shaft support member for engaging the stationary shaft.

9. The drive pulley assembly of claim 7 wherein the ends of the stationary shaft terminate inwardly from the ends of the drum.

10. The drive pulley assembly of claim 7 further including a pair of end caps mounted inside the drum a predetermined distance from the end of the drum, said end caps defining a closed central compartment which contains the drive assembly, and a pair of recessed end cavities for receiving the mounting brackets.