Conveyor assembly

• US 7,753,194 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Design Fabrication & Installation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Industrial Design Fabrication & Installation, Inc.
• Inventors: Derrick, Tony Wayne, Jager, Todd Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINGH, KAVEL
• Application Number:
  US11/194,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 198/812, 198/816, 198/861.1
• US Class Current: 198/861.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/62 Guides for sliding belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/02 consisting essentially of struts, ties, or like structural elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/00 Lubricating, cleaning, or clearing devices

Abstract

A conveyor assembly is provided. The conveyor assembly comprises a frame having structural support elements that facilitate easy cleaning of the device and avoid the collection of water, bacteria, debris and the like. The frame of the conveyor assembly may further comprise one or more means for retaining wear strips on the frame that provide for the secure retention of the wear strip, yet allow easy removal and cleaning of the associated components. A sanitary removable hinge is also disclosed and may be used in connection with a conveyor assembly.

Claims

1. A conveyor assembly having a frame comprising substantially parallel longitudinal rails carried by vertical supports and extending longitudinally in a conveying direction, a cross member forming a carryway support carried in a position between the longitudinal rails and supporting a conveyor bed, each longitudinal rail having a first side surface and a second side surface, the longitudinal rail having a channel open on the first side surface and a segment integrally attached to the channel and extending at an angle greater than ninety degrees from the channel forming an accessible side surface for easy cleaning, the longitudinal rail further having minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and arranged on said frame to reduce the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold.

2. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame support has at least one vertical support, the vertical support having a first side surface and a second side surface extending from a first end of the vertical support to a second end of the vertical support, the vertical support forming minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and at least one of the first and second side surfaces having a channel accessible from said side surface for easy cleaning, said vertical support further comprising an orientation on said frame that reduces the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold.

3. The conveyor assembly of claim 2, wherein the frame support has at least one lower longitudinal support, the lower longitudinal support having a first side surface and a second side surface, the lower longitudinal support forming minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and at least one of the first and second side surfaces having a channel accessible from said side surface for easy cleaning, said lower longitudinal support further comprising an orientation on said frame that reduces the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold.

4. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein said frame support further comprises a workstation support.

5. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein said frame support further comprises a roller support.

6. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said supports are provided in integral, operable connection forming said frame with minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and which are accessible for easy cleaning, said supports further comprising positions on said frame that reduce the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold.

7. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a retention device for removably retaining a wear strip operably attached to said frame support on said frame, said retention device comprising:

a first substantially flat wall having a first smoothed protrusion;

a second substantially flat wall having a second smoothed protrusion opposite said first substantially flat wall and first smoothed protrusion, said first and second smoothed protrusions capable of applying a simultaneous force against the wear strip for removable retention of the wear strip; and

an upward-facing opening between the first and second substantially flat walls for receipt of the wear strip.

8. The conveyor assembly of claim 7, further comprising a sanitary removable hinge for the removable connection of a hinged component on the conveyor assembly.

9. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sanitary removable hinge for the removable connection of a hinged component on the conveyor assembly.

10. The conveyor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side surface of the longitudinal rail faces away from the cross member, and the second side surface of the longitudinal rail faces the cross member.

11. A conveyor assembly having a sanitary removable hinge, the sanitary removable hinge comprising:

a hinge member having a first surface in contact with a movable conveyor component, the hinge member also having a pin receptor section spaced from the first surface, said pin receptor section including an opening formed by a flat portion and slot extending to a radius portion; and

a pin carried by and extending from a second conveyor component and removably received in the pin receptor section, the pin including a radius portion and flat portion adapted to mate with the pin receptor section, the second conveyor component and pin carried thereby being separable from the hinge member to enable separation of the second conveyor component from the movable conveyor component, wherein said pin is adapted to be engaged and disengaged with said pin receptor section by rotating said moveable conveyor component carrying the hinge member so that said flat portion of said pin is aligned with said flat portion of said pin receptor section enabling insertion and removal of said pin from said pin receptor section through the slot.

12. The conveyor assembly of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of sanitary removable hinges.

13. A conveyor assembly comprising:

a frame having a support for a conveyor bed, the support comprising at least one of a side panel and a vertical support, said support further comprising a minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and a channel accessible from a side surface of the frame support for easy cleaning, said support further comprising an orientation on said frame that reduces the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold;

at least one retention device having a first substantially flat wall having a first smoothed protrusion, a second substantially flat wall having a second smoothed protrusions opposite said first substantially flat wall and first smoothed protrusion, and an upward-facing opening between the first and second substantially flat walls, said first and second smoothed protrusions capable of applying a simultaneous force against the wear strip for removable retention of the wear strip for the retention of a wear strip on said frame;

the bed supported by said frame, for supporting items to be conveyed;

at least one of a drive, a pulley, and a roller for moving said items on said conveyor assembly; and

at least one sanitary removable hinge for the removable retention of a hinged member on said conveyor assembly;

whereby said conveyor assembly may be easily disassembled and assembled and is capable of being easily cleaned.

14. A conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of supports, wherein the assembly comprises:

a conveyor frame for support of a conveyor bed, the conveyor frame including a plurality of supports;

said plurality of supports including a longitudinal rail and a vertical support;

at least one of the plurality of supports comprising;

a first section extending in a first plane;

a second section integrally connected to the first section and positioned at a first angle from the first section;

a third section integrally connected to the second section and positioned at a second angle from the second section so that the third section is in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane;

a fourth section integrally connected to the third section and positioned at a third angle from the third section opposite the second angle; and

a fifth section integrally attached to the fourth section and positioned at a fourth angle from the fourth section so that the fifth section is substantially in the first plane, wherein the first section, second section, third section, fourth section, and fifth section form a support having an open channel, the open channel being accessible from a longitudinal side surface when said support is positioned on said frame for operation.

15. The conveyor assembly as described in claim 14 wherein the first angle, second angle, third angle, and fourth angle of the at least one support are rounded to form a substantially smooth surface.

16. A conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of supports, wherein the assembly comprises:

a conveyor frame for support of a conveyor bed, the conveyor frame including plurality of supports;

said plurality of supports including at least one of a side panel and a vertical support;

at least one of the plurality of supports comprising;

a first section extending in a first plane;

a second section integrally connected with the first section and positioned at a first angle from the first section;

a third section integrally attached to the second section and positioned at a second angle from the second section so that the third section is in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane; and

a fourth section integrally attached to the third section and positioned at a third angle wherein the third angle is an approximate right angle extending from the third section, wherein the first section, second section, third section, and fourth section form a support having an open channel, the open channel being accessible from a longitudinal side surface when said support is positioned on said frame for operation.

17. The conveyor assembly as described in claim 16 wherein the first angle, second angle, and third angle of the at least one support are rounded to form a substantially smooth surface.

18. The conveyor assembly as described in claim 16 wherein the third section of the at least one support is wider than the first section.

19. A conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of supports, wherein the assembly comprises:

a conveyor frame for support of a conveyor bed, the conveyor frame including plurality of supports;

said plurality of supports including at least one of a side panel and a vertical support;

at least one support comprising;

a first section;

a second section integrally attached to the first section and positioned at a first angle from the first section;

a third section integrally attached to the second section and positioned at a second angle from the second section; and

a fourth section integrally attached to the third section and positioned at a third angle from the third section opposite to the first angle so that the first section and the fourth section are positioned in substantially the same plane, wherein the first section, second section, third section, and fourth section form a support having a centralized channel.

20. The conveyor assembly as described in claim 19 wherein the first angle, second angle, and third angle of the at least one support are rounded to form a substantially smooth surface.

21. A conveyor assembly having a frame comprising substantially parallel longitudinal rails carried by vertical supports and extending longitudinally in a conveying direction, a cross member forming a carryway support carried in a position between the longitudinal rails and supporting a conveyor bed, the frame having a lower frame support, the lower frame support being a longitudinal rail spaced from the carryway support having a channel open on a first side surface and a segment integrally attached to the channel and extending at an angle greater than ninety degrees from the channel which forms an accessible side surface for easy cleaning, the lower frame support having minimal surface area for collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold, and arranged on said frame to reduce the collection of water, waste, bacteria, debris, and mold.

22. The conveyor assembly of claim 21, wherein the lower frame support includes at least one of a vertical support and a lower longitudinal support.

23. The conveyor assembly of claim 21, wherein the lower frame support is a horizontal support parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal rails.