MULTIPLE DUROMETER CONVEYOR BELT CLEANER SCRAPER BLADE

• US 20060021854A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Martin Engineering Company
• Inventors: Waters, Andrew J., Strebel, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/497
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/12 comprising scrapers

Abstract

A one-piece integral multi-durometer scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner. The scraper blade includes a body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and extending transversely between a base and a tip. The body includes a first body portion comprising a first elastomeric material having a first durometer of hardness, and a second body portion comprising a second elastomeric material having a second durometer of hardness. The body also includes a transition portion located between the first body portion and the second body portion.

Claims

1. A scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner, said scraper blade including:

a body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and extending transversely between a base and a tip, said body comprising a first body portion comprising a first material having a first durometer, and a second body portion comprising a second material having a second durometer, said body being integrally formed as a single unitary member.

2. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said body includes a first transition portion located between said first body portion and said second body portion.

4. The scraper blade of claim 2 wherein said first transition portion changes in hardness as said first transition portion extends between said first body portion and said second body portion.

5. The scraper blade of claim 2 wherein said first transition portion changes in composition as said first transition portion extends between said first body portion and said second body portion.

6. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said first material comprises an elastomeric material, and said second material comprises an elastomeric material.

7. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said first body portion of said body is formed substantially free of said second material.

8. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said second body portion of said body is formed substantially free of said first material.

12. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said first body portion is located at said base and said second body portion is located at said tip.

13. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said second durometer of said second material is greater than said first durometer of said first material.

14. The scraper blade of claim 1 wherein said first durometer of said first material is in the range of approximately 50 Shore A to approximately 70 Shore D, and said second durometer of said second material is in the range of approximately 50 Shore A to approximately 70 Shore D.

15. The scraper blade of claim 2 wherein said first transition portion, first body portion and second body portion are located along a longitudinal axis of said body with said first transition portion being located between said first body portion and said second body portion.

16. The scraper blade of claim 2 including a third body portion comprising said first material, said second body portion being located between said third body portion and said first body portion, and a second transition portion located between said third body portion and said second body portion.

18. The scraper blade of claim 16 including a fourth body portion and a third transition portion, said fourth body portion located at said tip, said third transition portion being located between said second body portion and said fourth body portion.

19. The scraper blade of claim 18 wherein said third transition portion comprises a blend of said second material and a third material having a third durometer.

20. The scraper blade of claim 15 including a third body portion formed from a third material having a third durometer, and a second transition portion located between said second body portion and said third body portion, said second transition portion comprising a blend of said second material and said third material.

21. The scraper blade of claim 20 wherein said third material comprises an elastomeric material.

22. The scraper blade of claim 20 wherein said third durometer of said third material is greater than said second durometer of said second material.

3. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

23. A method of forming a scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mold for a scraper blade;

pouring a molten first material having a first durometer of hardness into said mold to form a first body portion of the scraper blade;

pouring a molten blend of said first material and a second material having a second durometer of hardness into the mold to form a transition portion of the scraper blade; and

pouring molten second material into said mold to form a second body portion of the scraper blade;

whereby said first body portion, said transition portion, and said second body portion are integrally formed as a unitary member.

24. The method of claim 23 including the step of adjusting the ratio of said second material to said first material in said blend as said blend is poured into said mold.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said first material comprises an elastomeric material and said second material comprises an elastomeric material.

26. A method of forming a scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mold for a scraper blade;

pouring a molten first material having a first durometer of hardness into the mold to form a first body portion of the scraper blade;

creating a varied composition material by changing the composition of the first material to a second material having a second durometer of hardness;

pouring the varied composition material into the mold as the composition of the first material is changed to the second material, the varied composition material forming a transition portion of the scraper blade;

pouring molten second material into the mold to form a second body portion of the scraper blade;

whereby the first body portion, transition portion, and second body portion are integrally formed as a unitary member.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said first material comprises an elastomeric material and said second material comprises an elastomeric material.

28. A scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner, said scraper blade including:

a body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and extending transversely between a base and a tip, said body comprising a first body portion comprising a first material having a first durometer, a second body portion comprising a second material having a second durometer, and a first transition portion located between said first body portion and said second body portion, said first transition portion comprising a blend of said first material having a first durometer and said second material having a second durometer.

9. The scraper blade of claim 28 wherein said first transition portion includes a first end and a second end, said blend of said first material and said second material having a first ratio of said second material to said first material at said first end, and a second ratio of said second material to said first material at said second end, wherein said second ratio of second material to first material has a greater ratio of said second material than said first ratio.

10. The scraper blade of claim 9 wherein said blend of second material and first material at said first end comprises a majority of said first material, and said blend of second material and first material comprises a majority of said second material at said second end.

11. The scraper blade of claim 9 wherein said ratio of second material to first material increases from approximately 0:

100 at said first end to approximately 100;

0 at said second end.

29. A scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner, said scraper blade including:

a body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and extending transversely between a base and a tip, said body comprising a first body portion comprising a first material having a first durometer, a second body portion comprising a second material having a second durometer, a first transition portion located between said first body portion and said second body portion, a third body portion comprising said first material, said second body portion being located between said third body portion and said first body portion, and a second transition portion located between said third body portion and said second body portion, said second transition portion comprising a blend of said first material and said second material.