AU660805B2 - An idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant:

E.M.M.S.

Actual Inventor: PO BOX 1324 WANGARA WA 6065

AUSTRALIA

R ,l-Of W^A I-TE GARYA ',RAT! lWAIT

HODGKINSON

Griffith Hack Co.

256 Adelaide Terrace PERTH WA 6000 and EDWARD

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Address for Service: *r *o o Standard Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AN IDLER ROLLER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM The following is a full description of this Invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 0 f (1 2 AN IDLER ROLLER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM The present invention relates generally to an idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to an idler roller support assembly for an endless conveyor belt system used in material handling. More particularly, the present invention relates to an idler roller support assembly to be used in a transfer and/or a skirted area, such as under a chute, of a conveyor belt system.

Endless conveyor belt systems are commonly used in material handling to transfer material from one location to another.

An endless belt is trained around a head drum and a tail drum at opposite ends of the conveyor belt system.

Disposed between the head drum and tail drum is a series of idler rollers designed to support a conveying surface of the endless belt. The idler rollers support the conveying -surface so as to form a trough, and each roller is oriented surfae o a beto fora tru, an eteachl roller soin ted 20 perpendicular to the direction of travel of the endless conveyor belt. Generally, a centre idler roller and two adjacent wing idler rollers are configured to form the trough in the conveying surface. The centre and wing idler rollers are journalled at each end to a support frame assembly. Any number of idler rollers can be rotatably 25 connected to the support frame assembly. Each of the to S" support frame assemblies is connected to a conveyor belt frame which generally extends the length of the conveyor belt system.

Particularly in transfer areas, such as immediately underneath a chute, an excessive build up of material can occur on the conveyor belt. A flexible skirt is connected to the conveyor belt frame or the chute. The flexible skirt consijts of two opposing strips of rubber which are Slocated adjacent opposing edges of the endless belt and 3 extend parallel to the endless belt. The rubber strips, on a bottom edge thereof, contact the endless belt and are designed to restrict spillage of material from either edge of the endless belt.

Spillage of material is particularly common in transfer areas and the material tends to build up on and within the support frame assemblies and the idler rollers.

Consequently, the idler rollers can intermittently lock up and subsequently require servicing or replacement.

To access the idler rollers and the support frame assemblies the chute and skirt must be lifted clear of the endless conveyor belt. The support frame assembly is then disconnected from Ehe conveyor belt frame and the support frame assembly and associated idler rollers removed.

Together the support frame and idler rollers on a relatively large conveyor belt system weigh approximately 200kgs. Suitable lifting machinery must, therefore, be used to remove the support frame assembly and idler rollers. This procedure is time consuming, labour intensive, and relatively expensive due to extended downtime.

OV.i A known retractable support frame sets out to address part of the above problem by having a split support frame assembly. The split assembly comprises two support 25 sections which are connected by a retractable bar which :extends across the conveyor belt frame and supports both sections of the split assembly. To access the idler rollers or remove the support frame the retractable bar is withdrawn and the two support sections can be pulled away from the conveyor belt.

However, this known retractable support frame is difficult to operate because material tends to build up between the retractable bar and each of the support sections. The 4 retractable bar, therefore, sticks and can be extremely difficult to both retract from and insert in each of the support sections.

The intention of the present invention is to provide an idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system which can be removed relatively quickly and with relative ease from a conveyor belt system.

According to the present invention there is provided an idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system having a conveyor belt supported on a plurality of idler rollers rotatably coupled to a conveyor belt frame, said idler roller support assembly comprising: a support frame adapted to rotatably retain one or more of said idler rollers, said support frame adapted to be pivotally coupled to the conveyor belt frame such that the support frame can be pivoted between a first position, in which said conveyor belt is supported on one oo o3 S"or more idler rollers and a second position, in which said conveyor belt is spaced from one or more idler rollers 99 20 whereby said idler rollers can be accessed from underneath the conveyor belt for maintenance or removal.

Preferably, the support frame is pivotally coupled to the conveyor belt frame by means of a mounting frame that is connected to the conveyor belt frame, the support frame pivotally connected to the mounting frame so that, in use, the support frame can be pivoted between the first position and the second position.

iF 5 Preferably, the support frame comprises an elongate member which, in use, rotatably retains said one or more idler rollers.

Preferably, said elongate member is adapted to rotatably retain one or more pairs of said idler rollers, each roller of the pair disposed on opposite sides of the elongate member.

Preferably, said support frame further consists of one or more pairs of idler roller support plates connected substantially perpendicular to the elongate member, each idler roller support plate adapted to rotatably retain an end of each idler roller.

Advantageously, each idler roller support plate has a recess adapted to releasably retain one end of said one or more idler rollers so that when the support frame is in the :":second position each of said idler rollers can be removed from the support frame by withdrawing said idler rollers .from the recess.

S"Preferably, the mounting frame comprises a pair of mounting 20 structures each mounting structure located at opposite ends of the elongate member of the support frame, respectively.

set* 0000 Preferably, each of the mounting structures consists of a pair of guide members spaced apart so as to slidably receive the elongate member of the support frame 25 therebetween.

0 Preferably, either or both of the mounting structures further comprises a stop connected to either or both of the guide members so that the elongate member can rest on the stop when the support frame is moved to the second position.

-6- Preferably, the idler roller support assembly further comprises mounting means designed to releasably engage either the mounting frame or the conveyor belt frame and hold the support frame in the first position.

Preferably, the mounting means consists of a peir of releasable locking pins each of said pair of locking pins engaging one of the pair of mounting structures, respectively, for supporting the support frame in the first position.

Preferably, one end of the elongate member pivotally couples to one of the mounting structures so that, in use, the elongate member can pivot about one of the releasable locking pins when the support frame is moved between the first position and the second position.

Preferably, the idler roller support assembly further comprises an elongate operating tool at a first end thereof being configured to engage the support frame and adjacent S"said first end adapted to engage one of the mounting structures or the conveyor belt frame such that movement of 4* 20 a second end of the operating tool in a downward direction 0. causes the tool to pivot about the mounting structure or the conveyor belt frame and move the support frame in an iupward direction relative to the conveyor belt frame.

Preferably, the mounting structure or the conveyor belt frame includes a fulcrum member wherein the operating tool adjacent the first end is adapted to operatively engage and pivot about the fulcrum member.

Preferably, the idler roller support assembly further comprises an actuating member connected to the support frame said .actuating member, in use, engaged by said first end of the elongate operating tool.

7 Preferably, the actuating member comprises a first receiving pin oriented substantially perpendicular to and A e member.

Sup p~ coupled to thee!§&. member.

Preferably, the fulcrum member consists of a second receiving pin connected to one of the pair of mounting structures.

Preferably, the elongate operating tool has adjacent the first end thereof a curved edge designed to slidably engage the first receiving pin so that pivotal movement of the operating tool about the second receiving pin causes the first receiving pin to slidably move along the curved edge and the support frame to move in an upward direction relative to the conveyor belt frame.

Preferably, the operating tool has a slot in an edge opposite the curved edge, said slot designed such that the S.4. slot can operatively engage the second receivinc pin so as to allow pivotal movement of the operating tool about the second receiving pin.

too**: In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of 20 the present inventions preferred embodiments of an idler roller support assembly will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings •"in which: Figure 1 is an end cross-sectional view of a 25 preferred embodiment of an idler roller support assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of a support frame taken from the idler roller support assembly shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the support frame shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevational view of a mounting structure together with mounting means taken from the idler 8 roller support assembly shown in figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the mounting structure shown in figure 4; and Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an elongate operating tool taken from the idler roller support assembly shown in figure 1.

As best shown in figure 1 there is an idler roller support assembly 10 comprising a support frame 12 movably connected to a mounting frame 14.

The idler roller support assembly 10, in this example, is used with an endless conveyor belt 4 supported on a plurality of idler rollers 6. The endless conveyor belt 4 isfamovably. coupled to a conveyor belt frame including frame members 8 extending parallel to the endless conveyor belt 4. The endless conveyor belt 4 is trained around a head drum and a tail drum (not shown). The plurality of idler rollers 6 are located under and support a conveying surface S of the endless conveyor belt 4.

.9 As shown in figures 2 and 3 the support frame 12, in this embodiment, comprises an elongate member 16 and six pairs of idler roller support plates 18. The elongate member 16 is fabricated in five sections including a centre section "16A, two wing sections 16B, 16C each connected to opposite ends of the centre section 16A, and a pair of mounting 25 sections 16D, i6E each connected to an end of one of the wing sectioas 16B, 16C so as to form a trough in the elongate member 16.

Each pair of roller support plates 18 is welded to and extends perpendicularly from a section of the elongate member 16. In this example, one pair of roller support plates 18 is welded to and disposed on opposing surfaces of the elongate member 16 to another pair of idler support plates 18. Each pair of roller support plates 18 is spaced t I 9 apart so as to rotatably retain one of the idler rollers 6 therebetween. A recess 20 is formed in an edge of each roller support plate 18 opposite its welded connection to the elongate member 16. Each pair of roller support plates 18 is adapted to releasably retain one of the idler rollers 6 in the recess The idler roller support assembly 10, in this example, further comprises a pair of actuating members shown generally as 21A, 21B connected to the elongate member 16.

Each actuating member 21A, 21B consists of a pair of plates 22A, 22B welded to opposing surfaces of the elongate member 16 adjacent each end thereof. Each actuating member 21A, 21B further comprises a first receiving pin 24A, 24B connected between the pair of plates 22A, 22B, respectively.

As shown in figures 4 and 5 the mounting frame 14 comprises *i a pair of mounting structures 26 each including a pair of guide members, in this example, a pair of opposing rightangle section members 28. At each end of the pair of right-angle members 28 there is welded a first and second end plate 30A, 30B, respectively. As shown in figure 1, at one end of the mounting structure 26 the second end plate is bolted to one of the frame members 8. At an i' opposite end of the mounting structure 26 the first end 25 plate 30A interconnects a pair of supporting webs 32 which are welded to each of the pair of right-angle members 28.

The first end plate 30A is bolted to another of the frame members 8 and connects the mounting structure 26 between

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the pair of frame members 8.

r e Each of the mounting structures 26 further comprises a fulcrum member, in this embodiment a second receiving pin 34, connected between the pair of opposing right-angle members 28. The second receiving pin 34 is located adjacent the second end plate 30B. A stop, in this example 10 a stop pin 36, is connected betweel:a the pair of membe.-s 28 adjacent the first end plate As shown in figure 6 the idler roller support assembly further comprises an elongate operating tool 38. The tool 38 has a curved edge 44 adjacent a first end of the tool 38, the curved edge 44 shaped similar to a portion of an ellipse. On an edge opposite the curved edge 44 the tool 38 has a slot 42 designed to operatively engage the second receiving pin 34.

As shown in figure 1 the support frame 12 is cradled between the pair of mounting structures 26. Each of the mounting sections 16D, 16J of the elongate member 16 is located between the pair of opposing right-angle members 28 of each mounting structure 26. A releasable cradle pin 46 passing through the pair of right angle members 28 and the elongate members 16 cradles the support frame 12. The support frame. 12, as depicted in Figure 1, is held in a first position so that the endless conveyor belt 4 is supported on the idler rollers 6, 20 Operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention will now be described in some detail.

With the support frame in the first position, as shown in Figure 1, the operating tool 38 is passed between one of the pair of right angle members 28 and between the pair of S 25 plates 22A, 22B connected to the elongate member 16. The slot 42 of the operating tool 38 then engages the second receiving pin 34 connected between the pair of right angle members 28. The tool 38 can thus pivot about the second receiving pin 34. When an end of the tool 38 opposite the first end is moved in a downward direction the first end moves in an upward direction. The curved edge 44 of the tool 38 bears against the first receiving pin 24 and takes the load of the support frame 12 and idler rollers 6. With 11 the load of the support frame 12 and idler rollers 6 taken on the curved edge 44 of the tool 38 the retractable cradle pin 46 can be retracted from the pair of right angle members 28 and the elongate member 16.

Once the cradle pin 46 is retracted the opposite end of the tool 38 can be moved in an upward direction so that the first end of the tool 38 moves in a downward direction. As the first end moves in the downward direction the first receiving pin 24 bears against and slidably moves along the curved edge 44. At the same time the elongate member 16 at an opposite end pivots about an opposite second receiving pir 34. The support frame 12 is then gradually lowered to a second position such that the elongate member 16 rests on the stop pin 36. With the support frame 12 in the second position each of the idler rollers 6 can be accessed and, in this example, removed from the corresponding pair of support plates 18. Similarly, the operating tool 38 can be used to lower the opposite end of the elongate member 16 so ii that the idler rollers 6 can be accessed and removed from the support plates 18.

Once the idler rollers 6 and support frame 12 have been serviced and/or replaced the operating tool 38 is used to return the support frame 12 to the first position. The tool 38 is moved in the downward direction so as to raise 25 the support frame 12 and the retractable cradle pin 46 then o passed through the pair of right angle members 28 and the elongate member 16. The cradle pin 46 thus supports the support frame 12 in the first position.

eeoee Now that a preferred embodiment of an idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system has been described in some detail it will be apparent that the present invention has at least the following advantages over the prior art: 12 the idler roller support assembly can be accessed from underneath the conveyor belt with relative ease compared to existing conveyor belt systems; idler rollers can be removed individually from the idler rollers support assembly for quick and relatively easy maintenance or replacement; the idler roller support assembly provides improved support for an endless conveyor belt with pairs of idler rollers disposed on opposite sides of a support frame; and, the idler roller support assembly can be retrofitted to existing endless conveyor systems.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that numerous variations and modifications can be made to the idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system in addition to those already mentioned above, without departing from the basic inventive concepts and spirit of the present invention. For example, the operating tool described herein can take a variety of 20 shapes and configurations all of which remain within the scope of the present invention. The support frame described herein may take various configurations and is not restricted to the trough shaped elongate member described.

Furthermore, the z-support -frame may-od aby rather -than- 25 pivtall y move relative to the convyor b lt frame or th e- -mounting frame. The idler rollers may be rotatably connected to the support frame in a variety of ways and is not restricted to location in a slot as described herein.

All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

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Claims (15)

1. An idler roller 'support assembly for a conveyor belt system having a conveyor belt supported on a plurality of idler rollers rotatably cdupled to a conveyor belt frame, said idler roller support assembly comprising: a support frame adapted to rotatably retain one or more of said idler rollers, said support frame adapted to be pivotally coupled to the conveyor belt frame such that the support frame can be pivoted between a first position, in which said conveyor belt is supported on one or more idler rollers and a second position, in which said conveyor belt is spaced from one or more idler rollers whereby said idler rollers can be accessed from underneath the conveyor belt for maintenance or removal.

2. The idler roller support assembly according to S* claim 1 wherein the support frame is pivotally coupled to the conveyor belt frame by means of a mounting frame that is connected to the conveyor belt frame, the support frame 9e*eoe pivotally connected to the mounting frame so that, in use, the support frame can be pivoted between the first position and the second position. 9 The idler roller support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support frame comprises an elongate member which, in use, rotatably retains said one or more idler rollers.

4. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 3 wherein said elongate member is adapted to rotatably retain one or more pairs of said idler rollers, each roller of the pair disposed on opposite sides or the elongate member. The idler roller support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said support frame 14 further consists of one or more pairs of idler roller support plates connected substantially perpendicular to the elongate member, each idler roller support plate adapted to rotatably retain an end of each idler roller.

6. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 5 wherein each idler roller support plate has a recess adapted to releasably retain one end of said one or more idler rollers so that when the support frame is in the second position each of said idler rollers can be removed from the support frame by withdrawing said idler rollers from the recess.

7. The idler roller support assembly according to i claim 2 wherein the mounting frame comprises a pair of mounting structures each mounting structure located at 15 opposite ends of the elongate member of the support frame, respectively.

8. The idler roller support assembly according to S"claim 7 wherein each of the mounting structures consists of a pair of guide members spaced apart so as to slidably i 20 receive the elongate member of the support frame :I therebetween.

9. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 8 wherein either or both of the mounting structures further comprises a stop connected to either or both of the guide members so that the elongate member can rest on the stop when the support frame is moved to the second position. The idler roller support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising mounting means designed to releasably engage either the mounting frame or the conveyor belt frame and hold the support frame in the first position. 15

11. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 10 wherein the mounting means consists of a pair of releasable locking pins each of said pair of locking pins engaging one of the pair of mounting structures, respectively, for supporting the support frame in the first position.

12. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 11 wherein one end of the elongate member pivotally couples to one of the mounting structures so that, in use, the elongate member can pivot about one of the releasable locking pins when the support frame is moved between the first position and the second position. i "13. The idler roller support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an 15 elongate operating tool at a first end thereof being configured to engage the support frame and adjacent said *so. first end adapted to engage one of the motinting structures or the conveyor belt frame such that movement of a second end of the operating tool in a downward direction causes the tool to pivot about the mounting structure or the conveyor belt frame and move the support frame in an upward direction relative to the conveyor belt frame.

14. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 13 wherein the mounting structure or the conveyor belt frame includes a fulcrum member wherein the operating tool adjacent the first end is adapted to operatively engage and pivot about the fulcrum member. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 13 or claim 14 further comprising an actuating member connected to the support frame said actuating member, in use, engaged by said first end of the elongate operating tool. 16

16. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 15 wherein the actuating member comprises a first receiving pin oriented substantially perpendicular to and coupled to the support member.

17. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 14 wherein the fulcrum member consists of a second receiving pin connected to one of the pair of mounting structures.

18. The idler roller support assembly according to claim, 17 wherein the elongate operating tool has adjacent the first end thereof a 'curved edge designe to slidably engage the first receiving pin so that pivotal movement of the operating tool about the second receiving pin causes the first receivirg pin to slidably move along the curved 15 edge and the support frame to move in an upward direction relative to the conveyor belt frame.

19. The idler roller support assembly according to claim 18 wherein the operating tool has a slot in an edge opposite the curved edge, said slot designed such that the 20 slot can operatively engage the second receiving pin so as ,jto allow pivotal movement of the operating tool about the second receiving pin.

20. An idler roller support assembly for a conveyor belt system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 1995 E.M.M.S. By Its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia