CA2527295A1

CA2527295A1 - Slide for conveyor assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2527295A1
Application number: CA 2527295
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jean Marc Boudreau
Original assignee: Canglide Inc
Current assignee: Canglide Inc
Priority date: 2005-11-17
Filing date: 2005-11-17
Publication date: 2007-05-17

Abstract

A slide for an endless belt conveyor, which includes an endless belt which has wear pads mounted on a base extending traversely beneath the belt for supporting the latter. The wear pads are raised above the base. Teflon bolts are also disclosed for securing the slide to the base.

Description

SLIDE FOR CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a slide for supporting a conveyor belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Slides, which have been referred to as idlers, have been used for some time to support conveyor belts. For example, United States Patent No.
6,854,593 issued to Boudreau et al (hereinafter Boudreau) on February 15, 2005, discloses a slide referred to therein as a pad-type idler, for slidably supporting a continuous conveyor belt. The pad-type idlers are supported on a metal support above a base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a slide for use on an endless belt conveyor, said slide comprising a crossbar for extending perpendicular to the path of travel of the endless belt; and a wear pad on said crossbar for supporting said belt during travel of the belt, said wear pad extending perpendicular to said path of travel; a spacer between said pad and said crossbar for spacing said pad from said crossbar; and retaining means for retaining said pad and spacer on said crossbar.

[0004] In another embodiment, the invention relates to a slide for use on an endless belt conveyor, said slide comprising a crossbar for extending perpendicular to the path of travel of the endless belt; the top of said crossbar having a hole therethrough; a wear pad on said crossbar for supporting said belt during travel of the belt, said wear pad extending perpendicular to said path of travel and having a threaded hole therethrough; a synthetic fluorine-containing resin bolt in said threaded hole extending through said hole in said crossbar; and locking means for retaining said pad on said crossbar.

4095540 v3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a slide assembly in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a wear pad mounted with a spacer on a crossbar in the slide assembly of Fig 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the wear pad of Fig. 2 Figure 4 is a top view of the wear pad of Fig. 2;
Figure 5 is a side view of the spacer of Fig. 2;
Figure 6 is a top view of the spacer of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a top view of the crossbar of Fig. 2 without a wear pad;
Figure 8 is a side view of a wear pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a top view of the wear pad of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a side view of a mounting bolt of the wear pad of Fig. 2;
Figure 11 is a top view of the mounting bolt of Fig. 10;

Figure 12 is a partial section bottom view of a section of a crossbar according to the invention onto which the wearbar of Fig. 8 is mounted;

Figure 13 is a cross-section view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 12;

Figure 14 is a partial-section view taken along line B-B' of Fig. 13; and Figure 15 is a top view of the crossbar of Fig. 13 without a wear pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0006] Referring to Fig. 1, the slide of the present invention in one embodiment is intended for use in a conveyor assembly indicated generally at 2 including an endless belt 4, for receiving material (not shown) to be conveyed. A
series of assemblies 2 is typically used to support a conveyor along its length.

[0007] During travel, the belt 4 is supported by horizontal wear pads 6 and inclined wear pads 8. The wear pad 6 is mounted on an elongated horizontal crossbar 10 which is supported by vertical center posts 12 extending upwardly from the middle of the base 15. The inclined wear pads 8 are mounted on inclined elongated crossbars 14 supported by inclined side posts 16 extending upwardly from the ends of the base 15. The only difference between the wear pads 6 and 8 is the angle of the pad with respect to the horizontal when mounted on the crossbars or 14. The wear pads 6 and 8, which are formed of a Teflon (trade-mark for synthetic fluorine-containing resin) composite that is suitable for the food industry, are similar to the pads disclosed by applicant's United States Patent No.
6,854,593, issued February 15, 2005 and are described below.

[0008] Referring to Figs. 2-4, the wear pad 6 has a rectangular main top surface 18 which contacts the belt 4. The top side edge 20 of the wear pad 6 are bevelled while the bottom surface 22 is rectangular. Two bores 24 are provided in the wear pad 6 for receiving a bolt 26. The bolt 26 is made from stainless steel but can also be made from Teflon suitable for use in the food industry or from other suitable material.

[0009] The wear pad 6 can optionally include cylindrical or frusto-conical wear indicators of the types described in applicant's Canadian patent application no.

2,327,646 and United States patent no. 6,854,593 respectively and which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0010] The wear pad 6, when mounted on the crossbar 10, sits on two spacers 26 which space the wear pad 6 from the crossbar 10 forming a gap 28.

[0011] The spacer 26 is a cylinder made from Teflon that is suitable for the food industry and has a bore 28 for receiving the bolt 26.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 7, the crossbar 10 is made from steel and is generally c-shaped in cross section and includes holes 30 for receiving bolts 24. The crossbars 14 similarly have two holes therethrough (not shown).

[0013] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 , the wear pad 6 is mounted on the crossbar by bolts 24 which are inserted through the holes 24, the bores 28 and the holes 30 are secured by nut 32 which is tightened on bolt 24 such that the wear pad 6 and spacers 26 are securely mounted on the crossbar 10. The wear pads 8 are mounted on the crossbars 14 in a like fashion.

[0014] The gap 29 facilitates the cleaning of the conveyor assembly 2, including the bottom 22 of the wear pad 6, which is useful where the conveyor assembly 2 is used in food processing facilities where the endless belt 4 carries food.

[0015] Referring to Figs 8 to 14, in another embodiment, wear pad 32 and crossbar 34 can be used in place of wear pads 6 and 8 and crossbars 10 and 14 respectively in conveyor assembly 2.

[0016] The wear pad 32 has a rectangular main top surface 36 which contacts the belt 4. The top side edges 38 of the wear pad 32 are bevelled while the bottom surface 40 is rectangular. Two threaded holes 42 are provided in the wear pad 32 for receiving a bolt 44. The bolt 44 is made from Teflon suitable for use in the food industry. The bolt 44 includes a threaded section 46 and a cylindrical head 46. The base 48 includes a bore 50 therethrough for receiving a cotter pin 52.

[0017] The wear pad 32 can optionally include cylindrical or frusto-conical (indicated by 33) wear indicators of the types described in applicant's Canadian patent no. 2,327,646 and United States patent no. 6,854,593 respectively and which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] The crossbar 34 is made from steel and is generally c-shaped in cross section and includes two holes 54 (one toward each end of the crossbar 34 in a similar fashion to holes 30 in crossbar 10) for receiving bolts 44.

[0019] To mount the wear pad 32, a bolt 44 is screwed into each threaded hole 42.

[0020] The wear pad 32 is then mounted on the crossbar 34 by dropping the base 48 of the bolts 44 into the holes 54. A cotter pin 52 inserted into each bore 50 prevents the wear pad 32 from being removed from the crossbar 34.

Claims

1. A slide for use on an endless belt conveyor, said slide comprising a crossbar for extending perpendicular to the path of travel of the endless belt; and a wear pad on said crossbar for supporting said belt during travel of the belt, said wear pad extending perpendicular to said path of travel; a spacer between said pad and said crossbar for spacing said pad from said crossbar;
and retaining means for retaining said pad and spacer on said crossbar.

2. A slide according to claim 1, wherein said pad, spacer and crossbar each include a hole therethrough; a bolt extending through said pad, spacer and crossbar; a nut on said bolt for retaining said bolt, pad and spacer on said crossbar.

3. A slide for use on an endless belt conveyor, said slide comprising a crossbar for extending perpendicular to the path of travel of the endless belt; the top of said crossbar having a hole therethrough; a wear pad on said crossbar for supporting said belt during travel of the belt, said wear pad extending perpendicular to said path of travel and having a threaded hole therethrough;
a synthetic fluorine-containing resin bolt in said threaded hole extending through said hole in said crossbar; and locking means for retaining said pad on said crossbar.

4. A slide according to claim 2, wherein said bolt includes a threaded portion and a head; said locking means including a hole through said head and a cotter pin insertable in said hole.