US20170029217A1 - Counter-Weighted Conveyor Cover - Google Patents
Counter-Weighted Conveyor Cover Download PDFInfo
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- US20170029217A1 US20170029217A1 US14/815,912 US201514815912A US2017029217A1 US 20170029217 A1 US20170029217 A1 US 20170029217A1 US 201514815912 A US201514815912 A US 201514815912A US 2017029217 A1 US2017029217 A1 US 2017029217A1
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- Prior art keywords
- cover
- counter
- weight
- conveyor
- housing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G33/00—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
- B65G33/08—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials
- B65G33/14—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G21/00—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
- B65G21/08—Protective roofs or arch supports therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G33/00—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
- B65G33/24—Details
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to a counter-weighted cover for a conveyor.
- Covers are used by some of the current conveyors, such as screw conveyors or other types of conveyors, in order to gain access to the internal components of the conveyor.
- some of the current conveyors such as screw conveyors or other types of conveyors
- due to the heavy weight of the covers it is often difficult for users to manually move the covers from their closed to open positions.
- the current conveyors may experience one or more additional issues.
- a conveyor cover is needed to reduce one or more issues of one or more of the current conveyors and their methods of use.
- a screw conveyor in one embodiment, includes a housing, a rotate-able helical screw blade, and a cover.
- the housing includes a trough.
- the rotate-able helical screw blade is disposed within the trough.
- the cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing at a pivot point between a closed position covering the trough and an open position uncovering the trough.
- the cover includes a counter-weight with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point.
- a conveyor in another embodiment, includes a housing, a moveable conveyor member, and a cover.
- the moveable conveyor member is moveably attached to the housing.
- the cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing at a pivot point between a closed position covering the moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member.
- the cover includes a counter-weight with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point.
- a method of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor is disclosed.
- a counter-weight is attached to a cover.
- the cover is rotate-ably attached to a housing at a pivot point, with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point, so that the cover is rotate-able between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member attached to the housing and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member.
- a method of moving a cover of a conveyor is disclosed.
- a cover attached to a housing about a pivot point, is rotated between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member with a counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover.
- FIG. 1 a perspective view of a conveyor with a cover of the conveyor disposed in a closed position
- FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the conveyor of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in the closed position;
- FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the conveyor of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in the closed position;
- FIG. 4 illustrates the end view of the conveyor of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in an open position;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor
- FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of moving a cover of a conveyor.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conveyor 10 with a cover 18 of the conveyor 10 disposed in a closed position.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the conveyor 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover 18 of the conveyor 10 disposed in the closed position.
- FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the conveyor 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover 18 of the conveyor 10 disposed in the closed position.
- FIG. 4 illustrates the end view of the conveyor 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover 18 of the conveyor 10 disposed in an open position.
- the conveyor 10 comprises a housing 12 , a moveable conveyor member 14 , a motor 16 , and a cover 18 .
- the conveyor 10 comprises a screw conveyor with the moveable conveyor member 14 comprising a rotate-able, helical screw blade 20 attached to a shaft 22 .
- the conveyor 10 and the moveable conveyor member 14 may comprise any type of conveyor and/or moveable conveyor member.
- the housing 12 contains a trough 24 .
- the trough 24 is semi-circular. In other embodiments, the shape, size, configuration, and orientation of the housing 12 may vary.
- the moveable conveyor member 14 is disposed in the trough 24 .
- the motor 16 rotates the shaft 22 around axis 27 thereby rotating the attached helical screw blade 20 around the axis 27 to move product 28 , carried by the helical screw blade 20 , from an input location 30 at the bottom of the conveyor 10 to an output location 32 at the top of the conveyor 10 .
- the product 28 may comprise any type of product such as a food product or another type of non-food product which needs to be moved from one location to another using the conveyor 10 .
- the cover 18 is moveably attached to the housing 12 between a closed position covering the trough 24 and, as shown in FIG. 4 , an open position uncovering the trough 24 .
- the cover 18 is rotate-ably attached to the housing 12 with a hinge 34 at a pivot point 36 rotate-ably attaching the cover 18 to the housing 12 so that the cover 18 is moveable between the closed position of FIGS. 1-3 covering the trough 24 and the open position of FIG. 4 uncovering the trough 24 .
- the moveable conveyor member 14 disposed within the trough 24 is uncovered allowing for a user to gain access to the moveable conveyor member 14 for maintenance.
- a latch 38 is configured to lock the cover 18 to the housing 12 and to unlock the cover 18 from the housing 12 when the cover 18 is disposed in the closed position of FIGS. 1-3 covering the trough 24 .
- the cover 18 comprises a counter-weight 40 attached to and within an opening 42 of the cover 18 .
- the counter-weight 40 may be press-fit or adhered within the opening 42 of the cover 18 .
- the counter-weight may be attached within the opening of the cover using varying attachment mechanisms such as fasteners or other types of attachment mechanisms.
- the counter-weight 40 may be attached to any portion of the cover 18 .
- the cover 18 and the counter-weight 40 are both made of the same material, such as stainless steel or another type of material, with the cover 18 being much thinner than the counter-weight 40 .
- the cover 18 is made of a first material and the counter-weight 40 is made of a second material with the second material being different than the first material and having a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of the cover 18 .
- the cover 18 and the counter-weight 40 may vary in shape, dimensions, orientation, configuration, or material.
- the counter-weight 40 of the cover 18 and the center-of-gravity 44 of the cover 18 are located at opposing sides 46 and 48 of the pivot point 36 rotate-ably attaching the cover 18 to the housing 12 .
- the counter-weight 40 counter-balances the center-of-gravity 44 of the cover 18 .
- the presence of the counter-weight 40 moves the center-of-gravity 44 of the cover 18 closer to the pivot point 36 than where the center-of-gravity 44 of the cover 18 would have been if the cover 18 did not include the counter-weight 40 .
- the counter-weight 40 allows a user to move the cover 18 from the closed position of FIGS. 1-3 to the open position of FIG. 4 with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if the cover 18 did not comprise the counter-weight 40 .
- the counter-weight 40 allows a user to move the cover 18 from the closed position of FIGS.
- the counter-weight 40 may vary in type, size, attachment, configuration, orientation, location, or function and may allow for the cover 18 to move from the closed position of FIGS. 1-3 to the open position of FIG. 4 with varying amounts of force.
- the conveyor 10 , housing 12 , moveable conveyor member 14 , motor 16 , and cover 18 may vary in type, shape, configuration, orientation, configuration, or function.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 50 of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor.
- the method 50 may utilize any conveyors of the instant disclosure. In other embodiments, the method 50 may utilize varying conveyors.
- a counter-weight is attached to a cover.
- the cover and the counter-weight may be made of the same material but may comprise varying thicknesses.
- the cover may comprise a first material and the counter-weight may comprise a second material which is different than the first material having a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of the cover.
- the counter-weight may be disposed in an opening of the cover.
- a moveable conveyor member is moveably attached to a housing of a conveyor.
- step 54 comprises disposing a rotate-able helical screw blade within a trough of the housing of the conveyor.
- the moveable conveyor member may vary.
- step 56 the cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing of the conveyor at a pivot point, with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point so that the cover is rotate-able between a closed position covering the moveable conveyor member moveably attached to the housing and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member.
- step 56 further comprises the presence of the counter-weight moving the center-of-gravity of the cover closer to the pivot point than where the center-of-gravity would have been without the presence of the counter-weight.
- step 56 further comprises the counter-weight counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover.
- step 56 further comprises disposing a hinge at the pivot point with the hinge attaching the cover to the housing.
- a user moves the cover from the closed position to the open position with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover.
- the amount of force required to move the cover from the closed position to the open position is at least 25 percent less force than would have been needed if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover. In still other embodiments, this percentage of reduced force necessary to move the cover from the closed position to the open position may vary.
- one or more steps of the method 50 may be varied in substance or order, one or more steps of the method 50 may not be followed, or one or more additional steps may be added to the method 50 . In still other embodiments, the method 50 may vary further.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 60 of moving a cover of a conveyor.
- the method 60 may utilize any conveyors of the instant disclosure. In other embodiments, the method 60 may utilize varying conveyors.
- step 62 a cover, attached to a housing of the conveyor about a pivot point, is rotated between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member with a counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover.
- step 64 the cover is rotated about the pivot point from the open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member back to the closed position covering the moveable conveyor member with the counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover.
- the conveyor may comprise a screw conveyor and the moveable conveyor member may comprise a rotate-able helical screw blade disposed within a trough of the housing of the conveyor.
- the conveyor and the moveable conveyor member may vary.
- the cover may comprise a first material and the counter-weight may comprise a second material which is different than the first material.
- the second material of the counter-weight may have a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of the cover.
- the first and the second materials may vary.
- the counter-weight may be disposed in an opening of the cover. In another embodiment, the counter-weight may be attached to any portion of the cover.
- the presence of the counter-weight may move the center-of-gravity of the cover closer to the pivot point than where the center-of-gravity of the cover would have been without the presence of the counter-weight.
- the location of the center-of-gravity of the cover relative to the pivot point may vary.
- the rotating the cover may be done using a hinge disposed at the pivot point.
- the rotating the cover may be done using varying rotation mechanisms.
- the rotating the cover may comprise a user rotating the cover from the closed position to the open position with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover.
- the amount of force reduction needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position may vary.
- one or more steps of the method 60 may be varied in substance or order, one or more steps of the method 60 may not be followed, or one or more additional steps may be added to the method 60 . In still other embodiments, the method 60 may vary further.
- One or more embodiments of the disclosure may reduce the force needed by a user to move the conveyor cover from a closed position to an open position in order to gain access to a moveable conveyor member disposed in the conveyor. Moreover, one or more embodiments of the disclosure may reduce or eliminate one or more additional issues of one or more of the current conveyors.
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Abstract
Description
- This disclosure relates to a counter-weighted cover for a conveyor.
- Covers are used by some of the current conveyors, such as screw conveyors or other types of conveyors, in order to gain access to the internal components of the conveyor. However, due to the heavy weight of the covers, it is often difficult for users to manually move the covers from their closed to open positions. Moreover, the current conveyors may experience one or more additional issues.
- A conveyor cover is needed to reduce one or more issues of one or more of the current conveyors and their methods of use.
- In one embodiment, a screw conveyor is disclosed. The screw conveyor includes a housing, a rotate-able helical screw blade, and a cover. The housing includes a trough. The rotate-able helical screw blade is disposed within the trough. The cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing at a pivot point between a closed position covering the trough and an open position uncovering the trough. The cover includes a counter-weight with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point.
- In another embodiment, a conveyor is disclosed. The conveyor includes a housing, a moveable conveyor member, and a cover. The moveable conveyor member is moveably attached to the housing. The cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing at a pivot point between a closed position covering the moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member. The cover includes a counter-weight with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point.
- In yet another embodiment, a method of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor is disclosed. In one step, a counter-weight is attached to a cover. In another step, the cover is rotate-ably attached to a housing at a pivot point, with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point, so that the cover is rotate-able between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member attached to the housing and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member.
- In still another embodiment, a method of moving a cover of a conveyor is disclosed. In one step, a cover, attached to a housing about a pivot point, is rotated between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member with a counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover.
- The scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected by the statements within this summary.
- The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
-
FIG. 1 a perspective view of a conveyor with a cover of the conveyor disposed in a closed position; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the conveyor of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in the closed position; -
FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the conveyor of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in the closed position; -
FIG. 4 illustrates the end view of the conveyor of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with the cover of the conveyor disposed in an open position; -
FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor; and -
FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of moving a cover of a conveyor. -
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of aconveyor 10 with acover 18 of theconveyor 10 disposed in a closed position.FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of theconveyor 10 of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with thecover 18 of theconveyor 10 disposed in the closed position.FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of theconveyor 10 of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with thecover 18 of theconveyor 10 disposed in the closed position.FIG. 4 illustrates the end view of theconveyor 10 of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 with thecover 18 of theconveyor 10 disposed in an open position. - As illustrated collectively in
FIGS. 1-4 , theconveyor 10 comprises ahousing 12, amoveable conveyor member 14, amotor 16, and acover 18. Theconveyor 10 comprises a screw conveyor with themoveable conveyor member 14 comprising a rotate-able,helical screw blade 20 attached to ashaft 22. In other embodiments, theconveyor 10 and themoveable conveyor member 14 may comprise any type of conveyor and/or moveable conveyor member. - The
housing 12 contains atrough 24. Thetrough 24 is semi-circular. In other embodiments, the shape, size, configuration, and orientation of thehousing 12 may vary. Themoveable conveyor member 14 is disposed in thetrough 24. Themotor 16 rotates theshaft 22 aroundaxis 27 thereby rotating the attachedhelical screw blade 20 around theaxis 27 to moveproduct 28, carried by thehelical screw blade 20, from aninput location 30 at the bottom of theconveyor 10 to anoutput location 32 at the top of theconveyor 10. Theproduct 28 may comprise any type of product such as a food product or another type of non-food product which needs to be moved from one location to another using theconveyor 10. - As shown in
FIGS. 1-3 , thecover 18 is moveably attached to thehousing 12 between a closed position covering thetrough 24 and, as shown inFIG. 4 , an open position uncovering thetrough 24. Thecover 18 is rotate-ably attached to thehousing 12 with a hinge 34 at a pivot point 36 rotate-ably attaching thecover 18 to thehousing 12 so that thecover 18 is moveable between the closed position ofFIGS. 1-3 covering thetrough 24 and the open position ofFIG. 4 uncovering thetrough 24. When thecover 18 is disposed in the open position ofFIG. 4 uncovering thetrough 24, themoveable conveyor member 14 disposed within thetrough 24 is uncovered allowing for a user to gain access to themoveable conveyor member 14 for maintenance. Alatch 38 is configured to lock thecover 18 to thehousing 12 and to unlock thecover 18 from thehousing 12 when thecover 18 is disposed in the closed position ofFIGS. 1-3 covering thetrough 24. - The
cover 18 comprises a counter-weight 40 attached to and within an opening 42 of thecover 18. The counter-weight 40 may be press-fit or adhered within the opening 42 of thecover 18. In other embodiments, the counter-weight may be attached within the opening of the cover using varying attachment mechanisms such as fasteners or other types of attachment mechanisms. In still other embodiments, the counter-weight 40 may be attached to any portion of thecover 18. In one embodiment, thecover 18 and the counter-weight 40 are both made of the same material, such as stainless steel or another type of material, with thecover 18 being much thinner than the counter-weight 40. In another embodiment, thecover 18 is made of a first material and the counter-weight 40 is made of a second material with the second material being different than the first material and having a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of thecover 18. In other embodiments, thecover 18 and the counter-weight 40 may vary in shape, dimensions, orientation, configuration, or material. The counter-weight 40 of thecover 18 and the center-of-gravity 44 of thecover 18 are located atopposing sides cover 18 to thehousing 12. - The counter-weight 40 counter-balances the center-of-
gravity 44 of thecover 18. The presence of the counter-weight 40 moves the center-of-gravity 44 of thecover 18 closer to the pivot point 36 than where the center-of-gravity 44 of thecover 18 would have been if thecover 18 did not include the counter-weight 40. The counter-weight 40 allows a user to move thecover 18 from the closed position ofFIGS. 1-3 to the open position ofFIG. 4 with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if thecover 18 did not comprise the counter-weight 40. Preferably, the counter-weight 40 allows a user to move thecover 18 from the closed position ofFIGS. 1-3 to the open position ofFIG. 4 with at least 25 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if thecover 18 did not comprise the counter-weight 40. In other embodiments, the counter-weight 40 may vary in type, size, attachment, configuration, orientation, location, or function and may allow for thecover 18 to move from the closed position ofFIGS. 1-3 to the open position ofFIG. 4 with varying amounts of force. In still other embodiments, theconveyor 10,housing 12,moveable conveyor member 14,motor 16, and cover 18 may vary in type, shape, configuration, orientation, configuration, or function. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of amethod 50 of counter-balancing a cover of a conveyor. Themethod 50 may utilize any conveyors of the instant disclosure. In other embodiments, themethod 50 may utilize varying conveyors. Instep 52, a counter-weight is attached to a cover. In one embodiment, the cover and the counter-weight may be made of the same material but may comprise varying thicknesses. In another embodiment, the cover may comprise a first material and the counter-weight may comprise a second material which is different than the first material having a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of the cover. In one embodiment, the counter-weight may be disposed in an opening of the cover. - In
step 54, a moveable conveyor member is moveably attached to a housing of a conveyor. In one embodiment,step 54 comprises disposing a rotate-able helical screw blade within a trough of the housing of the conveyor. In other embodiments, the moveable conveyor member may vary. - In
step 56, the cover is rotate-ably attached to the housing of the conveyor at a pivot point, with the counter-weight and a center-of-gravity of the cover located at opposing sides of the pivot point so that the cover is rotate-able between a closed position covering the moveable conveyor member moveably attached to the housing and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member. In one embodiment, step 56 further comprises the presence of the counter-weight moving the center-of-gravity of the cover closer to the pivot point than where the center-of-gravity would have been without the presence of the counter-weight. In one embodiment, step 56 further comprises the counter-weight counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover. In one embodiment, step 56 further comprises disposing a hinge at the pivot point with the hinge attaching the cover to the housing. - In
step 58, a user moves the cover from the closed position to the open position with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover. Preferably, the amount of force required to move the cover from the closed position to the open position is at least 25 percent less force than would have been needed if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover. In still other embodiments, this percentage of reduced force necessary to move the cover from the closed position to the open position may vary. - In other embodiments, one or more steps of the
method 50 may be varied in substance or order, one or more steps of themethod 50 may not be followed, or one or more additional steps may be added to themethod 50. In still other embodiments, themethod 50 may vary further. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of amethod 60 of moving a cover of a conveyor. Themethod 60 may utilize any conveyors of the instant disclosure. In other embodiments, themethod 60 may utilize varying conveyors. Instep 62, a cover, attached to a housing of the conveyor about a pivot point, is rotated between a closed position covering a moveable conveyor member and an open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member with a counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover. Instep 64, the cover is rotated about the pivot point from the open position uncovering the moveable conveyor member back to the closed position covering the moveable conveyor member with the counter-weight of the cover, attached to the cover at an opposing side of the pivot point as a center-of-gravity of the cover, counter-balancing the center-of-gravity of the cover. - In one embodiment, the conveyor may comprise a screw conveyor and the moveable conveyor member may comprise a rotate-able helical screw blade disposed within a trough of the housing of the conveyor. In another embodiment, the conveyor and the moveable conveyor member may vary. In one embodiment, the cover may comprise a first material and the counter-weight may comprise a second material which is different than the first material. The second material of the counter-weight may have a higher volumetric mass density (mass per unit volume) than the first material of the cover. In another embodiment, the first and the second materials may vary. In one embodiment, the counter-weight may be disposed in an opening of the cover. In another embodiment, the counter-weight may be attached to any portion of the cover.
- In one embodiment, the presence of the counter-weight may move the center-of-gravity of the cover closer to the pivot point than where the center-of-gravity of the cover would have been without the presence of the counter-weight. In another embodiment, the location of the center-of-gravity of the cover relative to the pivot point may vary. In one embodiment, the rotating the cover may be done using a hinge disposed at the pivot point. In another embodiment, the rotating the cover may be done using varying rotation mechanisms. In one embodiment, the rotating the cover may comprise a user rotating the cover from the closed position to the open position with a range of 1 percent to 99 percent less force than the user would have needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position if the counter-weight had not been attached to the cover. In another embodiment, the amount of force reduction needed to move the cover from the closed position to the open position may vary.
- In other embodiments, one or more steps of the
method 60 may be varied in substance or order, one or more steps of themethod 60 may not be followed, or one or more additional steps may be added to themethod 60. In still other embodiments, themethod 60 may vary further. - One or more embodiments of the disclosure, utilizing a counter-weighted conveyor cover, may reduce the force needed by a user to move the conveyor cover from a closed position to an open position in order to gain access to a moveable conveyor member disposed in the conveyor. Moreover, one or more embodiments of the disclosure may reduce or eliminate one or more additional issues of one or more of the current conveyors.
- The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
- While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (31)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/815,912 US9540180B1 (en) | 2015-07-31 | 2015-07-31 | Counter-weighted conveyor cover |
PCT/US2016/044502 WO2017023698A1 (en) | 2015-07-31 | 2016-07-28 | Counter-weighted conveyor cover |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/815,912 US9540180B1 (en) | 2015-07-31 | 2015-07-31 | Counter-weighted conveyor cover |
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US9540180B1 US9540180B1 (en) | 2017-01-10 |
US20170029217A1 true US20170029217A1 (en) | 2017-02-02 |
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US14/815,912 Expired - Fee Related US9540180B1 (en) | 2015-07-31 | 2015-07-31 | Counter-weighted conveyor cover |
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AU2017358063A1 (en) * | 2016-11-11 | 2019-05-23 | Nepean Conveyors Pty Ltd | Conveyor module, conveyor assembly, and method of installing a conveyor assembly |
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US2656036A (en) * | 1950-09-02 | 1953-10-20 | Jeffrey Mfg Co | Conveyer housing |
US2760622A (en) * | 1951-05-09 | 1956-08-28 | Case Co J I | Universal elevator |
US2837203A (en) * | 1953-03-11 | 1958-06-03 | Case Co J I | Hinge construction |
US2896291A (en) * | 1956-04-30 | 1959-07-28 | Pillsbury Co | Adjustable clamping device |
US4170293A (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1979-10-09 | Cambelt International Corporation | Enclosed conveyor |
US4279556A (en) * | 1980-01-11 | 1981-07-21 | Ronning Engineering Company, Inc. | Auger airlock assembly having product cutting knife |
US4540086A (en) * | 1984-04-16 | 1985-09-10 | David Gary L | Grain auger closing spout |
US4603769A (en) * | 1984-07-16 | 1986-08-05 | Bert Bach | Grain chute system |
US4714151A (en) * | 1986-04-30 | 1987-12-22 | Cambelt International Corporation | Apparatus for supporting and enclosing conveyor systems |
FR2620956A1 (en) * | 1987-09-29 | 1989-03-31 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | METHOD FOR FORMING TITANIUM OR TITANIUM ALLOY SURFACE SHEET ELEMENT |
FR2825691B1 (en) * | 2001-06-08 | 2003-09-12 | Hugues Coppel | BELT CONVEYOR |
US8528267B2 (en) * | 2009-11-23 | 2013-09-10 | Capotex 2000, S.L. | Walkway or passageway cover |
US8623150B2 (en) * | 2011-12-21 | 2014-01-07 | Champion Industries, Inc. | Batch dishware washing machine with steam venting |
US9132967B2 (en) * | 2013-02-15 | 2015-09-15 | Mark E. Koenig | Pressure relief tube for auger |
-
2015
- 2015-07-31 US US14/815,912 patent/US9540180B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2016
- 2016-07-28 WO PCT/US2016/044502 patent/WO2017023698A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US9540180B1 (en) | 2017-01-10 |
WO2017023698A1 (en) | 2017-02-09 |
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