US2664994A - Self-aligning carrier - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheef 1 Filed July 18, 1950 INVENTOR. R G. LETOURNEAU AGfNT Patented Jan. 5, 1954 to R..'G. Le Tourneau ofalifornia Inc., Peoria, 111., a corassu s JuIylS 1950 Serial'No; 174 .456 '7 cl ims, (01. 191F202) invention relates; to. Lelt'type carriers. or. conveyorsand more particularly to such. a carrier that. is-conveyed over rolls.

It is extremely diflicult to keep carriersfoi any length in the. proper alignmentv on their rolls. and sometype of adjusting means is usually required for-satisfactory operation. This is especially true where the belt travels. at a high speed suchas in earth. loading, mamhines- The. tendency in these operations is'ior the belt to creep to one side or the other oi the roll and if not corrected, the belt. could work completely on the rolls,v or damage. it-' self on. adjacent equipment.

It is therefore. the primary object. of this in:- venticn to provide a mechanism (for automati Fig. 1) and over a power driven head pulley H cally aligning a. carrier belt'onj its rolls at the first indication that the belt is riding to, one. side Another object of this invention is to provide a means for preventing. the alignment mechanism from sending the belt too far in the other direction when making the adjustment.

A; further object of this invention is to provide an electrically actuated linkage which'w'ill move the troughing' roll in one direction and the carrier rollinthe other direction to. better align. the belt which. is traveling in opposite directions over each- Theseand other objects will be apparent from a perusal oi the following specification and drawin which:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the carrierwith aportion of the belt cutaway to show the alignment mechanism of this invention The trough ing rolls and. one roller "8 and associated parts have been omitted from this view for clarity of illustration.

Fig. .2is an elevational view of the mechanism including the troughing and carrier rolls taken in section along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 v I Fig.3 'is a section taken along the lines 3- 3 of Fig. 1.

[Fig d is a side elevational view of the carrier showing the relationship of the various rolls thereoft Referring now more particularly (to the drawings, a. carrier containing the instant invention is seento consist of a frame ljincluding'sld'e arms 2 audio spaced apart'by means of cross members 3. Troughing rolls 4 are vj ournalledin crossmem bets 3-, on the top oi which rolls an endless belt 5 rides. The self-aligning troughing rolls 4a are journalled in a pivoted cross member 3a, and die rectly beneath a carrier roll 6 is ,journalledin a second pivoted cross member 1.

The belt 5 travels up the incline (as shown in and thenreversing; its. direction, travels. over snubbing roll R and through a floatin snubber structure. S,.and at the lower endof the 'c arrier the belt passes around direction changing pulley D to complete its. cycle.

Near the. top of the carrier frame I a guide roller 8. is journalled as at. 9 in a'bracket. H1 which is. pivoted. as. a unit, to mount l by p n 12. This bracket H1 is free. to. pivot about pin. [2 under the urging of belt 5 until it. strikes. bolt l3 of stop bracket l4. Howeverjust prior to. engagement with bolt [3 the. acket .10 by means of attached pad. will depress plunger lo of. aynormally of! switch ll. attached to. frame I. This switch I"! will actuate a. small. reversible motor [8 which will through its pinion lll'cause gear and attached lead screw 21 to rotate. head screw 21' includes threads 21 which. cooperate with thr ds no: sleeve 24 to. cause sleeve. 24. to advance or retract according to the. direction of. rotation of motor l 8. Sleeve 24 pivoted .by means of. pin 25 to pivot bar 26. Motor [8 and attached gear housing bracket 28 are pivoted by means of pin '2'! and bracket 29 on frame I so that it may Iollowthe lateral movement of pin '25 which naturally occurs when pivot bar Zliis rotated about its pivot pin 30.. Link arms. 3! and 3m are threaded at each end as at alto engage threaded lugs 33 at their pivot bar end and threaded lugs '34 at their other ends. These lugs provide pivotal connections to pivot bar 26. and cross members 3a and 1 respectively by means of pins and studtli It will be observed that when belt 5 attempts to override rolls 4 to the left (toward side arm 2') it will force roller it and braclzet l8 IateraHy Eoutward against the tension of spring 31 until bracket [0 depresses plunger l6 of switch "H. Spring "31 is normally under tension to keep bracket 10 snug against stop piece 38 welded to frame 'I at 38a; it is attached between stop piece 38 and a projecting lug 99 0f bracket 10. This switch will cause motor 18 to rotate in such a direction to force the adjacent'end 4B of bar. away from motor "and sincebar 28 pivots about its pin this action will cause link 3| and consequently cross member 1 to move away from motor I! and in this direction belt 5 will be forced toward side "arm 2a due to the changed 181 ment of roll 6. At the same instant link Ha will be moved toward motor 18 under the action of end 401; of bar 26 tocause top cross member 3a and troughing rolls 4a to be 'out'of lateral alignment in an opposite direction from member 1 and thereby contribute to moving belt 5 in a G1 rection away from roller 8 and toward side arm 2a. Belt under the influence of members 1 and 3a and their respective rolls 6 and 4a will gradually move away from roller 8, and will continue until roll 6 has moved to a set angle, at which time an extension 4| of cross member I will strike against cut off switch 42a mounted on side arm 2. Switch 4211 stops the flow of electric current to motor 18 for any further rotation in the direction in which it has been operating. Belt 5 may, however, continue its gradual movement toward the roller of bracket [0a on the opposite side arm 2a. When this happens, a switch Ha on this side will operate in the same manner as before except here it will cause the direction of rotation of motor l8 to reverse and consequently gradually reverse the positions of members I and 3a until they have moved sufficiently to permit extension 4| to strike against a second cut off switch 42 and again stop motor i8 from further rotation in that direction.

In examining structural details it will be seen that roll 6 is journalled in end pieces 43 depending from cross member I at the extreme ends thereof, while troughing rolls 4a are journalled in the end pieces 44 of member 3a as well as intermediate pieces 45 and these rolls 4a are aligned in a conventional troughing arrangement. Cross members 3a and l are supported in space by means of a turntable structure 46 which includes cross struts 41 fastened between side arms 2 and 2a of frame 1. Plate 48 of turntable 46 fits snugly but in sliding relation between bottom plate 49 of cross member 3a and top'plate 50 of cross member 1. stud 5| is welded to channel 52 and plate 49 of top cross member 3a and this stud has a nut 53 locked thereto on its threaded end by means of set screw 54. The relationship of parts here is such that top member 3a and stud 5! may turn in central opening 55 of turntable 46, and bottom cross member I may turn about stud 5| and on nut 53.

A lubrication fitting 56 is threaded into plate 49 to permit insertion of lubricant for plates 49 and 50 to provide for easy turning between these plates and turntable 48. This lubricant will also find its way through openings 55 and 51 into pocket 58 of nut 53 so that the sliding contact between cross member I and nut 53 may be lubricated.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of this invention, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and useful and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A self-aligning carrier comprising spaced rolls including a troughing roll and a carrier roll, a continuous conveyor belt riding over said troughing roll in one direction and over said carrier roll in the opposite direction; said troughing roll and said carrier roll being pivoted for belt adjusting movement, a link associated with each roll, a pivot bar connected near each end to one said link, the pivot for said pivot bar being intermediate said end connections, an electric power unit operatively connected to one end A depending of said pivot bar so that operation of said electric power unit will cause said links to move in opposite directions thereby causing said troughing roll and said carrier roll to pivot in opposite directions and cause movement of the conveyor belt axially of said rolls; a normally-off switch associated with the edge of said conveyor belt and operative to start said electric power unit when said conveyor belt creeps out of alignment with said spaced rolls.

2. A self-aligning carrier comprising spaced rolls including a troughing roll and a carrier roll, a continuous conveyor belt riding over said troughing roll in one direction and over said carrier roll in the opposite direction; said troughing roll and said carrier roll being pivoted for belt adjusting movement, a link associated with each roll, a pivot bar connected near each end to one said link, the pivot for said pivot bar being intermediate said end connections, an electric power unit operatively connected to one end of said pivot bar so that operation of said electric power unit will cause said links to move in opposite directions thereby causing said troughing roll and said carrier roll to pivot in opposite directions and cause movement of the conveyor belt axially of said rolls; a normally 01f switch associated with the edge of said conveyor belt and operative to start electric'power unit when said conveyor belt creeps out of alignment with said spaced rolls, a limit switch associated with said carrier roll and operative to shut off said electric power unit when said roll has pivoted through a predetermined angle.

3. A structure for a self-aligning carrier comprising a frame, side walls on the frame, cross members connecting to said side walls in rigid relation, one cross member including spaced struts, a center plate connected between said struts, a central opening in said plate, a trough ing roll bracket including a bottom plate and a depending stud resting on said center plate, a troughing roll on said bracket, a carrier roll bracket including a top plate with a central opening abutting said center plate, a carrier roll on said carrier roll bracket, said stud projecting through the central openings in said center plate and said top plate and having a nut locked on the free end thereof whereby to permit said troughing roll bracket and said carrier roll bracket to pivot about the axis of said stud; a continuous conveyor belt having one flight car ried by said troughing roll and the other by said carrier roll; a motor unit including a lead screw pivoted to said frame, a pivot bar pivoted to said frame intermediate the length of the bar, a threaded sleeve pivoted to one end of said pivot bar, said lead screw engaging said sleeve in actuating relation; a link connected at each end of said pivot bar at their one end, one of said links pivotally connected at its other end to said troughing roll bracket, the other link being pivotally connected to said carrier roll bracket; the motor unit, pivot bar, links, and brackets being so connected that operation of the power unit will cause the troughing roll bracket to move in one direction about the axis of its stud and yet cause the carrier roll bracket to move in the opposite direction about the axis of said stud at virtually the same rate of speed, and a switch engageable by said belt to actuate said motor unit. 4. A structure for a self-aligning carrier comprising a frame, side walls on the frame, rolls mounted in said frame, a conveyor belt riding on said rolls in longitudinal alignment, cross members connecting to said side walls in rigid relation, one cross member including spaced struts, a center plate connected between said struts, a central opening in said plate, a troughing roll bracket including a bottom plate and a depending stud resting on said center plate, a troughing roll in said troughing roll bracket, a carrier roll bracket including a top plate with a central opening abutting said center plate, a carrier roll in said carrier roll bracket, said stud projecting through the central openings in said center plate and said top plate and having a nut locked on the free end thereof whereby to permit said troughing roll bracket and said carrier roll bracket to pivot about the axis of said stud; spaced rolls supported by said frame, an electric motor unit including a lead screw pivoted to said frame, a pivot bar pivoted to said frame intermediate the length of the bar, a threaded sleeve pivoted to one end of said pivot bar, said lead screw engaging said sleeve in actuating relation; links connected at each end of said pivot bar at their one end, one of said links pivotally connected at its other end to said troughing roll bracket, the other link being pivotally connected to said carrier roll bracket; the electric motor unit, pivot bar, links, and brackets being so connected that operation of the power unit will cause the troughing roll bracket to move in one direction about the axis of its stud and yet cause the carrier roll bracket to move in the opposite direction about the axis of said stud at virtually the same rate of speed; a bracket pivoted to said side arm and a belt guide roller journalled in said bracket, said roller and bracket moving outward under the pressure of said belt when said belt creeps out of longitudinal alignment with said spaced rolls to engage and close a switch to actuate said motor unit.

5. A conveyor comprising a frame; troughing rolls; carrier rolls; a continuous belt having its upper flight carried by said troughing rolls and its lower flight carried by said carrier rolls; means mounting at least one set of troughing rolls for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; means mounting a corresponding carrier roll for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; an electric motor operatively connected to said mounting means and adapted when actuated to pivot said set of mounting rolls in one direction and said corresponding carrier roll in the opposite direction about said axes; a switch mounted adjacent one side of one flight of said belt and adapted to be closed upon contact with said belt to actuate said motor and pivot said set of troughing rolls and said corresponding carrier roll to positions to cause said flights of said belt to travel in a direction away from said switch.

6. A conveyor comprising a frame; troughing rolls; carrier rolls; a continuous belt having its upper flight carried by said troughing rolls and its lower flight carried by said carrier rolls; means mounting at least one set of troughing rolls for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; means mounting a corresponding carrier roll for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; an electric motor operatively connected to said mounting means and adapted when actuated to pivot said set of mounting rolls in one direction and said corresponding carrier roll in the opposite direction about said axes; a switch mounted adjacent one side of one night of said belt and adapted to be closed upon contact with said belt to actuate said motor and pivot said set of troughing rolls and said corresponding carrier roll to positions to cause said flights of said belt to travel in a direction away from said switch; a limit switch adapted to be engaged upon pivotal movement of said pivotally mounted rolls and prevent further pivotal movement thereof; a second switch mounted adjacent the other side of said one flight of said belt and adapted when contacted by said belt to close and actuate said motor in reverse direction to pivot said set of troughing rolls and said corresponding carrier in directions opposite to that caused by closing of said first switch.

7. A conveyor comprising a frame; troughing rolls; a carrier roll; a belt adapted for movement over the troughing rolls and the carrier roll, the direction of movement over the troughing rolls being opposite from that over the carrier roll; means mounting the troughing rolls in said frame for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; means mounting the carrier roll in said frame for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said belt; and means responsive to lateral movement of the belt for causing pivotal movement of the troughing rolls in one direction about said axis while simultaneously causing pivotal movement of the carrier roll in the other direction.

R. G. LE TOURNEAU.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,770,957 Veale July 22, 1930 2,075,111 Gulliksen et al Mar. 30, 1937 2,304,843 Nordquist Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,967/30 Australia June 4, 1931

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