WO2007092776A2

WO2007092776A2 - Conveyor with multiple belts driven by a single shaft

Info

Publication number: WO2007092776A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/061548
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Honeycutt
Original assignee: Thermodrive Llc
Priority date: 2006-02-02
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: WO2007092776A3

Abstract

A conveyor comprises two or more toothed belts driven by a single drive shaft. The belts can have different lengths, be oriented at different angles, have different configurations, and be used for different purposes. The belts can be a thermoplastic belt such as is employed by a low tension, direct drive conveyor.

Description

CONVEYOR WITH MULTIPLE BELTS DRIVEN BY A SINGLE SHAFT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/743,216, filed February 2, 2006, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to conveyors with endless belts, and more specifically to conveyors with multiple toothed belts on a single, common drive shaft of the conveyor.

Description of the Related Art

Conveyors employing low tension, direct drive thermoplastic belts are often used in the food industry, where sanitation is critical. For example, in food processing plants such as those that process meat products for human consumption, low tension, direct drive belt conveyors are used to transport items. Sanitation is critically important and, therefore, the endless belts used in suck conveyors are conventionally made of materials that can be hygienically cleaned, such as a thermoplastic material.

An example of a prior art conveyor is illustrated in Fig. 1, and has a single belt 100 having a flat surface 102 on one side and teeth 104 on the other side. The teeth 104 engage sheaves 106 on a pair of pulleys 108, 110. The pulley 108 is a drive pulley mounted on a drive shaft 112 to transfer torque to the belt without requiring friction between the belt 100 and the drive pulley 108 or tension in the belt 100. The pulley 110 is an idler or slave pulley.

Often, more than one type of product is made in a single food processing plant, thus requiring different kinds of items to be transported. This is a problem, since many conveyors must be provided to prevent contamination between different items on the conveyors. Also, it is often necessary to transport items from one area to many other areas within the processing plant, thus requires many conveyors of different lengths and orientations to accommodate this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conveyor comprises at least two belts driven by a single common drive shaft. The belts can be installed on a common drive pulley mounted to the drive shaft. The belts can further by mounted on a single common idler shaft. The belts can be installed and on common idler pulley mounted to the idler shaft. The belts can comprise different lengths. The belts can be oriented at different angles with respect to one another. The belts can have different configurations. The belts can be used for different purposes. The belts can be thermoplastic belts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view-of a prior art conveyor comprising a low tension, direct drive thermoplastic belt installed between two pulleys.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprising two belts installed between two common pulleys.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprising two belts of different lengths installed on a common drive pulley.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprising two belts installed at different angles on a common drive pulley.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A conveyor according to the present invention comprises two or more toothed belts on a single, common drive shaft. The belts are preferably a thermoplastic belt such as would be employed with a low tension, direct drive conveyor. The thermoplastic material can be Pebax® resin, polyester, or polyurethane. While the embodiments illustrated herein comprise two 7 061548

conveyor belts, it is understood that any number of belts used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 2, a first embodiment of a conveyor according to the invention comprises two substantially identical belts 200 installed for movement by a single, common drive shaft 202. The belts 200 each have a flat surface 204 on one side and teeth 206 on the opposite side. As illustrated, the teeth 206 engage sheaves 208 on a single drive pulley 210 mounted on the drive shaft 202 to transfer torque to the belts 200. Alternately, two drive pulleys can be provided on the common drive shaft 202 such that each belt 200 is installed on an individual drive pulley. The belts 200 are preferably of the same length and are installed parallel to each other. The belts 200 are further installed for movement about a single, common idler shaft 212. The teeth 206 engage sheaves 214 in a single, common idler pulley 216. Alternately, two idler pulleys 216 can be provided on the common idler shaft 212 such that each belt 200 is installed on an individual idler pulley.

The belts 200 form a generally continuous surface such that the effective belt width is the sum of the individual widths of the belts 200. The belts 200 may have a small gap between their surfaces 202; however, for many applications where items larger than the gap are being transferred, this will not affect the performance of the conveyor. While illustrated as having the same width, it is understood that each belt 200 can comprise any desired width. This is especially useful for applications requiring a specific width where any two belts 200 can be combined to form the specific width. If one of the belts 200 is damaged, the belt can be replaced individually, which is more cost effective than replacing a single wider belt.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a second embodiment of a conveyor according to the invention comprises two belts 300, 400 of different lengths installed on a single, common drive shaft 302. The belts 300, 400 are further installed on separate idler pulleys 316, 416, mounted to separate idler shafts 312, 412, respectively, due to the difference in belt length. The belt 300 has a flat surface 304 on one side and teeth 306 on the opposite side that engage sheaves 308 on a drive pulley 310 mounted to the drive shaft 302 and sheaves 314 on the idler pulley 316. The belt 400 has a flat surface 404 on one side and teeth 406 on the opposite side that engage sheaves 308 on 007/061548

the drive pulley 310 and sheaves 414 on the idler pulley 416. While the belts 300, 400 are illustrated as installed on a common drive pulley 310 mounted to the drive shaft 302, it is within the scope of the invention to provide individual drive pulleys on the drive shaft 302 for each belt 300, 400.

Referring to Fig. 4, a third embodiment of the invention comprises two belts 500, 600 that are arranged at different angles with respect to one another and are installed on a single, common drive shaft 502. The belts 500, 600 are further installed on separate idler pulleys 516, 616, mounted to separate idler shafts 512, 612 respectively. The belt 500 has a flat surface 504 on one side and teeth 506 on the opposite side that engages sheaves 508 on a drive pulley 510 mounted to the drive shaft 502 and sheaves 514 on the idler pulley 516. The belt 600 has a flat surface 604 on one side and teeth 606 on the opposite side that engage sheaves 508 on the drive pulley 510 and sheaves 614 on the idler pulley 616.

The present invention offers several advantages over the prior art conveyors. A single common drive shaft is used to drive two or more belts. The belts can comprise different configurations and be used for different purposes. For example, the belts can have different surface textures or materials and be used to transfer dissimilar items. The belts can be of different lengths and can be installed at different angles. This allows items to be transported to different locations, using a single drive source. The belts can be installed on a common drive pulley or on individual drive pulleys mounted on the drive shaft. The belts can be replaced individually which is requires less effort and is more cost effective replacing all of the belts. For applications requiring a wider effective belt, two narrower belts can be used in place of a single wider belt to lower costs. As well, two adjacent belts on the same drive and idler pulleys can be run immediately adjacent each other, without space between them.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A conveyor characterized by a single drive shaft (202, 302, 502) carrying at least one drive pulley (210, 310, 510), and at least two endless belts (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) wrapped over the at least one drive pulley, one of the drive pulley and belt having teeth (206, 306, 406, 506) and the other of the drive pulley and belt having sheaves 208, 308, 408, 508) sized to receive the teeth, each belt also being wrapped over an idler pulley (216, 316, 413, 513, 616).

2. The conveyor of claim 1 wherein two drive pulleys (210, 310, 510) are disposed on the single drive shaft (202, 302, 502), each drive pulley carrying an endless belt (200, 300, 400, 500, 600).

3. The conveyor of any of claims 1 or 2 wherein the idler pulleys (216, 316, 416, 513, 616) are mounted on a single idler shaft (212, 312, 412, 512, 612).

4. The conveyor of any of claims 1 or 2 wherein the idler pulleys (316, 416, 513, 616) are mounted on different idler shafts (312, 412, 512, 612).

5. The conveyor of any of claims 3 or 4 wherein the endless belts (300, 400, 500, 600) differ in length.

6. The conveyor of any of claims 3 - 5 wherein the endless belts (300, 400, 500, 600) differ in angle of orientation relative to each other.

7. The conveyor of any of claims 1 - 6 wherein at least one endless belt (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) is made of thermoplastic.