Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BAC~GROU~D OF THE INV~NTION
This invention relates generally to industrial
machinery that employs conveyor belts for the movement of
product materials. More specifically, it relates to rollers
that support a conveyor belt, and around which the endless belt
travels as the roller rotates.
PRIOR ART
It is well known that, in many industries, a
considerable amount of debris falls upon the inner side of the
belt, from where it is then carried under the end roller, where
it gradually accumulates as the roller continues to rotate.
Some of the debris nearest the opposite ends of each roller may
possibly fall out. In time, however, the debris under the
center of each end roller gradually increases in thickness, so
that the belt crown, extending along the center of the belt,
becomes stretched and deformed in time, destroying the belt's
efficiency. This occurs particularly in industries wherein
granular materials are carried on the belts. In order to
prevent such wear on the belt, the conveyor must be
periodically stopped, for being cleaned, resulting in loss of
production time. This situation is, accordingly, in want of an
improvement.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a conveyor belt roller that is self-
c:Leaning, so as to eliminate the need of stopping the machinery
periodically, in order to clean up debris collected under the
end belt roller.
Another object is to provide a self-cleaning conveyor
belt roller which eliminates the cost of frequent belt
replacement, or loss of production time and business profit.
Yet another object is to provide a self-cleaning
conveyor belt roller, which, in one design thereof,
additionally washes the belt surface, so as to dislodge debris
that is sticky or gummy and adheres to the belt, such as in
agricultural industries, handling fruits and vegetables, that
leave juicy pulp on the belt.
Other objects are to provide a self-cleaning conveyor
belt roller, that needs no special servicing, is inexpensive to
manufacture, rugged in construction, and efficient in
operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent upon reading the following detailed
description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
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FIGURE l is a perspective view of a self-cleaning
conveyor rollerl shown in accordance with the present
invention;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the invention;
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of two
rollers, as they are used in a conveyor system;
FIGURE 4 is another front elevational view of the
invention;
FIGURE 5 is yet another front elevational view of the
invention; and
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged end view of the invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction
with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment. On the
contrary, it i5 intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications and e~uivalents as may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~E INVBNTION
In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
Referring now the to the drawings in greater detail,
the reference numeral 10 represents a self-cleaning conveyor
roller, according to the present invention, which is made from
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an elongated shaft 11, a circular central plate 12 on the
shaft, a pair of circular end plates 13, and a pair of augers
14, each one of which is positioned between one of the end
plates and the central plate, the components being welded
together to form a singular rigid assembly. All the components
are made of a strong steel, so that the roller can support a
heavy load. The shaft is straight, having opposite ends 15,
that may be rotatably supported in suitable bearings. The
circular central plate comprises a solid, heavy, flat disc,
having no openings therethrough except for a central opening,
through which the shaft was inserted, and welded at its center
therein. The end plates are made in like manner, except that
each is welded on the shaft at a spaced distance from the shaft
ends, so as to leave the portions 15 for support in the
bearings. Also, each end plate includes a plurality of large
openings 17 therethrough, for allowing debris to be freely
moved therethrough. The openings 17 are all located between a
hub portion 18, through which the shaft extends, and a
peripheral portion that forms a circular rim 19. Each auger
comprises a spiralled rim, having a plurality of turns 20, and
which has the same circular outer diameter as the plates 12 and
13. The auger rim may be the same in width and thickness as
the rim 19, for also allowing the debris to move through a
central opening 21, extending longitudinally through the
auger. A flat face 22 is formed on each opposite end of the
auger, so as to abut against the adjacent side faces of the
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central and end plates, to which the faces 22 are then firmly
welded together.
As clearly shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, the roller is
made with each of the two augers being spiralled in opposite
directions, one spiralling clockwise, and the other counter-
clockwise.
As shown in FIGURE 3, a pair of spaced apart self-
cleaning conveyor rollers lO are mounted upon a conveyor frame,
and an endless belt 23 is installed around the two rollers, so
that the belt forms a straight upper run portion 24 and a lower
run portion 25 between the rollers, while a semi-circular
portion 26 thereof extends around the outer side of each of the
rollers. During operation of the conveyor, the belt travels
around the two rotating rollers, so that material placed upon
the top run is carried from one roller (which serves as a head
roller) toward the other (which serves as a tail roller).
Accordingly, any debris that falls upon the top of the lower
run tends to accumulate under the tail roller, if such roller
is of conventional type. However, if the tail roller is of
self-cleaning type, the debris arriving under the tail roller
is immediately moved in transverse directions by means of the
spiral augers; each rotating so that its spiral turns advance
toward an opposite outer end of the roller. Thus, any debris
arriving in the space 27 formed between the rim turns is
advanced away from the belt crown and toward the belt side
edges 28, from where it drops off. Each auger, accordingly,
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sweeps the debris off one-half of the belt. The head roller,
likewise, can sweep off the underside of the top run as it
becomes belt portion 26, removing any sticky debris.
In a modified design, a central opening 29 in the shaft
delivers water from a water supply to a series of radically
extending outlets (not shown) along a side of the shaftr for
spraying stuck debris from the belt.
In a further modified design, spokes (not shown),
between the auger rim and the shaft, strengthen the auger to
support a heavy loaded belt.
While various changes may be made in the detail
construction, it is understood that such changes will be within
the spirit and scope of the invention as is defined by the
appended claims.
~hus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention that fully satisfies the objects,
aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has
been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications
and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in
light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the
invention.
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