Conveyor sprocket assembly

1. A conveyor sprocket assembly comprising:

a support shaft;

at least one conveyor sprocket slidably engaging the support shaft; and

an abutment stop positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket, wherein the abutment stop is configured to be removed to allow the conveyor sprocket to slide axially along the support shaft, wherein the conveyor sprocket assembly defines an axial length, and wherein the support shaft has a length shorter than the axial length.

2. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the conveyor sprocket comprises a generally cylindrical member defining an axial opening therein for receiving an end portion of the support shaft.

3. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical member defines an inner surface formed to be in mating engagement with the end portion of the support shaft.

4. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the inner surface comprises at least one spline and wherein the end portion of the support shaft comprises at least one mating surface formed to be in complementary relationship with the spline.

5. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the abutment stop includes a plurality of shells secured to the support shaft.

6. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fastener for removably securing the abutment stop on the support shaft.

7. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a means for removably securing the abutment stop on the support shaft, wherein the means for securing applies a clamp force substantially normal to the support shaft.

8. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the abutment stop is so dimensioned as to give a substantially smooth linear appearance when the conveyor sprocket slidably engages the support shaft and the abutment stop is positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket.

9. A conveyor sprocket assembly, the conveyor sprocket assembly defining an axial length, the conveyor sprocket assembly comprising:

a support shaft having a length shorter than the axial length;

at least one conveyor sprocket slidably engaging an end portion of the support shaft and a conveyor drive assembly, the conveyor sprocket comprising a generally cylindrical member defining an axial opening therein for receiving the end portion of the support shaft; and

an abutment stop positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket, wherein the abutment stop is configured to be removed to allow the conveyor sprocket to slide axially along the support shaft for removing the conveyor sprocket from the conveyor drive assembly.

10. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical member defines an inner surface formed to be in mating engagement with the end portion of the support shaft.

11. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the inner surface comprises at least one spline and wherein the end portion of the support shaft comprises at least one mating surface formed to be in complementary relationship with the spline.

12. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the abutment stop includes a plurality of shells secured to the support shaft.

13. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a means for removably securing the abutment stop on the support shaft, wherein the means for securing applies a clamp force substantially normal to the support shaft.

14. A conveyor sprocket assembly as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the abutment stop is so dimensioned as to give a substantially smooth linear appearance when the conveyor sprocket slidably engages the end portion of the support shaft and the abutment stop is positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket.

15. A conveyor system defining a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:

a conveyor extending along the longitudinal axis, the conveyor defining two sides that are each parallel to the longitudinal axis;

two side frames, one extending along each side of the conveyor, the side frames defining a gap therebetween;

a support shaft having a length shorter than the gap;

at least one conveyor sprocket slidably engaging an end portion of the support shaft and a respective side frame; and

an abutment stop positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket, wherein the abutment stop is configured to be removed for removing the conveyor sprocket from the side frames.

16. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the conveyor sprocket comprises a generally cylindrical member defining an axial opening therein for receiving the end portion of the support shaft.

17. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical member defines an inner surface formed to be in mating engagement with the end portion of the support shaft.

18. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the inner surface comprises at least one spline and wherein the end portion of the support shaft comprises at least one mating surface formed to be in complementary relationship with the spline.

19. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the abutment stop includes a plurality of shells secured to the support shaft.

20. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a fastener for removably securing the abutment stop on the support shaft.

21. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a means for removably securing the abutment stop on the support shaft, wherein the means for securing applies a clamp force substantially normal to the support shaft.

22. A conveyor system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the abutment stop is so dimensioned as to give a substantially smooth linear appearance when the conveyor sprocket slidably engages the end portion of the support shaft and the abutment stop is positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket.