Conveyor pulley apparatus, systems, and methods

1. A conveyor pulley, comprising:

a cylinder;

a plurality of backing bars sized to be received within said cylinder, said plurality of backing bars having a first set of mounting features formed therein, each mounting feature of said first set of mounting features comprising a tab or a notch formed in one of said backing bars; and

a plurality of reinforcing discs sized to be received within said cylinder, said plurality of reinforcing discs having a second set of mounting features formed therein and corresponding to said first set of mounting features, each mounting feature of said first set of mounting features comprising a tab or notch formed in one of said reinforcing discs, wherein each of said second set of mounting features are disposed at a radially outer edge of each reinforcing disc, each backing bar being mounted to each reinforcing disc at said radially outer edge, wherein each mounting feature of said first set of mounting features is configured to engage with a corresponding mounting feature of said second set of mounting features.

2. The conveyor pulley of claim 1 , wherein said first and second sets of mounting features are configured to prevent incorrect installation of said plurality of reinforcing discs.

3. The conveyor pulley of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing discs includes a first type of reinforcing disc and a second type of reinforcing disc, wherein said first set of mounting features of said backing bars includes a first type of mounting feature at a first location along a width of said backing bars such that a first type of reinforcing disc is mountable at said first location and such that said second type of reinforcing disc is not mountable at said first location.

4. The conveyor pulley of claim 3 , wherein said first set of mounting features of said backing bars includes a second type of mounting feature at a second location along a width of said backing bars such that a second type of reinforcing disc is mountable at said second location and such that said first type of reinforcing disc is not mountable at said second location.

5. The conveyor pulley of claim 4 , further comprising:

first and second end discs mounted to opposing ends of said backing bars.

6. The conveyor pulley of claim 1 , further comprising:

first and second end discs mounted to opposing ends of said backing bars.

7. The conveyor pulley of claim 1 , wherein said backing bars and said reinforcing discs are configured to be assembled into a partially assembled configuration, wherein in said partially assembled configuration said backing bars and said reinforcing discs are insertable into said cylinder.

8. A conveyor pulley, comprising:

a cylinder; and

a cartridge insertable in said cylinder, said cartridge comprising:

a plurality of backing bars having a first set of mounting features; and

a plurality of reinforcing discs having a second set of mounting features, each reinforcing disc of said second set of mounting features comprising a tab or notched formed in said reinforcing disc, each tab or notch corresponding to one of said first set of mounting features, wherein each of said second set of mounting features are disposed at a radially outer edge of each reinforcing disc, each backing bar being mounted to each reinforcing disc at said radially outer edge.

9. The conveyor pulley of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing discs includes a first type of reinforcing disc and a second type of reinforcing disc, wherein said first set of mounting features of said backing bars includes a first type of mounting feature at a first location along a width of said backing bars such that a first type of reinforcing disc is mountable at said first location and such that said second type of reinforcing disc is not mountable at said first location.

10. The conveyor pulley of claim 9 , wherein said first set of mounting features of said backing bars includes a second type of mounting feature at a second location along a width of said backing bars such that a second type of reinforcing disc is mountable at said second location and such that said first type of reinforcing disc is not mountable at said second location.

11. The conveyor pulley of claim 10 , wherein each mounting feature of said first set of mounting features comprises a tab or a notch.

12. The conveyor pulley of claim 8 , wherein each mounting feature of said first set of mounting features comprises a tab or a notch.

13. A method of assembling a conveyor pulley, comprising:

assembling a cartridge comprising a backing bar assembly having a plurality of backing bars and a set of reinforcing discs by aligning a tab or notch formed in a backing bar of the backing bar assembly with a tab or notch formed in a reinforcing disc of the set of reinforcing discs and placing the plurality of backing bars at radially outer edges of the reinforcing discs; and

inserting said cartridge into a cylinder.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

attaching a first end disc to a first end of said cartridge; and

attaching a second end disc to a second end of said cartridge.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

attaching a first end disc to a first end of said backing bar assembly; and

attaching a second end disc to a second end of said backing bar assembly.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

attaching a first end disc to a first end of said cylinder; and

attaching a second end disc to a second end of said cylinder.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

welding said cartridge to said cylinder; and

attaching first and second end discs to one of said cartridge and said cylinder.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

before inserting said cartridge into said cylinder, attaching first and second end discs to said cartridge.