Conveyor belt system with take-up device
View Patent ↗A conveyor system having a frame, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame, and a tail pulley rotatably mounted to the frame opposite the drive sprocket. A continuous belt engages with the drive sprocket and tail pulley with a catenary take-up arrangement having an upper conveying portion and a lower return portion. A snub idler may be engaged with the return portion of the belt so that the belt properly engages the drive sprocket. A motor couples with the drive sprocket, the motor being capable of driving the belt in forward and reverse directions. A take-up device engages with the return portion of the belt so that the belt is capable of running in forward and reverse directions.
1. A conveyor system comprising:
a frame;
a continuous belt about the frame in a catenary take-up arrangement having an upper conveying portion and a lower return portion;
a drive means for driving the belt in forward and reverse; and
a take-up means for engaging with the return portion of the belt so that the belt is capable of running in forward and reverse; and
a ratchet assembly coupled with the take-up means, the ratchet assembly being capable of limiting the take-up means to downward motion.
2. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises:
at least one drive sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame and engaged with the belt;
a tail pulley rotatably mounted to the frame opposite the drive assembly and engaged with the belt; and
a motor coupled with at least one drive sprocket, the motor being capable of driving the belt in forward and reverse directions.
3. The conveyor system of claim 2 wherein the drive means further comprises a snub idler engaged with the return portion of the belt to increase the belt wrap engagement between the belt and at least one sprocket.
4. The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein the take-up means comprises:
a ratchet shaft pivotally mounted to the frame;
an arm mounted to the ratchet shaft;
a take-up pulley rotatably mounted to the arm and engaged with the belt; and
the ratchet assembly being coupled between the ratchet shaft and the frame.
5. The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
6. The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
7. The conveyor system of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet assembly is a bi-directional ratchet clutch.
8. A conveyor system comprising:
a frame;
at least one drive sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame;
a tail pulley rotatably mounted to the frame opposite said at least one drive sprocket;
a continuous belt engaged with said at least one drive sprocket and tail pulley in a catenary take-up arrangement having an upper conveying portion and a lower return portion;
a snub idler engaged with the return portion to increase the belt wrap engagement between the belt and said at least one sprocket;
a motor coupled with at least one drive sprocket, the motor being capable of driving the belt in forward and reverse directions; and
a take-up device engaged with the return portion of the belt so that the belt is capable of running in forward and reverse directions; and
wherein the take-up device is coupled with a ratchet assembly that is capable of limiting the take-up device to downward motion.
9. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
10. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the ratchet assembly is a bi-directional ratchet clutch.
11. The conveyor system of claim 8 wherein the take-up device comprises:
a ratchet shaft pivotally mounted to the frame;
an arm mounted to the ratchet shaft;
a take-up pulley rotatably mounted to the arm and engaged with the belt; and
the ratchet assembly being coupled between the ratchet shaft and the frame.
12. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
13. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the ratchet assembly is a bi-directional ratchet clutch.
14. A take-up device for a conveyor system in a catenary take-up arrangement comprising:
a ratchet shaft pivotally mounted to a frame;
an arm mounted to the ratchet shaft;
a take-up pulley rotatably mounted to the arm and engaged with the belt; and
a ratchet assembly coupled between the ratchet shaft and the frame, wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of limiting the take-up device to downward motion.
15. The conveyor system of claim 14 wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
16. The conveyor system of claim 14 wherein the ratchet assembly is a bi-directional ratchet clutch.
17. A conveyor system comprising:
a frame;
a continuous belt about the frame in a catenary take-up arrangement having an upper conveying portion and a lower return portion;
a drive assembly engaged with the belt, the drive assembly being capable of driving the belt in forward and reverse; and
a take-up device engaged with the return portion of the belt so that the belt is capable of running in forward and reverse;
a limiting means coupled with the take-up device, the limiting means being capable of limiting the take-up device to downward motion.
18. The conveyor system of claim 17 , wherein the limiting means comprises a ratchet assembly.
19. The conveyor system of claim 18 , the ratchet assembly being engagable by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
20. A take-up device for a conveyor system in a catenary take-up arrangement comprising:
a ratchet shaft capable of being pivotally mounted to a frame;
an arm mounted to the ratchet shaft;
a take-up pulley rotatably mounted to the arm and engaged with the belt; and
a ratchet assembly coupled between the ratchet shaft and the frame, wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of limiting the take-up device to downward motion.
21. The take-up device of claim 20 wherein the ratchet assembly is capable of being engaged by an operator to allow upward motion of the take-up device.
22. The take-up device of claim 20 , wherein the ratchet assembly is a bi-directional ratchet clutch.