ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A CONVEYOR BELT

Abstract

The assembly of the disclosure includes two inclined side rollers and two central rollers, each one of the rollers being mounted around a respective shaft. The shaft of each side roller has an upper end hinged to a respective support portion arranged on one side of the conveyor belt, the shaft of each central roller having ends mounted on opposite sides of a rocker frame. Each one of the opposite sides of the frame has a median portion hinged, in an suspended way, at the lower end of the shaft of a respective side roller.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A roller assembly for a conveyor belt, arranged transversely to the displacement direction of the conveyor belt and comprising two side rollers, inclined outwardly and upwardly, and two central rollers, horizontal and parallel to each other, each one of the side roller and the central roller being mounted rotatably free around a respective shaft, wherein the shaft of each side roller has an upper end hinged to a respective support portion arranged on one side of the conveyor belt and a lower end, wherein the shaft of each central roller has ends which are opposite to each other and mounted on opposite sides of a rocker frame, each of the opposite sides of the frame having a median portion hinged, in a suspension way, to the lower end of the shaft of a respective side roller.

10. The roller assembly, according to claim 9, wherein the opposite sides of the rocker frame are parallel to each other and to the displacement direction of the conveyor belt, each one comprising a crossbar having end portions, opposite to each other and in each one is mounted one of the ends of the shaft of one of the central rollers.

11. The roller assembly, according to claim 10, wherein the end portions of the crossbars are each provided with an upper recess in each one is engaged and retained one end of the shaft of one of the central rollers.

12. The roller assembly, according claim 10 wherein the crossbars of the rocker frame are connected to each other by two struts, transversal to the displacement direction of the conveyor belt, wherein each crossbar has a median portion provided with a through hole in which one end of a frame shaft is arranged, each end of the frame shaft being hinged to the lower end of the shaft of one of the side rollers.

13. The roller assembly, according to claim 12, wherein the frame further comprises a central tubular strut arranged between the two struts, joining the crossbars and having their ends open through the through holes provided in the adjacent crossbars, wherein the frame shaft is housed within the central tubular strut.

14. The roller assembly, according to claim 10, wherein the crossbars of the rocker frame are joined to each other by a central tubular strut having ends open through the respective through holes provided in the adjacent crossbars, wherein said central tubular strut houses a frame shaft having ends arranged through the through holes of the crossbars and hinged to the lower end of the shaft of a respective side roller.

15. The roller assembly, according to claim 12, wherein the hinge between the lower end of the shaft of each side roller and the adjacent end of the frame shaft is obtained by their pivoting at the opposite ends of a hinge arm.

16. The roller assembly, according to claim 9, wherein the hinge between the upper end of the shaft of each side roller and the respective support portion is obtained by a suspension stay with one end coupled to the shaft and with the opposite end in the form of a hook to be engaged in the respective support portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example of possible embodiments for the roller assembly in question and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conveyor belt with a load of bulk material, and a roller assembly mounted on a support, according to a prior art construction;

[0022] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the free span between two roller assemblies of the type shown in FIG. 1 and also the undulating movement of the conveyor belt as a function of the free span between the central rollers of the two consecutive assemblies;

[0023] FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the elastic deformation of the conveyor belt when, in movement with a load of bulk material, contacts the central roller of a roller assembly;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another prior art construction, in which a support carries not only the inclined side rollers but also a rocker frame in which two central rollers are mounted;

[0025] FIG. 3 schematically shows the smaller free span between two roller assemblies of the type shown in FIG. 2 and also the consequent lower undulating movement of the conveyor belt;

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the roller assembly of the present invention in which two inclined side rollers have the upper end of their shafts hinged to a respective support portion and the lower end of their shafts hinging, in a suspension way, opposite sides of a rocker frame, in which two central rollers are mounted;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the rocker frame shown in FIG. 4;

[0028] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate perspective views of two further possible exemplary embodiments for the rocker frame;

[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates the relative positioning of the shafts of the rollers of the assembly and a possible construction for the hinged interconnection between the lower ends of the shafts of the side rollers and the opposite ends of a bearing central shaft of the rocker frame;

[0030] FIG. 6A represents an enlarged detail of FIG. 6, showing the hinged interconnection between the lower end of the shaft of a side roller and an adjacent end of the central shaft of the rocker frame; and

[0031] FIG. 6B represents an expanded detail of FIG. 6, showing the element of the hinged interconnection between the upper end of the shaft of a side roller and a respective support portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] As shown in the drawing figures and already mentioned above, the invention relates to a roller assembly arranged transversely to the displacement direction of a conveyor belt CT and comprising two inclined side rollers 30 and two central rollers 40, horizontal and parallel to each other, each of the side rollers 30 and central rollers 40 being mounted, rotatably free, around a side shaft 31 and central shaft 41, respectively.

[0033] According to the invention, the shaft 31 of each side roller 30 has an upper end 31a hinged to a respective support portion PS, arranged on one side of the conveyor belt CT, and a lower end 31b, which is held suspended, as described hereinafter, without being supported in the support S.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the support S can be constructed in different ways provided that it has two high support portions PS, for example in the form of horizontal rails, raised and parallel in relation to the conveyor belt CT.

[0035] The shaft 41 of each central roller 40 has opposite ends 41a and mounted on opposite sides 20a of a rocker frame 20, said opposite sides of the frame 20 being parallel to each other and to the linear displacement direction of the conveyor belt CT. Each one of the opposite sides 20a of the frame 20 has a median portion hinged, in a suspension way, in the lower end 31b of the shaft 31 of a respective side roller 30. Thus, the roller assembly remains suspended only by the hinge of the upper ends 31a of the shafts 31 of the side rollers 30 in respective support portions PS.

[0036] The frame 20 can be constructed in different manners, wherein the drawings illustrate only some of the possible embodiments, according to which each side of the frame 20 comprises a crossbar 21 having end portions 21a, opposite to each other and in each one is mounted one of the ends 41a of the shaft 41 of one of the central rollers 40.

[0037] In the illustrated exemplificative constructions, the end portions 21a of the crossbars 21 are each provided with an upper recess 21b in each one is engaged and retained one end 41a of the shaft 41 of one of the central rollers 40. This arrangement enables quick and simple assembly and disassembly operations of the central rollers 40 relative to the frame 20.

[0038] In FIG. 5A is shown a frame 20 in which the crossbars 21 are joined to each other by two struts 22, internal to the central rollers 40 and transversal to the displacement direction of the conveyor belt CT. Each crossbar 21 has its median portion provided with a through hole 21c in which one end 23a of a frame shaft 23 is arranged, said end 23a of the frame shaft 23 being hinged to the lower end 31b of the shaft 31 of one of the side rollers 30.

[0039] A variant constructive of the construction of frame 20 is illustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the frame further comprises a central tubular strut 24 arranged between the two struts 22, joining the crossbars 21 and having their ends opened through the through holes 21c provided in the adjacent crossbars 21, the frame shaft 23 being housed within the central tubular strut 24.

[0040] In another embodiment for the frame 20, shown in FIG. 5B, the crossbars 21 of the rocker frame 20 are joined to each other by a central tubular strut 24, having ends which are open through the respective through holes 21c, provided in the adjacent crossbars 21. Also in this case, the central tubular strut houses the frame shaft 23 which has its ends 23a arranged through the through holes 21c of the crossbars 21 and hinged to the lower end 31b of the shaft 31 of a respective side roller 30.

[0041] The hinge between the lower end 31b of the shaft 31 of each side roller 30 and the adjacent end 23a of the frame shaft 23 can be obtained by different ways such as, for example, by pivoting the confronting ends of said two shafts, at opposite ends of a short hinge arm 35.

[0042] In a similar manner, the hinge between the upper end 31a of the shaft 31 of each side roller 30 and the respective support portion PS can be made in different ways, as that one illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 6A, according to which a suspension stay 36, for example a chain with one end coupled to the shaft 31 and with the opposite end in the form of a hook 37 to be engaged in the respective support portion PS.

[0043] Although only a few embodiments have been illustrated for the roller assembly in question, it should be understood that several amendments can be made in the shape and in the physical layout of the component parts of the roller assembly without departing from the inventive concept defined in the claim set which accompanies this disclosure.