Abstract: A conveyor roller for conveying systems for conveying articles comprises a cylindrical roller body having a rotation axis, the cylindrical roller body being provided for the rotatable assembly in a frame or the like, wherein one or a plurality of substantially frustoconical sleeves is/are disposed on the cylindrical roller body. The cylindrical conveyor roller includes a positioning installation by which the frustoconical sleeve is axially fixed at least along the rotation axis in at least one direction, wherein the positioning installation comprises a protrusion which axially extends in a radially outward manner on the cylindrical roller body and which extends into a clearance that is configured in the frustoconical sleeve.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a heating section. The heating section faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The heating section includes a heater, a heater holding member, a reinforcing member, and at least one rotor. The heater heats the fixing belt. The heater holding member holds the heater. The reinforcing member reinforces the heater holding member. The at least one rotor faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The at least one rotor is attached to the reinforcing member.

Abstract: A catenary idler comprises a cable, a plurality of bearing surfaces disposed along a length of the cable, and a plurality of rollers disposed over the plurality of bearing surfaces. The plurality of bearing surfaces are fixed to the cable. The plurality of bearing surfaces may be a plurality of clamps. The plurality of rollers are rotatably supported upon the plurality of bearing surfaces. The cable may be rotatably supported at its ends. The catenary idler may include a first compression spring at a first end of the cable and a second compression spring at a second end of the cable. The rollers may be formed of an oil filled nylon. A conveyor belt impact bed includes a frame, a plurality of catenary idlers supported upon the frame, and a conveyor belt supported upon the plurality of catenary idlers.

Abstract: A skate wheel conveyor system includes a pair of frame sides of a frame assembly. A plurality of preassembled rollers is received between the pair of frame members. Each of the rollers includes a plurality of wheels interposed between a plurality of spacers and a shaft receiving the plurality of wheels and the plurality of spacers. A quick assembly system retains the rollers between the pair of frame members and minimizing deflections of the preassembled rollers.

Abstract: A belt conveyor includes rollers spaced apart in a conveying direction along a carryway run on which a conveyor belt is moved. Each of the rollers includes a cylindrical body including an outer circumferential peripheral surface, in contact with the conveyor belt, and a thickness extending between opposed ends, and a wear indicator between opposed ends for providing a visual indication of wear in the cylindrical body in one embodiment and an audible indication of wear in the cylindrical body in another embodiment.

Abstract: A device for holding an object to a support utilizing a base member that is connected to a resilient body via a connection mechanism. An arm is hingedly connected to the base member and possesses a surface for mounting an object. The base member and resilient body fit over a support.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus conveys a sheet in a standing position, and detects, at various heights, the presence/absence of metal pieces in the sheet, conveyed in the standing position, by using a plurality of metal detection sensors. The sorting apparatus detects a tracking letter in which a metal piece is placed at a specific position or a clip letter containing a small metal piece whose position is fixed, on the basis of the detection result obtained by each metal detection sensor, and sorts the tracking letter or the clip letter in the same manner as a normal letter.

Abstract: A conveying installation has a conveying belt and also has drums, loadbearing rollers and loadbearing frameworks. The conveying installation forms a material-conveying upper strand with a supply location for the conveying material and a mostly material-free lower strand. At least one drum and/or at least one loadbearing roller have/has a drum cover, which contains at least one layer composed of a foamed polymer mix.

Abstract: A conveying installation has a conveying belt and also has drums, load-bearing rollers, load-bearing frameworks, and a transfer section. The conveying installation forms a material-conveying upper strand, with a transfer location for the conveying material, and an at least material-free lower strand. The transfer location contains at least one wear-protection means which contains at least one foamed polymer mix.

Abstract: An inclined roller conveying assembly (40) includes a horizontally inclined roller (74) having opposite ends respectively supported by first and second supports (64, 66), with one support (64) having an idler bearing (80) and with the other support (66) having a drive coupling (94) that provides rotation of the inclined roller from a horizontal support and drive axis to provide support for the lower surface of an upper portion Gu of a hot upwardly concave formed glass sheet G being conveyed.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a conveyor apparatus includes a belt, a drive pulley, a troughed pulley, and a motor configured to operate with the belt, the drive pulley and the troughed pulley to drive the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assemblies, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor belt (1) which is provided with a plurality of rollers (10), a detection portion (110) for detecting the state of rollers (10), and processing portion (120) connected to the detection portion (110) and processes output signals from the detection portion (110). The conveyor belt (1) has a mount portion (7) on which the processing portion (120) is mounted. The mount portion (7) is provided at the end part (5) of the conveyor belt (1) in the width direction thereof. Providing a detection portion for processing output signals from a sensor for detecting rotational failure at the end of the conveyor belt in the width direction thereof makes it possible to suppress increased costs in a belt conveyor apparatus and to reduce the frequency of failure of the detection portion.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus and method are disclosed for continuous haulage of coal or ore in an underground mine, including a plurality of floor-supported frame members held in position by belt tension and further held in position optionally by bolts or pins. The novel holding frame provides rapid and efficient extendable, retractable construction in the mine. The novel continuous haulage system handles larger and heavier pieces of equipment and can be pulled to a different position in an underground mine as a complete unit.

Abstract: An idler roller (4, 5, 6) for supporting an endless belt (2) in a roller conveyor (1) that includes a frame (7) for mounting the idler roller (4, 5, 6) to the conveyor (1), a support shaft (8) mountable to the frame (7) for supporting the idler roller (4, 5, 6) and a roller casing (9) rotatably mountable to the shaft (8) by a bearing assembly (10). The bearing assembly is substantially enclosed within the roller casing. The idler roller (4, 5, 6) is cantilevered to the conveyor (1) such that the bending moment of a load exerted on the roller casing (9) is displaced onto the bearing assembly (10).

Abstract: A method comprises a step of accessing a conveyor belt system that has a belt, a return roller, and a return roller support assembly. The return roller is supported by the return roller support assembly. The return roller is engaged with the belt from beneath the return run. The method also comprises operating the return roller support assembly in a manner causing the return roller to lower relative to the belt to a position where the return roller is no longer engaged with the belt, without requiring any person to reach beneath the belt. The method still further comprises removing the return roller from the return roller support assembly by sliding the return roller out from under the belt after the return roller has been lowered, without requiring any person to reach beneath the belt.

Abstract: A support for a conveyor belt is provided. The support has a series of frames that may be installed beneath the underside of the conveyor belt to support the underside of the belt in a trough-shaped arrangement. Each frame supports a guide element, such as a roller, slider bar or bearing block, that permits the belt to ride over the frames. The frames may be installed beneath the belt and removed from beneath the belt from one side of the conveyor belt. Installation and removal of the components require minimal side clearance beneath the belt. As a result, the support may be installed and removed with minimal interference from adjacent structures or fixtures beneath the belt.

Abstract: A support station (9) for a movable belt conveyor includes: a support cradle (17) for the belt (3), the cradle (17) including at least one roller (31, 33) for guiding and supporting the belt (3); a frame (15) for supporting the or each roller (31,33); at least one anti-jamming protection element (35, 37) fixed to the frame (15), the protection element (35, 37) being disposed along at least one of the rollers (31, 33) and having an elongate shape longitudinally substantially parallel to a generatrix of the roller (31, 33), characterized in that the protection element (37) includes at least first and second longitudinal profile sections (41, 43) having respectively first and second cross-sections that are different from each other.

Abstract: A conveyor comprises an endless thermoplastic belt having a substantially flat surface on one side of the belt and a plurality of teeth on the other side of the belt. The teeth are adapted to be driven without tension around a drive sprocket and an idler. The conveyor further includes means to cause the belt to form a longitudinal trough between the drive sprocket and the idler to retain conveyed items on the belt. The means can comprise a discontinuity in the teeth, shortened teeth, and/or guides that apply a force to the edges of the belt.

Abstract: A floating conveyor belt (20) for a belt conveyor forms a loop and includes a surface (32) for receiving transportable products arranged on one face thereof and a surface (30) supported by a support structure and arranged on the other surface thereof. The belt (20) is embodied in the form of an unflattened tube over the main part thereof and contains the product receiving surface (32) arranged thereinside, thereby delimiting a closed tubular space for confining transported products.

Abstract: An improved return roller assembly for use in a continuous belt conveyor system comprises a shaft disposed between a pair of sealed bearing assemblies that are mounted to the underside of a frame member to define the return flight section of the conveyor system so as to support and guide the conveyor belt. The ends of the shaft, which is preferably made out of cold-rolled steel, connect to bearings that are rotatably disposed in the bearing housing. Preferably, the bearing assemblies have a sealed bearing to reduce the likelihood of clogging or other damage from dust, bulk material or other debris that may be present and, therefore, reduce the cost and downtime associated with maintenance and repair.

Abstract: The invention concerns a support station (12) of a conveyor belt comprising a base (20) supported on the floor and a cradle (22) guiding the belt (14) supported by the base. The base (20) comprises at least one concrete beam (30). The invention is applicable to a conveyor belt.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a retention device for a conveyor roller, characterised in that the roller (7) is mounted on a tilting support (13).

Abstract: A roller bed that is inserted between idlers in a conveyor belt system. The roller bed includes a base plate that is oriented substantially parallel to said surface of said conveyor belt. A first side plate on a first side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a first side of conveyor belt and cause the first side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to a plane of the surface. Small diameter rollers, very closely spaced, are affixed to a surface of the first side plate to support the conveyor belt and reduce friction between the side plate and the conveyor belt. A second side plate on a second side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a second side of the conveyor belt and cause the second side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to the plane of the surface.

Abstract: A bed rail assembly apparatus that is inserted between idlers in an existing conveyor system. The bed rail assembly apparatus includes a support rail oriented substantially parallel to and beneath the conveyor belt. A first bed rail assembly on a first side of the support rail and is oriented at an angle to the horizontal surface of the conveyor belt to support a first side of conveyor belt to be inclined upwards. Small diameter, closely spaced rollers, are affixed to the inclined surface of each bed rail assembly to support the inclined side of the conveyor belt and reduce friction between the rollers and the conveyor belt. A second inclined bed rail assembly on a second side of the support rail is inclined upwards to support a second inclined side of the conveyor belt. Small diameter rollers are affixed to the inclined surface of the second bed rail assembly to incline upward a second side of the conveyor belt and to reduce friction between the second inclined bed rail assembly and the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An idler roller assembly in an imaging system including a sheet material transport roller system having drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller assembly includes a plurality of idler rollers. A plurality of springs are connected to apply respective normal forces to the idler rollers. Pivoting linkages are provided to equalize the normal forces applied to the respective rollers by respective springs. In an embodiment, the plurality of idler rollers includes a first idler roller and a second idler roller. The plurality of springs includes a first spring connected to apply a normal force to the first idler roller and a second spring connected to apply a normal force to the second idler roller. The pivoting linkage includes a first pivoting lever member connected between the first spring and the second spring.

Abstract: A roll-forming unit of a curved glass manufacturing apparatus includes a cooperating pair of upper and lower forming roll mechanisms. Each mechanism includes a forming roll having a resilient rod covered with a cover member except opposite end portions thereof, a pair of support members rotatably supporting the opposite end portions of the resilient rod while allowing the resilient rod to tilt about said support members, a bending unit coupled with at least one of the opposite end portions of the resilient rod for applying to the one end portion an external force tending to flex the forming roll into either an upwardly arched configuration or a downwardly arched configuration, and at least one backup roller unit being in rolling engagement with the forming roll to maintain the arched configuration of the forming roll.

Abstract: A dual belt conveyor includes a pair of flexible endless loop conveyor belts arranged at an incline with a lower flight of the upper belt in face-to-face conveying relationship with an upper flight of the lower belt to retain and convey granular material between the belts. Drive pulleys are connected to both belts to move the belts at the same speed, and the conveying flights of the belts are journaled through a trough which forces the belts into a curved concave orientation between the side edges with the upper belt biased downwardly into engagement with product on the lower belt to retain product therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible endless conveyor belt with fold-over capacity contains support cables longitudinally oriented and internally disposed to the belt. The support cables are distributed throughout the medial portion and the flaps of the belt. In one embodiment of the invention, the hinged areas intermediate the flaps and the medial portion further contain fold cables of a significantly smaller cross-section than those contained in the medial portion and the flaps. In a second embodiment of the invention the hinged areas do not contain fold cables. The first and second embodiments can additionally include transverse cables oriented transversely to the support cables, thus providing third and fourth embodiments of the present invention. The four embodiments can additionally contain grooves in the hinged areas or can contain no grooves, thus providing four additional embodiments.

Abstract: A tube conveyor, in particular a tube conveyor in which an endlessly revolving conveying belt is guided at least partly in the interior of carrier rolls (5) which are attached in a ring-shaped manner and whose axes extend substantially transversally to the direction of conveyance, and is substantially shaped into a tube, with the return of the conveying belt (3) being performed outside of the loaded strand shaped into a tube. In order to provide a tube conveyor which does not require any additional external supporting rolls for the return of the unloaded strand and thus both simplifies the installation of such a tube conveyor and reduces its noise production during operation, the return of the unloaded strand (9) of the conveying belt (3) is performed while resting on the upper carrier rolls (5) which are arranged in a ring-shaped manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a conveyor belt (1) operating as a deep semicircular trough provided with a covering belt (2), characterised in that the covering belt (2) is planar in inoperative state, except for its continuous sealing loops (8) and has a width (a) linked to the length (L) of the trough-shaped conveyor belt (1), at the angle (5) formed by the flexible covering belt (2), relative to the horizontal and to the length (b) of the continuous scaling loop (8), by the relationship a=L.cos&dgr;+2b, and a sealing device (5) is formed by said longitudinal loop (8), being urged to enclose, by automatic engagement, each of the longitudinal ends (6) of said conveyor belt (1), and the disengagement, in the proximity of the unloading zone (Zd) is obtained by simple release, under the effect of the opening of the trough angle (&agr;) and the separation force between said belts (1, 2) without the intervention of any mechanical means.

Abstract: An idler pulley for use in supporting a conveyor belt in a conveyor assembly includes a central body portion, a first angled end portion extending from the central body portion and a second angled end portion extending from the central body portion. The first angled end portion includes a first outer end face and the second angled portion includes a second outer end face. A shaft is rotatably supported at a first location and extends into the first angled end portion. A first positive balanced connection is located between the first outer end face and the shaft such that the first positive balance connection is substantially adjacent to the first location to substantially reduce shaft deflection and provide a substantially balanced connection.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus and method for a continuous haulage system and continuous conveyor belt are disclosed for carrying coal or ore. A middle roller and side sliders are connected with substantially flexible linkages on a roller-slider support piece supporting the continuous conveyor belt. Three apertures are positioned on the holding frame to adjust and control the tracking angle at which the support piece receives the continuous conveyor belt. In one aspect, the holding frame is provided by a plurality of floor-supported frame members held in position by belt tension, the holding frame being capable of rapid and efficient extendable, retractable construction in the mine, and wherein substantially flexible connecting linkages are positioned to connect the middle roller and the side slider and to connect the side slider to a holding frame for holding the roller-slider support piece. Rails connecting and hold adjacent frame members in position by press-fit attachment of the rails to the frame members.

Abstract: The invention provides a tubing material suitable for constructing a double-walled dead shaft idler. The idler so constructed is lighter weight than standard idlers. It permits bearings to be mounted at a distance recessed from the ends of the idler, thereby reducing deflection or bending of the idler. The tubing also includes built-in balancing lugs.

Abstract: A troughing idler of an enclosed belt conveyor has a horizontal shaft that is supported by antifriction bearings mounted outside of the side walls of the trunking and carries a medial roller. Each of the side walls of the trunking supports a downwardly and inwardly sloping side roller in cantilevered relation by means of a side roller carrier that is mounted on the side wall and includes a spindle, a hub, and inboard and outboard antifriction bearings interposed between the spindle and the hub. The medial roller and the side rollers are arranged relative to each other so as to support the belt with side portions sloping upwardly and outwardly with respect to a medial portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor that ensures the orientation of an item in a prone position when the item is fed onto a main conveyor. By ensuring the orientation of an item in a prone position, the invention can be used to transport luggage or equipment, such as wheeled luggage or golf bags, to an end distribution area. The conveyor provides for an in-feed section, an intermediate section and a discharge section of a conveyor. The in-feed and discharge sections both run parallel to the main support frame of the conveyor and provide a flat area to receive and discharge the material to be transported. The intermediate section extends between the receiving and delivery section and discharge section of the conveyor and has a V-shaped contour so as to tip the item being transported into a prone position.

Abstract: Cannelloni is prepared by, initially, forming and blanching a longitudinally extending pasta strand and then cutting the strand into a plurality of longitudinally-extending strips positioned side-by-side. Each strip is passed in a direction of its longitudinal extent to and by a roller having a configuration of a curved surface so that it is contacted by the roller surface to curve the strip so that the curved strip has an upper concave curved surface and a lower convex curved surface, the curved strip is transported on a conveyor belt so that the convex surface is carried by the belt, a filling is deposited onto the concave surface and the curved strip is formed, in particular, by passing the curved strip and filling through a ring positioned above the belt, into a tube for enclosing the filling and so that the strip overlaps, and then, the tube is cut into tubular pieces.

Abstract: An input station for a belt conveyor of the kind including a continuous conveyor belt that moves in a conveyor run through an input station to a discharge location, around a head pulley, and in a return run around a tail pulley back to the input station and the conveyor run. At the input station the conventional center support rollers are retained but the support rollers along the sides of the belt are replaced by a plurality of elongated, stationary, flat support members that support the sides of the conveyor belt throughout the input station, improving the seal to input station skirtboards and materially reducing or eliminating input leakage while maintaining roller support and flexibility in the center of the belt, with minimal friction increase.

Abstract: A skirt seal impact bracket for supporting a conveyor belt idler which improves the impact characteristics of a suspension type idler by enabling the idlers to yield under the force of material being loaded thereonto and thereby protects the idler from undue stress and extends the life of the same. The skirt seal bracket includes a mounting assembly for the bearings of the first and second ends of a belt conveyor idler so as to allow arced pivoting of each bearing of the idler about a point substantially corresponding to a contact point of a trough skirt seal and a belt conveyed by the idler. In this manner, downward movement of a central portion of the idler in response to a load impinging thereon causes the pivoting of each of the bearings about the point of contact of the trough skirt seal and the belt. Further, a structure for limiting such pivoting and downward movement is provided.

Abstract: An improved endless flexible conveying element is set forth. The flexible conveying element is of the type adapted to be mounted on a carrier and to conform with a generally curvilinear endless path for orbital traverse of such endless path. The conveying element has an elongated resiliently deformable portion which includes a longitudinally extending portion located laterally intermediate the longitudinal extending side portions thereof. The resiliently deformable portion of said conveying element laterally flexes to permit the belt to follow laterally curvilinear portions of the endless path in an upright position. The resiliently deformable portion has a tendency to spontaneously assume a natural form thereof, which is configured such that the resiliently deformable portion, when mounted on the carrier, is deformed from its natural form in a manner to provide in the side portions a condition of relative longitudinal tension with respect to the central portion.

Abstract: A conveyor suspension idler mold apparatus for molding a one-piece, elongated, flexible, polymer idler is disclosed along with a method of molding the conveyor idler and the conveyor idler apparatus. A vertical mold has specially shaped cavities for molding the idler without entrapping air, along with shafts positioning and support brackets at each end of the mold for molding a metal shaft into each end of the polymer idler. The shafts positioning and supporting brackets utilize the groove for the bearing retaining ring for locking each shaft into position.

Abstract: Conveyor belt drive apparatus in which an endless looped traction belt engages the main conveyor belt and is driven around the loop to impart driving forces to the main belt. The face of the traction belt which engages the main conveyor belt has a series of open facial pockets and holes extend through the traction belt between the pockets and the reverse or inner face of the belt. A stationary suction chamber structure confronts the inner face of the belt to form therewith a suction chamber such that suction is applied via the holes to the pockets of the traction belt in the region where the traction belt engages the main conveyor belt to provide suction clamping action between the belts.

Abstract: A flexible support for supporting a conveyor belt of a conveyor having a frame. The flexible support includes at least one flexible element extending beneath a portion of the width of the conveyor belt, which flexible element is attached in the region of the ends thereof to the frame of the conveyor. The length of the flexible element is greater than the linear distance between the attached ends of the flexible element and the flexible element delimits support areas for supporting a portion of the width of the conveyor belt extending at least on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal median plane of the conveyor. The at least opposite side support areas of the flexible element are responsive to the travel of the conveyor belt for being drawn in the travel direction independently of one another.

Abstract: A conveyor idler and idler terminal bearing apparatus has a one-piece molded, elongated, flexible polymer idler having a plurality of rollers formed thereon and having a tread formed on the surface thereof. Each end of the idler has an enlarged portion which is engaged by terminal supports surrounding the enlarged portion to rotatable hold the idler to its' mount. The terminal supports may have a steel pin or the like mounted thereto for mounting to the conveyor idler mount.

Abstract: A method of feeding material to a belt to preclude the belt from lifting off its support in vertical concave curves, both when the belt motor is driving the belt and when the belt motor is acting as a brake, is disclosed. When the belt motor is driving the belt, the material is initially fed at a reduced rate to deposit a reduced layer of material on the belt until the leading edge of the reduced layer has entered the most downstream vertical curve of the belt, at which time the rate of feed is increased. The feed rate is increased, in two or more increments, until a full load is carried by the belt. When the belt motor is acting as a brake, the feed rate is initially reduced partially, to deposit a reduced layer of material on the belt, which will remain in the most upstream vertical concave curve until the trailing edge of the full load has been discharged from the belt. Thereafter, the rate of deposit of material on the belt is diminished further, to a lower value or to zero.