Patent ID: 6740172
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B08B,B65G

Abstract:
A method for cleaning modular conveyor belts of the type having hinged areas, comprising:mounting a non-rotating hollow shaft to a take-up assembly of a modular conveyor belt; mounting at least one sprocket to said hollow shaft so that said at least one sprocket rotates in driven relation about said hollow shaft as said modular conveyor belt passes over and around said at least one sprocket; providing said at least one sprocket with a first pair of sectors that engage said modular conveyor belt at first and second areas thereof; providing said at least one sprocket with a second pair of sectors that engage said modular conveyor belt at third and fourth areas thereof; spacing said first and second pair of sectors laterally apart from one another; adapting a first, open end of said non-rotating hollow shaft for fluid communication with a source of a liquid fluid under pressure and closing a second end of said hollow shaft; mounting a plurality of nozzle members on said hollow shaft in laterally spaced relation to one another so that each nozzle member of said plurality of nozzle members is in open fluid communication with said liquid fluid under pressure; adapting each nozzle member of said plurality of nozzle members to spray a liquid fluid onto said modular conveyor belt; adapting each nozzle member of said plurality of nozzle members to spray said liquid fluid in a fan-shaped spray pattern that impinges upon said modular conveyor belt along a lateral extent thereof; and providing a sufficient number of nozzle members to ensure that an entire lateral extent of said modular conveyor belt is sprayed with said liquid fluid.