Patent ID: 7866462
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: B65G,E21F

Abstract:
1. A conveyor apparatus for use with a continuous flexible conveyor belt, said apparatus comprising: an elongate conveyor support frame having opposite longitudinal sides extending between two frame ends; a plurality of conveyor belt supporting devices mounted on and distributed along said support frame for rotatably supporting said conveyor belt, said conveyor belt supporting devices including one belt direction reversing tail pulley mechanism having two tail pulley sections mounted on a pulley support member for rotation about a common central axis of rotation extending generally transversely relative to said longitudinal sides, said tail pulley sections having adjacent inner ends, said pulley support member including a central support portion located at the inner ends of the pulley sections and extending radially outwardly from said inner ends relative to said axis of rotation to a generally vertically extending pivot axis; an interconnecting support assembly for mounting said pulley support member in the conveyor support frame, said interconnecting support assembly including a pivot connector connecting said central support portion to the interconnecting support assembly for pivotal movement about said pivot axis; and a pivot mechanism for pivoting said pulley support member and the tail pulley sections about said pivot axis to maintain said conveyor belt within a desired central region of the tail pulley formed by the tail pulley sections during use of the conveyor apparatus, said pivot mechanism including a belt control arm fixedly connected to said central support portion for pivotal movement therewith and a hydraulic linear actuator pivotally connected to said control arm.