Patent ID: 6699148
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: B65G,F16H

Abstract:
A self adjusting contact mechanism for a belt system including:(a) a shoe base having a low friction belt contacting surface; (b) an arm assembly pivotally connected to a stable surface at a first point thereon and having a shoe base attached at a second point thereon spaced from said first point; and (c) a compression mechanism acting on said arm assembly at a contact point spaced from said second point to apply a controlled force to the arm assembly, and through the arm assembly to the shoe base attached thereto, to maintain the low friction surface of the shoe base in controlled force contact with the belt, the compression mechanism including at least one spring pretensioned to act on said arm assembly at said contact point to bias said arm assembly in a direction to maintain the low friction surface of the attached shoe base in contact with the belt, the arm assembly including an L-shaped arm, said first point being at an elbow of said arm, said second point being at one end of said arm and said contact point being at the other end of said arm, and wherein said spring is a compression spring tensioned to apply a force to said arm at said contact point to pivot said arm in a direction to bring the low friction surface of the shoe base attached to the corresponding arm assembly into contact with the belt, the compression mechanism further including a second compression spring mounted to apply a counterbalancing force to said arm at said contact point to the force being applied by said spring, the force applied by said spring being greater than the force applied by said second spring.