Patent ID: 7407051

Claim:
A nozzleless belt-cleaning sprocket support shaft for cleaning endless conveyor belts, comprising: a sprocket support shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, a central portion of generally square transverse cross section with parallel spaced opposed side walls defining an interior chamber, and at least one elongate narrow slit integrally formed in each of said side walls along the length of said central portion in fluid communication with said interior chamber; and a plurality of sprockets removably mounted on said central portion of said shaft, each having a generally square central bore with an interior surface received on the exterior surface of said central portion and an outer periphery adapted to engage a conveyor belt; wherein said sprockets and said shaft rotate as a unit about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and said narrow slits are adapted to discharge a cleaning fluid under pressure in a flat fan spray pattern upon the width of the conveyor belt, and simultaneously discharge the cleaning fluid between the exterior surface of said shaft central portion and said interior surface of said central bore of each of said sprockets.