Patent ID: 7287642

Claim:
An idler roller assembly which comprises: a base frame which includes first and second spaced-apart mounting brackets; a support frame for supporting a number of idler rollers in a belt conveyor system, the support frame including a support tube that comprises a first end which is positioned adjacent the first mounting bracket and a second end which is positioned adjacent the second mounting bracket; a locking shaft assembly which includes: a stationary sleeve which is secured to the first mounting bracket; a rotating sleeve which is rotatably supported by the stationary sleeve and is secured to the first end of the support tube; wherein the stationary sleeve comprises one of a first contact surface and a second contact surface and the rotating sleeve comprises the other of the first contact surface and the second contact surface; a lock spool which comprises a first lock surface which conforms to the first contact surface and a second lock surface which conforms to the second contact surface; wherein the lock spool is movable between a first position in which the first lock surface is engaged with the first contact surface and the second lock surface is engaged with the second contact surface to thereby prevent the rotating sleeve from rotating relative to the stationary sleeve, and a second position in which the first lock surface is engaged with the first contact surface but the second lock surface is disengaged from the second contact surface to thereby allow the rotating sleeve to rotate relative to the stationary sleeve; wherein in the first position of the lock spool the support frame is prevented from pivoting relative to the base frame, and in the second position of the lock spool the support frame is allowed to pivot relative the base frame.