Conveyor and conveyor belt cleaning sprocket

Abstract

A sprocket for an endless conveyor is disclosed having a plurality of fluid outlet passages arranged radially between the center of the sprocket and its outer circumferential surface. The outlet passages are positioned along the length of the sprocket in a helical path and are in fluid communication with an annular fluid conduit extending lengthwise along the center of the sprocket. A fluid inlet connected to the conduit supplies fluid under pressure to the conduit, the fluid spraying radially outwardly through the outlet passages to impinge on the inside surface of the endless conveyor and remove any accumulated debris. Nozzles are positioned within the outlet passages to control the fluid spray.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is based on and claims the benefit of prior filed co-pending provisional patent Application No. 60 / 200,793, filed Apr. 28, 2000.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to sprockets used with endless conveyors, and especially to sprockets which are adapted to clean the conveyor when in operation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Conveyors comprising sprocket driven endless belts are used in a wide spectrum of industrial applications to transport items being manufactured or processed from point to point. The items being transported may leak or ooze liquids of varying viscosity, or shed dust, dirt, particles or debris which can accumulate on the belt and foul the conveyor.[0004]This problem is especially acute in meat processing equipment where cuts of meat are transported on conveyors between processing stations and ooze blood, deposit viscous or congealed fat, cartilage, muscle, and other animal carcase liquids and debris onto the b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Preferably, the length of the one sprocket is substantially equal to the width of the belt, and the fluid conduit extends from the one end substantially to the other end of the body. This configuration allows the outlet passages and the apertures to be positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along the body, thus, ensuring that the entire width of the belt is subjected to the cleaning spray of fluid flowing out of the apertures.

[0017]It is another object of the invention to provide an endless conveyor which does not require disassembly to effect cleaning.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the many hinges and joints required to ensure flexibility such belts have a marked tendency to accumulate debris on their inside surface as well as other normally inaccessible places such as in the joints between the segments.

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