Mechanical fastening structure assembly for curved belt

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly of a curved belt conveyor having at least one single-ridge structure strut (100), the strut (100) comprising a plurality of through-holes wherein at least one through-hole has a pair of outer flanges (101); a pair of spring clips (102) coupled to the outer flange (101); a first roller assembly (200), wherein the first assembly (200) comprises a first main body (210) with a through hole; and a pair of protrusions (220); the second roller assembly (300) is positioned opposite to the first assembly (200); a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) connected to the first assembly (200) for movement between a fastened position or a released position; and an engagement member (103) extending through the first assembly (200) and the outer flange (101) wherein a horizontal force applied to the pair of projections (220) distorts the pair of spring clips (102) to move the first assembly (200) between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The invention also relates to a method for servicing a curved belt conveyor using the strut (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a curved belt conveyor, and more particularly to a single-ridge structural support installed on a curved belt conveyor, which is designed to reduce maintenance workload and time. Background Art

[0002] A powered curved belt conveyor is a conveying system designed to continuously move material along a curved conveyor belt. Curved conveyor systems have been used in the commercial market for many years and are an integral part of conveying systems in airport baggage handling, distribution, cargo handling, and parcel handling.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 8,186,504 B2 discloses a curved belt conveyor in which a conveyor belt assembly has a unitary frame including a first bracket and a second bracket opposite the first bracket. The conveyor belt assembly also includes a third bracket and a fourth bracket opposite the third bracket. Rollers coupled to each bracket engage the conveyor belt, with each roller rotating about its axis around its respective position.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 9,120,628 B2 discloses a curved belt conveyor having a plurality of rollers for guiding a conveyor belt. The rollers are arranged on a U-shaped retaining element having two fastening points connected to the sidewalls. Each retaining element has at least one roller bracket having a roller attached to the roller bracket, wherein the roller bracket pivots so that the roller contacts the conveyor belt.

[0005] U.S. Patent 7,232,030 B2 discloses a conveyor belt having a spring-loaded bolt driven by a lever to connect an L-shaped upper bracket, which holds a first roller, to an L-shaped lower bracket, which holds a second roller. The lever utilizes the stored force of the spring-loaded bolt to move the upper L-shaped bracket up and down. When the two L-shaped brackets are connected, the first roller on the upper bracket and the second roller on the lower bracket are positioned so that both rollers engage the conveyor belt.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 10,392,191 Bl discloses a quick-release mechanism for a structural support. The mechanism retains a bearing bracket in an engaged position via a bearing bracket retaining arm and a detent element in a C-shaped channel. Once released from the engaged position, the bearing bracket is secured in a disengaged position in the C-shaped channel via a screw or pin that engages the bracket. Removal of the screw or pin is required to effectively remove the bearing bracket from the structural support.

[0007] Conveyors described in the prior art have several drawbacks and limitations, as performing maintenance on curved conveyor belts requires considerable time and effort. Disassembly for further inspection and replacement of faulty components increases this time and effort. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and allows maintenance work to be performed in a simple and efficient manner. Summary of the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a single-ridge structural support column assembled to a power curved belt conveyor, so that maintenance work on the power curved belt conveyor can be carried out without disassembling the single-ridge structural support column.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for manipulating the position of a roller assembly engaged with a single-ridge structure support column, thereby facilitating maintenance work.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to enable the single-ridge structural support to be completely disassembled from the powered curved belt conveyor for further inspection or replacement of parts without affecting the overall operation of the powered curved belt conveyor.

[0011] The present invention relates to an assembly of a curved belt conveyor, which has at least one single-ridge structural support, the single-ridge structural support comprising: a plurality of through-holes, wherein at least one through-hole has a pair of outer flanges; a pair of spring clips connected to the outer flanges; a first roller assembly, wherein the first roller assembly includes a first body having the through-holes; and a pair of protrusions; a second roller assembly positioned opposite the first assembly; a pair of rotatable fasteners connected to the first assembly for moving between a fastened position or a loosened position; and an engaging member extending through the first assembly and the outer flanges, wherein a horizontal force applied to the pair of protrusions causes the pair of spring clips to twist, thereby displacing the first assembly to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method for performing maintenance on a single-ridge structural column, comprising: manipulating a pair of rotatable fasteners toward a first bearing of a first roller assembly; manipulating a pair of opposing protrusions of the first roller assembly vertically away from a conveyor belt; visually inspecting a pair of spring clips to determine that the first roller assembly is in an unlocked position; performing a maintenance assessment on the single-ridge structural column; and performing a maintenance assessment on the conveyor belt. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings are intended to help further understand the present invention. The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the basic principles of the embodiments.

[0014] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a powered curved belt conveyor.

[0015] Figure 2 An exploded view of a single-spine structural support column having a pair of first roller assemblies and a pair of second roller assemblies.

[0016] Figure 3 A front isometric view of a single-ridge structural support column with the first roller assembly in the closed position.

[0017] Figure 4a Exploded isometric view of the first roller assembly.

[0018] Figure 4b Isometric view of the assembled first roller assembly.

[0019] Figure 4c Exploded isometric view of the second roller assembly.

[0020] Figure 4d Exploded isometric view of the assembled second roller assembly.

[0021] Figure 5a A side view of a single spine structural support column with the first roller assembly in a secured and engaged position.

[0022] Figure 5b A side view of a single spine structural support column with the first roller assembly in a released and disengaged position.

[0023] Figure 6 A fully assembled side view of a single ridge structural support with the conveyor belt reinforcement engaged with the first and second roller assemblies.

[0024] The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope of the embodiments. In addition, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of certain elements in the drawings may be enlarged or reduced to help better understand the embodiments. In addition, although the disclosed technology can be subjected to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. However, it is not intended that the embodiments be unnecessarily limited. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover all suitable modifications, combinations, equivalents and / or alternatives within the scope of this disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Various examples of the mechanisms, systems, and methods described above will now be described in greater detail. The following description provides specific details to fully understand and describe these examples. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the technology discussed herein can be implemented without these details. Similarly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the technology may include many other features not described in detail herein. In addition, to avoid unnecessary obfuscation of the relevant description, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below.

[0026] The present invention relates to a component of a powered curved belt conveyor having at least one single-ridge structural support (100), wherein the single-ridge structural support (100) comprises:

[0027] A plurality of through holes extending linearly between opposite side walls of the single ridge structural support (100), wherein

[0028] At least one through hole has outer flanges (101) on both open ends of the through hole;

[0029] a pair of spring clips (102) coupled to the outer flange (101);

[0030] A first roller assembly (200) is positioned adjacent to the pair of spring clips (102), wherein the first roller assembly (200) includes:

[0031] a first body (210) having a through hole on each of opposite side walls of the first body (210);

[0032] a first bearing (240) mounted to the front side of the first body (210); and

[0033] a pair of protrusions (220) positioned parallel to the base of the first body (210) and disposed along each opposing sidewall of the first body (210);

[0034] a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) connected to the first roller assembly (200), wherein

[0035] rotating the pair of fasteners (230) relative to the first bearing (240) to move the first roller assembly (200) between a fastened position and a loosened position;

[0036] an engaging member (103) extending through a through hole on the first roller assembly (200) and a through hole corresponding to the outer flange (101) so that the first roller assembly (200) contacts the pair of spring clips (102), and

[0037] The second roller assembly (300) is positioned opposite to the first roller assembly (200), wherein the second roller assembly (300) comprises:

[0038] a second body (310) having a pair of hollow outer flanges (320) with open ends on each opposing side wall of the second body (310); and

[0039] a second bearing (340) mounted to the front side of the second body (310);

[0040] wherein the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340) engage with a plurality of conveyor belt reinforcements (410) sewn to the conveyor belt (400); and wherein a horizontal force applied to the pair of protrusions (220) twists the pair of spring clips (102) to shift the engagement member (103) and the first roller assembly (200) to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

[0041] In one embodiment of the single spine structural strut (100), the pair of spring clips (102) further comprises:

[0042] a first portion in contact with the outer surface of the outer flange (101);

[0043] A second portion contacts the periphery of the through hole corresponding to the outer flange recess (101); and a third portion extends away from the outer flange (101), each end of which is connected to one end of the first portion and the second portion to form an inner recess that ensures that the movement of the first roller assembly is within the inner space of the pair of spring clips (102).

[0044] In one embodiment of the single spine structural support (100), the pair of spring clips (102) have a visual indicator to indicate whether the first roller assembly (200) is in an engaged position or a disengaged position.

[0045] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural support (100), a portion of the single-ridge structural support (100) has a pair of inner recesses (108) configured to receive the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) for fastening the first roller assembly (200).

[0046] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), a pair of support members are assembled to the pair of hollow outer flanges (320) to secure the second roller assembly (300) to the single-ridge structural column (100).

[0047] In the described embodiment of the single spine structural support (100), the pair of support members consists of:

[0048] a pair of brackets (105) mounted to a corresponding pair of hollow outer flanges (320);

[0049] Bolt rotator (106);

[0050] Bolt (107); and

[0051] Nut (109).

[0052] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), a safety pin (104) is assembled to one end of the engagement member (103) to secure the engagement member (103) in position relative to the single-ridge structural column (100).

[0053] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), the single-ridge structural column (100) has at least two pairs of first roller assemblies (200) and two pairs of second roller assemblies (300) assembled to the single-ridge structural column (100).

[0054] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), the single-ridge structural column (100) is configured such that the first roller assembly (200) is positioned relative to the second roller assembly (300), and the two second roller assemblies (300) are positioned relative to each other.

[0055] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), the single-ridge structural column (100) is equipped with two pairs of first roller assemblies (200).

[0056] In one embodiment of the single-ridge structural column (100), the single-ridge structural column (100) is equipped with two pairs of second roller assemblies (300).

[0057] The present invention relates to a method for maintaining a single-ridge structural column (100) according to claim 1, comprising:

[0058] Manipulating a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) toward a first bearing (240) of a first roller assembly (200);

[0059] Manipulating a pair of opposing protrusions (220) of the first roller assembly (200) to vertically move away from the conveyor belt (400);

[0060] visually inspecting the pair of spring clips (102) to determine that the first roller assembly (200) is in a released position;

[0061] Performing a maintenance assessment on a single-ridge structural support (100); and

[0062] A maintenance assessment is performed on the conveyor belt (400).

[0063] In one embodiment of the method for maintaining a single-ridge structural support, further method steps include one or more of the following combinations:

[0064] Replacement of single ridge structure support (100);

[0065] Replace the conveyor belt (400);

[0066] replacing the first bearing (240);

[0067] replacing the second bearing (340) of the second roller assembly (300);

[0068] replacing the first roller assembly (200); and

[0069] Replace the second roller assembly (300).

[0070] In one embodiment of the method for maintaining a single-ridge structural support, the further method steps include:

[0071] Manipulating a pair of opposing protrusions (220) of the first roller assembly (200) to face the conveyor belt (400) vertically;

[0072] manipulating the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) toward the single-spine structural support (100); and

[0073] Visually inspect the pair of spring clips (102) to confirm that the first roller assembly (200) is in a secure position.

[0074] The following description will describe the present invention in detail with reference to non-limiting examples.

[0075] Conventional curved belt conveyor

[0076] Figure 1 A conventional friction-driven curved belt conveyor (500) is shown, wherein a conveyor belt (400) rotates around the curved belt conveyor (500) via a drive pulley (502) and a tail pulley (503). A frame (501) is mounted on opposite sides of the curved belt conveyor (500), wherein the drive pulley (502) and the tail pulley (503) are located at opposite ends of the frame (501). The drive pulley (502) is operably coupled to a drive motor having an associated driver and controller via a gearbox.

[0077] A plurality of structural supports are mounted along the outer profile of the curved belt conveyor (500) provided by the frame (501). Each structural support is equipped with a plurality of bearing assemblies having corresponding bearings that engage with a plurality of conveyor belt reinforcements (410) sewn to the outer edge of the conveyor belt (400). The conveyor belt reinforcements (410) are polymer-based reinforcements made of polymers, such as polyurethane or similar materials commonly used for conveyor belt reinforcements. The plurality of bearings are positioned so that the conveyor belt (400) and the conveyor belt reinforcements (410) are guided along a path that mimics the expected geometry. It is important that the conveyor belt (400) runs precisely within the expected geometry to ensure minimal friction and wear when rotating around the curved belt conveyor (500).

[0078] Each structural support has a parallel flange channel structure that allows the base flange of the structural support to be connected to the frame (501) and the top flange to be connected to the annular plate (504) located above the frame (501). The structural support is made of one or more materials such as plastic, nylon, aluminum, wood or fiberglass.

[0079] The structural connection between the plurality of structural supports, the frame (501), and the annular plate (504) provides sufficient structural integrity to replace the need for sidewalls along the outer radius of the curved belt conveyor (500). In addition, the annular plate (504) has a plurality of connection points that are arranged to define the arrangement of the structural supports so that there are unobstructed open spaces (505) between adjacent pairs of structural supports. Subsequently, the unobstructed open spaces (505) provide access to the interior area between the upper and lower portions of the conveyor belt (400), which can facilitate replacement and maintenance, thereby saving labor costs and reducing downtime.

[0080] Improvements of the present invention

[0081] The following description describes an improvement to a conventional structural post and its corresponding roller assembly.

[0082] The present invention is designed to allow a user to fully see the first roller assembly (200) and the second roller assembly (300) within a curved conveyor belt (500) installed with a plurality of single-ridge structural pillars (100). The user obtains accessibility and visibility to the first roller assembly (200) in the single-ridge structural pillars (100) through the unobstructed open space (505) between two corresponding adjacent single-ridge structural pillars (100).

[0083] Figure 2 All parts required to assemble a single spine structural column (100) having two first roller assemblies (200) and two second roller assemblies (300) are shown. Figure 3 The single-ridge structural support (100) is shown fully assembled. Preferably, the single-ridge structural support (100) has a double flange channel structure made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, nylon, steel, aluminum, wood, or fiberglass. The single-ridge structural support (100) utilizes the same double flange channel structure as conventional structural supports, which in turn allows the single-ridge structural support (100) to be mounted on a conventional curved belt conveyor (500) by connecting to a frame (501) and an annular plate (504).

[0084] In this embodiment, two first roller assemblies (200) and two second roller assemblies (300) are mounted on the single-ridge structural column (100). However, it will be understood that alternative embodiments in which the single-ridge structural column (100) is mounted with four first roller assemblies (200) or four second roller assemblies (300) can be employed if desired.

[0085] The single-ridge structural support (100) of an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of through-holes extending linearly from two sidewalls. Each through-hole is open, and at least one through-hole has an outer flange (101) at each end of the through-hole. Preferably, there are five through-holes positioned in parallel along the height of the single-ridge structural support (100). In addition, there are two through-holes, whose respective outer flanges (101) are located at the uppermost and lowermost positions among the plurality of through-holes.

[0086] A pair of spring clips (102) are assembled onto an outer flange (101) on each side wall of a single-ridge structural pillar (100). The pair of spring clips (102) are configured such that a first portion contacts the outer surface of the outer flange (101) to secure the pair of spring clips (102) in place. A second portion of the pair of spring clips (102) contacts along the periphery of the corresponding through-hole, wherein a third portion extends away from the outer flange (101), and each end portion is connected to the first portion and the second portion, thereby forming an inner recess to ensure that the first roller assembly (200) moves within the inner space of the pair of spring clips (102).

[0087] In the present invention, the first roller assembly (200) is capable of vertically moving from one position to another. Figure 4a All components forming the first roller assembly (200) are shown, wherein the first roller assembly (200) is made of one or more materials including plastic, nylon, steel, aluminum, wood, or fiberglass. Figure 4b The assembled first roller assembly (200) is shown, wherein the engagement member (103) passes through the left and right sides of the first roller assembly. The first roller assembly (200) has a first body (210) having a C-shaped profile to facilitate assembly of the first roller assembly (200) to the single-ridge structural support (100). A first bearing (240) is mounted on the front side of the first roller assembly (200) using a first rotator (250), a first bolt (260) and a first nut (270). The first body (210) also has a pair of protrusions (220) arranged parallel to the base of the first body and along the two side walls.

[0088] Preferably, the first body (210) has through holes on both side walls of the first body (210). Figure 4bAs shown, the first body (210) has two through holes on both sides. When a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) are connected and positioned within the interior space of the first roller assembly (200), one of the through holes is used to allow the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) to enter. The pair of rotatable fasteners (230) have flag-shaped protrusions that rotate relative to the direction of the first bearing (240). In another embodiment of the present invention, the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) can be positioned on a single-ridge structural pillar (100).

[0089] The first roller assembly (200) is preferably assembled and aligned with the through hole having the outer flange (101), wherein the through hole on the first body (210) and the corresponding through hole having the outer flange (101) are then also aligned. Subsequently, the engaging member (103) is slotted through the now aligned through hole and outer flange (101) of the first body (210) to properly engage the first roller assembly (200) to the single ridge structural support (100). The pair of spring clips (102) also contact the first roller assembly (200) via the engaging member (103). In addition, a safety pin (104) can be slotted into one end of the engaging member (103) to ensure that the engaging member (104) does not slide out of its position when the curved conveyor belt (500) is used.

[0090] Similar to the first roller assembly (200), the second roller assembly (300) is made of one or more materials including plastic, nylon, steel, aluminum, wood or fiberglass. The components required to assemble the second roller assembly (300) are as follows: Figure 4c The second roller assembly (300) has a second body (310) having a C-shaped profile with an extension on the front side to allow it to be easily assembled into the single-ridge structural pillar (100), and the second body has hollow outer flanges (320) on the left and right sides, and a second bearing (340) is mounted on the front side of the second body (310).

[0091] like Figure 4d As shown, after assembly, the second roller assembly (300) is simpler in design, but it functions as a roller assembly compared to the first roller assembly (200). However, the second roller assembly (300) is fixed in place and cannot be moved vertically from one position to another. Figure 3 As shown, the second roller assembly (300) is assembled to the single-ridge structural support (100) and is positioned opposite to the corresponding first roller assembly (200).

[0092] like Figure 3As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is embodied in that two second roller assemblies (300) are positioned adjacent to each other. This arrangement allows a pair of brackets (105) to be assembled onto the hollow outer flanges (320) on both sides of the second roller assembly (300). The pair of brackets (105) secures the second roller assembly (300) to the single-ridge structural pillar (100) to prevent it from falling off or moving from the preferred position. The preferred position will also align the hollow outer flange (320) with one of the multiple through holes along the single-ridge structural pillar (100). Corresponding bolts (107) can be inserted through the hollow outer flange (320) and the corresponding through hole and tightened with a rotator (106) and nut (109) to further secure the second roller assembly (300) to the single-ridge structural pillar (100). The introduction of the pair of brackets (105) provides additional structural integrity to the single-ridge structural pillar (100).

[0093] Figure 5a A close-up image of a first roller assembly (200) and a corresponding second roller assembly (300) is shown, assembled onto a single-ridge structural support (100) that engages a belt reinforcement (410) sewn to the edge of a conveyor belt (400), wherein the belt reinforcement (410) has a diameter greater than the gap between the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340). This assembly generates the required tension to ensure smooth operation of the conveyor belt (400) along a curved belt conveyor (500).

[0094] Replace the conveyor belt

[0095] The following example explains how to loosen the first roller assembly (200) and keep the first roller assembly (200) within the coverage of the single ridge structure pillar (100), as shown in FIG. Figure 5b The purpose of moving the first roller assembly (200) vertically away from the conveyor belt (400) is to increase the gap between the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340) so that the resulting gap is larger than the diameter of the conveyor belt reinforcement (410), thereby freeing the conveyor belt reinforcement (410) to remove and replace a damaged or worn conveyor belt (400) without disassembling any component of the single-ridge structural support (100) or the entire structural support (100) itself.

[0096] If the conveyor belt reinforcement portion (410) or the conveyor belt (400) being inspected is damaged, the original conveyor belt (400) can be replaced with a new conveyor belt (400).

[0097] like Figure 5aAs shown, the first roller assembly (200) is currently in a fastened and engaged position. The fastened position is achieved by rotating a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) away from the first bearing (240). In addition, a portion of the single-spine structural support (100) has a pair of recessed portions (108) for accommodating the pair of rotatable fasteners (230). The pair of recessed portions (108) secure the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) so that the first roller assembly (200) is not easily moved unless external force is applied.

[0098] First, the first roller assembly (200) is placed in a loosened position by manipulating a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) to rotate forward toward the first bearing (240), thereby loosening the first roller assembly (200). The rotatable fasteners (230) can be manually manipulated to rotate toward the first bearing (240), or an external tool can be used to manipulate the rotation of the pair of rotatable fasteners (230). In addition, the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) are color-coded on each side to form a visual indicator indicating whether the first roller assembly (200) is in a fastened position or a loosened position.

[0099] Once the first roller assembly (200) is in the released position, the first roller assembly (200) can be moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position. A vertical force is applied upwardly to the pair of protrusions (230) of the first roller assembly (200) as it is intended to create a gap between the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340) by moving the first roller assembly (200) away from the conveyor belt (400).

[0100] Due to the proximity between the pair of spring clips (102) and the first roller assembly (200) via the engagement member (103), the vertical force applied to the pair of protrusions (230) is distributed to other portions of the first roller assembly (200) and extends to the pair of spring clips (102). As a result, the pair of spring clips (102) twist and thereby displace the engagement member (103) to move vertically upward. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the upper and lower portions of the pair of spring clips (102) are colored differently to form another visual indicator to determine whether the first roller assembly (200) is in the engaged position or the disengaged position. The movement of the engagement member (103) also allows the first roller assembly (200) to move a distance W, thereby moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position, as shown. Figure 6 However, the vertical movement of the first roller assembly (200) is limited within the internal space of the pair of spring clips (102), wherein the pair of spring clips (102) have recessed portions at opposite ends to limit further movement of the first roller assembly (200) and fix the first roller assembly (200) to one end of the pair of spring clips (102).

[0101] The technology also ensures that the first roller assembly (200) will not be accidentally or intentionally removed from the curved conveyor belt (500), which could cause damage or malfunction if left inside the device, or cause personal injury if completely removed and placed on the channel.

[0102] However, the user must first repeat the operation of shifting each first roller assembly (200) located within each single-ridge structural support (100) to a disengaged position, wherein each corresponding first bearing (240) no longer contacts the conveyor belt reinforcement (410). Disengagement will cause the conveyor belt (400) to lose the tension generated when engaging the plurality of first bearings (240). The user can continue to remove the conveyor belt (400) and the conveyor belt reinforcement (410) for inspection without disassembling the entire curved belt conveyor (500).

[0103] Rejoin the conveyor belt

[0104] Once the conveyor belt (400) is replaced and the new conveyor belt (400) is secured in place within the curved belt conveyor (500), the user must move each first roller assembly (200) from a disengaged and loosened position to an engaged and secured position to allow each corresponding first bearing (240) to reengage with the conveyor belt reinforcement (401).

[0105] First, when the first roller assembly (200) is in Figure 5b In the disengaged position shown, the user applies additional vertical force to the pair of opposing protrusions (220) assembly (200) in a direction toward the conveyor belt (400). Due to the proximity between the pair of spring clips (102) and the first roller assembly (200) via the engagement member (103), the vertical force applied to the pair of protrusions (230) is distributed to other portions of the first roller assembly (200) and extends to the pair of spring clips (102). As a result, the pair of spring clips (102) twists and thereby displaces the engagement member (103) to move vertically downward. The movement of the engagement member (103) also allows the first roller assembly (200) to move a distance W, thereby moving from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

[0106] The user repeats the above steps for each first roller assembly (200) mounted on the curved belt conveyor (500). When each first roller assembly (200) is in the engaged position, the first roller assembly (200) can be moved from the loose position to the tightened position by manipulating the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) away from the corresponding first bearing (240) and rotating toward its corresponding pair of inner recesses (108) to tighten the first roller assembly (200) and prevent it from moving vertically.

[0107] The user repeats this step for each corresponding first roller assembly (200) located within each single-ridge structural column (100) until all corresponding first bearings (240) and second bearings (340) are engaged with the conveyor belt reinforcement (410). Additionally, tension on the conveyor belt (400) can be reapplied via the tensioning screws on the drive pulley (502) and the tail pulley (503).

[0108] Maintain the first roller assembly

[0109] The following example explains how to remove the first roller assembly (200) from a single-ridge structural support (100) for inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the first bearing (240) or the entire first roller assembly (200).

[0110] First, the adjustable roller assembly (200) is released from the locked position, wherein the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) are rotated toward the first bearing (240), which causes the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) to disengage from the inner recess (108) located in the single-ridge structural column (104). Next, the safety pin (104) securing the joint member (103) is manually removed so that the joint member (103) can be removed through the first body (210) and the single-ridge structural column (100). The first roller assembly (200) can then be removed from the single-ridge structural column (100) for maintenance work.

[0111] The replacement of the first roller assembly (200) is a reverse procedure, wherein first, the C-shaped profile of the first body (210) is positioned on each side of the single-ridge structural support (100) and vertically aligned with the locked or unlocked position of the pair of spring clips (102). Second, the coupling member (103) is manually inserted through the through-holes on one side of the first body (210), the corresponding pair of spring clips (102), and the single-ridge structural support (100) until the ends of the coupling member (103) protrude from the first body (210) on the opposite side. Third, the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) are reinserted through the two protruding arms of the coupling member (103) and manually rotated in a direction toward the first body (210) until they are positioned in the pair of inner recesses (108) for securement.

[0112] Maintain the second roller assembly

[0113] The following example explains how to remove the second roller assembly (300) from the single-ridge structural support (100) for inspection and, if necessary, replace the corresponding second bearing (340) or the entire second roller assembly (300).

[0114] First, remove the bolt (107) and the third nut (109). Next, remove the pair of brackets (105) from the outer flanges (320) on each side of the second body (310). Then, the second roller assembly (300) can be removed from the single-ridge structural support (100) for maintenance work.

[0115] Replacing the static roller assembly (300) is a reverse procedure, wherein first, the C-shaped profile of the rear portion of the second body (310) is slid through the positioning recess (108) on the single-spine structural pillar (100) until it is flush with the surface of the single-spine structural pillar (104). Second, the connecting brackets (105) on the outer flanges (320) on each side of the second body (310) are replaced to connect the two corresponding second roller assemblies (300) to each other. Third, the connection of the bolts (107) and the third nuts (109) are replaced and tightened to lock the two second roller assemblies (300) in place.

[0116] Replacement of single ridge structural support

[0117] The present invention is also configured so that the curved powered belt conveyor (500) can continue to operate even if one or more single-ridge structural pillars (100) are removed. The single-ridge structural pillars (100) can be removed individually from between the frame (501) and the annular plate (504) and immediately replaced as a whole with minimal disruption to operating time and without the need to disassemble the entire curved belt conveyor (500). After removing and replacing the new single-ridge structural pillars (100), the removed single-ridge structural pillars (100) can be remotely inspected to assess any problems, such as the integrity of the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340) or the corresponding first roller assembly (200) and the second roller assembly (300). Any damaged parts can be easily repaired or replaced. Once the inspection and maintenance work is completed, the single-ridge structural pillars (100) can be stored on the curved belt conveyor (500) or a completely different conveyor if necessary and reused if necessary by replacing any damaged single-ridge structural pillars (100) with repair units in stock.

[0118] Throughout this specification, reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Furthermore, various features are described that may be exhibited by some embodiments but not by others. Similarly, various features are described that may be requirements for some embodiments but not for others.

[0119] The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meaning in the context of this art, this disclosure, and in the specific context in which each term is used. It should be understood that the same thing can be expressed in a variety of ways. Therefore, any one or more terms discussed herein can use alternative language and synonyms, and no matter whether or not the terms are elaborated or discussed in detail in this article, they do not have any special meaning. Synonyms for some terms are provided. The use of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including the examples of any terms discussed herein, is merely illustrative and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or any exemplary term. Similarly, the present disclosure is not limited to the various embodiments given in this specification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art. In the event of a conflict, this document (including definitions) shall prevail.

Claims

1. A component of a powered curved belt conveyor having at least one single-ridge structural support (100), the single-ridge structural support (100) comprising: a plurality of through holes extending linearly between opposite side walls of the single-ridge structural support (100), wherein at least one through hole has outer flanges (101) on both open ends of the through hole; a pair of spring clips (102) coupled to the outer flange (101); A first roller assembly (200) is positioned adjacent to the pair of spring clips (102), wherein the first roller assembly (200) includes: a first body (210) having a through hole on each of opposite side walls of the first body (210); a first bearing (240) mounted to the front side of the first body (210); and a pair of protrusions (220) positioned parallel to the base of the first body (210) and disposed along each opposing sidewall of the first body (310); a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) connected to the first roller assembly (200), wherein the pair of fasteners (230) are rotated relative to the first bearing (240) to move the first roller assembly (200) between a fastened position and a loosened position; an engaging member (103) extending through a through hole on the first roller assembly (200) and a through hole corresponding to the outer flange (101) so that the first roller assembly (200) contacts the pair of spring clips (102), and The second roller assembly (300) is positioned opposite to the first roller assembly (200), wherein the second roller assembly (300) comprises: a second body (310) having a pair of hollow outer flanges (320) with open ends on each opposing side wall of the second body (210); and a second bearing (340) mounted to the front side of the second body (310); wherein the first bearing (240) and the second bearing (340) are engaged with a plurality of conveyor belt reinforcements (410) sewn to the conveyor belt (400); and wherein a horizontal force applied to the pair of protrusions (220) causes the pair of spring clips (102) to twist to displace the engaging member (103) and the first roller assembly (200) to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

2. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The pair of spring clips (102) further comprises: A first portion in contact with the outer surface of the outer flange (101); a second portion in contact with a periphery of the through hole corresponding to the outer flange (101); and The third part extends away from the outer flange (101), and each end is connected to one end of the first part and the second part to form an inner recess, which ensures that the first roller assembly moves within the inner space of the pair of spring clips (102).

3. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 2, wherein: The pair of spring clips (102) have a visual indicator to indicate whether the first roller assembly (200) is in an engaged position or a disengaged position.

4. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein A portion of the single-spine structural support (100) has a pair of inner recesses (108) configured to receive the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) for fastening the first roller assembly (200).

5. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein A pair of support members are assembled to the pair of hollow outer flanges (320) to secure the second roller assembly (300) to the single-ridge structural support column (100).

6. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 5, wherein: The pair of support members consists of the following parts: a pair of brackets (105) assembled to a corresponding pair of hollow outer flanges (320); Bolt rotator (106); Bolt (107); and Nut (109).

7. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein: A safety pin (104) is fitted to one end of the engagement member (103) to secure the engagement member (103) in position relative to the single-ridge structural support (100).

8. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein The single-ridge structural column (100) has at least one pair of first roller assemblies (200) and one pair of second roller assemblies (300) assembled to the single-ridge structural column (100).

9. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 8, wherein: The single-ridge structural support (100) is configured such that the first roller assembly (200) is positioned relative to the second roller assembly (300), and the two second roller assemblies (300) are positioned relative to each other.

10. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein The single-ridge structural support (100) is equipped with two pairs of first roller assemblies (200).

11. The single-ridge structural support (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The single-ridge structural support column (100) is equipped with two pairs of second roller assemblies (300).

12. A method for maintaining a single vertebral structural support (100) according to claim 1, comprising: Manipulating a pair of rotatable fasteners (230) toward a first bearing (240) of a first roller assembly (200); Manipulating a pair of opposing protrusions (220) of the first roller assembly (200) to vertically move away from the conveyor belt (400); visually inspecting a pair of spring clips (102) to determine that the first roller assembly (200) is in a released position; Performing a maintenance assessment on the single-ridge structural support (100); as well as The conveyor belt (400) is subjected to a maintenance assessment.

13. The method for maintaining a single-ridge structural support (100) assembled to a powered curved conveyor belt according to claim 12, wherein further method steps include one or more combinations of the following: Replacing the single-ridge structure support (100); replacing the conveyor belt (400); replacing the first bearing (240); replacing the second bearing (340) of the second roller assembly (300); replacing the first roller assembly (200); and Replace the second roller assembly (300).

14. A method for maintaining a single-ridge structural support (100) assembled to a powered curved conveyor belt according to claims 12 and 13, further method steps comprising: Manipulating a pair of opposing protrusions (220) of the first roller assembly (200) to face the conveyor belt (400) vertically; manipulating the pair of rotatable fasteners (230) toward the single-spine structural support (100); and The pair of spring clips (102) are visually inspected to confirm that the first roller assembly (200) is in a secured position.

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