Dorner Mfg. Corp.

Dorner

Daniel E Ertel

Scott M Hall

Michael A Hosch

Kenneth A Hansen

Kenneth N Hansen

Jason M Knas

Craig Bude

Mathew C Wymer

Anete Falls

Craig J Bude

A conveyor frame assembly that is constructed from component parts that are formed from stamped sheet metal and assembled after formation. The conveyor frame includes a pair of frame support members that each extend along the length of the conveyor frame from a first end to a second end. The frame support members each include an attachment flange and a side wall that extend perpendicular to a top wall. The frame support members each receive a plurality of cross supports that extend between the spaced side walls. The cross supports are each formed from sheet metal and are attached to the spaced side walls by connectors. First and second pairs of end brackets support end rollers on opposite ends of the conveyor assembly. The first and second end brackets are formed from sheet metal.

Multi-section conveyor frame assembly

A transfer tail assembly for use with a conveyor assembly that adjust the tension in the conveyor belt. The transfer tail assembly includes a pair of adjustment brackets that are each movable along a conveyor axis and support an end roller. The movement of the adjustment brackets and the end roller adjust the tension in the conveyor belt. A spiral cam is positioned such that rotation of the spiral cam causes movement of the end roller along the conveyor axis. A drive pin of the adjustment bracket moves along a spiral cam contact surface. The end roller is pivotable relative to the conveyor frame to release tension on the conveyor belt. The final position of the end roller can be adjusted using a pivot limiting bar.

Tensioning device for an endless belt conveyor

A center drive module for use with a carousel conveyor that includes a continuous loop conveyor chain. The drive module includes a drive motor that rotates one or more sprocket wheels that each engage drive lugs formed on the bottom surface the conveyor chain to move the conveyor chain along the support frame. The drive module includes a pair of guide rollers positioned on opposite sides of the sprocket wheel. The guide rollers engage the conveyor chain and rotate upon the movement of the conveyor chain. Each of the guide wheels resists vertical movement of the conveyor chain caused by the rotating sprocket wheels.

Carousel conveyor drive module

A conveyor assembly that includes a conveyor belt driven by a pinch roller drive assembly. The pinch roller drive assembly includes a pair of pinch rollers that are each rotatably mounted to a support housing. The pinch rollers are supported by a swing arm urged into a bias position by one or more bias springs. The pinch rollers and bias springs are part of a belt tension assembly mounted to the side rails of the conveyor assembly through mounting plates. The belt tension assembly can be pivoted to move the pinch rollers away from the drive roller as desired. In one embodiment, the roller drive assembly is mounted at or near the center of the conveyor assembly and can also support the drive motor. In an alternate embodiment, the pinch roller drive assembly is mounted to one end of the conveyor frame.

Pinch roller drive

An extruded rail for mounting objects along the length of the rail that include an enclosed receiving and containment cavity. The extruded rail includes a receiving and containment cavity that extends from an inner surface of the rail. The receiving and containment cavity includes upper and lower walls and a back wall that define an enclosed containment area. An alignment notch is formed in the generally planar outer surface of the side rail and aligned with the receiving and containment cavity. When an object is to be attached to the rail, an opening is formed in the side rail at the alignment notch. As material is removed from the side rail during formation of the opening, the received material is entrapped within the receiving and containment cavity. Thus, the extruded rail of the disclosure receives and contains material removed during attachment of an object to the rail.

Extruded rail with contained mounting cavity

A drive sprocket retention system is provided for use in a belt conveyor in which a plurality of drive sprockets are mounted on a rotatable element having an axial keyway formation. The retention system is defined by a key arrangement disposed in the keyway formation of the rotatable element, wherein a recessed portion of a key is received and retained between each drive sprocket and the rotatable element without the need for threaded fasteners. The retention system is movable between a locked position and a release position, wherein the spacing between the drive sprockets is substantially fixed when the retention system is in the locked position, and the drive sprockets are independently movable along the longitudinal length of the rotatable element when the retention system is in the release position.

Conveyor belt drive sprocket retention system

A transfer tail assembly for use with a conveyor assembly that creates a reduced radius transition from the upper run to the lower run of a continuous conveyor belt used with the conveyor assembly. The transfer tail assembly includes a stationary nose bar over which the continuous conveyor belt passes at the end of the conveyor assembly. The nose bar is supported at the end of the conveyor assembly by a series of support brackets mounted to a cross support. Each of the support brackets is formed from a wear resistant material and contacts the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt passes around the transfer tail assembly. The nose bar, support brackets and cross support are mounted within the tail assembly without the use of any external connectors and thus require no tooling to assemble and disassemble.

Sanitary conveyor transfer tail assembly

A tip-up tail assembly is provided at the end of a continuous conveyor assembly having a moving conveyor belt. The tip-up tail assembly when moved to a retracted position allows the conveyor assembly to be completely sanitized without removal of the conveyor belt and without need for tools to assemble and disassemble the tail assembly. When sanitation is complete, the tip-up tail assembly is then moved to a horizontal operating position and supported by a pair of locking mechanisms. The locking mechanisms prevent the tip-up tail assembly from going below the horizontal operating position of the conveyor assembly.

Sanitary conveyor tip-up tail assembly

The present invention is a corner section of a conveyor frame assembly that includes removable slide bars and wear strips. The corner section is formed from two side frames of stainless steel joined by multiple stainless steel cross supports. Each of the cross supports is configured to receive a plurality of slide bars formed from a durable plastic material, such as UHMW. The side frames of the corner section also receive a series of support rods positioned to support the lower run of the conveyor belt. Each support rod supports a continuous, lower wear strip and a support puck. The entire corner section can be disassembled and reassembled without the requirement of any external tooling.

Washdown conveyor corner section with removable wear strips

A locking assembly for use with drive sprockets positioned to drive a conveyor belt supported by a conveyor frame assembly. The locking device includes a main body that extends through each of the drive sprockets positioned along a drive shaft of the conveyor assembly. The locking device includes spaced receiving notches that each receive one of the drive sprockets to maintain a desired spacing between the drive sprockets when the locking device is in its locking position. The locking device is movable to a release position to independently release each of the drive sprockets from the locking device. Once released, each of the drive sprockets are movable along the length of the drive shaft to facilitate cleaning of the conveyor assembly. When the locking device is in its locking position, the combination of the locking device and drive sprockets is movable along the longitudinal length of the drive shaft.

Conveyor belt drive sprocket locking assembly

A conveyor construction that includes a conveyor frame assembly formed from a pair of spaced side frame members interconnected with each other by spaced cross members. The upper bed of the conveyor frame assembly is formed from individual bed plate strips attached to each of the cross members. The width of the conveyor frame assembly can be modified by the proper selection of the number of bed plate strips. The conveyor frame assembly includes a separate tensioning assembly and tracking adjustment assembly. The tracking adjustment assembly is adjusted separate from the tensioning assembly such that additional tension applied to the conveyor belt does not affect the previously selected tracking adjustment. The conveyor construction includes a center drive unit having only a single drive roller, a guide roller and a tensioning roller. The tensioning roller position is controlled by a pair of spaced tensioning cylinder.

Endless belt conveyor frame and tensioning device including center drive construction

A multi-section conveyor roller is engageable with a conveyor belt moveably mounted on a conveyor frame assembly. The roller includes a rotatable mounting hub connected to the conveyor frame assembly, and a plurality of adjacently disposed roller segments fixed to the mounting hub to form belt-engaging, curved outer wall surfaces. The outer wall surfaces are separated by a number of gaps, at least one of the gaps receiving rib structure provided on the conveyor belt for maintaining proper movement of the conveyor belt on the conveyor frame assembly.

Multi-section conveyor drive roller

Endless belt conveyor frame

A conveyor construction includes a frame having a pair of side members, a belt and a tensioning section mounted for longitudinal extendable and retractable movement relative to the frame for establishing a desired tension on the belt. The tensioning section includes a spindle engaged with the belt and a pair of side plate structures connected to the spindle and located one adjacent each frame side member. A drive member is rotatably mounted relative to the frame and is drivingly engaged with the tensioning section for imparting longitudinal extendable and retractable movement relative to the frame upon rotation of the drive member. A locking device inserts a frictional locking force on the side plate structures relative to the frame side members for selectively fixing the position of the tensioning section relative to the frame. A restraining arrangement is incorporated in the side plate structures for limiting the retractable movement of the tensioning section upon the imposition of a random force applied to the spindle and overcoming the frictional locking force of the locking device so as to substantially retain the desired tension on the belt and preserve operability of the drive member.

Continuous belt conveyor tensioning mechanism

A conveyor construction including a conveyor frame formed from a pair of side frame members interconnected with each other by at least one bed plate. Each side frame member includes a slot-type engagement structure that extends throughout the entire length of the side frame member. The slot-type engagement structure is capable of receiving threaded fasteners such that the bed plate can be selectively positioned along the length of the side frame members. The rotatable spindles mounted to movable head plates at each end of the conveyor frame are secured to internal bearings by an endwise engagement structure.

Growing community of inventors

Oconomowoc, WI, United States of America

Daniel E Ertel