Dematic Gmbh

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.

Michael Thane McGettigan

David H Cotter

Kenneth J Kooistra

Curtis E LeMay

Frank-Peter Schaum

A belt conveyor includes spaced-apart opposite sidewalls and at least two rollers positioned along and between the sidewalls defining a zone in which two of the rollers are end rollers located at opposite ends of the zone. A continuous conveying belt is reeved around the rollers and defines a conveying surface between the sidewalls. At least one of the rollers is a driven roller to drive the conveying belt and move articles along the belt conveyor. The conveying belt is initially stretched lengthwise at least 0.75 percent when it is reeved around the rollers. The conveying belt is tracked around the rollers, without a take up device, by engaging with the rollers. End rollers are mounted to axles, each axle extending through and protruding from both sidewalls. Axle retainers may receive the ends the end roller axles and connect the axle ends to their respective sidewalls. The rollers may be driven in response to an article sensor that senses articles on the conveying belt, in order to convey or accumulate articles on the belt conveyor. The belt may be applied as a retrofit to an existing roller conveyor system, and the belt may be incorporated into a kit which may also include replacement end rollers and/or axle retainers for use at either end of a zone.

Belt conveyor and method of converting a roller conveyor to a belt conveyor, and retrofit kit

An adjustable length conveyor bed includes conveyor sections that are movably positioned relative to one another and that include at least one belt support or roller at an upper portion of the respective sidewalls. A fixed roller support is mounted to one section and has a fixed roller rotatably mounted thereto. A continuous belt is reeved along a belt routing path around the rollers and defines a conveying surface at and along the support rollers. A guide roller is movable with the other section and relative to the fixed roller to maintain a generally constant tension in the belt as the conveyor bed is adjusted. The sections are movable relative to one another and securable at a desired degree of extension by securing the other section relative to the fixed roller support.

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Muskegon, MI, United States of America

Michael Thane McGettigan