C. L. Frost & Son, Inc.

Conveyor Maintenance & Supply, Inc.

Siegfried K Weis

Charles C Frost

Douglas J Van Der Meulen

Gerald W Gurney

Donald T Truszkowski

Harvey E Smith, Sr

A lubrication apparatus for conveyor equipment and/or chains, especially overhead conveyors and conveyor chains. The apparatus is mounted immediately adjacent a conveyor or chain for proper lubrication of bearing surfaces while the conveyor or chain is moving. Provision is made for pivotal movement of the lubrication apparatus out of the path of the conveyor or chain should a damaged conveyor or chain part contact the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus includes side arms with internal lubricant passageways and metering pump means therein for dispensing and directing the lubricant. The pump means are actuated by a center arm pivotally mounted between the side arms and biased into engagement with the moving conveyor or chain. The side arms may be pivotally mounted or stationary with respect to the conveyor apparatus or chain. Check-valve nozzles which direct lubricant in a finely divided spray from the side arms are also disclosed.

Conveyor and/or chain lubrication apparatus

A chain spraying apparatus includes a generally circular sprocket having a plurality of teeth secured thereto. A liquid supply tank is supported on the sprocket for rotation therewith. The tank and sprocket are supported adjacent a chain so that the teeth will engage the chain, causing the sprocket and tank to rotate. Spray nozzles are carried by the disc and positioned by the teeth. Each spray nozzle is connected to a mechanical pump which in turn is connected to the liquid supply tank. The mechanical pump includes a cam actuated plunger which reciprocates the plunger when the teeth engage the chain and rotate the sprocket. A flip-up flag indicator and an agitator are provided.

Chain spraying apparatus

A removable end cap closure member or welsh plug for bearing units is disclosed including a frangible knockout plug adapted to be broken out of the closure member with an impact tool to provide an aperture allowing removal of the closure member with a tool. In the preferred embodiment, the plug remains attached to the closure member by a bendable connecting neck which prevents lodging of the plug in the bearing unit. Also disclosed is a bearing assembly including the removable end cap closure member as well as a method for removing the closure member including pressing the knockout plug with a tool to provide an aperture in the closure member and prying and bending the closure member away from the bearing unit with a tool inserted in the aperture. A fixture for supporting a trolley wheel and trolley bracket assembly during installation and removal of an end cap closure member to and from such an assembly is also disclosed.

Removal method for removable closure member for bearing units

A bearing assembly especially adapted for use as a trolley wheel for overhead conveyors. The assembly includes a multipart inner race in which one annular part, preferably machined from steel, bears the major loading on the assembly and the other annular part, preferably formed from sheet metal, bears only minor loading. The major load bearing inner race part extends on either side of the root diameter of the inner raceway and allows a full complement of balls to be inserted in place between the inner and outer raceways without heating and expansion, or contraction, or any other treatment of the inner or outer race parts. The minor load bearing inner race part is preferably clamped to the major load bearing part and provides a contoured extension of the major load bearing raceway for guidance and ball retention purposes. Preferably, the outer race outer circumference is curved to accommodate a sloped support track in overhead conveyors such that the loading force is directed through the balls to the major load bearing inner race part.

Bearing unit with improved inner race

A bearing assembly includes an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of rolling elements and a bellows seal. The seal includes first and second annular members having a sealing portion defining a groove within which a bead is slidably disposed. The sealing portion swivels on the bead and one of the members has a flexible membrane to accommodate axial and radial movement.

Bearing seal

An improved chain bracket, and especially a trolley bracket, for use with overhead conveyor chains and a method for making same which provides an economical bracket having increased chain support strength. The bracket is stamped from sheet metal and includes a chain pad extending transversely across the bracket for engaging and supporting one link of a conveyor chain when mounted on the bracket. A reinforcing portion formed in one piece with and bent from the bracket sheet metal resists and substantially prevents bending of the chain pad under load. The method includes stamping the peripheral outline of the bracket from sheet metal, and bending the chain pad and reinforcing portion integrally and in one piece from the bracket sheet metal.

Method for making chain bracket with strengthened chain supports

Chain bracket with strengthened chain supports

A sheet metal drive disc-pulley assembly adapted for driving rotation by a V-belt to drive a friction wheel such as that in a lawn mower or other mechanism using a drive assembly. Two of three, coaxial, circular pieces of sheet metal define a bearing pocket, which axially and radially locates a bearing unit, and a V-belt receiving groove which, in the preferred embodiment, is spaced outwardly and radially aligned with the bearing pocket for proper resistance to belt tension. The marginal edge of the generally planar, third piece is bent and clamped around the periphery of a conical brace extending from the flared edge of the V-belt groove on one of the first two pieces to form a radially extending friction wheel engaging disc. Either the third piece, or a fourth circular piece of sheet metal clamped between the third piece and conical brace, may radially locate a second, axially self-locating bearing unit which is coaxial and spaced an axial distance from the first bearing unit to prevent preloading of the assembly and to reduce rotational wobble due to any bearing eccentricities or slight bearing misalignment. The bearing units preferably include internal seals. An external seal retained by the bearing pocket may also be included.

Drive disc-pulley assembly

An eccentric boring tool and method of forming a bore off center from the central axis of a workpiece are disclosed. The tool includes a tool holder nonrotatably supported relative to a workpiece and an outer housing supported for rotation with the workpiece and rotation relative to the tool holder. An eccentric supported within the housing mounts a bearing which in turn supports the tool holder. The eccentric rotates with the housing causing the longitudinal axis of the tool holder to orbit about the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. An end mill cutting tool is supported in the tool holder. A plurality of discs are supported in the forward end of the housing. The discs engage the workpiece, lock the housing to the workpiece and cause the housing to rotate at the same speed as the workpiece.

Eccentric boring tool and method

An improved chain bracket and especially a trolley bracket for use in overhead conveyor systems including a strengthened chain support structure. The bracket is stamped from sheet metal but includes chain support pads formed separately and secured to the stamped bracket by welding or the like. In one embodiment, reinforcing members back up at least some of the chain pads to resist bending and deformation when the pads support a conveyor chain link under load. Alternately, the chain pads can be bent in one piece from the bracket sheet metal and reinforced with separate rigid bars or triangular supports welded or otherwise fastened to the stamped bracket preferably intermediate upstanding marginal side edge flanges which help stiffen, rigidify and strengthen the bracket. The separate pads or reinforcing members can be made from harder, more wear resistant materials than the remainder of the bracket.

A roller assembly for use in gravity roller and power roller conveyors, especially those used in sanitary applications such as for food processing and the like. The roller assembly prevents contaminants from entrapment within the roller or associated parts and may be repeatedly washed or steam cleaned without corrosion or degradation. Preferably, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, organic, polymeric plastic, bearing inserts are axially and rotationally retained by retaining means within openings in the opposite ends of a corrosion-resistant roller. At least one of the roller end opening or the insert at each end includes a bottom wall closing off the roller interior and providing a thrust resisting surface. Preferably, the inserts receive stainless steel support shafts which have rounded ends engaging the bottom wall to resist axial thrust on the roller. In the preferred form, the bearing inserts have curved, shaft-engaging surfaces to facilitate and maintain low-drag, rotational support even when the roller is deflected during loaded operation.

Conveyor roller assembly

A protective pivot pin assembly for chains, and especially conveyor chains, and a chain assembly incorporating that pin assembly. The pin includes a collar telescoped over one end and retained by a retaining ring or other securing member. The collar has a recess which receives the retaining ring therein when the collar is urged against the ring by chain links assembled on the pin. When extended, the combined widths and thicknesses of the links hold the collar over the ring to protect the ring and prevent removal of the ring and premature disassembly of the chain. When entirely relaxed, the chain may be collapsed, allowing the collar to be slid back and the ring to be manually removed.

Chain pin assembly with captive securing means

The specification discloses a chain lubricator having teeth which engage a chain and deliver a predetermined amount of lubricant through an internal passageway to the chain. Also disclosed are an oil reservoir and apparatus for measuring and delivering a metered or predetermined amount of oil from the reservoir through the passageway of one of the teeth when it is engaged with the chain. Preferably, the teeth form part of an idler sprocket engaging the chain.

Chain lubrication apparatus and method

An improved trolley wheel assembly and method therefor. The assembly is useful in conveyor applications especially where sanitary conditions must be maintained such as in the food processing industry. The assembly has high load bearing capabilities and includes an antifriction plastic wheel extending about a pair of annular, metallic outer bearing race rings positioned back to back within a central opening of the wheel. The wheel extends around edges of the rings to maintain their axial positions and extends into recesses in the rings to prevent wear-producing rotation between the rings and wheel. The method includes prepositioning the rings in back-to-back alignment and placing or forming by molding the wheel therearound.

Growing community of inventors

Byron Center, MI, United States of America

Siegfried K Weis