| 摘要 |
A support system (20) for the stacked interior edges (50) of a helical portion (24) of an endless belt conveyor (22). The system includes a continuous rail (70) at the bottom tier of the helical portion (24). A series of trolleys (72) ride on their flanged wheeels (82, 84) on this rail (70). The trolleys (72) are directly driven therealong by a rotatable inner drive cage (64) which drives the helical belt (22) portion through its links (56). The belt (22) as it enters the helical portion rides on the trolleys (72) up the helical rail (70) and on to a short support transittion plate (108). The rail (70, 78) and trolleys (72) then drop sharply to pick up the next incoming belt portion (22), and the partially self-supporting belt continues up its helical path (24). This rotatable drive cage (64) is preferably positioned within the helical portion (24) to drive trolleys (72) on the inside edge of the belt (22). Trolleys (208) can also be provided to support or drive the outer edge of the belt (202), where the belt is a double-edge stacking belt (202). A hubless rotatable ring cage preferably drives the outer trolleys (208), and the inner and outer cages are preferably rotated by the same motor througha drive chain system (220). Alternatively, the outer trolleys (208) can be pulled along through the conveyor belt (220), the outer cage can be omitted and the outer trolleys (208) driven directly by the inner drive cage (210), or a C-shaped guide channel (330) drive provided in lieu of the drive cage. |
