A STABILISER UNIT FOR CONVEYOR BELTS

摘要

A stabiliser unit for material on a moving conveyor surface comprises a framework (24) mounted over the surface with a drive pulley (34) making driving engagement therewith. A drum (30) is rotatably supported in the framework (24) and carries a stabiliser surface thereon. The drive pulley (34) is coupled to the drum (30) to rotate the drum with its peripheral velocity substantially equal to that of the drive pulley (34), thus imparting the corresponding velocity to the stabiliser surface. The stabiliser surface can be a belt (26) loosely carried on the drum (30), which follows a path with a first section overlaying the conveyor surface, a second section in engagement with a segment of the drum surface, and third and fourth sections extending between the drum surface and the respective points of separation of the stabiliser belt from the conveyor surface. Movement of the conveyor surface rotates the drive pulley (34) and thereby the drum (30) to advance the stabiliser belt around its path at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyor surface. With no substantial relative movement therebetween, the stabiliser belt and the conveyor surface stabilise material held therebetween along the first section of the stabiliser belt path.