EXTERNAL GUIDE FOR REDUCING CONVEYOR BELT DRAG

摘要

An external guide assembly (12) for reducing the frictional drag force acting on a side-flexing modular link conveyor belt (14). The guide assembly (12) is formed from one or more roller assemblies (20) that provide external bearing surfaces for the forward and return runs of the belt (14). The rollers (22) prevent the belt (14) from drifting to the inside of the curve, and thus serve to reduce the frictional drag force between the belt (14) and the guide rail (16) on the outside of the curve. To form the guide assembly (12), pairs of articulated members (30) interconnect the roller assemblies (20) and allow the relative angular position of each to be selectively adjusted for mounting along any curve. The rollers may optionally include a peripheral lip (40) which provides additional support for the guide links (26) of the belt (14).