| 摘要 |
An array of idlers supporting a conveyor belt except beneath a generally crescent-shaped section opening outwardly to one side thereof. The array includes idlers of various lengths and orientations. Each of the idlers is disposed perpendicularly to the centerline of the belt. Both upstream and downstream of the crescent-shaped section, pairs of idlers slope downwardly toward each other on either side of the belt centerline. Where the belt is supported by these pairs of idlers, it assumes a trough-like configuration. Proximate the cresent-shaped section, on the other hand, the idlers are unpaired and disposed horizontally. The shortest of these unpaired idlers is situated to one side of the cresent-shaped section at its greatest transverse width. On the other side but still within this section, the lip of the belt is virtually unsupported forming a soft spot. This soft spot is sized and situated so that any burden carried by the conveyor tends to remain on it unless a force is specifically applied to deflect objects within the burden laterally. When force is applied which causes a sufficiently large object to move transversely across the soft spot, the crescent-shaped section acts as a chute. In such instances, the belt lip sages downwardly, becoming the lowest part of the belt and allowing the deflected objects to slide easily off the belt. As a result, less force is required to push objects off the side of the conveyor than would otherwise be the case, and the life of the belt is extended.
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