LINE SHAFT LIVE ROLLER CONVEYOR SPOOL LOCATING DEVICE

摘要

This invention relates to a device for axially locating a driving spool on a drive shaft of a line shaft live roller conveyor. A conveyor pass line to carry boxes or other articles is formed by the upper surface of a number of rollers which are driven from a corresponding number of spools on a single drive shaft extending transversely beneath them. An elastomeric drive belt extends between each driving spool on the drive shaft and a groove in a respective one of the rollers. The rollers are independently driven to provide for conveyor "accumulation" by having a relatively loose frictional fit between the spools and the drive shaft. The fact that each drive belt must turn through an angle of approximately 90.degree. between the spool and the roller results in a tendency for the spools to shift axially along the drive shaft with the intermittent application of load. This causes the drive belts to stretch and eventually lose their power and sometimes jump off of the spools. The present invention provides a locating device with a C-shaped body with a mouth which may be transversely snapped over the drive shaft. The locating device is formed of a resilient material and grips the drive shaft to securely retain it in the desired axial position. A locating device is normally positioned adjacent each spool on the downstream side to prevent axial shifting of the spool when the load is removed. The locating device has a smooth side wall to minimize friction with the spool and may be manually relocated along the drive shaft to intentionally shift the spool to maintain a desired tension in the elastomeric drive belt to compensate for stretching. The locating devices may be quickly and easily installed and relocated without removing the spools as was the case with the previous cylindrical spacers, nor do they transmit any forces between adjacent spools.