U.S. patent application number 09/887209 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-31 for conveyor belt impact cradle with adjustable wing members.
Invention is credited to Burkhart, James R., Noord, Corey A., Swearingen, Gary D..
Application Number | 20020011400 09/887209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22805460 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020011400 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burkhart, James R. ; et
al. |
January 31, 2002 |
Conveyor belt impact cradle with adjustable wing members
Abstract
An impact cradle for supporting a moving conveyor belt. The
impact cradle includes a plurality of support structures. Each
support structure includes an elongate support member and first and
second wing cushion support members for supporting impact bars.
Each wing cushion support member includes a first end including a
plurality of apertures and a second end including a plurality of
apertures. Each aperture in the first end of a wing cushion support
member is spaced apart a uniform distance from a counterpart
aperture in the second end of the wing cushion support member. A
first fastener and a second fastener are inserted respectively
through a selected pair of counterpart apertures to connect the
first and second ends of the wing cushion support member to the
support member. Each pair of counterpart apertures is adapted to
dispose the wing cushion support member at a selected inclined
angle with respect to the support member to conform to the inclined
edges of the conveyor belt. An adjustment member is disposed
between the first end of each wing cushion support member and the
support member to provide a selective incremental increase or
decrease in the inclined angle of the wing cushion support
member.
Inventors: |
Burkhart, James R.;
(Kewanee, IL) ; Noord, Corey A.; (Prophetstown,
IL) ; Swearingen, Gary D.; (Kewanee, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lee, Mann, Smith, McWilliams, Sweeney & Ohlson
P.O. Box 2786
Chicago
IL
60690-2786
US
|
Family ID: |
22805460 |
Appl. No.: |
09/887209 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60216049 |
Jul 5, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/818 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 21/2081 20130101;
B65G 15/62 20130101; B65G 2201/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/818 |
International
Class: |
B65G 015/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable impact cradle for supporting a conveyor belt
including: a support member; a central cushion member associated
with said support member, said central cushion member being
disposed generally horizontal and adapted to support a central
portion of the conveyor belt; a first wing cushion member having a
first end and a second end and a second wing cushion member having
a first end and a second end, each said wing cushion member being
disposed at a respective side of said central cushion member, each
of said first and second wing cushion support members adapted to a
respective side portion of the conveyor belt; and a first angular
adjustment mechanism associated with said first end of said first
wing cushion member, and a second angular adjustment mechanism
associated with said second end of said first wing cushion member,
said first and second angular adjustment mechanisms adapted to
selectively vary the angular inclination of said first wing cushion
member with respect to said central cushion member.
2. The impact cradle of claim 1 including a third angular
adjustment mechanism associated with said second wing cushion
member, said third angular adjustment mechanism adapted to
selectively vary the angular inclination of said second wing
cushion member with respect to said central cushion member.
3. The impact cradle of claim 1 including a wing cushion support
member attached to said first wing cushion member, said wing
cushion support member having a first end and a second end, said
first angular adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of first
apertures located in said first end of said wing cushion support
member for selectively connecting said first end of said wing
cushion support member to said support member at a desired angle of
inclination, and said second angular adjustment mechanism
comprising a plurality of second apertures for selectively
connecting said second end of said wing cushion support member to
said support member at said desired angle of inclination.
4. The impact cradle of claim 1 wherein said central cushion
member, said first wing cushion member, and said second wing
cushion member each respectively comprise one or more impact
bars.
5. An impact cradle for supporting a conveyor belt, said impact
cradle including: a support member having a first end and a second
end; a first wing cushion support member having a first end and a
second end, said first end of said first wing cushion support
member including a first aperture and a second aperture, said
second end of said first wing cushion support member including a
third aperture; a first fastener adapted to be inserted through
said third aperture to connect said second end of said first wing
cushion support member to said support member; and a second
fastener adapted to be inserted through a selected one of said
first aperture and said second aperture to connect said first end
of said first wing cushion support member to said support member;
whereby when said second fastener is inserted through said first
aperture said first wing cushion support member is disposed at a
first angle with respect to said support member, and when said
second fastener is inserted through said second aperture said first
wing cushion support member is disposed at a second angle with
respect to said support member.
6. The impact cradle of claim 5 wherein said first end of said
first wing cushion support member includes a fourth aperture, said
second fastener adapted to be inserted through a selected one of
said first aperture, said second aperture and said fourth aperture
to connect said first end of said first wing cushion support member
to said support member, whereby when said second fastener is
inserted through said fourth aperture said first wing cushion
support member is disposed at a third angle with respect to said
support member.
7. The impact cradle of claim 6 wherein said second end of said
first wing cushion support member includes a fifth aperture and a
sixth aperture, said first fastener adapted to be inserted through
a selected one of said third aperture, said fifth aperture and said
sixth aperture to connect said second end of said first wing
cushion support member to said support member, whereby when said
first fastener is inserted through said third aperture said first
wing cushion support member is disposed at said first angle with
respect to said support member, when said first fastener is
inserted through said fifth aperture said first wing cushion
support member is disposed at said second angle with respect to
said support member, and when said first fastener is inserted
through said sixth aperture said first wing cushion support member
is disposed at said third angle with respect to said support
member.
8. The impact cradle of claim 7 wherein said first aperture and
said third aperture are spaced apart a selected distance, said
second aperture and said fifth aperture are spaced apart said
selected distance, and said fourth aperture and said sixth aperture
are spaced apart said selected distance.
9. The impact cradle of claim 5 including an adjustment member
attached to said support member, said second fastener adapted to
connect said first end of said first wing cushion support member to
said adjustment member, said adjustment member adapted to
selectively change the angle at which said first wing cushion
support member is disposed with respect to said support member.
10. The impact cradle of claim 9 wherein said adjustment member
includes a first axis and a bore having a second axis, said second
axis being offset from and generally parallel to said first axis,
said bore adapted to receive said second fastener, said adjustment
member being selectively rotatable about said first axis.
11. The impact cradle of claim 10 including a bracket attached to
said support member, said adjustment member being rotatably
attached to said bracket.
12. The impact cradle of claim 11 wherein said bracket includes an
aperture and said adjustment member includes a head and shank, said
shank being rotatably located in said aperture of said bracket.
13. The impact cradle of claim 5 including one or more impact bars
connected to said first wing cushion support member, said impact
bars adapted to support a conveyor belt.
14. The impact cradle of claim 5 including a second wing cushion
support member having a first end and a second end, said first end
of said second wing cushion support member including a fourth
aperture and a fifth aperture, said second end of said second wing
cushion support member including a sixth aperture, a third fastener
adapted to be inserted through said sixth aperture to connect said
second end of said second wing cushion support member to said
support member, and a fourth fastener adapted to be inserted
through a selected one of said fourth aperture and said fifth
aperture to connect said first end of said second wing cushion
support member to said support member, whereby when said fourth
fastener is inserted through said fourth aperture in said second
wing cushion support member said second wing cushion support member
is disposed approximately at said first angle with respect to said
support member, and when said fourth fastener is inserted through
said fifth aperture in said second wing cushion support member said
second wing cushion support member is disposed approximately at
said second angle with respect to said support member.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/216,049, filed Jul. 5, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to an impact cradle for
supporting a moving conveyor belt in the load zone of a conveyor,
and in particular to an impact cradle having pivotally adjustable
wing cushion support members adapted to conform to the
configuration of the conveyor belt.
[0003] Impact cradles are located underneath the material carrying
run of a moving conveyor belt in the load zone of a conveyor where
material is loaded onto the conveyor belt. The impact cradle
absorbs the impact force created by material falling onto the
moving conveyor belt and prevents the belt from sagging and
stretching between idler rollers which rotatably support the moving
conveyor belt. Impact cradles also assist in maintaining the edges
of the conveyor belt in contact with skirt boards to prevent
material from flowing over the edge of the belt and to keep the
dispersion of dust to a minimum. Impact cradles improve the
containment of dust in the load zone of a conveyor and reduce
impact damage to the conveyor belt. Idler rollers are positioned
adjacent to the impact cradle. The idler rollers rotatably support
the moving conveyor belt and typically form the belt into a
trough-shaped cross-section such that the conveyor belt has
inclined edge portions. Pursuant to CEMA standards, the inclined
edge portions of troughed conveyor belts are inclined at an angle
of either twenty degrees, thirty-five degrees or forty-five
degrees. It has been found desirable to provide an impact cradle
that can be used with a conveyor belt having any of these three
trough angles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An impact cradle for supporting a moving conveyor belt. The
impact cradle includes one or more support structures. Each support
structure includes an elongate support member having a first end
and a second end, a first wing cushion support member and a second
wing cushion support member. The first wing cushion support member
includes a first end including a first aperture, a second aperture
and a third aperture, and a second end including a fourth aperture,
a fifth aperture and a sixth aperture. The first aperture and the
fourth aperture are counterpart apertures spaced apart a selected
distance. The second aperture and the fifth aperture are
counterpart apertures spaced apart the same selected distance, and
the third aperture and the sixth aperture are counterpart apertures
spaced apart the same selected distance. A first fastener is
inserted through a selected one of the first aperture, second
aperture and third aperture to connect the first end of the first
wing cushion support member to the support member. A second
fastener is inserted through the fourth aperture, fifth aperture or
sixth aperture, whichever is the counterpart to the selected
aperture through which the first fastener is inserted. The second
fastener connects the second end of the first wing cushion support
member to the support member. When the first and second fasteners
are inserted respectively through the first and fourth apertures,
the first wing cushion support member is disposed at a first
inclined angle with respect to the support member. When the first
and second fasteners are inserted respectively through the second
aperture and the fifth aperture the first wing cushion support
member is disposed at a second inclined angle with respect to the
support member. When the first and second apertures are inserted
respectively through the third aperture and the sixth aperture the
first wing cushion support member is disposed at a third inclined
angle with respect to the support member. One or more impact bars
are connected to the first wing cushion support member for
supporting the moving conveyor belt. The second wing cushion
support member is constructed in the same manner as the first wing
cushion support member and is selectively connected to the support
member in the same manner as the first wing cushion support
member.
[0005] The impact cradle may include a first adjustment member that
connects the first end ofthe first wing cushion support member to
the support member. The first adjustment member is selectively
rotatable about a first axis and includes a bore adapted to receive
the first fastener. The bore of the first adjustment member
includes a second axis that is offset from and generally parallel
to the first axis of the adjustment member. Selective rotation of
the first adjustment member about the first axis selectively
increases or decreases the angle at which the first wing cushion
support member is inclined with respect to the support member. A
second adjustment member similarly connects the first end of the
second wing cushion support member to the support member. The first
and second wing cushion support members may thereby be selectively
positioned at the desired inclined angle with respect to the
support member to align with the inclined edge portions of the
conveyor belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the impact cradle of the
present invention shown supporting a conveyor belt.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the impact cradle
shown in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view of a wing cushion
support member of the impact cradle and of an adjustment member
shown in its fully lowered position.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of a wing cushion
support member of the impact cradle and of an adjustment member
shown in its fully raised position.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view of the impact
cradle showing a wing cushion support member located in a lowered
position.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of the impact
cradle showing a wing cushion support member located in a raised
position.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wing cushion support
member.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the adjustment member
of the impact cradle.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view taken along line 9-9 of
FIG. 8.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an adjustment
bracket.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a top plan view taken along line 11-11 of FIG.
10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The impact cradle 20 ofthe present invention as shown in
FIG. 1 is a support mechanism for supporting a moving conveyor belt
22 of a conveyor mechanism. The conveyor belt 22 includes a top
load carrying run having a top surface 24 and a bottom surface 26
which extend laterally between a first edge 28 and a second edge
30. The conveyor belt 22 is generally trough-shaped in
configuration including a generally horizontal center portion 32, a
first inclined edge portion 34 which extends from the first edge 28
to the center portion 32, and a second inclined edge portion 36
which extends from the second edge 30 to the center portion 32.
[0018] The impact cradle 20 includes a plurality of support
structures 40. Each support structure 40 includes an elongate
support member 42 such as a generally C-shaped channel as shown in
FIG. 1. The support member 42 may alternatively be formed from
beams, tubular members or other types of members as are well known
in the art. As shown in FIG. 1, the support member 42 includes a
bottom flange 44, a top flange 46 and a web 48. The top flange 46
includes a horizontal top surface. The bottom flange 44 includes
one or more apertures adapted to enable the support member 42 to be
attached to the conveyor mechanism or other stationary structure.
The support member 42 extends from a first end 50 to a second end
52. The web 48 includes a pair of spaced-apart apertures 54A-B
which are located a uniform distance downwardly from the top flange
46. The top flange 46 of the support member 42 includes a pair of
spaced apart apertures 56A-B.
[0019] The support structure 40 also includes adjustable wing
cushion support members 60A-B. The wing cushion support member 60B
is shown in FIG. 7. Wing cushion support member 60B is a bracket
having a substantially planar web 62 and a substantially planar
flange 64 which extends outwardly from an upper edge of the web 62
to an edge 66. The flange 64 extends from a first end 68 to a
second end 70. The flange 64 includes a plurality of apertures 72
which are preferably formed as slots. A respective notch 74 extends
from one end of each aperture 72 to the edge 66 of the flange 64
such that the slots are generally L-shaped. The web 62 extends from
a first end 78 to a second end 80. The first end 78 is located
adjacent the first end 68 of the flange 64. The web 62 includes a
tongue 82 at the second end 80 which projects outwardly beyond the
second end 70 of the flange 64. The web 62 of the wing cushion
support member 60B includes a plurality of apertures 84A-C in the
tongue 82 adjacent the second end 80. The web 62 also includes a
plurality of spaced apart apertures 86A-C adjacent the first end
78. The apertures 84A and 86A are spaced apart from one another the
same distance the apertures 84B and 86B are spaced apart from one
another, and the same distance the apertures 84C and 86C are spaced
apart from one another, such as eight and one-half inches.
[0020] While the wing cushion support member 60B is shown as
including three apertures 84A-C and three apertures 86A-C, the wing
cushion support member 60B may include only two of the apertures
84A-C and only two of the apertures 86A-C, or it may include
additional apertures. It is preferred that an aperture be provided
at the first end 78 of the web 62 for each aperture provided at the
second end 80 of the web 62. Each aperture in the first end 78 of
the web 62 should be located a uniform distance from its respective
counterpart aperture in the second end 80 ofthe web 62. The
apertures 84A-C are spaced apart from one another in a direction
generally extending from the second end 80 toward the first end 78
of the web 62. The apertures 86A-C are spaced apart from one
another in a direction extending generally from the bottom edge of
the web 62 toward the flange 64 at the top end of the web 62. The
wing cushion support member 60A is constructed substantially
identical to the wing cushion support member 60B other than that
the wing cushion support member 60A is a left-hand version of the
wing cushion support member 60B.
[0021] The support structure 40 includes adjustment brackets 90A
and B. Adjustment bracket 90B is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The
adjustment bracket 90B includes a bottom flange 92 and a generally
planar web 94 extending upwardly from the flange 92. As best shown
in FIG. 11, the flange 92 includes an aperture in the form of an
elongate slot 96. The slot 96 is elongated in a direction generally
parallel to the web 94. The web 94 includes a circular aperture 98.
The adjustment bracket 90A is constructed substantially identical
to the adjustment bracket 90B other than that the adjustment
bracket 90A is a left-hand version of the adjustment bracket
90B.
[0022] The support structure 40 also includes adjustment members
104A and B. Adjustment member 104B is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The
adjustment member 104B includes a generally cylindrical shank 108
having a cylindrical outer surface 110 and a central longitudinal
axis 106. The adjustment member 104B also includes a head 112
attached to the shank 108 that is disposed concentrically about the
central axis 106. The head 112 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 includes a
generally cylindrical outer surface 114 and a generally annular
surface 116 that extends around and radially outwardly from the
shank 108. The surface 114 of the head 112 may be formed in other
configurations as desired, such as in a hexagonal configuration.
The adjustment member 104B also includes a generally cylindrical
bore 118 having a central longitudinal axis 120. The bore 118
extends through the shank 108 and the head 112. The central axis
120 of the bore 118 is spaced apart from and generally parallel to
the axis 106 such that the central axis 120 of the bore 118 is
offset from the central axis 106 a desired distance such as
approximately 0.34 inches. The diameter of the surface 110 of the
shank 108 is sized such that the shank 108 will fit closely within
the aperture 98 of the adjustment bracket 90B. The adjustment
member 104B is thereby selectively rotatable about the axis 106
with respect to the adjustment bracket 90B. The head 112 extends
radially outwardly from the shank 108 to prevent the shank 108 from
passing through the aperture 98 in the adjustment bracket 90B. An
adjustment member of this general type is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,898,272 of Martin Engineering.
[0023] The impact cradle 20 includes a central cushion member which
is horizontally disposed and adapted to support a central portion
of the conveyor belt and first and second wing cushion members
disposed on either side of the central cushion member, each wing
cushion member adapted to support a side portion of the conveyor
belt. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the impact cradle 20 includes
one or more horizontal impact bars 130 and bar holders 132 that
form a central cushion member and that are removably attached to
the flange 46 of each support member 42 by fasteners 134. Each
impact bar 130 includes a generally planar surface 136 which is
adapted to engage the bottom surface 26 of the conveyor belt 22.
These horizontal impact bars are located between the wing cushion
support members 60A and B. One or more impact bars 130 and bar
holders 132 that form wing cushion members are removably attached
to the flange 64 of each wing cushion support member 60A by
fasteners 134 which extend through the apertures 72 in the flange
64 of the wing cushion support member 60A, and one or more impact
bars 130 and bar holders 132 that form wing cushion members are
removably attached to the flange 64 of each wing cushion support
member 60B by fasteners 134 which extend through the aperture 72 in
the flange 64 of the wing cushion support member 60B. Each impact
bar 130 is preferably attached to two or more support structures 40
as shown in FIG. 1. The impact bars 130 and bar holders 132 are
standard pieces of equipment available from Martin Engineering.
[0024] The adjustment bracket 90A is attached to the flange 46 of
the support member 42 by a fastener 140, such as a bolt and nut,
and the adjustment bracket 90B is attached to the flange 46 by a
fastener 142. The fasteners 140 and 142 may be selectively loosened
to allow the adjustment brackets 90A and B to be slid with respect
to the top flange 46 in a direction toward or away from the center
of the support member 42 to the extent allowed by the length of the
slot 96 in the flange 92 of the adjustment brackets 90A and B. The
fasteners 140 and 142 can be selectively tightened to affix the
adjustment brackets 90A and B in a fixed position with respect to
the support member 42.
[0025] The wing cushion support member 60A is removably attached to
the support member 42 by a fastener 146A which extends through the
aperture 54A in the support member 42 and through a selected one of
the apertures 84A-C in the wing cushion support member 60A. The
wing cushion support member 60A is removably attached to the
adjustment bracket 90A by a fastener 148A which extends through the
bore 118 in the adjustment member 104A and through a selected one
of the apertures 86A-C which corresponds as the counterpart to the
aperture 84A-C through which the fastener 146A was inserted. The
wing cushion support member 60B is removably attached to the
support member 42 and to the adjustment bracket 90B in a similar
manner by fasteners 146B and 148B. The web 62 of the wing cushion
support members 60A-B and the head 112 of the adjustment members
104A-B are located on opposite sides of the respective webs 94 of
the adjustment brackets 90A-B.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, when the fastener 146B extends through
the aperture 84B of the wing cushion support member 60B and the
fastener 148B extends through the aperture 86B of the wing cushion
support member 60B, the flange 64 of the wing cushion support
member 60B and the surfaces 136 of the impact bars 130 attached to
the wing cushion support member 60B are inclined at an angle of
approximately thirty-seven degrees to the horizontal top flange 46
of the support member 42. The thirty-seven degree angle of
inclination is achieved when the fastener 148B and thereby the bore
118 of the adjustment member 104B is located in a neutral or
central position as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the axes 106 and 118
are in a generally horizontal plane. If desired, the angle of
inclination of the wing cushion support member 60B and of the
impact bars 130 attached thereto can be finely adjusted by
loosening the fasteners 142, 146B and 148B. The adjustment member
104B can then be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about the
axis 106 from the neutral position as shown in FIG. 2 to a fully
lowered position as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the bore 118 of the
adjustment member 104B is located at the bottom of the adjustment
member 104B. The adjustment member 104B may alternatively be
rotated in a clockwise direction about the axis 106 from the
neutral position as shown in FIG. 2 to a fully raised position as
shown in FIG. 4 wherein the bore 118 of the adjustment member 104B
is located at the top of the adjustment member 104B. The fastener
148B can be tightened to maintain the adjustment member 104B in any
position between the fully lowered position as shown in FIG. 3 and
the fully raised position as shown in FIG. 4.
[0027] As the adjustment member 104B is rotated, the adjustment
member 104B will slide the adjustment bracket 90B toward or away
from the center of the support member 42. Once the adjustment
member 104B has been rotated to incline the wing cushion support
member 60B at a desired angle, the fasteners 142, 148B and 146B can
be tightened. The degree of change in the inclination of the wing
cushion support member 60B and impact bars 130 attached thereto
provided by rotational movement of the adjustment member 104B from
its neutral position to the fully lowered position, or to the fully
raised position, depends in part on the distance of the offset of
the central axis 120 of the bore 118 from the central axis 106 of
the adjustment member 104B, and the distance between the apertures
84B and 86B of the wing cushion support member 60B. It is
preferable that rotation of the adjustment member 104B from the
neutral position to the fully lowered position as shown in FIG. 3,
or from the neutral position to the fully raised position as shown
in FIG. 4, will provide a change in the angle of inclination of up
to approximately plus or minus two and one-half degrees from the
angle of inclination when the adjustment member 104B is in the
neutral position. The wing cushion support member 60A is attached
to the support member 42, and its angle of inclination is adjusted,
in the same manner as the wing cushion support member 60B.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the wing cushion support member 60B and
the impact bars 130 attached thereto are inclined at an angle of
approximately twenty-four degrees to the flange 46 of the support
member 42 by inserting the fastener 146B through the aperture 84C
in the wing cushion support member 60B and by inserting the
fastener 148B through the aperture 86C in the wing cushion support
member 60B. Selective clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of
the adjustment member 104B will increase or decrease the angle of
inclination a desired amount as described above. The angle of
inclination of the wing cushion support member 60A and of the
impact bars 130 attached thereto is selected and adjusted in the
same manner.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, the wing cushion support member 60B and
the impact bars 130 attached thereto are inclined at an angle of
approximately forty-eight and one-half degrees to the flange 46 of
the support member 42 by inserting the fastener 146B through the
aperture 84A in the wing cushion support member 60B and by
inserting the fastener 148B through the aperture 86A in the wing
cushion support member 60B. Selective clockwise or
counter-clockwise rotation of the adjustment member 104B will
increase or decrease the angle of inclination as desired. The angle
of inclination of the member 60A and the impact bars 130 attached
thereto is selected and adjusted in the same manner.
[0030] Selective inclination of the wing cushion support members
60A and B can be accomplished by providing a single aperture 84A,
84B or 84C in the tongue 82 of the wing cushion support member and
providing the apertures 86A-C a uniform distance therefrom.
However, it has been found to be preferable to provide a plurality
of apertures in the tongue 82 such as the apertures 84A-C. When the
wing cushion support member 60B is set at a low angle of
inclination as shown in FIG. 5, the fastener 146B is inserted
through the most inward aperture 84C in the tongue 82. As the angle
of inclination of the wing cushion support member 60B is increased,
it is preferable to insert the fastener 146B through an aperture
84A or 84B which is located outwardly from the aperture 84C.
Changing the aperture 84A-C through which the fastener 146B is
inserted as the angle of inclination of wing cushion support member
60B is increased or decreased maintains the impact bars 130 that
are attached to the wing cushion support member 60B properly
positioned and spaced with respect to the horizontal impact bars
170 that are attached to the flange 46 of the support member 42.
The angle of inclination of the wing cushion support members 60A-B
and ofthe impact bars 170 attached thereto can be selected and
adjusted as desired to match the inclination of the first inclined
edge portion 34 and of the second inclined edge portion 36 of the
conveyor belt 22, and the angle of inclination of the idler rollers
that provide the trough shape of the conveyor belt 22.
[0031] Various features ofthe invention have been particularly
shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment
of the invention, however, it must be understood that these
particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the invention
is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the
appended claims.
* * * * *