US 12,227,362 B1
Conveyor idler support structure and methods for constructing the same
Kevin J. Guay, West Lebanon, NH (US); Alexander J. Moskalenko, Springfield, NH (US); and Zachary P. Kerin, White River Junction, VT (US)
Assigned to NHI Mechanical Motion, LLC, Claremont, NH (US)
Filed by NHI Mechanical Motion, LLC, Claremont, NH (US)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/994,239.
Application 17/174,579 is a division of application No. 16/773,875, filed on Jan. 27, 2020, granted, now 10,981,727, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Application 17/994,239 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/839,062, filed on Jun. 13, 2022, abandoned.
Application 17/839,062 is a continuation of application No. 17/174,579, filed on Feb. 12, 2021, granted, now 11,358,797, issued on Jun. 14, 2022.
Int. Cl. B65G 15/60 (2006.01); B21D 43/00 (2006.01); B65G 21/02 (2006.01); B65G 39/09 (2006.01); B65G 39/12 (2006.01); B22F 5/00 (2006.01); F16C 33/80 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 15/60 (2013.01) [B21D 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 21/02 (2013.01); B65G 39/09 (2013.01); B65G 39/12 (2013.01); B22F 5/003 (2013.01); F16C 33/805 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A framework for supporting a plurality of conveyor idlers, mounted on central risers and end risers comprising:
a center section, formed from sheet metal, comprising, (a) an upper component defining a downwardly oriented channel having a longitudinal top surface and longitudinal sidewalls spaced apart from each other at an outer width, and including a first pair of spaced apart central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface, and (b) a lower component defining an upwardly oriented channel having longitudinal sidewalls spaced apart from each other at an inner width, and including a second pair of spaced apart central riser tabs folded upwardly from the top surface, wherein the outer width is less than the inner width so that the sidewalls of the upper component nest within the sidewalls of the lower component and the first pair of spaced apart central riser tabs and second pair of spaced apart central riser tabs engaging each other an overlapping relationship to form a pair of spaced apart central risers; and
a pair of end risers mounted at each opposing ends of the center section, formed from sheet metal, and affixed to the opposing ends of the center section, respectively, by metal attachment processes.