US RE50,458 E1
Adjustable return roller bracket for tracking conveyor belts
Steven Armand Boire, Uxbridge (CA)
Assigned to Precision, Inc., Pella, IA (US)
Filed by Precision, Inc.
Filed on Aug. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/451,303.
Application 18/451,303 is a reissue of application No. 16/871,496, filed on May 11, 2020, granted, now 11,332,320, issued on May 17, 2022.
Int. Cl. B65G 39/12 (2006.01); B65G 15/60 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 39/12 (2013.01) [B65G 15/60 (2013.01); B65G 2207/30 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adjustable roller bracket assembly for a belt conveyor system, the belt conveyor system comprising a frame, a conveyor belt, a roller in rolling contact with the conveyor belt, and first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the frame, wherein one or both said first and second pulleys are operable to drive the conveyor belt between and around the pulleys in an endless loop, and the bracket assembly comprising [ : ]
a first end portion , [ comprising a frame attachment plate; ]
a second end portion , [ comprising a roller engagement plate; ] and
an adjustment mechanism connecting the first and second end portions, the first end portion being for attachment to the frame, the second end portion being for rotatably engaging the roller at an axial end thereof, and the adjustment mechanism being operable to permit selective movement of the second end portion relative to the first end portion against frictional resistance therebetween to effect adjustment of a rotational axis of the roller, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises [ : ]
a coupling member for movably coupling the first and second end portions, [ the coupling member comprising a coupling rod movably connecting or received through said plates to permit pivoting movement of the roller engagement plate relative to the frame attachment plate; ] and
a locking member operable to selectively permit or prevent the movement of the second end portion relative to the first end portion, [ the locking member comprising a locking rod coupled to the roller engagement plate, the frame attachment plate defining a receiving slot shaped to receive the locking rod therethrough along the pivoting movement of the roller engagement plate relative to the frame attachment plate, wherein the locking rod is operable to selectively hold the frame attachment plate relative to the roller engagement plate at a desired position, the locking rod and the receiving slot being located above the coupling rod, ] wherein at least one of the coupling member and the locking member provides the frictional resistance between the first and second end portions [ ; and
a roller pin coupled to the roller engagement plate for the rotatable engagement of the roller thereto at the axial end, the roller pin being positioned above the locking rod and the receiving slot] .