US 12,012,287 B2
Tension mechanism for belt-type triboelectric separator devices
Ari Eiriksson, South Hamilton, MA (US); and Jose L. Rivera-Ortiz, Framingham, MA (US)
Assigned to SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Needham, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/602,256
Filed by SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Needham, MA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 3, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/026560
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/210121, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,329, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0162008 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 23/44 (2006.01); B03C 7/00 (2006.01); B03C 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 23/44 (2013.01) [B03C 7/006 (2013.01); B03C 7/08 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tensioning mechanism to tension an endless belt, the tensioning mechanism comprising:
a tension roller configured to apply tension to a belt;
a pair of rotating disks coupled to the tension roller at respective ends of the tension roller, the pair of rotating disks being configured to move the tension roller to apply tension to the belt; and
a rotating shaft assembly coupled to the pair of rotating disks, the rotating shaft assembly including an inner shaft coupled to an outer shaft, the inner shaft being rotated with an actuator, the outer shaft being sized to receive the inner shaft therein and is coupled to the pair of rotating disks, the rotating shaft assembly being configured so both rotating disks of the pair of rotating disks experience approximately the same angular deflection relative to the outer end of the inner shaft when each disk exerts an amount of torque on the rotating shaft assembly against the torque exerted by an actuator on the inner shaft,
wherein the tensioning mechanism is included within a belt separator system comprising a first set of two rollers at a first end of the belt separator system and a second set of two rollers at a second end of the belt separator system, wherein at least one of the first set of two rollers and the second set of two rollers includes a tension roller.