US Patent:
20060191772, Aug 31, 2006
Inventors:
Daniel Wiggins - Marquette MI, US
Robert Airaudi - Isheming MI, US
Robert Welker - Marquette MI, US
Alan Henderson - Marquette MI, US
Jeremy Nylund - Marquette MI, US
Gregory Cappaert - Marquette MI, US
International Classification:
B65G 45/16
Abstract:
A tensioning system for a cleaning blade for a conveying belt. The tensioning system has a frame, a blade support, and a ratchet system. The blade support is movable around a first axis in a first direction to increase cleaning blade pressure and a second direction oppositely to the first direction to decrease cleaning blade pressure. Through the ratchet system, a position of the blade support can be maintained against pivoting in the second direction. The ratchet system has (a) a first ratchet assembly on one of the frame and blade support with at least one ratchet surface facing in a first circumferential direction relative to the first axis and (b) a second ratchet assembly on the other of the frame and blade support and having a first plurality of ratchet surfaces facing in a second circumferential direction oppositely to the first circumferential direction. At least a part of at least one of the first and second ratchet assemblies is deformable to allow the blade support to pivot in the first direction to cause the one ratchet surface to (a) move circumferentially up to and sequentially past each of the ratchet surfaces in the first plurality of ratchet surfaces as an incident of the blade support moving in the first direction around the first axis and (b) abut one of the ratchet surfaces in the first plurality of ratchet surfaces to block movement of the blade support in the second direction around the first axis.