Conveyor belt guide

Abstract

A belt guide apparatus for attachment to a belt conveyor comprises top and bottom plates. Walls extend between the top and bottom plates. The plates and walls form a belt envelope that defines a belt opening that substantially corresponds to a cross-section of the endless belt such that the endless belt can slide freely through the belt opening yet is substantially prevented from moving laterally or vertically. A front entrance of the belt envelope is configured to funnel the endless belt into the belt opening, and when attached to the belt conveyor the belt envelope is oriented such that the right and left walls are aligned with a desired path of the endless belt, and the endless belt passes through the belt opening.

1 . A belt guide apparatus adapted for attachment to a belt conveyor comprising an endless belt with a conveying run and a return run, the apparatus comprising: 
 right and left top plates;    right and left bottom plates;    a right wall extending between the right top plate and the right bottom plate; and    a left wall extending between the left top plate and the left bottom plate;    wherein the right and left top plates, right and left bottom plates, and right and left walls form a belt envelope that defines a belt opening that substantially corresponds to a cross-section of the endless belt such that the endless belt can slide freely through the belt opening yet is substantially prevented from moving laterally or vertically;    wherein a front entrance of the belt envelope is configured to funnel the endless belt into the belt opening; and    wherein the belt envelope, when attached to the belt conveyor, is oriented such the right and left walls are aligned with a desired path of the endless belt, and the endless belt passes through the belt opening.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  adapted for attachment to the belt conveyor such that a flat portion of the endless belt passes through the belt opening.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the flat portion of the endless belt is a portion of the return run of the endless belt.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the right and left top plates are connected to form a top plate extending from the right wall to the left wall.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the right and left bottom plates are connected to form a bottom plate extending from the right wall to the left wall.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein ends of a belt are connected by a belt lace to form the endless belt.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the belt conveyor is adapted to transfer packages and wherein the conveying run of the endless belt is substantially flat.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the belt conveyor is adapted to transfer bulk material and wherein the conveying run of the endless belt is troughed.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the conveying run of the endless belt passes through a tube.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  adapted for attachment to the belt conveyor adjacent to an end roller of the belt conveyor.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the belt conveyor comprises an S-drive, and wherein the apparatus is adapted for attachment to the belt conveyor adjacent to the S-drive such that the return run of the endless belt passes through the belt envelope prior to passing through the S-drive.  
   
   
       12 . A belt conveyor comprising: 
 front and rear end rollers mounted on a frame, and an endless belt mounted on the end rollers and driven such that a top conveying run of the endless belt moves from the front roller toward the rear roller along a top of the frame, and a bottom return run of the endless belt moves from the rear roller toward the front roller along a bottom of the frame;    at least one belt guide comprising: 
 right and left top plates;  
 right and left bottom plates;  
 a right wall extending between the right top plate and the right bottom plate; and  
 a left wall extending between the left top plate and the left bottom plate;  
 wherein the right and left top plates, right and left bottom plates, and right and left walls form a belt envelope that defines a belt opening that substantially corresponds to a cross-section of the endless belt such that the endless belt can slide freely through the belt opening yet is substantially prevented from moving laterally or vertically; and  
 wherein a front entrance of the belt envelope is configured to funnel the endless belt into the belt opening;  
   wherein the at least one belt guide is mounted on the frame such the right and left walls are aligned with a desired path of the bottom return run of the endless belt, and such that the bottom return run of the endless belt passes through the belt opening.    
   
   
       13 . The belt conveyor of  claim 12  wherein the right and left top plates are connected to form a substantially planar top plate extending from the right wall to the left wall.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the right and left bottom plates are connected to form a substantially planar bottom plate extending from the right wall to the left wall.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the belt conveyor is adapted to transfer packages and wherein the top conveying run of the endless belt is substantially flat.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the belt conveyor is adapted to transfer bulk material and wherein the top conveying run of the endless belt is troughed.  
   
   
       17 . The belt conveyor of  claim 16  wherein the top conveying run of the endless belt passes through a tube.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  comprising a belt guide mounted to the frame adjacent to the front end roller such that the bottom return run of the endless belt passes through the belt opening prior to passing over the front end roller.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 12  comprising a belt guide mounted to the frame adjacent to the rear end roller such that the bottom return run of the endless belt passes through the belt opening after passing over the rear end roller.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12  comprising an S-drive, and a belt guide mounted to the frame adjacent to the S-drive such that the bottom return run of the endless belt passes through the belt opening prior to passing through the S-drive.