Belt conveyor load zone support assembly

Abstract

A cartridge assembly for use in a load zone support assembly is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a shaft configured to be coupled to an idler frame of a belt conveyor system. The cartridge assembly further includes a support plate coupled to the shaft and a wear pad coupled to the support plate.

1 . A cartridge assembly used in a load zone of a belt conveyer system, comprising:
 an elongated shaft configured to be coupled to an idler frame of the belt conveyer system;   a support plate coupled to the shaft; and   a wear pad coupled to the support plate.   
   
   
       2 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein the wear pad is formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. 
   
   
       3 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein ends of the shaft are configured to cooperate with corresponding slots in the idler frame. 
   
   
       4 . A load zone support assembly for a belt conveyer, comprising:
 a plurality of idler frames, each frame including a plurality of outer supports and a plurality of inner supports; and   a plurality of cartridge assemblies provided in the plurality of frames, each cartridge assembly including a shaft mounted to the frame and a wear pad coupled to the shaft.   
   
   
       5 . A method of providing a load zone support assembly in a belt conveyor system, comprising:
 providing a plurality of spaced apart idler frames, each frame including a plurality of outer supports and a plurality of inner supports; and   positioning a plurality of cartridge assemblies in the plurality of idler frames.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 removing one of the cartridge assemblies from the plurality of idler frames; and   positioning another cartridge assembly in place of said one of the cartridge assemblies.