Conveyor roller servicing apparatus

Abstract

A mounting apparatus for a return roller is provided. The mounting apparatus is positioned beneath a return side of a conveyor belt, the return side of the conveyor belt having a near side along one edge of the return side of the conveyor belt and a far side along an opposite edge of the return side of the conveyor belt. The mounting apparatus has a return roller support structure and a return roller supported on the return roller support structure. The return roller support structure is slidable from the mounting apparatus in a direction towards the near side of the return side of the conveyor belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A return side conveyor belt support for a conveyor comprising:
 a continuous conveyor belt extending about a head pulley and a tail pulley to have a carry side and a return side, the conveyor having a near side near one edge of the conveyor belt and a far side near an opposite edge of the conveyor belt,   a return side conveyor belt support comprising:   a support mountable to the far side of the conveyor and extending transversely toward the near side thereof;   a member slidably mountable to said support from the near side of the conveyor for sliding thereon in a direction transverse to the conveyor belt;   a return roller supported by said member, wherein said return roller is transverse to the conveyor belt when the member is mounted to said support;   wherein rotating said support in a first direction moves said return roller to an operating position for supporting the conveyor belt and rotating said member in a second direction moves said return roller away from the operating position to a position wherein said member with said return roller thereon is slidably removable from said support.   
     
     
         2 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 1  wherein said member is a hollow member that slides onto said support mandrel for providing the slidable and rotatable mounting. 
     
     
         3 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 1  wherein said member includes brackets extending therefrom for supporting said return roller shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 3  wherein said return roller shaft is retained to said brackets by locking retainers. 
     
     
         5 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 1  wherein said member includes a crank for rotating said member. 
     
     
         6 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 5  wherein said crank includes a lever and a handle. 
     
     
         7 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 1  further comprising a bracket attached to a conveyor frame at the far side of the conveyor for supporting said support transversely to the conveyor belt. 
     
     
         8 . The return side conveyor belt support of  claim 1  further comprising a bracket attached to a conveyor frame at the near side of the conveyor and having a notch for receiving said member therein.