Conveyor and conveyor belt cleaning sprocket

Abstract

A sprocket for an endless conveyor is disclosed having a plurality of fluid outlet passages arranged radially between the center of the sprocket and its outer circumferential surface. The outlet passages are positioned along the length of the sprocket in a helical path and are in fluid communication with an annular fluid conduit extending lengthwise along the center of the sprocket. A fluid inlet connected to the conduit supplies fluid under pressure to the conduit, the fluid spraying radially outwardly through the outlet passages to impinge on the inside surface of the endless conveyor and remove any accumulated debris. Nozzles are positioned within the outlet passages to control the fluid spray.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An endless conveyor for transporting items, said conveyor comprising:
 at least two rotatably mounted sprockets having respective axes of rotation parallel to one another and arranged in spaced relation along a path oriented perpendicularly to said axes;  
 an endless belt carried by said sprockets, said endless belt having an outwardly facing surface for supporting said items and an inwardly facing surface opposite said outwardly facing surface and engaging said sprockets, at least one of said sprockets comprising: 
 an elongated body having an outer surface facing said inwardly facing surface of said belt;  
 a fluid conduit extending lengthwise within said body from one end thereof;  
 a pair of supports for rotatably mounting said body;  
 a fluid inlet passage communicating with said fluid conduit; and  
 a plurality of outlet passages extending from said fluid conduit, said outlet passages terminating in apertures in said outer surface, said inlet passage supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid conduit and outwardly through said outlet passages and said apertures onto said inwardly facing surface of said endless belt.  
 
 
     
     
       2. An endless conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of said one sprocket is substantially equal to the width of said belt. 
     
     
       3. An endless conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein said fluid conduit extends from said one end substantially to the other end of said body. 
     
     
       4. An endless conveyor according to  claim 3 , wherein said outlet passages and said apertures are positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along said body. 
     
     
       5. An endless conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein said endless belt comprises a plurality of segments arranged side-by-side and hingedly connected to one another, said segments pivoting relative to each other when traversing around said sprockets. 
     
     
       6. An endless conveyor according to  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of teeth spaced circumferentially around said body and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a plurality of mating teeth projecting from said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor, said mating teeth interengaging said teeth projecting from said body and allowing said sprocket to turn without slipping relatively to said belt. 
     
     
       7. An endless conveyor according to  claim 4 , wherein said one sprocket is an idler sprocket. 
     
     
       8. An endless conveyor according to  claim 7 , wherein said one sprocket is positioned at one end of said conveyor. 
     
     
       9. An endless conveyor according to  claim 4 , wherein said apertures are arranged in a row extending in a helix length-wise along and around said cylindrical support surface. 
     
     
       10. An endless conveyor according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said apertures is positioned in between two of said teeth. 
     
     
       11. An endless conveyor according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one nozzle fitted within one of said apertures, said nozzle controlling the spray of said fluid through said aperture. 
     
     
       12. An endless conveyor according to  claim 11 , wherein said nozzle is oriented substantially radially with respect to the long axis of said body. 
     
     
       13. An endless conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
       14. A sprocket adapted to spray a fluid for cleaning an endless conveyor, said sprocket comprising:
 an elongated body having an outer surface for support of an inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor;  
 a pair of supports for rotatably mounting said body, said outer surface following a cylindrical path upon rotation of said elongated body relative to said supports;  
 a fluid conduit extending lengthwise within said body from one end thereof;  
 fluid inlet passage communicating with said fluid conduit; and  
 a plurality of outlet passages extending from said fluid conduit, said passages terminating in apertures in said outer surface, said inlet passage supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid conduit and outwardly through said outlet passages and said apertures onto said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor.  
 
     
     
       15. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , wherein said fluid conduit extends substantially from said one end to the other end of said body. 
     
     
       16. A sprocket according to  claim 15 , wherein said outlet passages and said apertures are positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along said body. 
     
     
       17. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , wherein said outlet passages are oriented substantially radially with respect to the long axis of said body. 
     
     
       18. A sprocket according to  claim 16 , wherein the length of said sprocket is substantially equal to the width of said conveyor. 
     
     
       19. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of teeth spaced circumferentially around said body and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said teeth engaging mating teeth arranged on said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor allowing said sprocket to turn without slipping relatively to said conveyor. 
     
     
       20. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , wherein said teeth extend continuously substantially along the entire length of said body. 
     
     
       21. A sprocket according to  claim 20 , wherein said apertures are arranged in a row extending in a helix length-wise along and around said cylindrical support surface. 
     
     
       22. A sprocket according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of said apertures is positioned in between two of said teeth. 
     
     
       23. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one nozzle fitted within one of said apertures, said nozzle controlling the spray of said fluid through said aperture. 
     
     
       24. A sprocket according to  claim 14 , wherein said fluid inlet extends through one of said supports at said one end thereof, said body has a sealing surface having a hole therein sized to accept said one of said supports in mating interengagement, said one of said supports having a sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom, said sealing flange seating against said sealing surface, said sealing surface and said flange sealing said fluid conduit. 
     
     
       25. A sprocket adapted to spray a fluid for cleaning an endless conveyor, said sprocket comprising:
   an elongated body having an outer surface positionable facing an inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor;        a fluid conduit extending lengthwise within said body from one end thereof;        a fluid inlet passage in fluid communication with said fluid conduit; and        a plurality of outlet passages extending from said fluid conduit, said passages terminating in apertures in said outer surface, said inlet passage supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid conduit and outwardly through said outlet passages and said apertures toward said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor.     
     
     
       26. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein said fluid conduit extends substantially from said one end to the other end of said body. 
     
     
       27. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein said outlet passages and said apertures are positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along said body. 
     
     
       28. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein said outlet passages are oriented substantially radially with respect to the long axis of said body. 
     
     
       29. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein the length of said body is substantially equal to the width of said conveyor. 
     
     
       30. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of teeth spaced circumferentially around said body and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said teeth engaging mating teeth arranged on said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor allowing said sprocket to turn without slipping relatively to said conveyor. 
     
     
       31. A sprocket according to  claim 30 , wherein said teeth extend substantially continuously along the length of said body. 
     
     
       32. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein said apertures are arranged in a row extending in a helix lengthwise along and around said body. 
     
     
       33. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said apertures is positioned between two of said teeth. 
     
     
       34. A sprocket according to  claim 25 , further comprising at least one nozzle fitted within one of said apertures, said nozzle controlling the spray of said fluid through said aperture. 
     
     
       35. A sprocket adapted to spray a fluid for cleaning an endless conveyor, said sprocket comprising:
   an elongated body having an outer surface positionable facing an inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor;        said elongated body including a fluid conduit extending from one end thereof:        a fluid inlet passage in fluid communication with said fluid conduit; and        a plurality of outlet passages in fluid communication with said fluid conduit, said outlet passages being directed outwardly toward said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor.     
     
     
       36. A sprocket according to  claim 35 , wherein said outlet passages are positioned in spaced relation lengthwise along said body. 
     
     
       37. A sprocket according to  claim 35 , wherein said outlet passages are oriented substantially radially with respect to the long axis of said body. 
     
     
       38. A sprocket according to  claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of teeth spaced circumferentially around said body and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said teeth being engageable with mating teeth arranged on said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor allowing said sprocket to turn without slipping relatively to said conveyor. 
     
     
       39. A sprocket according to  claim 35 , further comprising at least one nozzle fitted within one of said outlet passages. 
     
     
       40. A sprocket adapted to spray a fluid for cleaning an endless conveyor, said sprocket comprising:
   an elongated body having an outer surface positionable facing an inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor;        said elongated body including a fluid conduit extending from one end thereof;        a fluid inlet passage in fluid communication with said fluid conduit; and        a plurality of outlet means for directing fluid from said fluid conduit outwardly toward said inwardly facing surface of said endless conveyor.     
     
     
       41. An endless conveyor for transporting items, said conveyor comprising:
   at least two rotatably mounted sprockets arranged in spaced relation;        an endless belt carried by said sprockets, said endless belt having an outwardly facing surface for supporting said items and an inwardly facing surface opposite said outwardly facing surface, at least one of said sprockets comprising:      an elongated body having at least one outer surface facing said inwardly facing surface of said belt;        a fluid conduit extending lengthwise from one end of said body;        at least one support for rotatably mounting said body; and        a plurality of outlet passages in fluid communication with said fluid conduit and being directed outwardly toward said inwardly facing surface of said endless belt.