GB2337973A - Conveyor drive or guide system - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus for driving and guiding conveyor units provides projecting drive and guide pins 28 in the conveyor edge region which co-operate with a pair of ribbed drive or timing belts 30,32 to enable drive to be effected without the usual complication of driven rollers, chains etc. The drive and guide pins 28 may be intergrally incorporated into the conveyor belt in the edge region in a sandwich construction incorporating tension belts or elements or chains (see Figures 2-6, not shown). Frictional losses at a low radius delivery end of the conveyor are minimised by air lubrication of the belt/nose member interface (see Figure 8, not shown).

Description

2337973 CONVEYOR SYSTEMS This invention relates to conveyor systems,

methods and apparatus f or conveying, and particularly but not exclusively relates to such systems for use in the food industry.

One of the requirements of conveyor systems in the food industry is compliance with the regulatory constraints relating to hygiene, and these have related implications in relation to servicing, notably in relation to lubrication which can obviously raise questions of cleanliness and hygiene, and it will be easy to understand that these requirements spill over into the whole area of routine cleaning of conveyor systems between successive operations.

Conventional systems for conveyor driving and maintenance and cleaning and guidance and lubrication leave something to be desired in providing a less than adequate compromise between these sometimes conflicting requirements, and an object of the present invention is to provide improvements in this regard.

One particular aspect of the invention concerns conveyor systems for lateral and/or upward/downward conveying since in such situations some of the factors discussed above apply with particular stringency, notably in relation to belt guidance.

Thus in relation to belt guidance there is a need to minimise the mechanical complexity and structures needed to drive and guide the belt or other conveyor, since these all represent a potential area for food particles to accumulate and hygiene regulations to be breached, thus leading to enhanced needs for high frequency routine cleaning, attendant costs and non cost-effective operation.

In relation to this aspect of the invention an objective of the embodiments is to provide a system wherein drive and guidance requirements are met at a 1 is minimum of mechanical complexity and structure, andlor with an improved level of system and/or component reliability.

In all aspects of the invention the perennail question of cost-effectiveness has to be balanced against the efficacy of the technical measures taken.

Accordin g to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus as defined in the accompanying claims.

In the embodiments described below, the provision of a drive system in which projecting spaced and sequential drive elements co-operate with a drive input system in which the projecting drive elements are received in defined or self-defining spaces in a co- operating pair of endless or rotary drive members, enables the simultaneous input of drive and a guiding effect in a mechanically and operationally effective, and indeed cost-effective, manner.

In the embodiments, one significant factor leading to the effectiveness of the system of drive andlor guidance is that the projecting drive elements lend themselves to the adoption of an effective and simple system of driving andlor guiding the belt or other conveyor unit. Thus, in one embodiment the drive elements are effectively held between endless conveyor elements which, by a simultaneous holding and/or locating and driving function over a defined path with a defined speed and/or acceleration are able to control both the input of drive energy to the conveyor system and the controlled following of a defined conveyor path by the conveyor system, whether belt or other unit, accordingly.

In the embodiments, the drive andlor guide elements are provided in the form of pins or rod-like elements and constitute force-transmitting elements enabling the transmission of drive and speed control and guidance forces to and from the conveyor member. Likewise in the embodiments, the drive and guidance systems which cooperate with the projecting force-transmitting pins or elements themselves constitute f orce-transmitting means which transmit and receive the corresponding f orces in the course of the speed control and drive and guidance operations arising during use of the conveyor.

In the embodiments, the conveyor member is provided with at least one pair of driven or driveable co-operating members providing said forcetransmitting means and defining spaces to receive the projecting pins or elements. It is envisaged that systems may be provided in which spaces to receive the pins are relatively precisely def ined between co-operating members such as toothed belts or toothed wheels, or indeed it may be necessary only to provide a degree of flexibility or compliance in at least one of the co-operating members in order for the pins to be accommodated during their passage between the members, one or both of which may be driven or speed-controlled. These driven or driveable members may be associated with curved or otherwise profiled guide members adapted to def ine a curved or other path to be followed by the conveyor member, or such guide members may be provided elsewhere on the belt's path.

Turning now to the aspect of the invention relating to the supporting of the conveyor member, this aspect of the invention has particular relevance to the use of conveyor members in the form of belts, though it may have utility in other conveyor structures, notably hybrid conveyors in which, as in the case of conveyor belts, there can arise a need f or the conveyor member to traverse a short radius change of direction under tension and/or load.

In this latter regard, there is a requirement for an improved means f or supporting the conveyor member for transit in an efficient manner with a minimum of friction and related losses.

Conventional conveyor systems provide the well known end roller systems in which a freely rotatable roller is journaled on bearing means to facilitate belt passage.

While such an arrangement can be provided in a relatively reliable format it requires the use of rotatable rollers, associated bearings, support structures for same, and a requirement for lubrication may arise, and with these requirements in mind an object of this aspect of the present invention is to provide a conveyor mounting and/or support system offering improvements in one or more of these regards.

According to this aspect of the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for supporting an endless conveyor unit as defined in claims 11 to 18 of the accompanying claims.

In the embodiments, the support means for a conveying run of the conveyor member comprises a generally smooth support surface having air delivery means connected to a series of apertures formed in that support surface and adapted to deliver air between the facing surfaces of the belt or other conveyor member and the said support surface so that, at least in the region of the apertures, the belt is at least partially supported by the support surface through a f ilm or cushion of air. Likewise in the embodiments, corresponding support means is provided below a portion of the conveying run of the conveyor and thus supports the belt or other conveyor member, and any load carried thereon, through a similar film or cushion of air.

In this fashion, the provision of a film or cushion of air significantly reduces frictional losses and facilitates driven passage of the belt or other conveyor member around small radius direction changes without the need for a rotary support or roller, and when carrying significant loads, with a reduction in losses hitherto encountered.

The embodiments provide conveyor systems including short conveyor units providing a lateral change of cnveying direction.

Such a unit is known as a powered radial bend and is used in association with linear conveyor units to is transport products around corners of almost any angle.

If the bend continues for more than approximately 270 degrees, the conveyor becomes effectively a spiral elevator and thus elevates as well as conveys, generally in an upward helical path. Depending on the drive direction, the conveyor system may elevate or de-elevate.

The drive or guide force-transmitting rods or pins may be provided in a single row or a double row if wished. These rows are provided in the region of and preferably close to the outer edge of the belt or other conveyor member. Various methods of attachment of the pins or rods to the belt may be adopted including bolting or welding or gluing or vulcanising in a permanent or semipermanent manner. The rods or pins or other elements may be provided on a separate additional drive or guide belt which itself is fastened to the conveyor member, as shown in the drawings. Likewise, the drive or guide rods or pins may be provided on a chain attached to the conveyor member, the drive or guide elements being bolted or welded or glued or vulcanised thereto in a permanent or semipermanent fashion. Whichever format of attachment is adopted, the material of the guide or drive rods or pins may be of steel or other metal or plastic or rubber or other polymeric material. It will be noted from the embodiments that the force- transmitting drive or guide rods or pins are constructed so as to allow them to articulate around very small radius nosepieces or rollers without causing interference with each other.

Tensioning of the conveyor system is effected by use of one or more moveable rollers.

A particular aspect of the described embodiments is their improved ability to comply with health and safety requirements, and their lower maintenance and power and lubrication requirements, not to mention the operating characteristics which reduce sanitation premiums. Also, the use of meshing assemblies of standard timing belts instead of gears and chains produces quiet operation needing no lubrication and being highly tolerant of moist and wet and salty operating conditions.

The use of air-lubricated conveyor nose assemblies enables minimal radius nosepieces to be adopted at the delivery end of a conveyor whereby small products such as biscuits and confectionery items can be conveniently delivered to another conveyor or to a delivery system.

Moreover, these features are provided in a low maintenance and low friction manner while meeting hygiene requirements.

It will be appreciated from the structure of the conveyor member in the embodiments that it can be quickly and easily removed for maintenance and cleaning.

With regard to the air delivery systems for the airlubricated nosepieces and conveying run support members, the air-delivery apertures may be in the form of slits or holes or provided by means of a sintered porous structure.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a conveyor unit in the form of a powered radial bend conveyor; Fig 2 shows a perspective view of an assembly of force transmitting elements; Fig 3 shows a section in the plane indicated by III - III in Fig 2 showing a sectioned tension element and an individual one of the pin or rod-format force-transmitting or drive/guide elements; Fig 4 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the force- transmitting elements and corresponding to the view of Fig 2; and Fig 5 shows a sectional and elevation view through the assembly of Fig 4 and taken in the plane V - V in Fig 4 in a manner similar to that of Fig 3; Fig 6 shows a further embodiment of the construction of the forcetransmitting drive andlor guide elements, this embodiment being in the form of a chain capable of articulation in two planes at right angles; Fig 7 shows an enlarged detailed view of a forcetransmitting means or drive unit forming part of the embodiment of Fig 1 and shown here on an enlarged scale, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow VIII in Fig 1; Figs 8, 9 and 10 show side elevation views of a small radius conveyor end or delivery portion in which the conveyor member passes round an end support member formed with slits in Fig 9 and formed of sintered material in Fig 10 and formed of porous material in Fig 11; and Fig 11 shows an elevation view of a further alternative method of attaching the force-transmitting drive or guide elements to the belt or other conveyor member of Fig 1; and Fig 12 shows, on a slightly larger scale than Fig 11, a section through an edge portion of the belt and showing its associated force-transmitting drive or guide elements co-operating with (above and below the belt) associated guide tracks.

As shown in Fig 1, a system 10 for driving andlor guiding an endless conveyor unit 12 comprises an endless driveable conveyor member 14trained in an endless path comprising a conveying run 18 and a return run 20.

Path 16 further comprises short end runs 22, 24.

Drive and guide means 26 for the conveying run 18 of conveyor member 14 is provided to guide and drive the conveyor member and comprises a series of projecting force-transmitting elements 28 which are adapted to enable conveyor member 14 to have drive and guide forces transmitted thereto in use.

In addition to the force-transmitting elements 28, system 10 further comprises force-transmitting means 30 adapted to co-operate with the projecting forcetransmitting elements in sequence, and further adapted to transmit guiding and driving forces thereto in use.

The force-transmitting means 30 comprises a pair of driven and co-operating force-transmitting members 32, 34 defining spaces 36 to receive the projecting forcetransmitting drive and guide elements 28. Details of the structure are shown in Fig 7. As indicated in Fig 7 a curved guide member 38 may be provided and adapted to define a curved path to be followed by the conveyor member 14, or the curved guide member may be provided outside the force-transmitting means 30.

The co-operating driven members 32, 34 are in the form of a pair of endless drive or timing belts formed with projecting drive formations 40, or teeth, which in this embodiment are disposed in an outward ly-proj ect ing fashion so as to co-operate to define the spaces 36.

Turning now to other details of the conveyor system 10, conveyor member 14 can be driven in either direction as indicated by double ended arrow D- D and is trained around nosebars 42 and tensioning rollers 44. The latter are formed with grooves 46 to accommodate the forcetransmitting elements or pins 28. Nosebars 42 are described in further detail below with reference to Figs 9 to 11 and are provided with air delivery means comprising a duct 48 for this purpose.

Guard 50 encloses the drive and guidance systems to prevent inadvertent interaction of these with materials carried and/or operational personnel.

Fig 1 shows at 52 the angular extent of the so-called powered radial bend conveyor provided in Fig 1. Drive input to force transmitting means 30 is provided from a power source via a drive input and mounting pillar 54 seen in Fig 1.

Turning now to the construction and mounting and general arrangement of the force-transmitting elements 28, these are provided in the f orm of steel or other metal (including alloy) or plastic or rubber elements of generally rod or pin-like format which are attached to conveyor member 14 by bolting or welding or gluing or vulcanisation as an intergral part of the belt structure, and embedded therein.

Alternatively, and as shown in Figs 2 to 5, the force-transmitting elements 28 may be incorporated in the form of discrete force-transmitting belts or tension members for attachment to conveyor member 14 in the manner shown in Fig 12. Fig 2 shows a tension member 56 comprising a pair of filamentary tension elements 58 secured to a central fastening flange portion 60 of each force-transmitting element 28 and received in complementary slots therein, and bonded or welded accordingly. Details are seen in Fig 3.

In the embodiment of Fig 4, the force-transmitting elements 28 are mounted in their own strip-format tension member or belt 62, being secured thereto by means of fastening flange portions 60, as shown in Fig 5.

Fig 11 shows how the assemblies of Figs 2 to 5 are mounted at the edge of conveyor member 14 by means of being located in a lengthwise-extending slot 64 defined between the outer edge portion 66 of conveyor member 14 and a lower strip 68 secured thereto by stitches 70 or other fastening means such as rivets (not shown), with the force-transmitting elements or pins 28 projecting through apertures formed in conveyor member 14 and lower strip 68.

The assembly may be bonded or vulcanised in the sandwiched construction shown in Fig 11 to produce an integral format.

Fig 6 shows an alternative assembly which can likewise be incorporated in the manner shown in Fig 11.

In Fig 6, in place of the tension member 62 there is provided a chain 72 having hinge axes 74, 76 at right angles so as to provide articulation in the planes indicated by double-ended arrows 78, 80.

Force transmitting pins 28 form part of the hinging chain structure by serving to define alternate axes thereof.

In the embodiments of Figs 8 to 10, conveyor member 14 is trained around nosebars 42 which in the case of the Fig 8 embodiment is in the form of a cylindrical tube 82 f ormed with slits 84 to which air is delivered from a compressor or other source via duct 48 so as to produce the air cushion effect around the belt contact area 86 shown in Fig 9.

In Fig 9', the arrangement is substantially the same but an area of sintered material 88 is provided over the contact area 86 to allow air to pass outwards from duct 48.

In Fig 11, porous material 90 is provided with a nonporous shield 92 to prevent air loss where it is not required.

Fig 12 shows, in an edge section portion of the belt or conveyor member 14 (but not including the lengthwiseextending slot 64) a guide arrangement for the conveyor member 14 which is provided in its upper or conveying run as shown in Fig 1.

As shown in Fig 12, the force-transmitting elements 28 run in guide track elements 100, 102 provided respectively above and below conveying run 18 of conveyor member 14 in Fig 1, but not shown therein.

The guide track elements 100, 102 extend along substantially the full length of the conveying run 18, following the curved profile thereof at its edge region and each one being formed with a correspondingly profiled generally central ly- located and inwardly-facing guide slot 104, 106 in which the force-transmitting elements 28 are a free-sliding fit by virtue of a running clearance or gap 108.

The guide track elements 100, 102 are formed in a polymeric material having relatively low friction characteristics, namely a polyester. The track elements are mounted within external stainless steel mounting 110 within which they are replaceably mounted for occasional removal and replacement at servicing intervals.

It will be understood that the guide track elements hold the conveyor member 14 in its Fig 1 location relative to rollers 42, 44.

In the lower return run 20, the combined drive and guide means 26 serves to provide both a driving and a guiding function, as already described. However, the main guidance function for the conveyor unit 12 as a whole is provided by the guide track elements 100, 102 of Fig 12.

In the embodiments, the force-transmitting elements 28 enable both a driving and a guidance function to be provided. The guide track elements 100, 102 provide the majority of the guiding function, this being located in relation to the upper conveying run of the conveyor member, and in the lower or return run there is provided the drive function together with some degree of associated guidance.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS:

   1 A method of driving and/or guiding anendless conveyor unit comprising:

   a) providing said conveyor unit comprising an endless driveable conveyor member trained in an endless path comprisi ng a conveying run and a return run; and b) providing drive andior guide means for said conveyor member and causing same to guide andlor drive said conveyor member; characterised by c) said step of providing said drive and/or guide means comprising providing said conveyor member with a series of projecting forcetransmitting elements adapted to enable said conveyor member to have drive andlor guide forces transmitted thereto in use; and d) said step of providing said drive andlor guide means further comprising providing force-transmitting means adapted to co-operate with said projecting elements in sequence and causing same to transmit guiding andlor driving forces thereto in use.

   2 A method of driving andlor guiding an endless conveyor unit comprising providing a conveyor member with a series of projecting forcetransmitting elements adapted to enable said conveyor member to have drive and/or guide forces transmitted thereto and providing forcetransmitting means adapted to co-operate with said projecting elements in sequence.

   3 A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by transmitting said guiding and/or driving forces thereto from at least one pair of driven cooperating members defining spaces to receive said projecting elements.

   4 A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by transmitting said guiding and/or driving forces thereto from a pair of co-operating curved guide members adapted to define a curved path to be followed by said conveyor member.

   A method according to claim 3 characterised by said driven co-operating members comprising pairs of endless belts formed with drive formations and disposed so that said formations co-operate to define said spaces.

   6 Apparatus for driving and/or guiding an endless conveyor unit comprising:

   a) a conveyor unit comprising an endless driveable conveyor member trained in an endless path comprising a conveying run and a return run; b) drive and/or guide means for said conveyor member adapted to guide and drive said conveyor member; characterised by c) said drive and/or guide means for said conveyor member comprising a series of projecting forcetransmitting elements adapted to enable said conveyor member to have drive and/or guide forces transmitted thereto in use; and d) f orce-transmitting means adapted to co-operate with said projecting elements in sequence and to cause same to transmit guiding and/or driving forces thereto in use.

   7 Apparatus for driving and/or guiding an endless conveyor unit comprising a conveyor member having a series of projecting force- transmitting elements adapted to enable said conveyor member to be driven and/or guided in use, and force-transmitting means adapted to co-operate with said projecting elements.

   8 Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised by said forcetransmitting means comprising at least one pair of driven co-operating members defining spaces to receive said projecting elements.

   9 Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised by said force transmitting means comprising a curved guide member adapted to define a curved path to be followed b y said conveyor member.

   Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised by said driven co-operating members comprising pairs of endless belts formed with drive formations and disposed so that said formations co-operate to defined said spaces.

   11 A method of supporting an endless conveyor unit comprising:

   a) providing said conveyor unit comprising an endless driveable conveyor member trained in an endless is path comprising a conveying run and a return run; and b) providing support means for said conveying run of said conveyor member and causing same to support said conveyor member; characterised by c) said conveyor member comprising a conveyor belt and said support means comprising a generally smooth support surface having air delivery means connected to a series of apertures formed therein and adapted to deliver air between the facing surfaces of said belt and said support surface and the method comprising driving said belt and causing said air delivery means to deliver air between said facing surfaces so that at least in the region of said apertures said belt is at least partially supported by said support surface through a film or cushion of air.

   12 A method of supporting an endless conveyor unit comprising providing support means for a conveyor belt or belt portion comprising a generally smooth support surface having air delivery means connected to a series of apertures formed therein and adapted to deliver air between the facing surfaces of said belt or belt portion and said support surface so that said belt or belt portion is at least partially supported through a film or cushion of air.

   13 A method according to claim 11 or claim 12 characterised by providing support means below a portion of said conveying run and causing same to support said belt and any load carried thereon in said conveying run through said film or cushion of air.

   14 Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 characterised by providing said support means below an end portion of said conveying run and causing same to support said belt as it passes around a radius as it changes direction.

   is Apparatus for supporting a belt of an endless conveyor unit comprising:

   a) an endless driveable conveyor member trained in an endless path comprising conveyor run and a return run; b) support means for said conveying run; characterised by c) said conveyor member comprising a conveyor belt and said support means comprising a generally smooth support surface having air delivery means connected to a series of apertures formed therein and adapted to deliver air between the facing surfaces of said belt and said support surface whereby in use said air delivery means delivers air between said facing surfaces so that at least in the region of said apertures said belt is at least partially supported through a film or cushion of air.

   16 Apparatus for supporting a conveyor member of an endless conveyor unit wherein a generally smooth support surface for said conveyor member has air delivery means connected to a series of apertures formed therein and adapted to deliver air between the conveyor member and the support surface whereby in use the conveyor member is at least partially supported on a film or cushion of air.

   17 Apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16 characterised by said support means being located below at least a portion of said conveying run and being adapted to support said conveyor member and a load carried thereon in said conveying run through said film or cushion of air.

   18 Apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16 characterised by said support means being provided at an end portion of said conveying run and being adapted to support said conveyor member as it passes around a radius as it changes direction.

   19 For use in a conveyor system comprising a conveyor member having a series of projecting force-transmitting elements adapted to drive and/or guide said conveyor member, (which in themselves are not features of this present claim), force-transmitting means adapted to cooperate with said projecting elements in sequence and adapted in such co-operation to cause same to transmit guiding andfor driving forces to said conveyor member in use.

   For use in a conveyor system comprising a conveyor member and an associated guide and/or drive system therefore (which latter guide and/or drive system in itself is not a feature of this present claim), a conveyor member having a series of projecting force-transmitting elements adapted to enable said conveyor member to be driven andlor guided in use.

   21 A conveyor member according to claim 20 characterised by said projecting f orce-transmitting member comprising pin or rod-like elements located in at least one row in an edge region of the conveyor member.

   22 A conveyor member according to claim 19 characterised by said f orcetransmitting means comprising at least one pair of co-operating members defining (or permitting said projecting force-transmitting members to define by deflecting or flexing the material of at least one of said co-operating members) spaces to receive said projecting elements.

   23 A method of driving and/or guiding an endless conveyor unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   24 Apparatus for driving and/or guiding an endless conveyor unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   A method of supporting an endless conveyor unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   26 Apparatus for supporting an endless conveyor unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.