AU2008203179A1 - Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller - Google Patents
Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2008203179A1 AU2008203179A1 AU2008203179A AU2008203179A AU2008203179A1 AU 2008203179 A1 AU2008203179 A1 AU 2008203179A1 AU 2008203179 A AU2008203179 A AU 2008203179A AU 2008203179 A AU2008203179 A AU 2008203179A AU 2008203179 A1 AU2008203179 A1 AU 2008203179A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- elongate
- drum
- rotatable element
- belt
- ribs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Belt Conveyors (AREA)
Description
P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990
ORIGINAL
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: Wallace Sons Research Pty Ltd Peter Wallace
WRAYS
Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 00-2c "Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller" Field of the Invention This invention relates to conveyor belts. In particular the invention concerns a conveyor belt roller for removing material from the surface of a conveyor belt.
C 5 Background Art 00 oO C There is a tendency with conveyor systems for particulate material carried on conveyor belts to adhere to the surface of the belt creating a build up of the material, which subsequently requires removal.
The rate of particles adhering to the surface of the belt and the degree of difficulty to remove the build up are influenced by many factors. These include the porosity and moisture content of the material, the proportion of fine particles in the conveyed material, the adhesion forces between the particles and the particles with the belt, and the condition of the belts surface.
A proportion of the built up material is dislodged from the belt surface as it passes and flexes over supporting idler rollers on the return run of the belt.
The majority of conveyor belts are also fitted with a mechanism to assist in the removal of the built up material. Such mechanisms include scrapers which, as the name suggests, scrape the build up from the belt surface as it passes the mechanism.
The types of belt scrapers commonly in use require regular inspection and maintenance. These tasks are often made difficult and hazardous due to the location of the scraper and the access to that location. Maintenance to replace worn scraper blades, repair scraper adjustment devices and maintain fixing items is often required.
00 The effectiveness of belt scrapers is limited in view of the surface roughness characteristics of the belt surface and the scrapers. This results in the fines content of the built up material increasing by proportion after each scraper and idler set. As smaller sized particles have a proportionally greater amount of moisture content, there is a rather large increase in moisture content of the built up material as the belt passes over the scrapers and idler rollers. This not only increases the adhesion forces of the particles but the excess moisture also has a N harmful affect on fittings including idler bearings.
00 oO NAfter passing the belt scraper and idler rollers, any remaining material adhered to the belt is dislodged at the tail pulley of the system. There the belt stretches as it travels around the tail pulley causing the dislodgement, and a pile of dislodged material forms at the end of the system. This, as with other piles created near the idler rollers, will progressively increase and needs to be removed regularly.
If the piles touch the belt, the built up material will cut and damage the conveyor belt.
Obviously, the effective removal of the material adhering to the belt is advantageous for the overall conveying system. Failure to do so on a continuous basis results in unnecessary wear and premature failure of the system, belt misalignment, spillage of conveyed material, and corrosion. Furthermore, the belt has to be stopped for maintenance as well as the removal of piles of fine particles that have been discharged from the return idler rollers.
As a result of the increase in conveyor speeds and capacities, the rates of wear and the maintenance required have increased dramatically. Obviously, prolonging the life of the conveyor system through effective removal of material adhered to the belt results in a decrease in the maintenance required and a reduction in the downtime of the conveyor system.
The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material 00 referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of the application.
It is an object of this invention to reduce the build up on the belt surface of a conveyor system.
Disclosure of the Invention 0 The present invention provides an apparatus for removing accumulated material from a surface of a conveyor belt, the apparatus comprises a rotatable element (-i adapted to contact the surface of the conveyor belt and configured to assist in the removal of the accumulated material therefrom when operatively in contact therewith.
The configuration of the rotatable element enables large quantities of material adhered to the conveyor belt to be rapidly removed from the belt and discharged from the rotatable element.
Preferably, the rotatable element is elongate and rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof.
Preferably the rotatable element is of cylindrical configuration.
The rotatable element may be adapted to contact the belt on the return run of the conveyor belt.
Preferably the rotatable element is adapted to contact the belt on its load bearing face.
The rotatable element may be configured to provide a plurality of projections extending therefrom. Preferably the projections are in the form of spaced apart elongate ribs. The elongate ribs may be disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and may extend along the longitudinal extent of the rotatable 00 element. Preferably the elongate ribs are equally spaced with respect to each other.
As the belt passes over the rotatable element, the latter is caused to rotate, resulting in the belt deflecting and vibrating as it passes between projections.
The deflection and vibration of the belt causes dislodgement of built up material from the belt surface.
00 The removal of the built up material is further enhanced by the scraping effect the projections have on the belt surface due to difference in peripheral speed between the conveyor roller and the belt surface. The difference in peripheral speed arises through several factors, including slippage between the rotatable element and the belt.
The rotatable element may comprise a drum removably mounted to a shaft by means of end plates.
Preferably the elongate ribs are removably mounted to the drum.
The elongate ribs may each comprise a first elongate element and a second elongate element, the first elongate element being mounted onto the second elongate element.
Preferably the first elongate element is made from a hardwearing material.
The second elongate element may be adapted to be mounted onto the drum.
The second elongate element may be mounted onto the drum in any suitable fashion, such as by welding or by fastening means.
Preferably, the second elongate element is releasably mounted on the drum.
The end plates may have an outer peripheral surface tapering inwardly towards the centre of the rotatable element. The inner diameter of each end of the drum may have a complementary tapering surface to receive the end plate.
00 The end plates may be detachably connected to the drum in any suitable fashion, such as for example by bolts.
An elastically resilient material may be located between the projections on the rotatable element.
The elastically resilient material may be configured as strips adapted to be accommodated between adjacent elongate ribs.
00 Preferably the strips are attached to the surface of the drum between the elongate ribs.
Preferably the outer surface of the resilient material is closer to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable element than the outer surface of each elongate rib. This ensures that the elongate ribs are proud of the resilient material.
The resilient material may have a plurality of grooves on the side thereof attached to the surface of the drum, increasing the resilience of the material.
The grooves may be V shaped.
Preferably the resilient material has a low adhesion factor, reducing the amount of material adhering to the rotatable element.
The present invention further provides a belt conveyor comprising an endless belt and apparatus as set forth hereinbefore.
The present invention still further provides a rotatable element comprising a drum and a plurality of projections circumferentially spaced about the drum to define spaces therebetween, and resiliently elastic material within the spaces.
The present invention still further provides a belt conveyor and a rotatable element as set forth above in contact with the endless belt for removing accumulated material thereon.
00 -7-
O
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of a specific embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a conveyor belt system incorporating a rotatable element according to the embodiment; 0Figure 2 is a partial sectional side view of the rotatable element; Fsh Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the rotatable element; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional side view of the rotatable element in use.
Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1 shows the general configuration of a conveyor belt system. The system comprises a continuous belt 11 which is supported by a plurality of idler rollers 13 and which is driven by a driving pulley 15 located at one end of the belt 11. A tail pulley 17 located at another end further supports the belt.
Material 19 is delivered to a load-bearing surface 21 of the belt 11 via delivery chute 23. The driving pulley 15 drives the belt 11 such that the material 19 moves towards the driving pulley 15. Upon reaching the drive pulley 15 the material 19 is discharged into the discharge chute As the belt passes the drive pulley 15 it encounters scrapers 27, which partially remove material adhering to the surface of the belt, before passing over several idler rollers 13 which, through flexing of the belt 11 and the adhering forces of the rollers 13 remove some of the material adhering to the surface of the belt 11.
A rotatable element 31 according to the embodiment is in contact with the loadbearing surface 21 along the return run 33 of the belt.
00 OO -8- O The rotatable element 31, which is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, is a roller Scomprising a cylindrical drum 35 having a longitudinal axis 37, and elongate ribs 39 extending from and along the drum 35. The ribs 39 are circumferentially spaced and are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 37 of the roller. The elongate ribs 39 are equally spaced around the periphery of the drum 35 to provide gaps 41.
SEach elongate rib 39, as best shown in Figure 3, comprises a first elongate 00 oO element 43 made from a hardwearing material, and bonded to a second elongate C element 45. The second elongate element 45 is adapted to be welded to the drum, thereby mounting the elongate rib 39 on the drum 35. Each elongate rib 39 can be removed from the drum 35 as necessary (such as for replacement) by detaching the welds.
The gaps 41 provided between the elongate ribs 39 have an elastically resilient strip 49 bonded to the surface of the drum 35. The elastically resilient strip 49 is in the form of soft rubber strips 51 and has a series of V-shaped grooves 53 on the face thereof in contact with the drum 35. The grooves 53 enhance the resilient nature of the strips 49.
As is best seen in Figure 4, the radially outer surfaces of the ribs 39 stand proud of the radially outer surfaces of the strips 49.
The drum 35 is releasably secured to a shaft 55 using end plates 57. Each end plate 57 has a peripheral surface 59 tapering inwardly such that the diameter of the surface 59 is reduced in the direction towards the centre of the roller 31. The drum 35 has a complementary tapering surface 61 located on the inner diameter of each end 63.
When the end plates 57 and drum 35 are assembled, bolts 65 are utilised to secure the assembly together. Each bolt 65 has a head 65a which engages the end plate 57 and a shank 65b which threadingly engages a bolt hole 66 in the drum 00 O The shaft 55 is releasably and rotatably retained by bearing supports 69.
During operation, as shown in Figure 4, the roller 31 is in contact with the load bearing surface 21 on the return run 33 of the belt 11, and so is caused to rotate upon travelling movement of the belt. As the belt 11 passes over the roller 31, the belt 11 deflects and vibrates slightly as it passes over successive gaps 41.
This occurs because of the elastically resilient nature of the strips 49 in the gaps N 41 and also the recessed arrangement of the strips. Due to this deflecting and 00oO vibrating action, built up material is dislodged from the surface of the belt 11 and C is temporarily enclosed between the belt 11, the resilient strip 49a and two adjacent elongate ribs 39a, 39b.
Further rotation of the roller 31 results in the disengagement of the elongate rib 39a from the belt 11, allowing the material to be discharged from the roller by centrifugal force, as shown in Figure 4.
During rotation of the roller 31, there is a speed differential between the radially outer periphery of the roller 31 and the travelling belt 11. This results in a scraping action by the roller 31 on the belt surface, aiding in the dislodgement of the material adhering to the belt 11.
The discharging of the material from the roller 31 once dislodged from the belt is also promoted by the high frequency of vibration of the roller 31, the low adhesion nature of the rubber strips 49 accommodated in the gaps 41, and the elastic resilience of the rubber strips 49.
As a greater portion of the material is dislodged in one area along the return run of the belt 11, a suitable means such as a collection chute, can continuously collect the dislodged material and deliver it back into the system. This will remove the necessity of having to manually move the pile of material that is dislodged.
As the drum 35 of the roller 31 is releasably mounted to the shaft 55 using end plates 57, the drum 35 can be readily removed for maintenance with limited' 00 interruption to operation of the conveyor system. It also allows the elongate ribs S39 to be removed and replaced or repaired when required.
The roller 31 is in effect a self-cleaning roller and may be fitted at any appropriate location including, for example, as a snub, bend or tail pulley.
S 5 From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides a simple yet (highly effective arrangement for assisting in the cleaning of conveyor belts.
00oO It is to be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment herein described.
Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
Claims (28)
1. Apparatus for removing accumulated material from a surface of a conveyor belt, the apparatus comprises a rotatable element adapted to contact the surface of the conveyor belt and configured to assist in the removal of the accumulated material therefrom when operatively in contact therewith. (-i 00
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable element is of cylindrical configuration.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the rotatable element is elongate and rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the rotatable element is configured to provide a plurality of projections extending therefrom.
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the projections comprise spaced apart elongate ribs.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the elongate ribs are substantially parallel and extend along the longitudinal extent of the rotatable element.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the elongate ribs are equally spaced with respect to each other.
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongate element comprises a drum.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the drum is removably mounted to a shaft by means of end plates.
Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the elongate ribs are removably mounted to the drum. 00 -12- O
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein each elongate rib comprises a first elongate element and a second elongate element, the first elongate element being mounted onto the second elongate element.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the first elongate element is made from a hardwearing material and the second elongate element is mounted onto the drum. O 0
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 12 wherein an elastically C1 resilient material is located between the projections on the rotatable element.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the elastically resilient material is configured as strips adapted to be accommodated between adjacent elongate ribs.
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the strips are attached to the surface of the drum between the elongate ribs.
16. Apparatus according to claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the outer surface of the resilient material is closer to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable element than the outer surface of each elongate rib, whereby the elongate ribs are proud of the resilient material.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the resilient material has a plurality of grooves on the side thereof attached to the surface of the drum, increasing the resilience of the material.
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein the end plates each have an outer peripheral surface tapering inwardly towards the centre of the rotatable element, and inner diameter of each end of the drum has a complementary tapering surface to receive the end plate.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the end plates are detachably connected to the drum. 00 -13- O
20. A belt conveyor comprising an endless belt and apparatus according to any Sone of claims 1 to 19.
21. A belt conveyor according to claim 20 wherein the endless belt has a load- carrying run and a return run and wherein the rotatable element is in contact with the endless belt on the return run thereof.
22. A rotatable element comprising a drum and a plurality of projections on the 00 0drum, the projections being circumferentially spaced about the drum to define N spaces therebetween, and resiliently elastic material within the spaces.
23. A rotatable element according to claim 22 wherein the projections comprise elongate ribs and the resiliently elastic material comprises strips accommodated in the spaces between the ribs.
24. A rotatable element according to claim 24 wherein the radially outer surfaces of the ribs stand proud of the radially outer surfaces of the strips.
A belt conveyor comprising an endless belt and a rotatable element according to claim 22, 23 or 24 in contact with the endless belt for removing accumulated material thereon.
26. Apparatus according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
27. A rotatable element substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 00 -14- 0 c
28. A belt conveyor substantially as herein described with reference to the Saccompanying drawings. 00 0~
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2008203179A AU2008203179A1 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPR6434 | 2001-07-17 | ||
| AU2002300112A AU2002300112A1 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2002-07-16 | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller |
| AU2008203179A AU2008203179A1 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2002300112A Division AU2002300112A1 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2002-07-16 | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2008203179A1 true AU2008203179A1 (en) | 2008-08-07 |
Family
ID=39684496
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2008203179A Abandoned AU2008203179A1 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2008-07-17 | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2008203179A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103662713A (en) * | 2013-12-25 | 2014-03-26 | 贵州永润煤业有限公司 | Method and device for cleaning away coal slime in grooves of belt |
| CN111717601A (en) * | 2020-05-23 | 2020-09-29 | 北京城建中南土木工程集团有限公司 | Unearthed muck transportation equipment |
| CN115610919A (en) * | 2022-12-19 | 2023-01-17 | 新乡市和协饲料机械制造有限公司 | Scraper conveyor with tail end fodder is long-pending expects automatic clearance mechanism |
-
2008
- 2008-07-17 AU AU2008203179A patent/AU2008203179A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103662713A (en) * | 2013-12-25 | 2014-03-26 | 贵州永润煤业有限公司 | Method and device for cleaning away coal slime in grooves of belt |
| CN111717601A (en) * | 2020-05-23 | 2020-09-29 | 北京城建中南土木工程集团有限公司 | Unearthed muck transportation equipment |
| CN111717601B (en) * | 2020-05-23 | 2021-12-17 | 北京城建中南土木工程集团有限公司 | Unearthed muck transportation equipment |
| CN115610919A (en) * | 2022-12-19 | 2023-01-17 | 新乡市和协饲料机械制造有限公司 | Scraper conveyor with tail end fodder is long-pending expects automatic clearance mechanism |
| CN115610919B (en) * | 2022-12-19 | 2023-02-28 | 新乡市和协饲料机械制造有限公司 | Scraper conveyor with tail end fodder is long-pending expects automatic clearance mechanism |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1042380A (en) | Self cleaning pulley for conveyor belts | |
| US6938754B2 (en) | Self-cleaning conveyor roller | |
| US7281625B2 (en) | Self cleaning conveyor | |
| US7549532B2 (en) | Conveyor belt cleaning system and mounting method | |
| WO2012135509A2 (en) | Conveyor belt cleaner scraper blade and assembly | |
| CN107089485A (en) | A kind of conveying belt cleaning device of belt conveyor | |
| WO1992022485A1 (en) | Improved idler roller sleeve | |
| US11970336B2 (en) | Belt conveyor capable of conveying oilseed products | |
| CN108622634B (en) | Return blanking cleaning system of belt conveyor | |
| AU2008203179A1 (en) | Self-Cleaning Conveyor Roller | |
| KR102179268B1 (en) | Scraping device of foreign object for conveyor belt | |
| JPH0840527A (en) | Roller for belt conveyor | |
| CN116216180A (en) | Closed belt conveyor system for grain conveying | |
| KR200155518Y1 (en) | Cleaner brush roller for belt conveyor | |
| KR102076306B1 (en) | Cleaners for belt conveyors | |
| CN210655036U (en) | Chain scraper conveyor feed back cleaning device | |
| CN107512551B (en) | Belt conveyor sweeper and method thereof | |
| JPH07215433A (en) | Bucket elevator | |
| CN212798420U (en) | Clear material device of belt conveyor | |
| KR200440122Y1 (en) | conveyer belt cleaner | |
| KR200379715Y1 (en) | Remain dregs removal equipment of the balt conveyer | |
| CN220431374U (en) | Concrete conveyer belt mud scraping device | |
| CN220448771U (en) | Sealing and smashing-resistant conveyor for cambered surface of cantilever beam plate | |
| JPH0642814U (en) | Belt conveyor outlet adjustment chute device | |
| CN219770995U (en) | Conveyer belt reverse side cleaning device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MK4 | Application lapsed section 142(2)(d) - no continuation fee paid for the application |