AU598182B2 - Safety guard for conveyor belt - Google Patents

Abstract

To protect the openings (41) situated at the inlet or outlet of the transport plant, between the peripheral area, close to the carrier frame, of a deviation cylinder (20) or roller (20), respectively for the loading or unloading of a transport plant (29) of a belt conveyor (1) which is preferably of the type having one or a plurality of bands or belts or which is a plate or hinge conveyor (1), as well as the front end, close to the cylinder, respectively the roller of the carrier frame thereof (3) and/or the carrier part of the storage plant (13) for this or these cylinders (20), respectively rollers (20), against the risks of accidents due to an inadvertent or unauthorized penetration in such an opening (41), the present invention provides to use a protection unit (2, 22) arranged on top of the space (41) where there is a risk of penetration and situated between the peripheral area of the cylinder (20), respectively the roller (20) close to the carrier frame and the flow edge, close to the cylinder, respectively the roller, of the carrier frame (3) for the transport plant (29) or its front surface close to the cylinder, respectively the roller, from the side of the carrier frame (38) in the direction of the longitudinal medial plane (m) of the conveyor belt (1) normal to the surface, situated on the side of the goods to be transported, of the transport plant (29), at least up to a certain spacing in relation therewith, thereby providing a play to the upper half (29a) and/or to the lower half (29b) of the transport plant (29).

Description

PCT

AM w M, W ELTO ROA N INTERNATIONALE ANMELDUNG N 'ROWENM~CHT-TNACTDEK1VERTRAG OJBER DIE INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT AUF DEM GEBIET DES PATENTWESENS (PCT) (51) Internationale Patentklassifikation 4 (11) Internationale Verdffentlichunusnumrner: W 5 21/00, 21/08 Al(43) Internationales (21) Internationales Aktenzeichen: PCT/EP85/0008 I Ver6ffentlicht Mit in tern ationa lern Recherchenhericlit.

(22) Internationales Anmeldedatum: 6. Mdirz 1985 (06.03.85) (31) Priori titsaktenzeichen: P 34 09 16 (32) Prioritiitsdatumi: 13. Miirz 1984 (13.03.84) 'b (33) Prioritfitsland:- DE inj ~l4 ant for (71)(72) Anmelder und Erfinder: GEPPERT, Helmut [DE/ DE]; Niederfeld 12, D-5162 Niederziur-Krauthausen (D E).

(74) Anwalt: KANTNER, Hans-Joachim, Darmstiidter 7~ v18 Strasse 8, D-6070 Langen NV18 (81) Bestimmungsstaaten: AU, BR, DK, JP, US.,

AUSTRALIA

IPAmTENTrOFFICE K5 4 Title: UNIT FOR PROTECTING THE OPENINGS AT THE INLET OR OUTLET OF A TRANSPORT PLANT IN CONVEYOR BELTS (54) Bezeichnung: VORRICHTUNG ZUR SICHERUNG VON FO1RDERMIrFELEIN- ODER -AUSLAUFSEITIGEN OFFNUNGEN BEI BANDFORDEr ERN 0 0 S.

0 1,.

0 (57) Abstract To protect the openin~s (41) situmed at the inlet or outlet of the transport plant, between the peripheral area, clo)se to the carrier frame, of a deviation cylinder (20) or roller respectively for the loading or unloading of a transport plant (29) of a belt conveyor 11) which is preferably of the type having one or a plurality of bands or belts or which is a plate or hinge conveyor as wiell as the front end, close to the cylinder, respectively the roller of the carrier frame thereof (3) and/or the carrier part of the storage plant (13) for this or these cylinders respectively rollers against the risks ofr accidents due to an inadvertent or unauthorized penetration in such an opening the present invention p -ovides to use a protection unit 22) arranged on top of the space (4 1) where there is a risk of penetration and situated between the peripheral area of the cylinder respectively the roller (20) closie to the carrier fiamne and the flow edge, close to the cylinder, respectively the roller, of the carrier frame for the transport plant (29) or its front surface close to the cylinder, respectively the roller, from the side of C.e carrier frame (38) in the direction of the longitudinal miedial plane tin) of the conveyor belt normal t~o the surface, situated on the sidco of the goods to be transported, of the transport plant atI least up to a certain spacing in relation therewith, thereby providing a play to the upper half (29a) and/or to the lower half' I (29bl of the transport planit (29).

(57) Zusammenfassung Zur Si~hjerunj.'Von f~rdermittelein- odery-Atslaufseitigen Offnungen (41) zwischen den tragrahmennahen Unfangsbereich einerrlnlehn 'bzwv Aufgab& odeiAbgqbewalze (20) oder -rolle (20) f~r das Fbrderrrittel I(29) eines Bandf~rderers der vorzugsweise in Ein- oder Mehr~inder- oder -riemenbauart oder als Platten- oder Scharnierhandf6rderer ausgefijhrt ist, und demn waizen- bzW. rollennahen Stirnende des Tragrahmens desselben und/oder Icicin Tragstiick der Lagerungseinrichtung (13) far diese Walze(n) (20) bzw. Rolle(n) (20) gegen Unfallgefahren durch unbeabsichtigten oder unbefugten Eingriff in eine soiche dffnung (41) dient erfindungsgemtiss eine den zugriffsgefiirdeten Zwischenraum (41) zwischen demn Umnfangsbereich von Walze (20) bzw. tragrahmennaher Rolle (20) und waizen- bzw. ro lennaher Ablaufkante des Tragrahmens ffir das Fbrdermittei (29) oder dessen waizen- bzw. rollennaher Stirnfliche von der Tragrahmenseite (38) her in Richtung der zur f6rderg-utseitigen Oberfldche des F6rdermittels (29) normalen Mittel- 1&ngsebene (in) des Bandf~5rderers zumindest bis auf einen emn Bewegungsspiel fUr das Ober- (29a) und/oder das Untertrumn (29b) des F~rdermittels (29) gewdhrtenden Abstand zu diesem ciberbrickende Abdeckeinrichtung 22).

E**

LEDIGL ICH ZUR INFORMATION Code, die zur Identitizierung von PCT.Vertragsstaaten.,iuf den Kopfbdgen der Schriften, die internationale Anmeldungen gemnss demn PCT ver6ffentlichen.

S. S S 9 *5 9.

9 S. .9 Osterrelch Australian Belgian Bulgarian Brasilien Zeatnile Afrikanische Republik Kongo Schweiz Kamernn Deutschland, Bundesrepubik Dtinemark Finniand Fran kre Ich Gabun Vereinigtes Kdnigrelch IUngamn Japan Demokratische Volksrepubllk Korea Republik Korea Liechtenstein Sri Lanka Luxemiburg Monaco Madagaskar Mauritanien Malawi Niederiande Norwegan Runtgnion Sudan Schwe'ten Senegal Soviet Union Tschad Togo Vereinigte Staatten von Amenika

I-

la The invention relates to a belt conveyor with a masking device bridging an intermediate space which is hazardous of access at least between the peripheral zone of a drum or roller for the conveyor means and bearer members associated with this drum or roller, said drum or roller being received on said bearer members which are preferably adjustable in the lengthwise direction relative to a support frame, said peripheral zone being close to the support frame.

In DE-A-2635981 there is described a belt conveyor with two longerons which each carry a reversing roller for a conveyor belt at their opposite ends, wherein between the two longerons there is provided a gap extending in the longitudinal direction in w 'ich a 15 series of support rollers 6 are arranged and on which longerons are carried. These support rollers 6 support the conveyor belt. For this purpose the conveyor be-t is wider than the support rollers 6 and the region of fee* the belt which overlaps beyond the support roller 6 slides on corresponding slide plates which are formed by the longerons. These slide plates extending *jII substantially parallel to the axles of the rever .ng rollers are guided in the longitudinal direction up to close proximity to the surface of the reversing 25 rollers. Between the surface of the reversing roller I and the respective end of one such slide plate there remains an open unavoidable gap, just as between the front side of a reversing roller and the part of the longeron carrying the shaft of a respective reversing roller, into which gap objects, items of clothing or for example fingers of an operator's hand can inadvertently be inserted. These regions are therefore dangerous. No possibility for avoiding this danger can be discerned from this known specification, According to the also known DIN 15220 it is I- i V V 2 proposed to provide filler meabers extending over the full conveyor width in.order to form the necessary masking device for covering over a dangerous intermediate space. Such filler members require however a not inconsiderable manufacturing cost and increase to an undesirable degree the weighL of the whole belt conveyor. Moreover, they make it considerably more difficult tc. effect a correct alignment of the rollers necessary for the stable running of the conveyor belt, if the rollers are rigidly connected to the bearer members carrying the rollers.

.However, it is also proposed according to this DIN 15220 to provid an embodiment of closed box-like construction and to adjustably set up a part of the slide plate in the region of the tension drum (page 3, lefthand column). Such adjustabl" slide p.lat-es represent no reliable protection however, since on the one hand they cannot be adjusted during operation and since on the other hand they open up a new gap in the region of the front end of the roller and in the region .of the vertical inside of the slide plate, which gap is particularly easily accessible and therefore is particularly dangerous. If such slide plates are mounted on the inside of the frame, so far as this can be understood from the illustration in the aforesaid 'DIN 15220 on page 3, then the corresponding gap appears in its full danger between the front end of the roller and the opposing region of the frame. No gap protection is therefore present.

It is however, as already stated, a knQwn fact that such openings in belt conveyors of the described type represent a fearful source of danger that fingers or parts of items of clothing can become caught up in the gaps and be dragged in between the conveyor means 3 and the associated drums or rollers, which, as is known from experience, can lead to serious accidents, of which crushing of the limbs can be thought of as of less seriousness. Moreover such apertures offer undesirable possibilities for dirt or foreign bodies to fall or be put into the interior of the support frame of the belt conveyor. Such apertures, in the case of conveyors working in a single plane, are provided both in the region of the supply station for the conveyed goods and also at the delivery station for the conveyed goods, and notwithstanding whether the drive is effected by way of the supply drum or roller set or by way of the takeoff drum or roller set or by way of a separate drive drum or roller set arranged between the two, and in the case of kinked belt conveyors, in Saddition to these positions, also in the regions at the conveyor onrunning side and takeoff side of reversing drums or roller sets or of hold-down drums or roller sets, and indeed in all cases both in the region of the upper ran and also in the region of the lower run of of* the conveyor means. By virtue of the possibility of dirt or foreign bodies being introduced there is a danger of operational failure and/or impairment of hygiene conditions and the consequent need for appropriate maintenance and cleaning measures with the corresponding undesirable operational down-time even after comparatively short working periods.

It is therefore highly desirable, with belt conveyors, to remedy these faulty conditions with simple and cost-effective means which can be brought into action quickly and easily, as necessary, even as post-installation fittings, and to be able to protect the belt conveyors against dangerous introduction of limbs or pieces of clothing as well as against undesirable introduction of dirt or foreign bodies into

K

I- II- I 4 the described apertures.

Such an object is achieved according to the invention in a belt conveyor of the type first described above in that the bearer members are provided with ear-like masking limbs which constitute the masking device and which engage beneath at least the underside of the upper run of the conveyor means from the support frame side of the conveyor means inwards.

Such masking limbs can be fitted tightly up against the surfaces of the drums or rollers and consequently can minimise the gap all round. Since they are arranged on :the movable bearer members, upon adjustment movements they move with the bearer members, so that the desired, only very small gap remains unchanged and one can thereby avoid having to make any additional subsequent o adjustments to the masking devices. At the same time, with such a evice, the individual adjustment of the bearer memberL is not hindered and the corresponding screening of the gap can be maintained very easily, so that as a result the overall weight is not noticeably increased..

~According to one embodiment of the invention the bearer members are provided with ear-like masking limbs which engage below the underside of the upper run of the conveyor means and which engage above or below the lower run of the conveyor means.

S"By "engaging below" is always meant that the masking limb lies on the inside of the conveyor means, i.e. on the side remote from the conveyed goods, while by the term "engaging above" is meant that the masking limb extends on the outside of the conveyor means, namely on the side of the conveyed goods.

Depending upon the construction of the belt conveyor, a dangerous aperture of the described type can occur on one or both sides of the support frame, and is then screened by one or more masking limbs according to the invention,.with this applying both for the onrunning end of the belt conveyor and also for the delivery end of the belt conveyor, as also for the supply and/or the takeoff region of a separate drive station arranged between the two ends, and also for the supply and/or takeoff region of the guide device and/or the hold-down device at the kink position of a kinked belt system. Furthermore, it is also emphasised that the invention can find application for the screening of dangerous apertures both in the region of the upper run or in the region of the lower run of the conveyor means alone or alternatively simultaneously for both runs, notwithstanding the type of use described above.

0 15 In the employment of the invention, one embodiment **ee.

is particularly approved, in which at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a guide device for the guidance of the upper or lower runs of the conveyor means towards or away from the drum or drums or roller 0 00 20 or rollers. Advantageously, the masking limb formed as a guide device can be arranged on the inside of the 0 support frame or alternatively on the outside of the S..support frame from the associated upper or lower run of the conveyor means whose surface remote from the conveyed goods serves as a support or whose surface on ,j the side of the conveyed goods serves as a contact i surface. In these cases, in an advantageous way, each masking limb has associated with it a further function, in which each masking limb is utilised according to its surface contours and in particular also according to its arrangement, additionally to its screening function, for it to serve as support and guide for the side regions of the relevant run of the conveyor means adjacent to the dangrccus apertures or delimiting txiese, so that somewhat greater lengths of such apertures existing between support frame and side regions of the conveyor runs are screened in the conveyor direction or longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor, and simultaneously the corresponding length region of the conveyor run can be given a support from below to secure it against undesired and undue suspension loads. This works with particular advantage if one is concerned with greater lengths of the conveyor run in the conveyor direction which, without such a utilisation of the masking limbs according to the invention, as well as guide device for the relevant conveyor run, frequently would suffer from an unduly high operational loading by reason of an excessively great free suspension length.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous if the masking device additionally includes at least one pair of masking limbs extending from the opposing longerons or side webs of the support frame in the direction of the central longitudinal plane or planes 20 of the belt conveyor which is/are perpendicular'to the conveyor-belt-side surface of the upper and/or of the S e lower run of the conveyor means. The invention is thus not limited to embodiments of belt conveyor with a I support frame formed from two opposing longerons and a plurality of spaced cross-pieces and possibly with a masking and/or screening sheet or alternatively with an intermediate member connected with the two longerons, but can suitably also find application to any other support frame construction, such as for example a support frame formed as 'a one-piece U-shaped or shaped profile with or without reinforcement in form of cross-pieces. The embodiment according to the last described inventive idea applies however only for such belt conveyors in which dangerous apertures of the described type are present on both sides of the 1 ?Ilrrrslrrruar~lrY i 1 I Il 111.~- 7 relevant conveyor runs between these and the adjacent lonqeron of a combined support frame or the adjacent side web of a support frame formed as a one-piece profile. Thus, the or at least one of the masking limbs can be arranged rigid with the support frame.

Belt conveyors provided both for initial installation purposes and also for post-installation purposes can also utilise the invention with recommendation if the or at least one of the masking limbs is detachably fixed to the support frame.

In this connection it is pointed out that one can have preferred embodiments of the invention in which there are jointly provided one or more masking limbs rigid with the support frame and one or more masking 15 limbs rigid with the bearer members, which then jointly aid the achievement of the inventive object of safety and possibly simultaneously also make a noticeable improvement in the supporting of the conveyor runs.

For all embodiments of the invention it has proved to be advantageous if, in a further embodimernt, of the Oo invention, the rrasking limb or limbs is or are secured to the outside or to the inside of the associated longeron or side webs of the support frame or of the associated bearer members of the mounting device for the drums or rollers. These factors represent constructive points of view particularly in relation to the economical manufacture of the masking limbs and/or conveyance in relation to the operation of the belt conveyor and the hygiene thereof, as well as to the type of installation and possibly of the auxiliary attachments to it and any other components of a conveyor line fitted in advance of or subsequent to the belt conveyor, as well as in relation to the simplicity and rapidity of assembly and dismantling.

It has also been found to be particularly -1 r' i I I r i 8 advantageous if, for embodiments in which masking limbs are simultaneously provided both for the upper run and also for the lower run of the conveyor means, the masking limbs for the upper and lower runs of the conveyor means are arranged with the same spacing from the adjacent longitudinal edge of the bearer members, preferably in alignment with these. It is furthermore of advantage if in such embodiments with upper and lower runs of the conveyor means protected according to the invention, and with masking limbs associated with a longeron of the support frame or a bearer member of the mounting device for the drums or rollers, the masking limbs for upper and lower runs of the conveyor means are arranged with equal spacing from the front edge of 15 the longeron or bearer member which lies on the other side of the drum or roller shaft. By these means, above all and primarily by virtue of their combined play, one can make further rationalisations in the sense of the object of the invention in terms of achieving the support and mounting of components ,which are necessarily of different construction and size for the creation of belt conveyors, as in such cases both longerons for the creation of the support frame and *oa: also their whole width profile members, as also the bearer members for the creation of the support device for the necessary drums or rollers, need no longer be held in stock in both right hand and left hand format, but one can instead use these individual components for any embodiment.

In the interests of using longerons and/or bearer members which serve for the embodiments of belt conveyors of conventional type, it has proved to be advantageous both for the creation of belt conveyors according to th' invention and also for the conversion or post-installation fitting of conventional r 9 embodiments of conveyor, if at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a -centrepiece, preferably of sheet metal or plastics material, which is secured to the bearer member with its leg parallel to a plane of the adjacent bearer member of the support device for the drum or drums or roller or rollers, said plane being parallel to the cenicral longitudinal axis or axes of the belt conveyor.

Preferably, this use of the angle piece can be effected in such a way that at least one of the masking limbs, formed as an angle piece, is secured in a pos~ition on the associated bearer member of the support o device for the drum or drums or roller or rollers in which its other leg extends parallel to the 5* 15 longitudinal axis of the bearer member. Basically, such an arrangement and construction is in no way necessary, since the angle piece forming the inventive safety mask and possibly simultaneously also forming a conveyor means support for the purpose cf guidance of the belt can, in the operational posit on, have its free limb inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the longeron, especially in those embodiments of belt conveyor in which the main course of the relevant run runs in some other plane than the corresponding I 25 tangential plane to the drum or roller which reverses the relevant run of the conveyor means. A construction and arrangement of this angle piece with its free leg parallel to the length of the lingeron for example offers however, both here and also in the aforementioned embodiments, the symmetrical construction arrangement of the masking limbs in relation to the profile height of the longerons or side webs of the support frame, and also the symmetry of the construction and arrangement of masking limbs supported by a bearer member of the mounting device, those 4 f Isn; masking limbs being suitable simultaneously for both the upper and lower runs of the conveyor means in relation to the outer edge of the bearer member remote from the support frame, avoiding the need for separate right hand and left hand formats and instead enabling one to use these for any embodiment.

For particular embodiments of belt conveyor, and particularly those in which for reasons of achieving a light weight structure an additional stiffening of the overall construction by both support frame drums and also mounting device for the drums or rollers has been omitted, it has proved to be advantageous if, according to an alternative embodiment, the or at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a U-shaped or C-shaped 15 element, preferably of sheet metal or plastics material, which is secured to the longeron or side web or bearer member with its side webs parallel to a plane of the adjacent longero,. or side web of the support frame or of the adjacent bearer member of the support device for the drums or rollers, said plane being parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the belt I conveyor. Thus, with advantage, the structure and arrangement of the masking limbs can he such that in a working position it has its bridging central web extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longeron holding it oi of the side web and bearer member. It is evident that here, while retaining the advantages already described above of the masking limbs formed as angled pieces, by designing the masking limbs according to this inventive idea one can also achieve a not infrequently desirable bridge-type reinforcement for the improvement of the bending strength and rigidity of the whole frame structure of the belt conveyor.

For particular circumstances, in embodiments of the invention with releasably mounted or fastened masking limbs, it has nevertheless been found to be particularly advantageous to have a masking limb mounting in which the masking limb or limbs is or are pivotable relative to the associated bearer member of the support device for the drums or rollers, and is adjustably mounted thereon. Thus, the masking limb or limbs can each be secured by means of a plug-in connection arranged on the side of the drums or rollers remote from the support frame or adjacent to the support frame, each sid connector comprising a plug-in pin fixed to a longeron or side web or bearer member *and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to a masking limb, or comprising a plug-in pin fixed to a masking 6 15 limb and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to a longeron or side web or beare. member. Such plug-in connections result in the advantages described above.

The pivot mounting of the masking limb or limbs not infrequently opens up the possibility of freedom of movement from place to place and contributes not inconsiderably to facilitating the assembly and/or dismantling of the masking limb or limbs, for example for the purpose of inspection or maintenance, as well 6 as also facilitating the handling of the parts.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the or each of the masking limbs is supported rigid with the support frame ~s q-1 'i at its end remote from the drum or roller for the sliding mcvement. Complementary to this, the masking limbs can include a cranked end remote from the drum or 1 30 roller. Regardless of the type of masking limb or limbs according to the invention and where and how they are supported and mounted, this or these can according to a further embodiment of the invention have a substantially Z-shaped end remote from the drum or roller and at an angle relative to the end which is s Ay ly I

I~-

adjacent to the drum or roller. On the other hand, it has been found for most circumstances to be more advantagrous, simpler and more economical to manufacture and assemble and dismantle, if the masking limb or limbs are each secured by means of one plug connector on the side of the drum or roller remote from the support frame and/or adjacent to the support frame, or by means of two plug connectors arranged on the sides of the drum or roller remote from the support frame or adjacent to the support frame or on both sides of the drum or roller, each plug connector comprising a plug-in pin fixed to a longeron or side web or bearer S"member and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to the masking limb, or comprising a plug-in pin fixed to the 15 masking limb and a receiving socket fixed to the longeron or side web or bearer member. This embodiment then makes it possible to do away with the need for "t9, comparatively expensive screw elements which are conventionally used or the making of threaded holes, by the possibility of using simple circular steel rod profiles in combination with simple stamped holes or simple bores made in the frame-forming components for example during the bending processes.

~It can also be advantageous if the or each of the masking limbs is supported on the longeron side or side web side by means of a displaceable guide device. For r* this purpose, according to a particularly simple and sufficiently operationally reliable embodiment, the or each masking limb is supported by contact on a cross piece of the support frame.

Al.iough within the scope of the invertion masking limbs of practically any type are possible, and are suitable for the most varied types of application, it has been proved to be particularly advantageous, but nevertheless not exclusively, for post-installation I C- 13 fitting of belt conveyors of conventionol construction, wherein the or each masking limb has its end adjacent to the drum or roller secured to a bearer rod mounted on the associated longeron or side web of the support frame or bearer member of the support device for the drum or drums or roller or rollers, preferably with two masking limbs arranged in pairs opposite each other or with one masking limb bridging the intermediate space -I between these opposed longerons or side webs or bearer members, with the masking limbs being on a bearer rod secured to this longeron or side web or bearer member, For this purpose the masking limb or limbs can be secured to the associated bearer rod by welding, adhesive, screwing, clamping or pinning, wherein its 15 or their end region or regions remote from the drum or roller in relation to their fixing points is or are 'wrapped around this bearer rod. Clearly, such an embodiment of the invention is particularly simple and practical for any installation of a belt conveyor without needing the use of large numbers of tools and equipment and corresponding cost, as well as being capable of introduction very simply in the working ',position.

Particularly for special cases it is also recommended if, according to a further feature of the invention, the masking device is formed so as to permit i changes in the magnitude of the spacing which provides the movement play for the upper and/or the lower run of S the conveyor means. Advantageously, the masking device comprises at least one masking limb which is adjustable in terms of its effective width in the direction of the central longitudinal plane of the belt conveyor perpendicular to the conveyor-belt-side surface oi. the conveyor means. Moreover, it is thus possible, in the interests of rationalisation according to the I r invention, to pre-manufacture masking limbs and to holds these in store so that they can subsequently be used for various belt conveyor designs or sizes or types.

In the same sense, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the masking device is formed so as to enable the size of the space between the masking device and the associated drum or roller arrangement to be varied. Preferably, the or at least one of the masking limbs is disp-aceable for changing its spacing relative to the associated drum or roller arrangement, and is securable in a desired working position on the associated longeron or longerons or side web or webs of the support frame, or is held on 15 the associated bearer members of the support device for the drums or rollers.

In the following the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to various preferred embodiments which are shown schematically in the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration, with the .central portion of one longeron broken away, of one ooo* side of a support frame of a belt conveyor device according to the invention, 25 Fig. 2 is an illustration corresponding to the illustration according to Fig. 1 of another embodiment of a bearer member of the support device for a 0. reversing roller or delivery or take-off roller, 0 Fig. 3 is an illust';ation corresponding to the illustration according to .Fig. 2 of a masking cap for the support frame, Fig. 4 is an illustration corresponding to the illustration in Fig. 1 of one side of an oblique fitting for the support frame of a belt conveyor device constructed as a kinked belt conveyor, c i

I

0 S S

SOS.

*0*0 S 5

S.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a vertical longitudinal section through the end of a belt conveyor device adjacent to the reversing roller, but without showing the support frame, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of two different embodiments of masking limb which can be releasably secured to the support frame.

Individual components which correspond to one another in the several views are indicated by the respective same reference numbers.

The belt conveyor apparatus according to the invention, which is indicated as a whole at 1, comprises a support frame shown in Figs. 1 to 3 which consists of one or more longerons 5 connected to each 15 other and arranged one behind another along the length of the support frame, with the longerons being arranged in pairs opposite-each other and only one of which has both its end regions shown in the drawings, with the central region broken away, and also comprising, at both ends, a pair of bearer members 13 and 23 of bearing devices for reversing rollers and take-up or delivery rollers, one of which is shown in Fig. 5 and is indicated at 20. In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the support frame 3 comprises longerons 5 which have a C-shaped profile, which are connected together in pairs opposite each other and are stiffened by cross-pieces, one of which is shown in Fig. 5 and is indicated at 25. The support frame 3 can alternatively be made as one piece in the transverse direction, although this .is not illustrated, in which case a C-shaped profile part offering a contact surface supporting the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29 from below is arranged in frame-supporting manner with its base web parallel to the rn of the conveyor means and with its side webs parallel to the longitudinal S S S 0 16 plane of the support frame means.

In the illustrated embodiment. in a manner known per se, the bearer members 13 of the bearing device for for example the drive rollers of the belt conveyor device and the bearer members 23 for for example the reversing and tensioning rollers for the conveyor means 29 themselves have their guide legs 14 and 24 inserted into the open profiled apertures of the longerons 5 of the support frame 3 and are held secured in the working position by means of screw elements engaging in the fastening slots 15, wherein, additionally, necessary adjustment means and tensioning means can be provided, for example by means of screw elements supporting themselves against the support frame and engaging 1n threaded holes 18 in leg portions 17 on the associated bearer members 13 and 23, or alternatively by means of i: screw elements supported on the one hand against the ,p support frame and on the other hand against a lateral leg 27 on the bearer member, for example by way of a threaded hole 28, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 for the right-hand bearer member 23. The two bearer members 23 S. of the bearing device shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1 have a slot 26 which is open towards the outer end and which serves both as a suspension receiving ii 25 means and also as a slide guide for the axle or shaft foe* 21 (shown in Fig. 5) of a reversing and take-up or i delivery roller 20 or of reversing and take-up or delivery rollers or roller sets, while in the case of the bearing device illustrated at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 it is shown that this axle or shaft 21 can be set alternatively in an appropriate receiving, hole 16 in the relevant pair of bearer members. It will be appreciated that instead of the slot 26 the bearer member 23 could include one such shaft- or axlereceiving hole and, at the other end, the bearer 3

I

rumember 13 could have a receiving or guide slot 26 instead of the hole 16.

In Fig. 5 is illtustrated a preferred form of a support-frame-side support of a bearer member 13, into which an angle member 19 serving as a stop is inserted between its lower edge and the side web of a longeron profile 5 (not shown in Fig.5), wherein the free end of the front edge of the longeron profile 5, which can be the front edge 38 shown in Fig. 1 for example, engages and thus supports it against this longeron profile and consequently against the support frame 3. In this way, by means of this angle member 19, a supporting surface for a screw element guided in the threaded hole 18 of the nose 17 is formed. The screw element is only 15 indicated by its chain-dotted centre line.

S. Of particular significance, and visible from Fig.

5, is the fact that a space which is hazardous of access is formed between side edges of the relevant conveyor means runs 29a and 29b and the adjacent support frame profile, e.g. 5, approximately from the axial length of the rear face of the free limb of the angle member 19 which is remote from the axis of the *too S^ roller and which corresponds to the front edge 38 of the longeron profile 5 of the support frame 3, up to approximately tangential to the on-running position of the upper run 29a of the conveyor mean's 29 or tangentially to the take-off position of the lower run 29b. This is indicated for example in the lower half of Fig. 6 and indicated at 41, while the whole of the intermediate space between the opposing profile parts forming the sides of the support frame, which, as in Fig. 1 can be formed as open hollow profiles in the form of a C-shaped profile 5, or alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6, can be formed as solid profiles 7 or as closed hollow profiles 8, is indicated generally at *C I Fig. 1 and Fig. 6).

In order to protect and to make safe this intermediate space 41 which is open towards the interior of the support frame against unauthorised as well as unobserved access, particularly during the operation of the belt conveyor device 1, in accordance with the invention a masking device is provided. This intermediate space 41 which is unavoidable in conventional embodiments of belt conveyor device extends between the front edges 38 serving as take-off or receiving edges for the relevant run 29a or 29b of the conveyor means 29 and the adjacent point, in the support frame length direction A, of the tangential delivery or take-up of the relevant run 29a or 29b of 15 the conveyor means 29, for example the adjacent reversing and delivery or take-up roller 20 on the one hand and the inward-side external surfaces of the support frame profile, for example the outer plane 4a of the side web 4 of the longeron profile 5 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and the adjacent front side face of the conveyor means 29 on the other hand.

0.14. The masking device can take various forms, several of of** which are shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and are described hereinafter. It is of particular significance that 25 these masking device ePrbodiments in each case screen off the aforesaid intermediate space 41 which is hazardous of jcess at least so far that in practice one excludes any entry of pieces of clothing or the like into the gap during the operation of the conveyor.

This is achieved, as is illustrated for example in the upper half of Fig. 6, by the fact that a masking member carried by the support frame 3 is arranged bridgingly over the intermediate space 41 which is hazardous of access at least apart from a spacing 39 which allows only a movement for play for the upper and/or the lower 19 run 29a and 29b of the conveyor means 29.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 it is shown that the masking device, which is indicated generally and in toto at 2, an be formed by approximately earshaped masking limbs 22 on the bearer members 13 and 23 extendiilg in the direction towar-ds the central longituidinal plane m norival to the conveyor goods side surface of the conveyor meanis 29. The masking limbs extend in from the support frame side and bearer membcr side at least up to a gap 39 which allows sufficient movement play relative to the front side face of the relevant run 29a and 29b of the onveyor means 29, and preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, can extend in so far in the transverse direction thaL they underlie the *15 relevant run 29a and 29b of thAe conveyor means 29. In this way, in the region betweu.n roller-side front edge 38 of the support frame 3 aiid receiving or take-off ***points of the conveyor run 29a or 29b at the relevant drum or drums or roller or rollers, iot only does one create a screen which is rigid with respect to the jupport frame, but one also provides an underpinning support for the relevant conveyor run. Thus, depending upon the drum or roller diameter and guide height of S. the relevant conveyor run 29a or 29b and profile height of the support frame 3 and height position of any masking sheet or the like which may be provided, the masking elements 22 which are rigid with the bearer members, otherwise than shown in Fig. 1 can be arranged alternatively at an angle relative to the upwardly or downwardly ,extending front face of the bear~er members or of the support frame 3 or of its profiled longerons In Fig. 1 there is also shown another embodiment which can be use~d and which is an alternative to the aforomentioned masking device which is rig;Ld with the bearer members. This alternative embodiment is indicated generally at 32 and is particularly suitable for subsequent fitting to existing belt conveyor devices in terms of the invention. This masking device 32 comprises a pair of angle screens, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1, Each of these is secured with its side web 31 against the side web 4 of the profiled longeror 5 of the support frame 3 by means of screw elements, which are only indicated by their chaindotted centre lines and at 47, said screw elements engaging in threaded holes in this side web 31 of the angle screen 32 or in threaded holes provided in the side web 4 of the profiled longeron 5 and extending through correspoding complementary holes in the 15 respective other web or extending through holes provided in a complementary arrangement in the two webs 31,4 which lie in contact with each other and are to be connected to each other. As shown, the hles can be formed as elongate holes in at least one of the aforesaid webs, for example in the side web 4 of the profiled longeron 5, such elongate holes being indicated in Fig. 1 at 6. The arrangement of the angle screens 32 on the support frame 3 and on its lcngeron S* profile 5 is effected preferably and advantageously so 25 that its top web 30 is in supporting contact from below with one of the relevant runs of the conveyor means 29, here the upper run 29a, from the underside remote from the conveyed goods. As shown, the top web 30 of the angle screen 32 has an extension tongue 30a extending in the directi:.i of the adjacent drum or roller or of a drum or roller set, and with the tongue overlying the most dangerous region of the intermediate space 40 to 41 which is to be made safe. The holding of the angle screen 32 on the support frame 3 and on its longeron profile 5 is made possible by means of elongate holes NT 21 6. By corresponding displacement of the angle screen 32 in the frame length.direction A relative to the support frame 3, any shifting movements of the drum or roller shafts, and consequently also of the drum or drums and roller or rollers relative to the adjacent onrunning or takeoff edge of the support frame 3, caused for example by necessary adjustment measures for the conveyor metans 29, are so matched that a good safety screening of the dangerous intermediate space or 41 is always guaranteed.

It is evident that, in the same way, masking devices which are fixed to the bearer members could also be provided, in which case the relevant bearer members, for example 13 and/or 23, need not have the 15 integral masking limbs 22 as described above, but instead can be fitted with angle screens releasably fixed thereto of the type similar to the described angle screens 32, which screens preferably in the described manner are fitted to the respective associated bearer members and each have an extension tongue, similar to the extension tongue 30a of the angle screen 32, extending in the direction of the drum or roller arrangement supported by this and/or in the S' direction of the supporting support frame portion, e.g.

25 of the adjacent frame longeron Such a construction is manifestly suitable and advantageous for post-construction fitting to existing *embodiments of belt conveyor apparatus.

The embodiment according to Fig. 2 corresponds essentially to that of Fig. 1, wherein, solely as an example, the construction corresponding to the lefthand bearer member 13 of the drum or roller bearing devi.

is here shown with a receiving hole, indicated at 56, or the shaft of the drum or roller set, although the bearer member 53 which is shown here can alternatively 4 I_ i_ be equipped with a receiving slot in the same manner as has been described above in the case of the bearer member 23.shown in Fig. 1. The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs from the embodiments described above by virtue of the fact that the bearer member 23 which is shown here has masking limbs 22a and 22b both for the outgoing and also for the returning run of the conveyor means 29. These substantially ear-shaped masking limbs 22a, 22b are, in the same way as has been shown for the masking limbs 22 of the bearer members 13 and 23 according to Fig. 1, arranged with their external surfaces in alignment with the upper and lower edge faces of the bearer member 53. Alternatively, they could be positioned spaced from the respective adjacent 15 edge faces of the bearer member 53, although this S. spacing should preferably be the same for both limbs in Sorder to ensure that such a bearer member can be used S. for both ends of the support frame and thus to avoid separate righthand and lefthand parts for the bearer members. Also, the aligned arrangement shown in'Fig. 2 is suitable for and provided for use at either side of I the apparatus.

SB,. As compared with the embodiments of the bearer members 13 and 23 shown in Fig. 1, the bearer member 53 25 shnwn in Fig. 2 differs also in the fact that its j central web 54 does not extend out beyond the 'edges of the ear-shaped wasking limbs 22a, 22b which are i adjacent to the support frame. This has its basis in Sthe fact that the embodiment according to Fig. is -intended to be secured to the associated end of the support frame 3 and of its longeron profiles 5 by being gripped externally or by being fastened on its inside.

For these reasons, instead of having a fastening slot which could nevertheless have some other use here, the central web has two rows of elongate holes i 23 through which screw elements are fitted, said screw elements either engaging. in threaded holes provided in an, appropriate array in the associated support frame profile or alternatively engaging through holes provided in an appropriate array and by means of which the associated bearer member 53 is fastenable to the support frame 3, after choice of the appropriate working position, by displacement of the bearer member in the longitudinal direction of these elongate holes 55. Appropriate subsequent adjustment measures or working adjustments can be carried out very simply in a similar way. It must be emphasised however that an embodiment according to Fig. 2 could alternatively be V fitted with guide legs extending out beyond the support 15 frame side end faces of the masking limbs 22a, 22b, in the manner of the guide legs 14 and 24 of the bearer members 13 and 23 of Fig. 1. Thus, if it appears desirable that the length of these guide legs should be I" chosen not to be too great, either the masking elements 22a and/or 22b can have corresponding engagement slots for the side webs 4 of C-shaped longeron profiles 5 of the support frame 3 or alternatively these side webs Scan have corresponding engagement slots for the masking elements ~2a and/or 22b, in order to ensure a S* 25 sufficient magnitude for the possible relative displacement movement of bearer member relative to support frame. The same applies also in general for the bearer members 13 and/or 23 according to Fig. 1 and the respective adjacent outer ends of. the longeron 30 profiles 5. For the rest, the outer end regions of the side webs 4 can be cat back or removed to appropriate lengths.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 the masking device is in the form of an angle screen 63 with masking limbs 22a and 22b which both extend out from a ZLII_ central web 64 in the same way as has already been described above in relatipn to the embodiment according to Fig. 2, This angle screen 63, which is preferably made as a stamped sheet metal component, in order to be able to offer with particular economy a component of low weight which can be manufactured simply and quickly and which can be brought into functional operation easily and quickly, has, in a similar manner to that already described in relation to the embodiment according to Fig. 2, two rows of elongate holes Manifestly, this embodiment is equally suitable for post-installation purposes on existing belt conveyors of conventional construction, because in the dangerous regions the masking angle screen 63 can be fitted from 15 the outside to the associated frame profile or alternatively can be fitted to overlie bearer members Sor alternatively can be fitted to the frame from the inside of the frame, so that its basically ear-shaped masking limb 22a can protectively screen the dangerous intermediate space 41 in the region of the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29 and its masking limb 22b can protectively screen a corresponding dangerous intermediate space in the region of the lower run 29b of the conveyor means. Here also, the masking limbs i 25 22a and/or 22b could essentially be equipped with extension tongues extending beyond the outer edges of the central web 64, although this would make the r. manufacture of this embodiment more expensive, without any real advantage being achieved appropriate to a corresponding increase in the overall length of such a component.

Additionally, it is pointed out that the embodiments ccording to Figs. 2 and 3 are particularly suitable for use in connection with support frame embodiments with so-called open, unitary C-shaped I*1

I

profiles, which are known as so-called semi-box profiles, although these bearer members are not limited to this particular use but can be used also in connection with support frame embodiments having longeron profiles which are connected to each other and reinforced by cross-pieces, for example as shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiment according to Fig. 4 designed for belt conveyor apparatus formed as kinked belt conveyors corresponds in principle to the embodiment according to Fig. 1, wherein indeed the regions corresponding to the regions of the bearer members 13 and 23 of Fic. 1 carrying the drum or roller axles or shafts are formed in the usual way as shown in Fig. 4 by an outer piece 15 33 and an inner piece 43 of the fitting, with those pieces having a common hole 37 therethrough for the passage of a pivot shaft (not shown) which functions in conventional manner and also having an arcuate slot 36 which is concentric in relation to the central point and the axis of rotation. A screw element which is not shown passes in conventional manner through the arcuate slot 36. By this means the outer piece 33 and inner piece 43 of this fitting can be fixed in relation to each other in ,he angular position chosen as the 25 working position. In a manner similar to the bearer member 23 of Fig. 1, the outer piece 33 is .provided with guide legs 34 and a fastening slot 35 between S* these legs, as well as with an outwardly extending lateral lug 27 which has a threaded bore 28 therethrough for the receiving of a screw element by means of which the whole fitting can be held in the desired working position and in a manner so as to be displaceable relative to the support frame portion or profile associated with the outer piece 33 itself. The inner piece 43 of this oblique fitting is in a similar r /Q bt^4 ^^9 26 way fitted with guide legs 44 and with a securing slot between the legs a nd could likewise have an outwardly extending side nose 27 with threaded hole 28, just as in the case of the outer piece 33, or alternatively, just like the latter, could have a downwardly extend.ing nose 17 with threaded bore 18# as shown for the bearer members 13 and 22 according to Fig. 1 and as already described above. The inner piece 43 is moreover, as illustrated, so constructed by means of an offset web 46 -that its guide legs 44 lie in the same outer plane as the guide legs 34 of the outer piece 33 of the oblique fitting, and the guide legs 44 and 34 of inner and outer pieces are themselves aligned with each other. This has the advantage that the e615 support frame construction, can be made in the same way 0 at both ends of the oblique fitting.

Irner piece 43, just as outer piece 33, of the oblique fitting shown in Fig. 4 and which is provided with a complementary opposite piece 'on the opposite side of the support frame, compriseas a basically earshaped masking limb 22 extending in the direction of the lorngitudinal plane m of- the support frawta means, in the same manner as has been described for the embodiments according to Fig. 1 and Figs. 2 and 3.

Here again, if as illustrated, the guid(- legs 44 and 34 are not longer than the masking limb 22 in the support frame length direction, either the respective 0 9associated support frame longeron profile 5, if this is formed as a C-shaped or other independent hollow profile, is provided with- guide slots or appropriate recesses for receiving the masking limb 22, or alternatively the guide legs are provided with appro priate receiving slots for the engagement of corresponding web region~s of the associated support frame longeton profile:. Such slots in the masking

%A

-39- 16. Belt conveyor according -to claim 15, characterised in

T_~

I 27 limbs 22 are not shown however in Fig. 4, since the oblique fitting or a pair of oblique fittings of a kinked belt conveyor illustrated here is designed for use in connection with a design of support frame which is of one piece in cross-section and in the form of a U-shaped or C-shaped profile. For the rest, it is emphasised however that the guide legs 44 of the inner piece 43 and/or the guide legs 34 of the outer piece 33 of the oblique fitting could in the same way have lengths projecting beyond the support frame side end faces of the associated masking limbs 22, as shown in the case of the bearer members 13 and 23 according to Fig. 1 and as has been described above for these bearer members and also for the embodiment according to 15 Fig. 2.

Apart from the different structural possibilities for the support frame structure, Fig. 6 shows two other preferred %mbodiments of masking device according tr the invention. Thus, in the lower half of Fig. 6, there is shown a masking limb 42 which can be formed as an angle member in order reliably to screen an open and therefore dangerous intermediate space between frame side regions, as is formed by the longerons formed as hollow profiles 8, and side faces or side edges of the 25 conveyor run 29a, thereby to prevent unobserved or unintentional seizure or introduction of pieces of clothing or the like. It is to be noted in connection with this that, for example to the right of the illustrated masking limb 42, there is located the bearing device for the, reversing and delivery or takeoff drums for a corresponding set of rollers, without these being illustrated, wherein this or these can be fitted either directly on the end of the support frame o. teratively be rotatably held by a bearing device through the intermediary of appropriate support

I

-4- 28 rembers, which likewise are not shown for reasons of improved clarity in the drawings and which can be fitted in any suitable way, and it is also pointed out that on the lefthand side of the masking limb 42 there is provided a masking of the intermediate space between both oppositely facing support frame sides or longeron profiles 8 in the form of a cover sheet which, it is true, is not shown, but which bridges over from below the relevant run of the conveyor means 29, here the upper run 29a which is shown partly broken away.

The cover sheet is secured between the two opposing support frame sides or longerons 8. The angled masking limb 42 is releasably held on the support frame 3 by means of two pins 11a which engage in corresponding S. 15 receiving holes in the associated loigeron profile 8, which, because of its construction as a hollow profile, can suitably be fitted with a pin socket 10. Its width is so chosen that its downwardly extending web (shown in the lower half of Fig. 6 by a broken line) remains at a non-hazardous gap spacing 39 from the side, face or edge of the associated conveyor run, here for example the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29, but with the gap spacing 29 nevertheless ensuring a sufficient freedom for play.

25 In the lower half of Fig. 6 there is shown in chain-dotted lines a further embodiment, indicated at S.42a, in which the masking limb extends beneath the associated conveyor run, for example the illustrated upper run 29a. Here the same effect is achieved as for example with the masking., limbs 22 and 32 according to Fig. 1. Thus, the masking limb 42a can be formed by a suitably arranged T-shaped profile held fixed to the support frame by pins 11a, or alternatively can be formed by an angled profile wh.ich is held fixed to the support frame in the manner of the angle screen 32 29 according to Fig. 1. The. masking limb can however alternatively be made as a U-shaped profile with its inner region open downwards. This is possible both for the embodiment indicated at 42 and also for the embodiment indicated at 42a. In both cases it would then be preferable to bore only the one side flange of the U-shaped profile, in order to be able to push a pin 11a therethrough. The pin 11a would then abut against the inside of th opposite side web of this profile and could ba secured there and/or at the inside of the bore through which it passes by welding, for example by :means of several spot welds.

e~g.In the upper half of Fig. 6 there is shown another preferred embodiment of the invention. It is true that here the support frame is shown in the form of a piece of a longeron 7 formed as a solid member, but nevertheless the support frame 3 could alternatively be formed as a ho'llow pi~ofile 8, just as in the lower half of Fig. 6 for example, or alternatively a C-shapevj profile, as in Fig. 1, or alternatively in the form of ~*.some other profile which is not shown, for example a C.shaped or U-shaped profile which is integiA-al in the transverse direction and which is provided with side webs forming the support frame sides. In eacli case, at a. suitable position of a web or flange of the support frame structure approximately par %1l!1 to the longitudinal plane m of thge frame meansT, there is provided a receiving hole or socket hole 9 for the pin 11a of a support rod 11 by means of which a masking limb 12 is connected, by wrapping the end of the masking limb around the rod as is shown for example in Fig. 5, and, if necessary, by suit-,ble securement, by means of adhesive, squeezing, welding, soldering or the like. This support rod extends across the full 4~~N35 intermediate space~ 40 between the two opposing suppo.-t i

X

0 0044 0 0* 4* 0 frame s.des or longerons 7, thus bridging practically the whole width of the conveyor, and its pins 11a are inserted into the support frame profile side receiving holes 9 which, in the case of a hollow profile embodiment, as is shown in the lower half of Fig. 6, are preferably lined with a socket sleeve 11a. The support rod 11 carries a one-piece masking limb 12 which engages it over the full intermediate space 40 up to the play gap 39 which is shown in the upper half of Fig. 6, or alternatively carries narrower masking limbs which are fixed in a suitable arrangement close to the support frame. The characteristic of this embodiment is that here the masking limb 12 is not held in a position which is predetermined by the protective measures or by other measures, but has the degree of freedom to be able to pivot relative to the component carrying it. Besides all the manufacturing, technical and assembly advantages of this, it also brings about constructional simplifications and facilitates 20 operation of the apparatus. Manifestly, such an embodiment only needs to have the pins 11a of its support rods 11 inserted into a hole of an array of holes in the support frame siCe wall, said holes generally being provided in a straight line in conventional belt conveyor systems, witheit further work-intensive measures being necessary, provided that care is taken that the length of its masking limb 12 is so great that this is supported by a cross-piece connecting two opposing support frame longerons 5 and 7 and 8 together, so that in consequence its tail end formed by a lug-type extension does not fall downwards and cannot come into conflict with the lower run 29b of the conveyor means 29.

In the upper half of Fig. 6 it is indicated by extension lines that the masking limb T2 which here by 1- i

T

no means needs to serve as a support for the adjacent run of the conveyor means 29, for example its upper run 29a, although it could do this in a corresponding embodiment, comprises a tailpiece 12b extending only in the central region of the intermediate space 40 between the two support frame sides or longerons 5 and 7 and 8 and extending in the direction away from the adjacent drum or roller arrangement. By means of a chain-dotted line it is indicated however that the flag region 12a which lies between the tailpiece and the central region of the masking limb 12 defined by a solid line does not need to be released or freed in any way, but rather the masking limb 12 can extend with unchanged width over its full length.

While it is shown basically in Fig. 6 that and ho%such masking limbs 42 and 12 can be held on the support frame side on a stationary part of the support frame 3, for example a longeron profile 5 or 7 or 8, Fig. shows that in the same way this is possible alternatively by mounting on a support member or a pair of support members of a drum or roller mounting. In Fig. 5 is shown for example a support rod 11 which is S: mounted in a support member 13 of a bearing device for a drum 20 with axle or shaft 21 which is relatively 4 «4 25 displaceable adjacent to the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29, and which comprises musking limb 12c which is eranked in a suitable manner in order that a tailpiece 12c should have sufficient length to rest upon a cross-piece 25. In the same way, a support rod 11 is shown fixed pivotally close to the lower run, on the support member 13, and which carries a masking limb 12 whose tailpiece 12d is approximately Z-shaped and has a free end region of sufficient length for it to be carried by a cross-piece 25 which in the illustrated embodiment is the same cross-piece which supports the 1_ 32 tailpiece 12c of the masking limb 12 which is close to the upper run. It is evident that in this embodiment, in respect of which the manner of fastening is the same as described above already for the two embodiments shown in Fig. 6, the masking limbs 12, since they are carried by a support member 13 of a drum or roller mounting device, follow any possible shifting movement of the drum or roller shaft 21 relative to the end edge 38 forming the takeoff or onrunning edge of the support frame 3, which edge can correspond to the inner or outer edge of the free limb of the support angle 9 according to Fig. 5, with the following movement being in the direction of the double-headed arrow A, as can be the case for example in connection with adjustment e.

15 or post-tensioning measures, without thereby in any way opening the intermediate space 41 which is to be safety screened, since the masking limbs 12 have tailpieces e*e supported sufficiently by the cross-piece or crosspieces 25, by means of which tailpieces they are supported and slidingly movably guided on the relevant cross-pieces. Without this being illustrated it is alternatively possible without difficulty for the mounting of an aforementioned masking limb 42 of the type shown in b 'e lower half of Fig. 6 to be supported itself by a support member of a drum or roller mounting device which is displaceable in relation to the support frame 3. If this masking limb has tongues extending in the longitudinal direction, somewhat in the manner of the extension tongue 30a of the angle :creen 32 according to Fig. 1, then here also constant, full masking of the dangerous intermediate space 41 can be accomplished independently of the displacement movement of the drum or roller axle or shaft 21 relative to the adjacent end of the support frame 3 and of its onrunning delivery edge 38 for the associatea 1. 33 conveyor run.

Finally, it is also pointed out in relation to this that the masking device 2 or 12 or 22 or 32 or 42 or 42a can be so arranged not only for the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29 which is loaded on its surface with goods to be conveyed, but also for the lower run 29b of the conveyor means 29, that the masking do.'ice reliably screens the dangerous intermediate space 41 either on the outside or alternatively on the inside or even on both sides, while only a screening on the lower side is called for in Lhe case of the upper run 29a of the conveyor means 29. For embodiments of the invention in which, for the purpose of avoiding individual components for righthand and lefthand 15 embodiments, as for example screen-holding support members of a drum or roller mounting device, embodiments which eliminate this problem can be S" planned, so that therefore in practice only one such design is required, in which, both for the upper run 29a and for the lower run 29b of the conveyor means 29, the associated screening member is arranged to engage the conveyor run from below, i.e. is positioned on its inside.

0 1000.

00 0 cr CI: REFERENCE LIST 1. Belt cciveayor 2. Masking device 3. Support frame 4. Side web of a longeron 4a. Outer plane of the side web Longeron of the support frame 6. Elongate hole 7. Solid profile 8. Hollow profile 9. Pin hole Pin socket 11. Support rod 11a. Pin 15 12. Releasable masking limb 12a. Flag-type extension of the masKing limb in the side region 12b. Flag-like extension of the masking limb in the r, central region 12c. Cranked end of the masking limb 12d. Cranked end of the masking limb sees 13. Support member of a mounting device 14. Guide legs of the support member 15. Securing slot 25 16. Shaft-receiving hole 17. Nose 18. Threaded hole 19. Angle support Reversing roller for conveyor means 21. Axle or shaft of the reversing roller 22, Added-on masking limb 22a, Upper run side masking limb 22b. Lower run side masking limb 23. Support member for a mounting device 24. Guide legs of the support member c ci~ S c *cc49 ii..

cC..

cc..

ccc.

S. C Sc..

26.

27.

28.

29.

29a.

29b.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

15 36.

37.

38.

39.

41.

42.

42a.

43.

44.

25 45.

46.

47.

Cross-piece Shaft-receiving slot Side nose Threaded hole Conveyor means Upper run of the conveyor means Lower run of the conveyor means Top web of the angle screen Extension tongue of the angle screen Side web of the angle screen Angle screen Outer piece of an oblique fitting Guide legs o- the outer piece Securing slot Arcuate slot Pivot shaft hole of the oblique fitting Delivery or end edge of the support frame Gap for play Space between longerons or the-like Dangerous intermediate space Releasable masking limb Side extension of the masking limb Inner piece of an oblique fitting Guide legs of the inner piece Securing slot Cranked portion of the inner piece Extension of the masking limb enga conveyor means from below Support member with added-on upper and run side masking limbs Central web of the support member Elongato hole Masking cap for support frame Central web of the masking cap Elongate hole S I

S

ging lower 54.

63.

64.

65.

Claims (7)

1. A belt conveyor comprising a support frame, a plurality of pairs of roller bearer members operatively connected to said support frame a drum or roller carried by each pair of said roller bearer members, a conveyor belt having an upper run and a lower run movable over said drums or rollers, a masking device for bridging an intermediate space between one of the drums or rollers and the roller bearer members associated therewith, the space being located between the periphery of the drum or roller and the roller bearer member adjacent the support frame, said masking device comprising at least one wing like masking limb which is secured to or integral with a respective one of said roller bearer members, the or each said masking limb projecting into the space and being disposed beneath the underside of the upper run of the conveyor beit from the support frame side of the conveyor.

2. Belt conveyor according to claim 1 characterized in that the bearer members are provided with wing-like masking limbs which engage below the underside of the upper run of the conveyor means and which engage above or below the lower run of the conveyor means.

3. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a guide device for the guidance of the upper or lower runs of the conveyor means towards or away from the drum(s) or roller(s).

4. Belt conveyor according to claim 3, characterised in that the masking limb formed as a guide device is arranged on the support frame side of the associated upper or lower run of the conveyor means whose upper surface which is remote from the conveyor belt serves as a contact surface.

033.aarnda t41 441562claLma, c~1~-~s ~-T--~IIII~II~ LCI13111CI -37 Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the masking device additionally includes at least one pair of masking limbs extending from the opposing longerons or side webs of the support frame in the direction of the central longitudinal plane or planes of the belt conveyor which is/are perpendicular to the conveyor- belt-side surface of the upper and/or of the lower run of the conveyor means. 6. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, particularly with bearer members for the drum(s) or roller(s) which are positionally adjustable in the longitudinal direction relative to the support frame, characterised in that at least one of the masking limbs is arranged to be rigid with the bearer members. 7. Belt conveyor according to claim 6, characterised in S that at least one of the masking limbs is made in one piece w',th the associated bearer member. 8. Belt conveyor according to one of claims 1 to 6, charact-rised in that at least one of the masking limbs is detachably secured to the associated bearer member. 9. Belt conveyor according to claim 8, with detachably secured or fixedly secured masking limb or limbs, characterised in that the masking limb or limbs is or are secured to the outer side of the associated bearer member. S Belt conveyor according to claim 8, with detachably secured or fixedly secured masking limb or limbs, characterised in that the masking limb or limbs is or are secured to the inner side of the associated bearer member. 11. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, including masking limbs provided simultaneously for each of the upper and lower runs of the conveyor means, characterised in that the masking limbs for the upper and S900J30,ardat.O41,41562clamim s I'L-~I~ZL"~PLLl~lllr~CI q

38- lower runs of the conveyor means are arranged with equal spacing from the adjacent longitudinal margin of the bearer member, preferably in alignment with this. 12. Belt conveyor according to one o the preceding claims, with masking limbs simultaneously provided for both the upper and lower runs of the conveyor means, characterised in that the masking limbs for upper and lower runs of the conveyor means are arranged with equal spacing from the front edge of the longeron or side web or boarer member which lies on the other side of the drum or roller shaft. 13. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a centerpiece, preferably of sheet metal or plastics material, which is secured to the bearer member with its leg parallel to a plane of the adjacent bearer member for the drum(s) or rollerts), said plane being parallel to the central longitudinal axis or axes of the belt conveyor. 9. 0000 09 0 000 000940 0 14. Belt conveyor according to claim 13, characterised in that at least one of the masking limbs formed as an angled piece, is secured in a position on the associated bearer member for the drum(s) or roller(s) in which its other leg extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bearer member. 15. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the masking limbs is formed as a U-shaped or C-shaped element, preferably cE sheet metal or plastics material, which is secured to the bearer member with its side webs parallel to a plane of the adjacent bearer member of the support device for the drum(s) or roller(s), said plane being parallel to the central longitudinal plane or planes of the belt conveyor. V 900330,arsdat:04141 5621aima, 41 s -39 16. Belt conveyor according to claim 15, characterised in that a t least one of the U-shaped or C-shaped masking limbs is secured in a position on oppositely facing bearer members of the support device for the drum(s) or roller(s) in which its central web extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bearer member. 17. Belt conveyor according to claim 8, with detachably secured masking limbs, characterised in that th( masking limb or limbs is or are pivotable relative to the associated bearer member for the drum(s or roller(s), or is' or are adjustably mounted thereon. 18. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding cla'-t, characte.ised in that the masking limbs have an ar. -e offset end remote from the drum or roller. 9 S* 19- Belt con ,yor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the masking limbs have an approximately Z-shaped end remote from the drum or roller and which is at an angle to its or their end or ends adjacent to the drum or roller. @900 00 20. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the masking limb or limbs is or are each secured by means of plug-in connection means, said connection means comprising a conne( -or remote from the support frame and/or a connector adjacent to the support S* frame, or comprising two connectors arranged on the side of the drum(s) or roller(s) remote from the support frame or adjacent to the support frame or on both sides of the drum(s) or roller(s), each said connector comprising a plug- in pin fixed to a longeron or side web or bearer member and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to a masking limb, or comprising a plug-In pin fixed to a masking limb and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to a longeron or side web or boarer member. C 9003 30,arsdat.641,41562claims, 4"" 1- 1 ~h~ 21. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each of the masking limbs is secured by means of a plug-in connection arranged on the side of the drum(s) or roller(s) remote from or adjacent to the support frame, the or each said connection comprising a plug-in pin fixed to a longeron or side web or bearer member and a receiving socket for the pin fixed to a masking limb, or alternatively. comprising a plug-in pin fixed to a masking limb and a reneiving socket for the pin fixed to a longeron or side web or bearer member. 22. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each of the masking limbs is supported rigid with the support frame at its end remote from the drum or roller for the sliding movement. 22. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each of the masking limbs is supported on the longeron side or side web side by means of a displaceable guide device. 24. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each masking limb is supported by contact on a cross-piece of the support frame. 9. a.. V 0 0 0r~, a.. a~ 'P.O* a 0 .i 25. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each masking limb has it's end ad:acent to the drum or roller secured to a bearer rod S* mounted on the associated longeron or side, web of the bearer member for the drum(s) or roller(s), preferably with two masking limbs arranged in paits opposite each other or with one masking limb bridging the intermediate space between these opposed longerons or side webs or bearer members with tho masking limbs being on a bearer rod secured to this longeron or side web or bearer member. 900330,aradat.041,41562clAims, -41 26. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or each masking limb is secured to the associated hearer rod by welding, adhesive, screws, clamps or pins, and wherein its or their connecting zone or zones remote from the drum or roller with reference to this fastening position borders around .his bearer rod. 27. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding clai characterised in that the masking device is formed so as to permit changes in the magnitude of the spacing which provides the movement play for the upper and/or lower run of the conveyor means. 28. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, S characterised in that the masking device comprises at least one masking limb which is adjustable in terms of its O effective width in the direction of the central >ingitudinal plane or planes of the belt conveyor perpendicular to the S conveyor-belt-side surface of the conveyor means. 29. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the masking device is formed so as to enable the size of the space between the masking device and the associated drum or roller arrangement to be varied. 30. Belt conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the or at least one of the masking limbs is displaceable for changing its spacing relative to S the associated drum or roller arrangement and is securable in a desired working position on the associated longeron or longerons or side web or webs of- the support frame or is held on the associated bearer member or members for the drum(s) or roller(s). Daed this 30th day of March, 1990 DAVIES COLLISON Patent Atrorneys for HELMUT GEPPERT J r- 90 0

330.arsdat.041,41562claims,