AU697979B2

AU697979B2 - Materials handling conveyor structure

Info

Publication number: AU697979B2
Application number: AU23232/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Mccallum
Original assignee: MECO MCCALLUM Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MECO MCCALLUM Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-24
Filing date: 1995-06-23
Publication date: 1998-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-23
Also published as: AU2323295A

Description

r- MATERIALS HANDLING CONVEYOR STRUCTURE Field of the Invention The following invention relates to a conveyor structure. More particularly, not exclusively, the invention relates to a conveyor belt structure adapted to bulk materials.

though convey 0* 0 00 00 0 0.

*0 0 0 Prior Art It is known to provide conveyor structures for the purpose of conveying bulk materials in underground mines for example.

Known conveyor belt structures comprise a plurality of lengthwise 1 o interconnected conveyor belt support modules having a number of suspended trough sets for supporting a conveyor belt upon which bulk material is transferred. Located below the conveying trough sets are return trough sets for supporting the return part of the conveyor belt.

The conveying trough sets (upper trough sets) often comprise three 15 interconnected rollers, two outer rollers supported nearby respective tracks with the third roller suspended between the two outer rollers.

The trough sets for supporting the return end of the conveyor belt often comprise a pair of rollers mutually interconnected in a V formation.

A known problem of such conveyor belt support structures is that the laterally opposed ends of the trough sets are fixed to the support structure in a non-adjustable manner. This often results in mistracking of the belt upon the structure.

Object of the Invention It would be desirable to provide a means by which the angle of the conveying and/or return trough sets may be adjusted so as to facilitate correction of conveyor belt mistracking.

The object of the present invention is to overcome or substantially ameliorate the abovementioned problem and/or more generally to provide an improved conveyor structure.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed her,%44 a conveyor belt support structure, comprising: a frame, a conveying roller set adapted to support a conveyor belt, a return roller set positioned below the conveying roller set, said return roller set being adapted to support the conveyor belt upon return, wherein laterally opposed ends of the respective conveying roller set and return roller set kre connectable to the frame in a selected one of a plurality of positions spaced longitudinally with respect to the direction of conveyor belt travel so as, to provide for angular adjustment of said th direction[N:ALIBL00021:KEH

I

p1.I i 6 1

'IAA

2 conveying roller set and said return roller set, and wherein the conveying roller sets each comprise a handle upon a shaft having annular tracking grooves therein, which tracking grooves are engageable with a slot in a bracket supporting the same to the frame.

Preferably, the frame comprises a plurality of support brackets, each bracket being provided with connector means allowing said connection in one of said plurality of poAitions.

Preferably, such connector means for said return roller sets comprises a plurality of slots into which respective roller connecting bosses, or roller pins or the like supporting respective roller sets are receivable.

Preferably, the conveyor belt support structure is a module, a plurality of which are longitudinally interconnectable.

Preferably, the conveying roller set is attached to the frame by a chain.

Preferably, each module comprises a pair of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending stringers upon which a rolling carriage or carriages may traverse the structure.

Preferably, the support brackets are connected to respective stringers.

Alternatively, the support brackets for the conveying roller sets are connected to the frame by a bolt which passes through a slot.

Preferably, tho slot is in an intermediate bracket secured to the frame.

Preferably, the bracket is connected to the intermediate bracket at a slight t angular offset with respect thereto.

Preferably, the axis of the bolt resides in a plane which is approximately degrees from vertical. (Such as for example in shown in Fig. ,,Preferably, each bracket comprises another slot into which a handle is receivable, said handle being positioned at the end of each conveying roller set and being 25 adapted to lift the roller set from the structure.

A substantial advantage of the above disclosed invention is that mis-tracking of a conveyor belt may be corrected, either by longitudinal, or angular adjustment of the roller sets.

As an advantage of the invention disclosed herein, a clear set of rails are provided within the conveyor structure to allow materials (or man) handling conveyances to travel the length of the conveyor.

As a firther advantage, a method of connecting the conveyor trough sets to the j conveyor stringers is provided to give a clear area on top of the stringers.

L [N:\LIBLL]00021:KEH 0 0 0 0* *J 0 04 Se *004 A further advantage of the invention herein is that provision is made for a method of connecting the conveyor trough sets which permits the operator to use two hands in a balanced condition to lift the trough into place.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a conveyor belt support module, Fig. 1A is a schematic end elevational view of the means of adjustably interconnecting a conveying roller set to the module of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1B is a schematic side elevational view of the means of adjustably interconnecting a conveying roller set to the module of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a schematic end elevational view of the module of Fig. 1, Fig 3 is a schematic side elevational view of another conveyor belt support module, 15 Fig 3A is a schematic and elevational view of the means of adjustably interconnecting a conveying roller set to the module of Fig 3, Fig 3B is a schematic side elevational view of the interconnecting means of the Fig 3A, Fig 4 is a schematic end elevational view of the module of Fig 3, 20 Fig 5 is a schematic end elevational view of a stringer having attached thereto an adjustable support bracket, Fig 6A is a schematic plan view of the bracket depicted in Fig Fig 6B is a schematic plan view of a bracket, similat to that of Fig 6A, though adapted to be secured to the module at the opposite side of the conveyor belt to that side to which the bracket of Fig 6A is affixed, Fig 6C is a schematic end elevational view of the bracket of Fig 5, and Fig 6D is a schematic side elevational view of the bracket of Fig 6C.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figs 1 and 2 of the accompa'.ying drawings there is depicted a conveyor support module 10 typically fabricated in galvanized steel. Each module 10 comprises a pair of uprights 26, each supporting by way of brackets 13 a pair of laterally opposed stringers 1'1. Stringers 11 form a track upon which rolling carriages may traverse the conveyor structure formed from a plurality of lengthwise interconnected modules Stringers 11 are typically formed from a square section of galvanized steel. Adjacent modules may be interconnected by passing a bolt through holes provided in the brackets 13, which bolts would also pass through the ends of the stringers.

As shown in Fig. 1A, an arm 14 is secured to the inside lower edge of stringer 11 and provides a slot 20 into which an annular tracking groove 16 of a handled shaft 21

I^

Li, C;1 Si Lr [N:\LIBLL]00021:KEH B ~1 4 is receivable. Handled shaft 21, as best depicted in Fig. 1B, extends laterally with respect to a roller connecting boss 15. Boss 15 extends from the end of an outer conveying roller 12 forming part of a conveying roller set. The conveying roller set as shown in Fig. 2 comprises a pair of angled outer rollers 12, each connected to a centrally located lower roller 22. Rollers 12 and 22 are interconnected by a connecting lipk The lateral extremities of the conveying roller set are connectable to the support module 10 by way of chains 24, which serve as a safety device, should the handled shaft 21 not properly engage arm 14.

As a conveyor belt (not shown) traverses the module 10 in the direction indicated by arrow A, mistracking of the belt might occur. To this end, the handled shaft 21 may be lifted from the slot 20 and longitudinally transferred, either forward or backward, to effect an angular adjustment of the conveying trough set. That is, one or both roller connecting bosses 15 of a single roller set may be moved backward or forward with respect to rolling direction A to adjust the angle when viewed in plan between a straight line connecting the two bosses 15 and the longitudinal extent of the conveyor belt.

The return part of the conveyor belt is supported by return roller sets comprising a pair of return rollers 17. The laterally opposed outer ends of return rollers z.

17 comprise a return roller pin 23 receivable within one of a number of slots 19 in a support arm 18 extending from uprights 26. By repositioning the return roller pins 23 in respective slots 19, misalignment of the return part of the conveyor belt may be adjusted.

~It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to tuese skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.

25 For example, each conveying roller set need not be "troughed" as depicted but may alternatively comprise a single roller to support an essentially flat conveyor belt.

Furthermore, rather than providing a plurality of discrete slots by which adjustment of the roller sets may be made, a means of continuously adjusting the same might be provided. For example, the handled shaft 21, rather than being provided with a number of annular grooves 16 might be threadably engaged with arms 14 such that rotation of the shaft would effect longitudinal transfer of roller connecting bosses In Figs 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings there is depicted an alternative conveyor support module 10. The module 10 is substantially similar to that of Figs 1 to 3, however comprises a different means of adjusting the angle of the conveyor roller sets 12, 22. In this embodiment, each conveying roller set comprises 5 conveying rollers.

These rollers are interconnected in the same manner as those of Fig 2. The axis R of the outer most rollers 12 may be shifted by longitudinal movement of the bracket comprising SL upport arms 14 upon an intermediate bracket [N:\LIBLL]0002 I:KEH K' 4 .4 4.

4* 4 44 a a a a 4l F 44 For the purpose of providing a slight angle in axis R, the handle 21 and intermediate bracket 50 are slightly angled upwardly to the right as shown in Fig 3B.

This is as a result of the slight angle at which the arms 14 are secured to the base 62 of the bracket. This, in turn results in a slight angular offset of the rotational axis R of the outer most roller 12. As shown in Figs 6A and 6B, the support arms 14 are secured to the base 62 of the bracket at an angle of about 2 degrees. It is not essential that the angle be exactly 2 degree, as an appropriate angle might be anywhere above 0 and up to say 10 degrees.

To provide for longitudinal adjustment of the ends of the conveyor roller sets, the bracket comprising arms 14 is adjustably secured to the intermediate bracket which is welded to stringer 11. Intermediate bracket 50 comprises upper and lower legs and 50', each of which comprise a lengthwise slot through which bolt 61 passes.

Bolt 61 extends through a circular hole 60 in the base 62 of the bracket comprising arms 14 and also through the slot (not shown) in legs 50" and 50'. Thus, arms 14 and base 62 may be longitudinally adjusted with respect to intermediate bracket 50 to adjust the position of the end of the outer most roller 12.

In order to effect longitudinal adjustment of the arms 14 upon bolt 61, the arms 14 may be hammered into an appropriate position, or alternatively, the bolt 61 may be loosened.

d [N:\LIBLL]00021:KEH Vii i

I

Claims

9. 9 94 94 4 9 9 9 .4 4 99 9 99 9 The claims defining the invention are as folows: 1 A conveyor belt support structure, comprising: a frame, a conveying roller set adapted to support a conveyor belt, a return roller set positioned below the conveying roller set, said return roller set being adapted to support the conveyor belt upon return, wherein laterally opposed ends of the respective conveying roller set and return roller set are connectable to the frame in a selected one of a plurality of positions spaced longitudinally with respect to the direction of conveyor belt travel so as to provide for angular adjustment of said conveying roller set and said return roller set, and wherein the conveying roller sets each comprise a handle upon a shaft having annular tracking grooves therein, which tracking grooves are engageable with a slot in a bracket supporting the same to the frame. 2. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of support brackets, each bracket being provided with connector means allowing said connection in one of said plurality of positions. 3. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 2 wherein said connector means for said return roller sets comprises a plurality of slots into which respective roller connecting bosses, or roller pins or the like are receivable, 4. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 1 being a module, a 20 plurality of which are longitudinally interconnectable. 5. The conveyor belt support structure of any one of the preceding claims wherein the conveying roller set is attached to the frame by a chain. 6. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 4 wherein each module comprises a pair of laterally opposed, longitudinally extending stringers upon- which a rolling carriage or, carriages may traverse the structure. 7. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 6 when appended to claim 2 wherein the support brackets are connected to respective stringers. 8. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 2 wherein the support brackets for the conveying roller sets are connected to the frame by a bolt which passes through a slot. 9. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 8 where.*- the slot is in an intermediate bracket secured to the frame. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 9 wherein the bracket is connected to the intermediate bracket at a slight angular offset with respect thereto.
11. The conveyor belt support structure of claim 8 wherein the axis of the bolt resides in a plane which is approximately 45 degrees from vertical.
12. The conveyor belt support structure of any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein said brackets each comprise another slot into which a handle is receivable, said IA IbC I: I,- 'IA [N:.\LIBLL]00021:KEH 1- 7 handle being positioned at the end of each conveying roller set and being adapted to lift the roller set from the structure.
13. A conveyor belt support structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 3 September, 1998 Meco McCallum Pty. Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON *9 0~ 0* 0 4~ *4 0 0 00 0~ a a. S S 0. *tS~ 0 a 0* 900* V I j b ~k [N:\LIBLL]00021:KEH _I. Il O an, p A Materials Handling Conveyor Structure Abstract A conveyor module forming part of an overall conveyor belt support structure comprises a conveying roller set (22) to support a conveyor belt. The module also comprises a return roller set (17) located below the conveyor roller set (12.22) and adapted to support the conveyor belt upon return. The conveyor roller sets (22) and/or the return roller sets (17) are adjustably connected to the module (10) such that upon adjustment thereof, tracking of the conveyor belt may consequently be adjusted. 4 0 6 :.,to to *0.0 0 .4 0e 0 00.* 4. 000* ass 0r p pp *0 1 N:\LIBLL100222:d