AU9721298A

AU9721298A - Belt alignment device

Info

Publication number: AU9721298A
Application number: AU97212/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian William Fletcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-18
Filing date: 1998-12-18
Publication date: 1999-07-08

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: BRIAN WILLIAM FLETCHER

APPLICANT

LORD COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 4 Douro Place West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

AUSTRALIA.

"BELT ALIGNMENT DEVICE" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PP1011 filed on December 18, 1997.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

TITLE

"BELT ALIGNMENT DEVICE" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a belt alignment device. In particular the present invention relates to a device for correctly aligning a conveyor belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conveyor belt may move out of correct alignment during its use. If the conveyor belt is out of alignment incorrect loading or unloading of material carried by the belt may occur and damage to the belt may result.

Current alignment devices such as belt tracking frames are insufficient for correctly aligning a conveyor belt, as large sideways movement of the belt can sometimes occur.

Such large sideways movement can cause the belt to ride up side rollers of tracking frames of the belt, which tracking frames are not capable of adequatley restraining movement of the belt.

The present invention seeks to overcome the abovementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a belt I alignment device for a conveyor belt of a conveyor system, said device including frame p means, an upper roller, a lower roller, a first lateral alignment means and a second lateral alignment means, the upper roller, the lower roller, the first lateral alignment means and O the second lateral alignment means being accommodated on the frame means and located relative to each other such that a space is defined therebetween for receiving, in use, a conveyor belt of a conveyor system, the arrangement being such that movement in two dimensions of a conveyor belt received, in use, in the space is limited and the conveyor belt is thereby maintained, in use, in correct alignment relative to the conveyor system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a conveyor belt system; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a conveyor belt system with a plurality of belt alignment devices in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the conveyor belt system shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end view of a belt alignment device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the belt alignment device of Figure 4 along the line A-A in the direction of the arrows; Figure 6 is a first perspective view of an alternative belt alignment device in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a second perspective view of the belt alignment device shown in Figure 6.

SDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a conveyor belt system 105 which includes a head roller 102, a tail roller 104, a feed chute 106, a conveyor belt 100 and an end 108. Figure 1 shows the belt 100 out of alignment. At any given instant, the conveyor belt 100 has a top portion 101 and a bottom portion 103 as seen in Figure 3.

The conveyor belt 100 is arranged to pass around the head roller 102 and the tail roller 104. The conveyor belt 100 moves in a direction such that, in use, the top portion 101 4 travels from the tail roller 104 to the head roller 102 and the bottom portion 103 travels from the head roller 102 to the tail roller 104.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown the conveyor system 105 as described above which further includes a conveying region 110 defined by a portion of the conveyor system 105 between the chute 106 and the head roller 102 and a non conveying region 112 defined by a portion the conveyor system 105 between the chute 106 and the tail roller 104.

Typically, the top portion 101 of the belt 100 in the non conveying region 112 will be substantially flat. Also, typically, the top portion 101 of the belt 100 in the conveying 13 region 110 will be U shaped in cross section due to the profile of under-lying apparatus (not shown) of the conveying system 105. In addition, typically the bottom portion 103 of the belt 100 will be substantially flat in both the conveying region 110 and the non conveying region 112.

A first alignment device 10A is situated in the non conveying region 112 on the lower portion 103 of the belt 100 adjacent the tail roller 104. A second belt alignment device is situated in the non conveying region 112 on the top portion 101 of the belt 100. A third belt alignment device 10C is situated in the conveying region 110 adjacent the head Sroller 102 on the lower portion 103 of the belt 100.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown a belt alignment device 10 which includes an upper roller 12, a lower roller 14, a first alignment means in the form of a first lateral roller 16 and a second alignment means in the form of a second lateral roller 18. The upper roller 12 has a circumferential rolling surface 22 and the lower roller 14 has a circumferential rolling surface 24. The upper roller 12 is arranged to be substantially parallel to the lower roller 14.

The upper roller 12 is further arranged to be spaced from the lower roller 14 such that the distance between the rolling surfaces 22, 24 of the upper and lower rollers 12, 14 respectively is wide enough for a conveyor belt 100 to pass therebetween.

The first lateral roller 16 includes a circumferential rolling surface 26 and the second lateral roller 18 includes a cirumferential rolling surface 28. The first lateral roller 16 and the second lateral roller 18 are arranged to be substantially parallel to each other.

The first lateral roller 16 is further arranged to be spaced from the second lateral roller 18 !0 such that the distance between the circumferential rolling surfaces 26, 28 of the first and second lateral rollers 16, 18 respectively is wide enough for a conveyor belt 100 to pass therebetween.

The upper roller 12 and the lower roller 14 are further arranged to be substantially vertically in line with each other. The first lateral roller 16 and the second lateral roller 18 are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to both the upper roller 12 and the lower roller 14.

The circumferential rolling surfaces 22, 24, 26, 28 define a space 20 for a conveyor belt 100 to travel through. The circumferential surface 22 of the upper roller 12 rolls over an upper surface of the conveyor belt 100 and the circumferential surface 24 of the lower roller 14 rolls over a lower surface of the conveyor belt 100. Each of the circumferential surfaces 26, 28 of the first and second lateral rollers 16, 18 rolls along a respective outer edge of the conveyor belt.

6 The beltfalignment device 10 further includes frame means having a first frame member and a second frame member 32. The first and second frame members 30, 32 are for fixing the device 10 in position in the conveyor system 105. Each of the first and second frame members 30, 32 includes two fixed brackets 34 extending towards each other inwardly of the respective frame member 30, 32. The fixed brackets 34 are arranged to rotatably receive and support the upper and lower rollers 12, 14.

Each of the first and second frame members 30, 32 also includes two adjustable brackets 36. The adjustable brackets 36 are arranged to adjustably locate the first and second lateral rollers 16 and 18 relative to each other. Each pair of adjustable brackets 36 is !9 connected to a third frame member 38 and each third frame member 38 rotatably receives one of the first and second lateral rollers 16, 18.

Each adjustable bracket 36 includes guide means in the form of an elongate member 39 provided with an elongate slot 40, and a releasable fastening means 42 slidably received in the slot 40. The arrangement of each adjustable bracket 36 is such that a third frame Smember 38 connected to a respective fastening means 42 is slidable relative to the elongate member 39 towards or away from the first and second frame members 30, 32.

c The fastening means 42 may be used to fix the third frame members 38 in position. The Sfastening means 42 may be, for example, a nut and bolt or any other suitable releasable a*fixing means.

An alternative embodiment of a belt alignment device is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Like features have been indicated with like reference numerals.

The alternative embodiment includes frame means including a pair of first frame members 43, each first frame member 43 being connected to a third frame member 44 adapted to rotatably receive and support a lateral roller 16, 18, and including two fixed brackets 46 extending in the same direction inwardly of the respective first frame member 43. The fixed brackets 46 are arranged to rotatably receive and support the upper and lower rollers 12, 14.

Each of the first frame members also includes two adjustable brackets 48 and releasable fastening means Each pair of adjustable brackets 48 is connected to a third frame member 44, and each adjustable bracket includes guide means in the form of an elongate guide member 52 and channel means 54 connected to the third frame member 44, the channel means 54 being 1 adapted to receive the elongate guide member 52 and slide relative to the elongate guide member 52.

The releasable fastening means 50 includes two externally screw threaded bars 56 extending from the third frame member 44 in a direction away from the elongate guide member 52, each threaded bar 56 being provided with locking means in the form of nuts 58.

The manner of use and operation of the present invention will now be described with 1reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 A belt alignment device 10 is positioned on the conveyor system 105 at one of the "positions shown in Figures 2 and 3. The belt alignment device 10 is fixed in this position by known means.

The guide means 39, 40 and fastening means 42 are adjusted so that the distance between the circumferential rolling surfaces 26, 28 is wider than the width of the conveyor belt 100. One of the lateral rollers 12, 14 is removed from the belt aligning device 10 so that 8 the belt 100 may be positioned within the space 20. The removed roller 12, 14 is then refixed in position so that the conveyor belt 100 is restrained in the space A jack with a screwing system may be used to precisely move each third frame member 38, and thereby the respective lateral rollers 16 and 18, so that the first and second lateral rollers 16, 18 touch or nearly touch the side edges of the conveyor belt 100.

When the lateral rollers 16, 18 have been positioned, the fastening means 42 is tightened to fix each third frame member 38 in position.

The upper and lower rollers 12, 14 confine substantially vertical movement of the conveyor belt 100 between the upper roller 12 and the lower roller 14. The lateral rollers 16 and 18 confine substantially horizontal movement of the belt 100 between the first lateral roller 16 and the second lateral roller 18. In this way, confinement of vertical and horizontal movement of the belt 100 causes the belt 100 to be correctly aligned.

It is understood to be within the scope of the present invention if there are further upper, lower or lateral rollers. For example, there may be four lateral rollers, two positioned on either side of the belt 100 on one side of the upper and lower rollers 12, 14 and two positioned on either side of the belt 100 and on the other side of the upper and lower 4rollers 12, 14.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A belt alignment device for a conveyor belt of a conveyor system, said device including frame means, an upper roller, a lower roller, first lateral alignment means and second lateral alignment means, the upper roller, the lower roller, the first lateral alignment means and the second lateral alignment means being accommodated on the frame means and located relative to each other such that a space is defined therebetween for receiving, in use, a conveyor belt of a conveyor system, the arrangement being such that movement in two dimensions of a conveyor belt received, in use, in the space is 0 limited and the conveyor belt is thereby maintained, in use, in correct alignment relative to the conveyor system.

2. A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame means includes a first frame member and a second frame member, the upper and lower rollers being on and extending between the first and second frame members, and wherein each said lateral alignment means is accommodated on a respective one of the first and second frame members.

3. A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each first or second frame member is provided with adjustable bracket means adapted to adjustably locate the first or second alignment means respectively relative to the respective first or second frame member.

4. A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each alignment means is accommodated on a third frame member, and each adjustable bracket means includes guide means adapted to facilitate reciprocal movement of a third frame member towards or away from the respective first or second frame member and releasable fixing means adapted to releasably fix the third frame member in position relative to the respective first or second frame member.

A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each guide means includes an elongate member extending from a respective first or second frame member, 13 the elongate member being provided with an elongate slot adapted to receive the fixing means.

6. A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each guide means includes an elongate member extending from a respective first or second frame member \and channel means provided on a respective third frame member, the channel means being engageable with the elongate member and slidable relative thereto, and wherein the fixing means includes an externally screw threaded elongate bar extending from the respective third frame member in a direction opposite to the elongate member and at least one nut engageable with the bar.

7. A belt alignment device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein each first and second frame member includes first and second fixed brackets adapted to rotatably support ends of the upper and lower rollers. 11

8. A belt alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second alignment means are first and second lateral rollers respectively.

9. A belt alignment device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second lateral rollers are substantially parallel to each other.

A belt alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower rollers are substantially parallel to each other. 1

11. A belt alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the upper and lower rollers is substantially perpendicular to each of the first and second lateral rollers.

12. A belt alignment device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to \and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or in Figures 1 to 3, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 18 TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1998 BRIAN WILLIAM FLETCHER By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA