CA1229814A

CA1229814A - Device for the protection of openings on the conveying means inlet or outlet side in belt conveyors

Info

Publication number: CA1229814A
Application number: CA000476383A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Helmut Geppert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-13
Filing date: 1985-03-13
Publication date: 1987-12-01
Also published as: DE3571233D1; EP0156207B1; DK155875C; DK524385A; DK524385D0; AU598182B2; AU4156285A; DK155875B; WO1985004153A1; BR8506204A; EP0156207A1; JPS61501555A; DE3409161C2; DE3409161A1; ATE44272T1

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

For the protection of openings on the inlet or outlet side of the conveying means between the peripheral region close to the supporting frame of a deflector or feeding or delivery roller or pulley for the conveying means of a band con-veyor, which preferably is constructed in single or multiple band or belt design or as plate or hinged load-supporting element band conveyor, and the front end close to the rollers or pulleys of the supporting frame of the same and/or the supporting piece of the bearing device for these roller(s) or pulley(s) against risk of accidents because of inadvertent or unauthorized inter-vention in such an opening, a covering device serves according to the invention bridging over the access-endangered intermediate space between the peripheral region of pulley or roller close to the supporting frame and runoff edge close to the roller or pulley of the supporting frame for the conveying means or its front surface close to the roller or pulley from the supporting frame side in the direction of the central long-itudinal plane of the band conveyor normal to the surface of the conveying means on the con-veyed product side, at least up to a distance to this granting a movement play for the upper and/or the lower strand of the conveying means.

Description

Device for the protection of openings on the con-_ veyin~ means inlet or outlet side_in belt conveyors 1 The invention concerns a device for the protec-tion of openings on the conveying means inlet or outlet side between the peripheral region close to the supporting frame of a deflector or feeding or delivery roll or roller respectively or Pulley or guide and/or pressure roller or pulley for the con-veying means of a band conveyor, which`preferably is designed in single or multiple band or belt construc-tion or as plate or hinged load supporting element conveyor and the front end close to the roller or pulley of the supporting frame of the same and/or the supporting piece of the bearing device for this or - these roller(s) or ~ulley~s) against risks of accident ` by inadvertent or unauthorized intervention in such an opening.

:a~2~81~

1 It is a known fact that such openings in band conveyors of the type described represent a feared source of danger in that fingers or parts of clsthing get into them during conveying and can be drawn in between the conveying means and the roll or pulley concerned, which according to experience can lead to serious accidents, of which contusions of the limbs are to be regarded as of slight severity. In addition such openings, which in conveyors working in one plane are present both in the region of the conveyed ~roduct eeding station and of the ccnveyed product delivery station~ and this being irrespective of'whether the drive takes ~lace through the feeding roller or pulley set or through the delivery roller or pulley set or through a separate drive roller or pulley set arranged between the two, and in conveyors with kinks along the path of the strands in addition to these places also in the regions on the conveying means approach side and runoff side of the de1ector roller or pulley set or zo of the holding down roller or pulley set, this being in all cases both in the re~ion of the upper strand and also of the lower strand of the conveyin~ means, offer undesired possibilities for dirt or foreign bodies to fall iri or be brought into the interior or the suppor-ting frame of the band conveyor where hereby the risk of operating faults and/or of impairments in the hygiene is caused and corresponding maintenance or cleaning measures with the corresponding feared operating dead times become necessary already aEter relatively short operating intervals. It is therefore very highly desired to be able to remedy these defects in band co~veyors with simple and inex~ensive means and those which where required can also be brought into efect quicXly and conveniently by means of retrofittin~ and to be able to protect the band conveyor agairls~ dangerous entry of limbs or clothin~ as ~yell as against un-desired penetration of dir~ or forei~n bodies at the described openings.

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1 This is achieved in a surprislngly simple and economic manner according to the invention by a covering device bridging over the access-endangered intermediate space between,the peripheral region of the roller or pulley close to -the supporting frame and runoff edge close to the roller or pulley o~ the supporting frame for the conveying means or its front sur~ace close to the roller or pulley extending from the supporting Erame side in the direction of the cen-tral longitudinal plane of the band conveyor normal ' to the surface of the conveying means on the conveyed product side at l'east up to a distance to the s~d band conveyor granting a movement play for the upper and/or the lower strand of the conveying means.
; In this case accor,ding to a lower-ranking basic idea of the invention.developing the ihvention further~
the covering device can possess in each case at least one coveriny member extending like a wing into;:the access-endangered intermediate space between each - . 20 - ---supporting frame side and the associated side edge of the upper and/or of the lower strand of the con-veying means. This can extend with advantage over the described access-endangered intermediate'space up ~o above the associated side edye of the upper and/or of the lower strand of the co~veying means and furthermore preferably overlap the associated lower strand of the conveying means, whereby ~urthermore.preferably the or at least one of the covering memberls) can be arranged overlapplng the associated upper strand of the conveying means and/or the or at least one of the covering member(s~ can be arranged overlapping an~/or underlapping the associated lower strand of the c'on~
veying means.
Another proven verslon of the invention ls characterized in that the covering devlce possesses at least one covering member overlappin~ -the lnternal intermediate space between bo-~h supporting frame sides and underlapping the upper strand of the conveying means and/or at least one co~ering member underlapping and~or o~erlapping the lnternal intermediate space between both supportin~ ~rame sides. In this case independent :~2~

1 of whether it is a question of the upper or the lower strand of the conveying means, it is always meant with underlapping that the covering member lies on the side of the conveying means remote from the conveyed product or its inner side, whilst over-lapping means that the covPring member extends over the side of the conveying means on the side of the conveyed product or on its outer side.
According to the des~ign of the band conveyor, an access-endanqered o~ening of the described type can occur on one or both supporting frame s{dels~, and is then protected by means of a covering member according to the invention or several af the same, whereby this applies both for the feeding and also lS for the delivery end of the band conveyor just as for the approach and/or the runoff region of a separate drive station possibly arranged between the ~wo and also for the approach and/or runoff region of the . ` guide device and/or of the holding down devlce at the 20 kinking point of a design with a k.ink along the path - of the strands. In this case it must be further-more emphasized that the invention not.withstanding the previously descri~ed typ~ of.use can find application for the protection of access-endangered openings both in the region in each case of the upper strand or of the lower strand of the conveying means alone or else simultaneously of both strands.
It is basically immaterial according to the con-cept of the invention which distance as regards to 30 height the covering mer~er~s3 have to the associated strand of the conveying means, however, a version of the invention according to a lower-ranking basic idea of the invention has proven its~lf in particular, accor-ding to which the or at least one of the covering member(s s is formed as guide device for the feeding or delivery of the upper or lower strand of the conveying means to or from respectively the rollerls~ or pulley~s). In this case the covering member formed as guide device can with advantage be arranged serving on the inside of the supporting frame or else also on the outside of the supporting frame as support of the associated upper or lower strand of the conveying means for its surface distant from the conveyed product or as en-closure for its surface on the conveyed product side.
In these cases namely each covering member is also still utili2ed with a further function in an advan-tageous manner, in that it is also made use o~ corres--ponding to its surface contouring and in particular lS also its arrangement in addition to its protecting function to serve as support and quide for the side regions of the strand of the conveying means con-cerned adjoining the access-endangered openings or bounding these openings, so that even larger lengths of such openings existing between sùpporting frame and conveying strand side region can be protected in the conveying direction or longitudinal direction of the band conveyor and simultaneously a su-o~ort pro-tecting the conveyinc~ means strand against undesired or inadmissable sagging loading can ~e offered in the corresponding length region of the conveying medium strand~ This then is o~ effect particularly advanta-geously if it is a question of longer lengths of the strand of the conveying means in the conVeyincJ direction which without such a utilization o~ the coveriny mem-b~r or of the covering~bers according to the invention also as guide device ~or -the strand of the conveying means concern~d frequently would be subjected to an inadmissably high operating loading because of excessi~e-Ly long free sagc~ing lengths.
E'urthermore it has also proven to be particularly advantageous, if accorcling to another lower-rankinc;
basic idea of the inventioll, the covering device possesses at least a pair of covering members stretching ~2~

1 from the opposite longitudinal beams or side webs of the supporting frame in the direction of the central longitudinal plane of the band conveyor normal to the surface on the conveyed product ~ide of th~ upper and~
or of the lower ~trand of the conveying means. The ln-vention is namely not restricted to designs of band conveyors with a supporting frame formed from two opposite longitudinal beams and a number of cross beams arranged at a distance from one another and possibly a covering and/or chu~e and/or apron sheet or else a distance piece connected ~ith the two longi-tudinalrbeams, but it can find application expediently also in any other supporting frame design, such as for example in a supporting frame formed as single piece U or C section with or without stiffening by cross beams. The version according to the last des-cribed lower-ranking basic idea of the invention never-theless comes into consideration only for such band conveyors in which access-endangexed apenings of the descrlbed type are present on bot}l sicles of the stralld of the conveying means concerned between this and the adjoining longitudinal beam of a made up supportlng frame or the adjoining side web of a supporting frame formed as single piece section.
In further expedient development, the or at least one of ~the covèring memberls ) can be arranged perma-nently fixed to the supporting frame. Both for first equipment and also for retrofitting purposes o existing band conveyors it can fur-ther be recommended if in further inventive development the or at least one of the coverinc3 memherls) is fastened in a detachable manner to the supporting frame.
Basically it is accordinc3 to the concept of the invention also of no consequence if the covering member(s) are heid at the supporting frame of the ba~d conveyor, if a change in the length of the opening to be protected 8~

1 in the conveying-direction is to be expected, as for example can be the case in the course of changing the axial distance of the two deflector rolls or rollers or pulley sets of the conveying means on operating the tensioning station for the said conveying means, for the covering member(s) according to the invention can be held adjustable in the conveying direction in relation to the supporting frame, However~ a version according to an alternative lower-ranking basic idea of the invention has proven itself in particular, according to which the covering device possesses at least a pair of covering members extending from oppo-site supporting pieces o~ a bearing de~ice for one or several rollerls) ox pulley(s) on the same axis in the direction of the central longitudinal plane of the band conveyor normal to the surface on the con-veyed product side of the upper and/or of the lower strand of the conveying means.
In this case in expedient development of this lower-ranking basic idea of the invention in parti-cular in versions with supporting pieces of the bea-- ' - ring device for the roller(s~ or pulley(s) which are changable in position in the longitudinal direction - in relation to the supportiny f rame, the or at least one of the covering member~s~ can be arranged perma-nently attached to the supporting piece and in this case with aclvantage can be formed as one piece with the supporting piece. On the other hand, however, it has proven to be particularly exped~ent both in first equipment and also for retrofitting purposes if the or at least one of the covering memberis~ is fastened in a detachable manner to the associated support piece for the bearing device for the roller(s~ or the pulley(s).
In this connection attention must be clrawn to the 3S fact that versions of the invention can also be ex-pedient in which one or several c~vering member(s~
f ixed permanently to the supporting arm and fixed per-manently to the supporting piece jointly are used, 1 which then jointly contribute to ~ulfilling the protec-tion task according to the invention and possibly at the same time also supporting the strand. In all versions with detachably fastened coveriny member(s) it can prove to be advantageous if in further inventive dev~olQpment the covering member (5) is or are astenened on the outside or on the inside of the associated longltudinal beam or side web of the supporting frame or of the .~ associated supporting piece of the bearing device for the rolle.r(s~ or Pulley(s). Here design aspects can be decisive in paxticular with regard to economical manufacture of the covering members and/or requirements regarding the oPeration of the band conveyor and the hygiene of the same as well a5 the type of installation and where necessary OL the connection of the same to units of a conveying track connected in front or behind as well as also with regard to the simplicity and . quickness of the assem~ly and disassembly.
Further it has proven itself ln particular if according to another lower-ranking basic idea of the invention for versions in which covering members are provided at the same time both for the upper strarld and also for the lower strand of the conveyin~ means, the covering members for upper and lower strand of the conveying means associated with the longitudinal beam of the supportin~ frame or with a supporting plece of the bearin~ device for the roller(s) or pulley(s) are arranged with the same distance from the adjoining lon-gitudinal edge of the longitudinal beam or supporti.n~
piece, preferably in alignment with this. It has keen further shown to be of advantage from the same aspect, if in such versions with uppe~ and lower strand of the conveying means protected according to the invention, the covering members for upper and lower stxand of the conveying means associated with a longitudinal beam of the supporting rame or with a supporting piece of the bearin~ device for the roller~s) or pulley~s) are arranged with the same distance ~rom th~ front edge of the longitudinal beam or suppoxting piece placed on the other side.

1 of the roller or pulley axle. Further rationalizations of inventory of individual parts required for the pro-duction o~ band conveyors of different versions and sizes and of their assembly can be obtained in the sense of the objective forming the basis of the in-vention by both measures on their own and all the more by their interplay, since in such cases hoth longitu-dinal beams for the production of the supporting frame and sectional pieces forming its entire width as well as the supporting pieces for the production vf the bearing device of the requi ed roller(s) or pulleyls~
no longer need to be kept in stock in right hand a~d left hand version, but one can manage with one single version of these individual parts in each case.
In the interest of using existing longitudinal - beams and/or supporting pieces, which serve for ver-sions of band conveyors of conventional type, it has proven to be of advantage both for the first production of band conveyors according to the invention and also for the conversion or retrofitting of conventional versions to the invention, if according to another lower-ranking basic iclea of the invention the or at least one of the covering member(s) is formed as angle piece preferably of plate or plastic, which is fastened ~5 with its one angle side parallel to a plane of the ad-joining longitudinal beam and of the side web of the ~support frame or of the adjoining supporting piece of the bearing device for the roller(s) or pulley(s) parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the band conveyor, to this longitudinal beam or side web or to this supporting piece respectively. This attachment of the anyle piece can take place in this case with ad-vantage in each case so that its free angle side func-tioning as co~ering and should the occasion arise also as guide angle side not ~astened to the longitudinal beam or side web of the supporting frame or to the supporting piece of the bearing device runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of this longitudinal beam or side web cr supporting piece. Basically such a formation and arrangement is indeed in no way necessary~ since the 1 angle pieces forming the protection cover according -to the invention and should the occasion arise at the same time also support for the conveying means for the pur-pose of guiding the same can also be in workiny posi-`
5 - tion with their free arm side inclined in relation to the longitudinal beam axis, especially as in some versions of band conveyors the main course of the strand concerned runs in a plane other than the corres-ponding tangential plane to the roller(s) or pulley(s) deflecting the strand of the conveying means concerned.
However, one version and arrangement of this angle ~ piece with ree arm side parallel to the longi-tudinal.
beam longitudinal axis also offers here as well as in the previously described lower-ranking basic idea of the invention of the formation and arrangement of the covering membexs symmetrical with regard-to the sectional height of the longitudinal beams or side webs of the supporting frame and also of the symmetry of the formation and arrangement of covering members for at the same time upper and lower.strand of the conveying means supported by a supporting piece of the bearing device,the advantage with regard to the outer edge oE the supporting piece distant from the suppor-ting frame, to be able to dispense w~th right hand and let hand versions and instead of this to be able to manage wlth a single ver~ion.
For certain versLons of band conveyors t and indeed in partlcular those in which for reasons oE special light construction an additional stiffening o the to~al structure of both supporting frame rollers and bearlng device for the roller(s) or pulley~s~ shoulcl be dls-pensed wlth, it has proven to be expedient lf according to an alternative lower-ranking bas:Lc idea or the in-ven-tion the or at least one of the covering membert~) Ls 1 formed as U or C section preferably from plate or - plastic, which is fastened with its side webs parallel to a plane of the adjoining longitudinal beam or side web of the supporting frame or of the adjoining suppor-ting piece of the bearing device for the roller(s~
or pulley(s) parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the band conveyor in each case. In this case here as well the covering member design and arrangement can be made so that it is located in a working position in which its bridge-like central web runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece holding it. It is apparent that here whilst retaining the alxeady described ad-vantages of the covering members formed as angle pieces, a not infrequently desired bri~e-like sti~fe-ning of the band conveyor can be achieved for improving the bending and twisting stiffness of the entire frame-work structure of the band conveyor by the formation of the covering member according to this lower-ranking basic idea of the invention.
In particular, but in no way exclusively, it can be a requirement in retrofitting tasks, that no machi-ning work should or may be performed on an already installed band conveyor plant, which, however, is-to be equipped with the invention. In such cases diffi-culties with regard to the supporting of the covering -- - - member or of the covering members at the supporting frame or else at a supporting piece of the bearing device can result. Here a version according to another lower-ranking basic idea of the invention can be of assistance according to which the or at/ln3S~of the covering member(s) is supported in relation to the axle of the roller(s) or pulley(s). This axle namely is usually available as support with sufficient width, l but is generally not readily used as such, because expert opinion considers an addltional roller bearlng to be necessary for thls, in order to avoid grinding with corresponding ~ear and undesired noiæ annoyance.
However, experience has shown that this is in no way necessary, that one can rath~r manage by all means also with simple resting of the covering member con~
cerned on the roller or pulley set axle and at all events inexpensive lining of the bearing place with plastic material~ such as for example tetrafluorethylene can be adequat~ in order to exclude all undesired defects effectively.
IndependPnt of whether covering members extending solely from the supporting frame or supporting piece side into the intermediate space between the two oppo-site longitudinal beams or side webs of the supporting frame or ~upporting pieces o the bearing device or if only one of the same on one side of the strand of . the conveying means concerned or else a covering member - 20 structure spanning this intermediate space like a bridge is used, it has proven to be recommendable for many applications if according to a further lower-ranking basic idea of the invention, which re~ers both to covering members ixed to the supporting frame and to those fixed to the s~pporting piece, the covering mem-ber~s~ for the upper strand and/or the covering member(s) for the lower strand of the~conveying means possesses or possess a tongue extending from its or their faste-ning point furthest distant from the roller ox pulley axis in the longitudinal direction of the band con-veyor somewhat like a flag into the intermediate space between the opposite longitudinal beams or side we~s of its supporting frame or supporting pieces of the bearing device for the roller(s) or pulley(s). In this case in expedient development, the flag~like tongue can possess a length extending up to above the ad-joining front side of ~he suppor~ing frame or of a 8~L~

l possibly provided chute and/or apron sheet or covering sheet of the same~ Such designs can also be extremely sensible in band conveyors in which the co~ering member(s) according to the invention is or are supported fixed to the supporting frame or else by supporting pieces of the roller or pulley bearing device, whlch are subjected to no displacements in relation to the front edge of the supporting frame, as is frequently the case for example in drive stations provided on the front side of the frame. In such versions~ such 1ag like covering member extensions can then be recommended if indeed an as large as possible covering length in the longitudinal frame direction or conveying direction is desired, but no possibility is provided for fastening a covering member according to the invention of corres-ponding length above this to the associated longitudinal beam or side web of the supporting frame or supporting piece of the bearing device, as for example because certain partial regions of this total length of such a covering member are occupied by bolt connections or the like for other purposçs, 50 that these are to be evaded by a corresponding flag lîke extension region of the covering member accordlng to the invention con-cerned. For versions of band conveyors with supporting pieces of the bearing device for the roller(s3 or pulley(sj movable in position in relation to the supporting frame in the longitudinal direction of the same, as can be the case in particular with tensioning station of the band conveyor arranged on the supporting frame head xide, a further development of this lower-ranking basic idea of the invention has proven to be particularly expedient, according to which the flag like tongue possesses a length stretching -e~en in a position o~ the associated supporting piecc~s), in which this or these possesses or possess a maximum distance in relation to the front edge of the associated longitudinal beam or side we~ of the supportiny frame, ~%~

1 up to beyond the adjoining front edge of the suppor~
ting fxame or of a possibly provided chute and/or apron sheet or covering sheet of the same. Here in dependent of whether the protectlng cover according to the invention is designed as covering members ex-tending on both sides freely into ~he space between the two supporting pieces of the bearing device or else as bridge like structure o'verlapping these, it can be guaranteed extremely simply that independent of the type and size of the respective offset movement ~f the -roller or pulley axis in relation to the front edge of the supporting frame for example in the course of ope-rating a tensioning station for the conveying means, to which this bearing station belongs, each access-endangered opening to the internal space between the two strands of the conveying means lying in its range remains held protected reliably by corresponding cove-ring effective constantly over the total length of this opening, and this being the case without any impair~ent ~o of a possibly desired guiding or supporting function for the associated strand-of the conveying means in its side edge region or else, if deslred, over its entire width.
' For versions of the invention with detachably .
2S fastened covering member(s) it has further proven to be particularly expedient for reasons of rationalizing the manufac,ture and assembly and base~ on the ~now-ledge that covering members changable relatively in relation to the supporting structural part are indeed possible/ ~ut in most cases by no means necessary, in, order to assume the corresponding protection and where necessary also supporting and/or guiding function, if according to another lower-ranking basic idea of the invention the covering member(s) is or are fastened 3S so that their relative position cannot be changed in relation to the associated longitudinal beam or side web of the supporting frame or the associated suppor-ting piece of the bearing device for the rollerls ) or.pulley(s~.

.

:~L2;2~8:1~

1 In this case the covering member(s) can be fastened with advantage in each case by means of at least on~
screw element. However, on the other hand it has proven to be even more expedient for most applications, because more simply and more economically capable of manufacture and to assemble or disassemble, if the covering member(s) in each case is or are fastened by means of a plug connection arranged distant from the supporting frame and/or a plug connection arranged close to the supporting frame or by means of two plug connections on the side distant from the supportin~
frame or on the side close to the supporting frame or on both sides of the rollerts~ ox pulley(s) conslsting in each case of a pin f ixed to the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece and an accepting ~ush fixed to the covering member for this or a pin fixed to the covering member and an accepting bush fixed ~o the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece. This design namely makes it possibl~ to dispense with xelatively expensive screw elements even if ~hese are commercially available or the production o ~hreaded holes by the possibility of using simple round bar steel sections in cooperation with for example punched holes whlch can be produced during the pres-sing of the parts forming the frame in these or else simple drilled holes.
However, fbr certain applications a co~ering member holder has proven itself in particular in versions of the invention with detachably fastened covering member(s) in which the covering member~s3 is or are fastened to the associated longitu~inal beam or side web of the - supportillg fxame or the associated supporting piece of the bearing device for the rollerls) or pulley(s~
capable of swivelling in relation to this. In thls case .

l the covering member~s~ can with advantage be fastened in each case by means of a plug connection arranged on the side distant from the supporting *ramP or on the side close to the supporting frame of the roller~s) or pulley~s~ consisting of a pin fixed to the longi-tudinal beam or side web or supporting piece and an accepting bush fixed to the covering member for this or of a pin fixed to the covering member and an accep-ting bush for this rixed to thP longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece. Here as well the already described advantages of such plug connections arise.
The articulation of the coverin~ member or of the co~ering members opens up not infrequently a parti-cular design freedom of movement and can contribute not inconsiderably to simplifying the assembly and/or disassembly of the same for example for inspection or maintenance purposes and also otherwise simplify the handling.
Furthermore it can be provided expediently that the covering member(s) in each case is or are supported fixed to the supporting frame for sliding movement at its end distant from the roller or pulley to be designated as tail end.Furthermore the covering member(s) can possess in advantageous development of the invention an offset end distant. from the roller or pulley. Irres-pective of the type, where and how the support of ~he ~ covering member or of the covering memb~rs according to the invention taXes place, this or -these can possess according to another further development of ~he in-vention a somewhat z-shaped end distant from the r~ller or pulley angled in relation to lts or their end close to the roller or pulley. Further it can be ad-vantageous if the covering member(s) is or are supported by means of a sliding guide device on the lon~itudina beam or side web side. h particularly simple and yet adequately reliable design is characteri~ed in that l the covering member~s) is or are supported by resting on a cross beam of the supporting frame.
Although within the scope of the invention covering member designs of.pxactically arbitrary type are possible and can ~e expedient differently for the most widely dlfferent appllcations, a further develop-ment of the invention ha~ proven itself especially in particular, but not e~clusively, for retrofitting pur-poses of existing band conveyors of conventional design, according to which the covering member(s) in each case is or are fastened with its or their end close to the roller or pulley to a supporting rod fastened to the associated longitudinal beam or side web of the suppor-ting frame or supporting piece of the bearing device for the roller(s) or pulley(s), preferably when two covering me~bers opposing one another in pairs or a single covering member bxidging over the intermediate . . space between these opposing longitudinal beams or side webs or supporting pieces is or are fastened ~o - 20 a supporting rod fastened to these longitudinal beams or side webs or supporting pieces. In this case the covering member(s~ can be fastened in each cas~ to the associated supporting rod by welding, ce~lenting~
screwing, clamping or pinning, whereby its or their - 25 connection area(s) distant from the roller or pulley with regard to this fastening place is or are flanged . around this supporting rod. Obviously su-ch a version of the invention can be produced particularly simply and practically at any operating site of a band conveyor without the need of larger o.r mechanical and correspon-dingly expensive tool equipment and .it can be brought into its working position extremely simply.
It can further be worthy of recommendation above all for special cases, if with another development of the invention the covering device i5 formed for changing the size of the distance grantir1g the movement play 1 for the upper and/or the lower strand of -the con--veying means. In this case the covering device can possess with advantage at least one covering member adjustable in its effective width in the direction of the central longitudinal plane of the band conveyor normal to the surface of the conveying means on thP
conveyed product side. In this way it is generally possible, in the interests of'the rationalization aimed for by the invention, to be able to prefabrlcate and keep in stock covering members which should be usable equally well for different band conveyor versions or sizes or types.
Another expedient development of the invention is directed in the same direction according to which the covering device is formed for changing the siz~
-of its distance to the associated roller or pulley arranyement. In this case the or at least one of the covering member~s~ can expediently be held displacable for changing ~ts dlstance to the associate~ roller or pulle,y arrangement and attachable in the desired working position to the associated longitudlnal beam(s~ or side webls) or the ~upportiny frame or to the associated supporting piece 151 of the bearinq device for the roller~s) or pulley(sl.
In the following, the invention is explained more closely purely by way of example by reference ~ to some preferred design examples, as displayed dia gramatically in ~e drawings, in this case:
Fig. 1 shows in graphical representation with bxoken ' out central piece of a longitudinal beam one side of a supporting fralne of a band conveyor device according to the invention, - 19 ~

l Fig. 2 shows in representation corresponding to the representation according to Fig. 1 another design version of a supporting piece of the bearing device for a de1ector or feecling or delivery roller, Fig. 3 shows in representatlon corresponding to the representation according to Fig.2 a covering hood for the supporting frame, Fig. 4 shows in representation corresponding to the representation according to Fig.1 one side of a kinking fitting of the supporting fra~P of a band conveyor device formed with a kink along the path of the strands J
Fig. 5 shows in ~iagramatical representation of a ver-tical longitudinal section the end on the de-flector roller side of a band conveyor device without displaying the supporting frame and Fig. 6 shows in plan view two different versions of covering members fastened detachably to the supporting frame. In this case individual parts corresponding to one another are marked in each - case with the same reference symbols.
The band conveyor device according to the in~ention designated as entity with 1 possesses a supporting frame designated in Fig. 1 with 3, which is formed from one or several longitudinal beams 5 arranged after one another in the suppbrting frame longitudinal direction and connected with one another, which lie opposite one another in pairs and of which only one is shown with its two end regions, whilst its central region is broken away and on both sides in each case of a pair of sup-porting pieces 13 or 23 of bearing devices for deflector or feeding or delivery rollers, or which one is shown in Fig. 5 and designated with 20. In the design example ~2~

1 shown in Fig. 1, the suppork~ng frame 3 possesses longitudinal beams formed as C section, which in each case are connected with one another in pairs lying opposite to one another by cross beams and are stiffened, of which one is shown in Fig. 5 and ls designated with 25. However, the supporting frame 3 could also be formed as one piec~ in the transverse direction, with-out this being shown, in that a C sectlon part pre-senting a supporting surface supporting the upper strand 29a of the conveying means 29 from its lowe.r side is arranged forming the support frame with its bottom web parallel to the strand of the conveying means and its side webs parallel to the centra3. longi-tudinal plane of the supporting frame.
In the design example displayed, the supporting pieces 13 of the beari~g device for for exa~ple the drive roller of the band conveying device and 23 ~or - - for example the deflector or tensioning roller for the conveying means 29 of the same are inserted in a manner which is in itself known into the free profile opening of the longitudinal beams 5 of the supporting frame 3 with their guide pieces 14 or 24 and are held fastened in working position by means of screw elements engaging in the fasteniny slots 15 of the same, whereby in

2.5 general necessary adjustment work or retensionlng measures can he performed for example by means of screw elements supporting themselves in relation to th~
supporting frame and engaging in threaded holes 18 in ~ensioning projections 17 on the associated supporting piece 13 or 23 or else by means cf screw elements supporting thems~lves on one hand in relaticn to-the suppoxting frame and on the other hand in relation to a side projection 27 on the supporting piece for example -~hrough a threaded hole 28, as is illustrated in the case of the right supporting piece 23 in Fig. 1. The two supporting pieces 23 of the righ bearing device in Fig. 1 possess open slots 26 on the front side serving hoth as suspension takeup and also as sliding . guides for the axle or shaft 21 ~show~ in Fig. 5) of a ~2~98~ L
- 21 ~

l deflector or feeding ox delivery roller 20 or of a deflector or feeding or delivery roller or pulley set, whilst in the case of the bearing device shown i~ Fig.1 Ol1 the left, it is shown that this axle or shaft 21 ~an also be supported by a correspondlng takeup hole 16 in the supporting piece pair concerned. It is obvious that instead of the slot 26~ the supporting piece 23 could possess such a shaft or axle takeup hole and vice versa the supporting piece 13 instead of such a hole 16 could possess a take~p or guide slot 26.
A preferred type of a support of a supporting piece 13 on the supporting frame side is illustrated in Fig. 5 in that namely a thrust angle 19 serving as stop is inserted between the lower edge of the suppor-*ing piece and the side web of a longitudinal beam sect~on S (not shown in Fig. 53, the free end of which thrust angle overlaps the front edge of the longitudinal beam section 5, which can be for example the front edge 38 shown in Fig. 1 and thereby is supported at and in relation to this longitudinal beam profile 5 and thus the supportin~ frame 3. In this case a supporting surface for a screw element screwed into the threaded hole 18 o the projection 17, which is solely indicated by its dash-and-do-t center line, i5 formed by thls thrust angle 19.
It is apparent with particular clarity rom Fig.
that approximat~iy from the a~ial len~th of the rear surface distant from the rol:Ler axis of the ree shank - of the thrust angel 19, which corresponds to the front - 30 edge 3~ of the longitudinal beam section 5 o the supporting frame 3, up to approximately the tangential approach position of the upper strand 29a of the con-veying means 29 or to the tangential runoff posi-tion of the lower strand 29b of the same, an acess-endangered - 2~ -l space between side edges of the strand concerned of the conveying means 29a or 29b and the adjoining supporting frame section, e.g. 5, is formed. This is shown for example in the lower half of Fig. 6 and designated with 41, whilst the entire intermediate space between the opposite section parts forming the supporting frame sides, which -as in Fig. 1- can be formed as open hollow section in the shape of a C section 5 or else - as shown in Fig. 6 - as solid section 7 or as closed hollow section 8, is designated with 40 ~e.g. Fi.g. 1 and Fig. 6).
In order to protect and secure this inavoidable intermediate space 41 in conventional designs of band conveying devices between the front edge 38 serving as runoff or approach edge for the strand 29a or 29b concerned of the conveying means 29 and the adjoining position in the supporting frame longitudinal direction A of the tangential approach or runoff of the strand 20a or 29b concerned of the conveying means 29 to for example the adjoining deflector or feeding or .delivery roller 20 on one hand and the outer surface of the supporting frame section on the inside, for e~ample of the outer plane 4a or the side web 4 of . the longitudinal beam section 5 in the design example according to Fig. 1, and the adjoining front side surface of the conveying means 29 on the other hand, which is open towards the interior o the supporting frame, agail1st unauthorized just as against inadvertent access in particular during the operation of the band -- conveying device 1, a covering device i5 provided for by the invention. This can possess different design shapes, of which some are shown in Fig. 1 to 6 and described in the following~ In this case it is of parti-cular importance that these covering device designs .

1 in any event close this previously described access-endangered intermediate space 41 at least to the e~tent that an entry or drawing in of clo~hing or ~he like is practically excluded during conveying.
This is achieved in that - as illustrated by way of example in the upper half of Fig. 6 - a covering memb~r supported by the supporting frame 3 is arranged bridging over the access-endangered intermediate space 41 at least up to a distance 39 granting solely a movement play for the upper and/or the liower strand 29a or 29b re-spectively of the conveying means 29.
In the case of the design example according to Fig. 1, it is indicated that the covering device desig-nated ~uite generally with 2 can be formed by approxi~
mately ear-shaped covering members 22 shaped onto the supporting piecPs 13 or 23 extending in the direction oî the central longitudlnal plane m normal to the surface on the conveyed product side of the conveying means 29~ which covering members can extend from the supporting frame or supporting piece side-at least - up to a distance 39 for sufficient movement play from the front side s~rface of the strand 29a or 29b con-cerned of the conveying means 29 and can possess with advantage - as shown in Fig. 1 - an extension in the transverse direction such that they also still under-lap the strand 29a or 29b concerned of the conveyillg -- mean~ 29. In this way not only is a cover fixed to the supporting frame created in the region between front edges 38 on the roller side of the supportin~ frame 3 and approach or runoff positions oE the strand 29a or 29b of the COnVeyinCJ means at the roller(s) or pulley(s) concerned, but a bearing support for the strand of the conveying means concerned is also created. In this case, according to roller or pulley diamPter and guide height of the strand 29a or 29b concerned of the conveying means or profile height of -the supporting frame 3 or arrangement with regard to height of a possi~ly pro-vided ch~te and/or apron sheet or the like, the 1 covering elements 22 fixed to the supporting piece other than as shown in Fi~. 1 - can also be arranged running with inclination in xelation to the front surface o -the supporting piece or o~ the supporting frame 3 or i of its longitudinal beam section 5 pointing up~ards or downwards.
Further, another version which still can be brought into use alternativel~ to the previously described covering device fixed to the supporting piece and which is designatedias entity with 3~ and is particularly suitable for retrofitting existing band conveying devices with the invention is also shown in Fig. 1.
This covering device 32 consists of a.pair of covering brackets, of which one is shown in Fig. 1. Each of the same is fastened with its side web 31 at the side web 4 of the longitudinal beam section 5 of the supporting frame 3 by means of screw elements, which are solely indicated by their dash-and-dot center lines and desig-nated with 47, engaging ïn threaded holes in this side web 31 of the covering bracket 32 or in threaded . holes provided in the side web 4 of the longitudinal - profile 5 and penetrating corresponding complementarily arranged through holes in the other web in each case or penetrating through holes provided in mutually com-25. plementary arrangement in both ~ebs 31, 4 lying against . one another and which are to be joined with one another.
: A5 shown, the holes in at least.one of the webs named can be formed as slotted holes, which are designated .in Fig. 1 with 6~ for example in the side web 4 of the longitudinal beam section 5. The arrangement of the covering bracket 32 on the supporting frame 3 or on its longitudinal beam section 5 is made expediently and with advantage so that its top web 30 underlaps in a supporting manner the strand concerned o~ the conveying means 29, here the upper strand 29a of the same, from its lower side.distant from the co~veyed product. As shown, the top web 30 of the covering bracket 32 possesses an extension tongue 30a extending in the l direction of the adjoining roller or pulley or of a possible roller or pulley set, with which the most endangered region of the intermediate space 40 to ~1 to be protected is covered over. The attachment of the covering bracket 32 taking place by slotted holes 6 to the supporting frame 3 or to its longitudinal beam section 5 makes it possible to adapt itself by corresponding displacement of the covering bracket 32 in the frame longitudinal direction A relative to the supporting frame 3 to any offsetting movements of the roller or pulley axis and thus also of the roller~s) or pulley(s) relative to the adjoining approach or runoff front edge of the supporting frame 3 affected for example by necessary retensioning measures for the conveying means 29, so that good protective covering of the access-endangered inter-mediate space 40 or 41 is always guaranteed.
It is apparent that in the same manner covering devices fixed to the supporting piece can also be formed in that the supporting pieces concerned, for example 13 and/or 23, do not need to possess the single piece shaped on covering members 22 described ' previously, but can ~e equipped with covering brackets - fastened detachably to them in the manner of the covering brackets 32 described, which are fastened withladvantage in the described manner to the in each ' , case associated supporting piece and can possess an extension tongue similar to the extension tongue 30a of the covering bracket 32 extending in the direction of the roller or pu,lley arrangement supported by the said supporting piece and/or extending in the direction of the supporting supporting frame paxt, e.g. of the adjoining frame longitudinal beam 5. Such a version 1 is obviously suitable with advantage for retrofitting purposes on conventional versions of band conveying devices.
This design version according to Fig. 2 corres-ponds essentially to that according to Fig. 1, where- ¦
by solely as example the version corresponding to the left supporting piece 13 of the roller or pulley bearing device of the same is shown with a takeup hole desig-nated here with 56 for the roller or pulley set axle, but the supporting piece 53 reproduced here could in-stead of this ~lso have been equipped with a takeup slot in the same manner as is the case in the suppor-ting piece 23 according to Fig. 1 and is described for this above. The vPrsion according to Fig. 2 differs from the previously described versions by the fact - that the supporting piece 23 shown here possesses covering members 2~a and 22b both for the forwards running and for the backwards xunning strand of the conveying means 29. These apporximately ear-shaped ~o covering elements 22a, 22b are arranged in the same manner as is shown in the case of the covering ~lements 22 of the supporting pieces 13 and 23 according to Fig. 1, with their external surfaces in alignment with the upper and lower front side surface of ~he supporting piece 53. However, they could also be arrangeci at a distance Erom the respectively adjoinin~ front side surface of the supporting piece 53, whereby, however, this distance should be prefera~ly the same, in order to guarantee the use of such a supporting piece versior for both supporting frame sides a~d thereby to avoid ri~ht hand and left hand versions for the beariny supporting pieces. The aligned version sho~n in Fig. 2 is also suita~le and provided for use on both sides.
Compared with the supporting piece versions 13 and 23 according to Fig. 1, the ~upporting piece 53 accor-ding to Fig. 2 also differs in that its central web 54 does not extend beyond the front side close to the supporting frame of the approximately ear-shaped co~eri~g members 22a, 22b. The reason for this is`tnat the .

i 1 version according to Fig. 2 is provided for faste-ning to the supporting fr2me 3 or to its longitudinal beam section 5 overlapping the associated front end of the supporting frame 3 or of its longitudinal beam section 3 or capable of being fixed on its inside.
For this reason it possesses instead of a fastening slot 15, which by the way by all means could also ha~e found use here, to rows of slotted holes 55, through ~hich screw elements are to be pushed, which either engage in threaded holes provided in corres-ponding arrangement in the associated supporting frame section or else pass through holes provided in-corres-ponding arrangement and by means of which the suppor-ting piece 53 can be fastened to the supporting frame

3 after selection of the suitable working position by displacement in the longitudinal direction of these slotted holes 55 in the said supporting piece 53.
Corresponding re-tensioning measures or adjusting work can be performed extremely simply in the same mann~r.
However, lt must be emphasized that a version according to Fig. 2 can also be equipped with guide pieces accor-ding to thè type of the guide pieces 14 and 24 o the supporting pieces 13 and 23 respecti~ely accordin~
to Fig. 1 extending beyond the front surface of the covering members 22a, 22b on the supporting frame side.
In this case, if it should appear to be desira~le that the length of these guide pieces is not chosen parti-cularly long, eith~r the covering elements 22a and/or 22b can possess corresponding engagemen~ slots for the side webs 4 o longitudinal beam sections 5 formed C-shaped of the supporting frame 3 or else these side webs can possess corresponding engagement slots for ~he co~ering elements 22a and/or 22b, in order to guarantee sufficient size of the possible relative displacement distance of the supporting piece and supporting frame. The same applies in general for the ~ ~v~

- 2~ -l support~ng pieces 13 and/or 23 according to Fig. 1 and the adjoining front ends in each case of the longitudinal beam sec~ions 5. In g~neral the side webs 4 in the end regions on the front side can also be notched to corresponding length or removed.
In ~he design example shown in Fig. 3, lt ls a question of a covering device in the shape of a covering bracket 63 with covering members 22a and 22b, which extend away from a central web ~4 in the same .; lO manner as is described previously for the design example according to Fig. 2. This covering b.-acket 63, which can be desi~ned with advantage as sheet pressing, in order tQ offer particularly economically a component of low weight which can be manufactured simply and quickly and brought conveniently and rapidly into a working posi~ion, possesses in similar arrangement as already described for the version according to Fig. 2 two rows of slotted holes 65. Obviously this version is equally suitable in particular for retrofitting pur-pGSes on existing belt conveyors of convent~onal design, in that ln kha access-endangered regions the covering -angle piece 63 can be astened from the outside over-lapping the associa~ed frame section or else the sup-; porting piece or else it can be astened to ~he said frame section so that its approximately ear-shaped covering member 22a covers protectingly the access-enclangered intermediate space 41 in the region of the upper strand 29a of the conveying means 29 and its co~ering member 22b covers protectingly a corresponding access-endangered intermediate space in the region of the lower strand of the same. Here as well, the covering me~bers 22a and/or 22b could basically be formed with extension tongues extending over the front edge of the central web 64, but the manufacture of this version l would become more expensive in this way, without a significant advantage being achieved compared with a corresponding enlargement of the total length of such a part.
In general reference i~ also made to the fact that the versions accordlng to Fig. 2 and 3 are par-ticularly suitable for use in conjunction with sup-po~ing frame versions with so-called open one part C section, which is also designatecl as so-called half box section, although they are not limited to such an appiication, hut can also find applica ion in connection with supporting frame versions o~
longitudinal beam sections connected wi~h one another and stiffened by cross beams as for example accordin~
to Fig. 1.
The version according to Fig. 4 designed for band conveying devices formed with kinks along the path o the strands corresponds in principle to the one according to Fig. 1, whereby nevextheless`the 'regions of outer p~rt 3.3 and inner part 34 of the, kinking ~itting according to Flg. 4 corxesponding to the reyions of ~he bearing support pieces 13 or 23 according to Fig. 1 supporting the roller or pulley '' axle or shaft are formed in a customary manner, in that ' they possess a.common drilled hole 37 for the passage of a swivel axle to be designed in a conv'entional . manner ,(not shown) and a slot 36 shaped as an arc of . a circl~ concentric'to its central point or axis of , rotation, through which a screw element which is not shown,engages in a conventiona]. mann'erj by means of which the outer part 33 and inner part 34 of this kinking itting can be fastened to one another in the angular arrangement selected a~ working position. The outer part 33 is equipped similarly to the supporting piece 23 accoxding to Fig. 1 with guide pieces 34 and a fastening slot 35 between these as well as with a side projection 27 extend'ing away to the outside with a threadecl hol.e 28 for the acceptance o~ a screw 1 element, by means of which the entire kinking fitting can be held relatively displacable and in the desired working position ln relation to the supporting frame part or section associated with the outer part 33 of ~he same. ~he inner part 34 of this kinking fitting i~
equlpped in a similar manner with gui~e pieces 44 and with a fastening slot 45 between these and could equally possess a side projection 27 extending away to the outside with threaded hole 28 like the outer part 33, or else just as with the latter projections 17 extending downwards with threaded holes 18, like that shown in the case of the bearing supporting pieces 13 and 22 according to Fig. 1 and as is already descrihed previously. The inner part 43 is moreover - as shown -formed by means of an offset web 46 so that its guide pieces 44 lie in the same outer plane as the guide pieces 34 o the outer part 33 of the kinking fitting or the guide pleces 44 and 43 of the inner and ou~er pa~t of the same are in alignment with one another.
This has the advantage that the supporting frame struc-ture can be designed in the same manner on both sides of the kinking fitting.
The inner part 43 just as the outer part 33 of the kinking itting according to Fig. 4, of which naturally a complementary counterpart is provided on the opposite supporting frame side, possess in each case an approxi-mately ear-shaped covering member 22 extending in the direction of the supporting frame central longitudinal plane m i~ the same manner as described for the versions accor~ing to Fig. 1 or 2 and 3. Here it also applies that when - as shown - the guide pieces 44 or 34 are not longer in the supporting frame longitudinal direction than the covering members 22/ either the in each case ~..2~63~

1 associated supportlng frame longitudinal beam profiles 5, insofar as these should be formed as C
or other independent hollow section, possess guide slots or corresponding recesses for the acceptance of the covering members 22 o~ else these possess corresponding acceptance slots for the engagement of corresponding web regions of the associated suppor~ing frame longitudinal beam section. Such slots in the covering members~22 are~ however, not shown in Fig. 4, since the kinking fitting of a kinking fittiilg pair of a band conveyor with kinks along the path of the strands is designed for use in connection with a supporting frame design which is a slngle piece in cross section in the shape of a ~ or C section. However, it must be emphasized in general that the guide pieces 44 of the inner part 43 andJor the guide pieces 34 o~ the outer part 33 of the kinking fitting can possess lengths projecting in the same manner beyond the front surface on the supporting frame side o~ the associated - 20 covering member 22, as is shown in ~he case of ~he bearing supporting pieces 13 and 23 according to Fig. 1 and is d~scribed previously for these just as fQr the version according to Fig. 2.
Apart from the different design possibilities for the s~pporting frame structure, ~ig. 6 shows two other preferred design versions of covering devices according to the invention~ Thus a covering member 42 is shown in the lower half of Fig. 6 which can be formed as angle plate, in order to co~er over protecting a~ainst unauthorized or inadvertent access or drawing in of clothing or the like an open and correspondingly access-endangered intermediate space 41 between the rame side region/ like this formed by the longitu-dinal beam formed as hollow section 8, and the front side sur~ace or side edg~ of the strand 29a of the conveying means. In this case it must be pointed out 1 that for example the hearing device for a deflector or feeding or delivery roller or a corresponding pulley ~et is located to the right of the covering member 42 shown without itself being shown, in that this 1s held either directly in the supp~rting frame end or capable of rotation by interposition of corresponding suppor-ting pieces of a bearing device, which equally or reasons of better clarity are not shown and can be equipped in any desired manner, and that, joining on the left side onto the covering member 42, a cover '~
of the intermediate space 40 between the two suppor-ting frame sides or longitudinal beam sections 8 lying opposite one another is provided in the shape of an indeed not shown bridging apron or supporting plate, which is fastened b~tween the two opposite supporting frame sides or longitudinal beams 8, under-lapping the strand concerned of the conveying means, here the upper strand 29a shown fragmentarily. The angular covering member 42 is held de~acha~ly to the '20 supporting frame 3 by means of two pins 11a,which engage in corresponding accepting holes in the asso-ciated longitudinal beam section 8, which because of the design of the same as hollow SeGtiOn can be lined expediently with a bush 10.'In this case its width extension is 'selected so that its angle web pointing downwards (shown in the lower half of Fig. 6 by a broken line) remains at a distan'ce 39 which is not dangerous for unauthorized or inadver'tent access to the front side surface or edse of the strand con-cçrned of the conveylng means, here for example the upper strand 29a of the conveying means 29, which how-ever guarantees adequate movement play to the said strand.
However, a further design version designated with 42a is also indicated in dash-and -dot lines in the lower half of Fig. 6, in which the covering member e~tends down to below the strand concerned cf the conveying medium, for example, the displayed upper .

l strand 29a. In this way the same effect is reached as for example in the cas~ of the covering members 22 or 32 according to Fig. 1. In this case the cove-- ring member 42a can be formed by a correspondingly arranged T section held fixed to the supporting frame by the two pins 11a or else also by an angle section, which is held fixed to the supporting frame according to the manner of the covering bracket 32 accordin~ to Fig. 1. But a U section arranged with its inside region opening downwards can also be used, this being the case both in the version designated with 42 and in the version ~esignated with 42a. In both cases it would be preferable solely to drill -through ~he one side flange of the U section, in order to b~ able to pu h a pin 11a through this, whic~ could push up against: the inside of the opposite side web of this section and b~ fastened there and/or on the inside of the hole penetrated by it by welding, for example by means of a few spot we1ds.
Another preferred design version o the invention is illustrated in the upper half of Fig. 6. It is true - that here the supporting frame is shown in the shape of a piece of a longitudinal beam 7 ormed as solid part~ but the supportin~ frame 3 could also be deslgned ~5 without difficulty as hollow section 3, as for example in the lower half of Fig. 6, or as ~ section, as in Fig. 1, or else in the shape of another section which is not shown, or example also o a~C or U sect.ion in one piece in cross-section wlth side webs forming the supporting frame sldas. In ~ac~ case, an accepting or socket hole 9 for the pin 11a oE a supporting rod 11 with which a covering member 12 is connected possibly by langing round, as i5 shown for example in ~ig.5, and where necessary by appropriate fastening ~y m~ans of cementing, pinching~ welding, brazing or ~he li~e 3~ -l is provided at a suitable place of a web or flange of the supporting frame structure approximately parallel to the frame central longitudinal plane m.
This supporting rod extends bxidging ove~ the entire intermediate space 40 between the two opposite suppor-ting frame sides or longitudinal beams 7 over practi-cally the entire conveyor width, and its pins 11a are inserted in the accepting holes 9 on the supporting frame section side, which in the case of a hollow sectional design, as sho~n in the lower hàlf of Fig. 6, can be expediently lined with a bush 11a. The supporting rod 11 supports in this case a single piec~ covering member 12 overlapping the entire stated intermediate space 40 except for a movement play 39, which is shown in the upper half of Fig~ 6 or else narrower covering members fastened close to the s-1pporting frame in appropriate arrangement. The special feature of this design is that here the covering member 12 is not held in a predetermined position by t'ne measures depicted or by other measures, but possesses the degree of freedom to be able to swivelrelati~e to the structural part supporting it. Apart from generally exlsting manu.acturing engineering and assembly adva~tages, this can also be accompanied ~y further design simpli-fications and operat.ing simplifications. It is narnely apparent that such a design needs solely to be insexted with.the pins 11a of its supporting rad 11 in a straight - hole usually present in conventional band con~eyo~
devices or a hole lattice arrangement in the supporting fram~ side wall without making it necessary further work intensive measures, if care is taken that the length of its covering member 12 is so large that th.is 1 is supported by a cross beam 25 connecting two opposite supporting frame longitudinal beams 5 or 7 or 8 with one another, so that its tail end formed by a flag-llke extension cannot fall downwards ~nd get into conflict with the lower strand 29b of the conveying means 29.
It is indicated by solid lines in the upper half of Fig.. 6 that the covering member 12, which here needs in no way to serve as support for the adjoining strand " 10 of the conveying means 29, for example of its upper strand 29a, but can do this with corresponding design, possesses a tail region 12b extending away in the direction of the adjoining roller or pulley arrangement solely in the central region of the intermediate space 40 between the two supporting frame sides or longi-tudinal beams 5 or 7 or 8. However, it is also indicated by a dot-and dash line, that the 1ag region locat~d between this and the central region of the covering - member 12 bounded by a solid line needs in no way to be notched or removed, but that rather the covering member 12 can extend over its entire leng~h with un-changed width.
Whilst it is fund~nentally illus-trated in Fig. 6 that and how such covering members 42 or 12 can be held on the supporting frame side to a part remaining , '' ' stationary of the supporting beam 3, for example to a longitudinal beam section 5 or 7 or 8 of the same, Fig.
shows that in the same.manner this is also possible by attachment to a supporting piece or a supporting piece pair,of a roller or pulley bearing. In Fig. S is shown by way of example a supporting rod 11, which is supported in a supporting piece 13 of a bearing device for a roller 20 with axle or shaft 21 capable of swivelling relatively close to the upper strand 29a of the con-veying means 29 and which possesses a covering member . 12c which is offset in a suitable manner ln order to bring a tail region 12c of sufficient length to come -l to rest on a cross b~am 25. However, a supporting rod 11, which supports a covering member 12, the tail part 12d of which is angled approximately Z shaped and possesses a free end region of sufficient length in order to be suppor~ed by a cross beam 25~ in the design example shown the same cross beam which also supports the covering member 12 with the tail Pnd close to the upper strand is also shown likewise astened to the supporting piece 13 capable of swivelling close to the lower strand. It is obvious that in this design, for which in general the same applies with regard to the type of fastening as already described previously for the two design versions according to Fig. 6~ the covering members 12, since they are supported by a supporting piece 13 of a shaft or pulley bearing device, follow in the direction of the double arrow A, as could be the case for example in the course of adjust-ment or retensioning measures, any possible offset movement of the roller or pulley axle 21 relative to the front edge 38 fo~ming the runof or approach edge of the supportin~ frame 3, which may with regard to association correspond to the inside or outside of the free shank of the supporting bracket 19 according to Fig. 5, without in this case exposing in any way at all-the access-endangered intermediate space 41 to be protected, since the coveriny members 12 possess - adequate tail lengths supported by the cross beam(s) 25~ with which they are guided and supported capable of movement sliding on the cross beam concerned.
- Without this being shown, however, a attachment of a previously descri~ed covering member 4~ in the manner of the lower half of Fig. 6 is also possibl~ without diffi-cult~ even when supporting the same by a supporting piece of a roller or pulley bearing device relatively displacahle in relation to the supportin~ frame 3.

~- 37 -l If in this case it still possesses -tongues extending in the longitudinal direction approximately in the manner of the extension tongue 30a of the covering bracket 32 according to Fig.1, then h~re as well com-plete coverings of the access-endangered intermediate space 41 can be accomplished constantly independently of the displacement position of the roller or-~pulley axle or shaft 21 relative to the adjoinin~ end of the supporting frame 3 or of its approach or runoff edge 38 ~or the associated strand of the conveying means.
In aonclusion reference must still be made to the fact that indeed not for the upper strand 29a of the conveying means 29, which is loaded on its outer side with conveyed produc~, but certainly for the lower strand 29b of the conveying means 23, the coverin~ device ~ or 12 or 22 or 32 or 42 or 42a respectlvely can be arranged so that it protects the access-endangered intermediate space either on the - outside or else on the inside or else should the occasion arise also overlapping both sides, whilst for the upper strand 29a of the conveying means 29 only a protection on its lower side can come into question. For design verslons of the invention, in which for the purpose o avoiding right hand and left hand version of individual components, such as for exampl~
supporting pieces of a roller or pulley bearin~ device holding covering members, avoiding versions of thèse components are envisaged, therefore practically only one such design of the same can come into question in which both for the upper. and for the lower strand 29a or 29b respectively of the conveying means 29 the associated covering member is arranged undexlapping this, i.e.placed on its inside~
In ~eneral, although it has been displayed and explained solely by reference to some preferred design examples, the invention is not restricted to these, but rather manifold possibilities are open to the expert to adapt them by other combination o~ their \

features or replacement of the same against equivalent means to the most widely different circumstances of a material and/or production engineering and/or design or application induced nature and/or the requirements of the individual application, without department because of this from the framework of the invention.

R e f e r e n c e s y m b o 1 1 i s t ============ ~

1 = Band conveyor 2 = Covering device 3 = Supporting frame

4 = Side web of a longitudinal beam 4a = Outer plane of the side web

5 = Longitudin~l beam of the supporting frame

6 = Elongated hole

7 = Solid section

8 = Hollow section

9 = Insertion hole = Insertion bush 11 = Supporting rod lla = Pin 12a = Flag-like extension of the coverlng member in the side region 12b = F`lay-like extension of the covering member in the central region 12c = Offset end of the covering member 12d = Offset end of the covering member 13 = Supporting piece of a bearing device 14 = guide piece of the supporting piece = Fastening slot 16 = Axle accepting hole 17 = Projection 18 = Threaded hole 19 = Supporting bracket = Deflector roller for conveying means 21 = Axle or shaft of the deflector roller 22 = Shaped covering member 22a = Covering member on the upper strand side 22b = Covering member on the lower strand side 23 = Supporting piece oE a bearing device 24 = Guide piece of the supporting piece - 25 = Cross beam 26 = Axle accepting slot 27 = Side projection 28 = Threaded hole 29 = Conveying means 29a = Upper strand~of the conveying means 29b = Lower strand of the conveying means = Top web of the covering bracket 30a = Extension of the covering bracket 31 = Side web of the covering bracket 32 = Covering bracket 33 = Outer part of a kinking fitting 34 = Guide pieces of the outer part = Fastening slot 36 = Circular arc slotted hole 37 - Swivel axis hole of the kink.ing fitting 38 = Runoof or front edge of the supporting frame 39 = Distance for movement play = Intermediate space between longitudinal beams or the like ., ' ~

4l = Accass-endangered intermediate space 42 = Detachable covering member 42a = Lateral extension of the covering member 43 = Inner part-of a kinking fitting 44 = Guide piece of the inner part = Fastening slot 46 = Offset of the inner part 47 = Extension of the covering mem`oer overlapping the conveying means 53 = Supporting piece with shaped op covering member on the upper and lower strand side 54 = Central web of the supporting piece = Elongated hole 63 = Covering hood for supporting frame 64 = Central web of the covering hood = Elongated hole

Claims

C L A I M S

1.) Device for the protection of openings on the conveying means inlet or outlet side between the peripheral region close to the supporting frame of a deflector or feeding or delivery roll or roller respectively or pulley or guide and/or pressure roller or pulley for the conveying means of a band conveyor, which preferably is designed in single or multiple band or belt construction or as plate or hinged load-support-ing element conveyor and the front end close to the roller or pulley of the supporting frame of the same and/or the supporting piece of the the bearing device for this or these roller(s) or pulley(s) against risks of accident by inadvertent or unauthorized intervention in such an opening, characterized by a covering device (2) bridging over the access-endangered intermediate space (41) betwen the peripheral region of roller (20) or pulley close to the supporting frame and runoff edge (38) close to the roller or pulley of the supporting frame (3) for the conveying means (29) or its front surface close to the roller or pulley extending from the supporting frame side in the direction of the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) normal to the surface of the conveying means (29) on the conveyed product side at least up to a distance (39) to the said band conveyor granting a movement play for the upper and/or lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) or the conveying means (29).

2.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering device (2) possesses in each case at least one covering member (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) extending like a wing into the access-endangered intermediate space (41) between each supporting frame side and the associated side edge of the upper and/or lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) up to beyond this side edge of the same.

3.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering device (2) possesses in each cases at least one covering member (22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42,42a respectively) extending like a wing into the access-endangered intermediate space (41) between each supporting frame side and the associated side edge of the upper and/or lower strand (29a or 29b res-pectively) or the conveying means (29) up to beyond this side edge of the same.

4.) Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) can be arranged overlapping and/or underlapping the upper strand (29a) of the conveying means (29) and/or the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is arranged overlapping and/or underlapping the associated lower strand (29b) of the conveying means (29).

5.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that covering device (2) possesses at least one covering member (e.g. 12) overlapping the internal intermediate space (40) between both supporting frame sides and overlapping the upper strand (29a) of the conveying means (29) and/or at least one covering member (e.g. 12 overlapping the internal space (40) between both supporting frame sides and underlapping or overlapping the lower strand (29b) of the conveying means 29.

6.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a) is formed as guide device for the feeding or delivery of the upper or lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) to or from respectively the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) respectively,

7.) Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the covering member (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a) is arranged on the inside of the supporting frame serving as support of the associated upper or lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) for its surface distant from the conveyed product.

8.) Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the covering member (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a) formed as guide device is arranged on the outside of the supporting frame serving as support of the associated upper or lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) for its surface distant from the conveyed product.

9.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering device (2) possesses at least one pair of covering members (22 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) extending from the opposite longitudinal beams (5) or side webs of the supporting frame (3) in the direction of the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) normal to the surface of the on the conveyed product side of the upper and/or the lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29).

10.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a) is arranged permanently fixed to the supporting frame.

11.) Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is fastened in a detachable manner to the supporting frame.

12.) Device according to Claim 1. characterized in that covering device (2) possesses at least one pair of covering member(s) (22 or 22a or 22b or 42 or 42,42a respectively) extending from opposite supporting pieces (13 or 23 respectively) of a bearing device for one or several roller(s) (20) pulley(s) on the same axis in the direction of the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) normal to the surface on the conveyed product side of the upper and/or lower strands (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29).

13.) Device according to Claim 1 in particular with supporting pieces of the bearing device for the roller(s) or pulley(s) changeable in position in relation to the supporting frame in the longitudinal direction of the same, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22 or 22a or 22b or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is arranged permanently attached to the supporting piece.

14.) Device according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (22 or 22a or 22b respectively) is formed as one piece with the associated supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulleys.

15.) Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is fastened in a detachable manner to the associated supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).

16.) Device according to Claim 1 with detachably fastened covering member(s), characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 22a or 22b) is or are fastened on the outside of the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) of the associated supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).

17.) Device according to Claim 1 with detachably fastened covering member(s) characterized in that the covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is or are fastened on the outside of the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or of the associated supporting piece (13 0r 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) 20 or pulley(s).

18.) Device according to Claim 1, with at the same time covering members provided in each case for the upper and lower of strand of the conveying means, characterized in that the covering means (12 or 22 or 22a,22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respec-tively) for the upper and lower strands (29a and 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) associated with the longitudinal beam (5) or the side web of the supporting frame (3) or a supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) pulley(s) are aranged with the same distance from the adjoining longitudinal edge of the longitudinal beam (5) or side web of supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively), preferably in alignment with this.

19.) Device according to Claim 1 with at the same time covering members provided for in each case the upper and the lower strand of the conveying means, characterized in that the covering members of upper and lower strand (29a and 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29) associated with a longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or a supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device of the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) with the same distance from the front edge of the longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) placed on the other side of the roller or pulley axle (21).

20.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (e.g. 32) is formed as angle piece preferable of steel sheet or plastic which is fastened with its one shant (31) parallel to a plane (4a) of the adjoining longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or the adjoining supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) parallel to the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) to this longitudinal beam (5) or side web or to this supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively).

21.) Device according to Claim 20. characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) formed as angle piece (e.g. 32) is fastened to the adjoining longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or to the adjoining supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) or the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulleys in a position in which its other shank (30) runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beam (5) or side web or supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively).

22.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) is formed a U or C section preferably of steel sheet or plastic, which is fastened with its side webs in each case parallel to a plane (e.g. 4a) of the adjoining longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or of the adjoining supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) parallel to the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) to this longitudinal beam (5) or side web or to this supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively).

23.) Device according to Claim 22, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) formed as U or C section is fastened to opposite longitudinal beams (5) or side webs of the supporting frame (3) or supporting pieces (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) in a position in which its center web runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beam (S) or side web or supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively).

24.) Device according to Claim 1 characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) is braced against the axle (21) of the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).

25.) Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (12 or 32 or 42 or 42,42a res-pectively) for the upper strand (29a) and/or the covering member(s) (12 or 22 or 42 or 42,42a res-pectively) for the lower strand (29b) of the con-veying means (29) possesses or possess a tongue (12a or 12b or 30a or 42a respectively) extending from its or their fastening point at the greatest distance from the roller or pulley axle (21) in the longitudinal direction (A) of the band conveyor (1) approximately like a flag into the intermediate space (41) between the opposite long-itudinal beams (5) or side webs of its supporting frame (3) or supporting pieces (13 or 23 respect-ively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).

26.) Device according to Claim 25, characterized in that the flag-like tongue (12a or 12b or 30a or 42a respectively) possesses a length extending up to beyond the adjoining front edge (e.g. 38) of the supporting fram (3) or of a possibly pro-vided chute and/or apron sheet or covering sheet of the same.

27.) Device according to Claim 25, with supporting pieces for the roller(s) or pulley(s) changeable in position in relation to the supporting fram in the longitudinal direction of the same, char-acterized in that the flag-like tongue (12a or 12b or 30a or 42a respectively) possesses a length extending even in a position of the associated supporting piece(s) (13 or 23 respectively) in which this or these has or have a maximum distance in relation to the front edge (e.g. 38) of the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) up to beyond the adjoining front edge of the supporting frame (3) or of a possibly provided chute and/or apron sheet of covering sheet of the same.

28.) Device according to Claim 1, with detachably fastened covering member(s), characterized in that the covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is or are fastened so that its or their relative position cannot be changed in relation to the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or to the associated supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).

29.) Device according to Claim 28, characterized in thatthe covering member(s) (12 or 22a or 22b or 32 or 42 or 42,42a respectively) is or are in each case fastened by means of at least one screw element (47).

30.) Device according to Claim 28, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12 or 42 or 42,42a) in each case is or are fastened by means of a plug connection (9, 11a or 10, 11a) arranged distant from the supporting frame and/or a plug connection ( 9 11a, or 10,11a) arranged close to the supporting frame or by means of two plug connections ( 9, 11a or 10, 11a) arranged on the side distant from the supporting frame or on the side close to the supporting frame or on both sides of the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) consisting in each case of a pin (11a) fixed to the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece and an accepting bush (9 or 10) for this fixed to the covering member or a pin (11a) fixed to the covering member and an accepting bush (9 or 10) for this fixed to the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece.

31.) Device according to Claim 1, with detachably fastened covering member(s), characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) is or are fastened to the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or the associated supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) capable of swivelling in relation to the said longitudinal frame or side web or supporting piece.

32.) Device according to Claim 31, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12 is fastened in each case by means of a plug connection arranged on the side distant to the supporting frame or on the side close to the supporting frame of the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s) consisting of a pin (11a) fixed to the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece and an accepting bush (9 or 10) for this fixed to the covering member or of a pin (11a) fixed to the covering member and an accepting bush (9 or 10) for this fixed to the longitudinal beam or side web or supporting piece.

33.) Device according to Claim 25, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) in each case is or are supported (25) fixed to the supporting frame for sliding movement at its or their end distant from the roller(s) or pulley(s).

34.) Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) possesses or possess an offset end (12c or 12d respectively) distant from the roller(s) or pulley(s).

35.) Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) possesses or possess a somewhat Z-shaped end (12d) distant from the roller(s) or pulley(s) angled in relation to its or their other end close to the roller(s) or pulley(s).

36.) Device according to Claim 33, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 22a or 22b or 32) is or are supported by means of a sliding guide device (55 or 65) on the longitudinal beam or side web side.

37.) Device according to Claim 33, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) is or are supported by resting on a cross beam (25) of the supporting frame (3).

38.) Device according to Claim 28, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) in each case is or are fastened with its or their end close to the roller(s) or pulley(s) to supporting rod (11) fastened to the associated longitudinal beam (5) or side web of the supporting frame (3) or to the supporting piece (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) 20 or pulley(s), preferably when two covering member(s) (e.g. 12) opposing one another in pair or a single covering member (e.g. 12) bridging over the intermediate space (40) between these opposing longitudinal beams (5) or side webs of supporting pieces (13 or 23 respectively) is or are fastened to a supporting rod (11) fastened to these longitudinal beams (5) or side webs or supporting pieces (13 or 23 respec-tively).

39.) Device according to Claim 38, characterized in that the covering member(s) (e.g. 12) in each case is or are fastened to the associated supporting rod (11) by welding, cementing, screwing, clamping or pinning, whereby its or their connection area(s) distant from the roller(s) or pulley(s) with regard to this fastening place is or are flanged around this supporing rod (11).

40.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering device (2) is formed for changing the size of the distance (39) granting the movement play for the upper and/or the lower strand (29a or 29b respectively) of the conveying means (29).

41.) Device according to Claim 40, characterized in that the covering device (2) possesses at least one covering member (e.g. 22a or 22b) adjustable in its effective width in the direction of the central longitudinal plane (m) of the band conveyor (1) normal to the surface of the conveying means (29) on the conveyed product side.

42.) Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering device (2) is formed for changing the size of its distance to the associated roller or pulley arrangement (20)

43.) Device according to Claim 40, characterized in that the or at least one of the covering member(s) (e.g. 22a or 22b) is held displaceable for changing its distance to the associated roller or pulley arrangement (20) and attachable in the desired working position to the associated longitudinal beam(s) (5) or side web(s) of the supporting frame (3) or to the associated supporting piece(s) (13 or 23 respectively) of the bearing device for the roller(s) (20) or pulley(s).