CA1247034A - Traveling vibrating diverter feed system - Google Patents
Traveling vibrating diverter feed systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1247034A CA1247034A CA000500087A CA500087A CA1247034A CA 1247034 A CA1247034 A CA 1247034A CA 000500087 A CA000500087 A CA 000500087A CA 500087 A CA500087 A CA 500087A CA 1247034 A CA1247034 A CA 1247034A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor
- belt
- vibrating
- pan
- product
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G69/00—Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with loading or unloading
- B65G69/04—Spreading out the materials conveyed over the whole surface to be loaded; Trimming heaps of loose materials
- B65G69/0408—Spreading out the materials conveyed over the whole surface to be loaded; Trimming heaps of loose materials by relatively moving an endless feeding means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
- B65G47/76—Fixed or adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
- B65G47/766—Adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G69/00—Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with loading or unloading
- B65G69/04—Spreading out the materials conveyed over the whole surface to be loaded; Trimming heaps of loose materials
- B65G69/0425—Spreading out the materials conveyed over the whole surface to be loaded; Trimming heaps of loose materials with vibrating or shaking means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
- Jigging Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
A conveyor system comprising a first endless belt conveyor; a vibrating conveyorat an angle to the endless belt conveyor including means positioned beneath the belt conveyor to vibrate the belt conveyor along with the vibrating conveyor andto fluidize product on the belt conveyor; a diverter blade in contact with the belt conveyor adapted to vibrate with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to the vibrating conveyor.
A conveyor system comprising a first endless belt conveyor; a vibrating conveyorat an angle to the endless belt conveyor including means positioned beneath the belt conveyor to vibrate the belt conveyor along with the vibrating conveyor andto fluidize product on the belt conveyor; a diverter blade in contact with the belt conveyor adapted to vibrate with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to the vibrating conveyor.
Description
7~;13 TRAVELING vIsRAllNG DIVERTER FEED SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a conveyor system, and particularly to means for diverting product from a feed conveyor onto a second conveyor at an angle ~o-the feed conveyor.
The present invention wiU be particularly described with respect to thedistribution of de~cate or frangible particulate products, such as bran flakes, to a surge or storage bin, although it wiU be apparent to those skiUed in the art that the present invention has other app]ications.
BA C K G RO U N D OF T HE INVENTIO N
The present invention is particularly concerned with the distribution of frangible or delicate products, such as cereal bran akes, into a storage or surge bin.
Conventionally, such storage or surge bins are rectangular in cross section, open at the top, and several feet in depth. The floor of the bin is usuaUy a belt conveyor adapted to move product in the direction of the bin diæharge end. A
picker or doEfer at the discharge end is adapted to ur~oad product conveyed to such end by the f~or conveyor. One purpose of such bins is to provide a uniform feed to downstream equipment, -Eor instance a dryer.
Loading a surge bin in this invention is complicated by the fragili-ty or brittleness of the product. It is known to use a vibrating distributing conveyor mounted across the top o~ the bin on a trQUey which moves lengthwise back and forth, ~47~
along the bin. The po~;ition of the trolley is contrc~led by a sensor system which detects the position of the product pile in the bin. In operation, product is fed onto the vibrating dist~ibuting conveyor at a point to one ~:ide of the binO Thedistributing conveyor is in the shape of a shallow pan, and vibration of the pancauses the product to flow towards a slot in the bottom of the pan, and to drop through the ~lot into the bin.
One problem in loading a storage or surge bin is transferring the product (e.g.,cereal bran flakes) from a source to the vibrating pan conveyor. In practice, this may be done by using a hopper which depo6its product onto what is referred to as a reverse wrapped belt conveyor. This type of belt conveyor has a deliveryend above the vibrating pan conveyor feed point, the delivery end being adapted to travel with or fl~ w the vibrating pan conveyor as the latter moves ~Dn~ the bin length. The belt is of the continuous type, with a stationary drive drum. As the belt delivery end moves towards or away from the drum, slack in the belt is taken up or given by a pair of drums bene~th said delivery end defining a reverse loop in the belt, wherein the pair of drums and reverse loop are adapted to move with the bel-t delivery end and in the same direction the belt delivery end is moving. Obviously, the apparatus is extrernely cumbersome, subject to high maintenance costs, and unsanitary in that it is hard to clean, amoung other disadvantages.
Various other arrangements have been proposed to transfer product from one conveyor to another. One example is a Gre~lick patent No. 2,833~390, which is provided with means to tip or canter the conveyor belt so that product on the conveyor belt can fall off of or be di~EiLaced onto a second b~lt positioned along the lower side of the tipped or cantered belt.
A Bruce et al patent No. 3,138,408 and a Tipton patent No. 3,~53,477, both di~ose use of a divertmg blade on a belt to transfer product from the belt.
Jepsen patent No. 3,827,777 shows the use of an air cushion for diverting product. In the '408 patent, means are provided for directing air beneath the diverting blade to prevent fibers from passing under the diverter and jamming the belt. This use of air alone at suffisien~dy high pressure to prevent jam ming, with lightweight cereal product on the b~Lt, wo~iLd be lik~Ly to inadverten'dy scatter the product of E the belt rather than direct it onto a second belt.
3~
In the '477 patent, means are provided for producing a hump in the beltim mediately ahead of the diverter blade or deflector. The purpose of this is toprevent flat pieces of mail from passing underneath the defLector or blade. The system would not likely be effective with the diversion of particulate cereal products.
Simll~rly, the use of an air cushion as in the '777 patent would tend to scatterproduct off the belt, and would not be suitable in the present process.
DISCL OSU RE OF INVENTIO N
The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages in providing a feed system comprising a transversely extendlng elongated vibrating conveyor having an upper product carrying surface and a discharge area; means for vibrating said conveyor; a feed belt including an upper product carrying surface; a diverter blade engaging said feed belt product carrying surface;
means to vibrate said feed belt in a defined area ahead of said blade, with regard to the onccming product, to fluidize product on the belt product carrying surface in said area; said belt and diverter blade being positioned with regard to the vibrating conveyor to transfer the fluidized product onto the vibrating conveyor at a point remote from the vibrating conveyor discharge area.
PreferabLy~ the vibrating conveyor is a vibrating pan conveyor.
~lso, in a preferred embodiment, the diverter blade is in the form of a pLenum chamber with aperture means in the edge contacting the feed belt upper product carrying surface to disperse air under pressure into the area between the feed belt and diverter blade edge against the oncoming fluidized product..
Also, in a preferred embodiment, the conveyor system of the present invention is~or loading a surge bin wherein a trcdley is provided adapted to move longitudin~ly aLong the bin; the system comprising a vibrating pan conveyor supported by said trolley extending laterally across the bin; means to vibrate said pan conveyor relative to the trolley; a closed loop feed belt extending longitudinally along one side of the surge bin; said vibrating pan conveyor extending beneath the bel-t and supporting 3~
the belt so that the belt vibrates with -the pan fluidizing product on the belt,means ;s(ilating the area of the belt vibrated by the pan from the rest of the belt so that the vibration is confined to the area of the pan; diverting ~iLade meansriding on -the belt upper side vibrated with the belt, said kaade means being angled and posi-tioned so as to divert flu;dized product frorn the hlade to -the pan.
B RIEF D ES C RIPTIO N OF D RA WIN GS
The present invention will become further apparent from the f~llowing description with reference to the accompaning drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view oE the conveyor system of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a reduced-size elevation view of a surge bin in association with the conveyor system of Fig. ~;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the surye bin apparatus of Fig. 2 and accompanying conveyor system;
Figure 4 is a detailed, er~arged elevation view of a portion of the conveyor system of Fig. l;
Figure 4a is an er~arged elevation view of a vibrating mechanism -Eor the conveyor system of Fig. 4;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the conveyor system of Fig. 4, but showing a preferred support arrangement for the diverter blade; and Figure 6 is a further enlarged sec-tion view of a portion oE the apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, the conveyor system 1~, Fig. 1, is positioned above a rectangular surge bin 14 (Figs. 2 and 3). Representative dimensions of the surgebin are; length 10-50 feet; width 4-12 feet; overall heights about 11 feet. The bin may accom modate a product depth, by way of example, of about 2-6 feet.
Again, the present invention is primarily useful for distribution of fragile or brittle food products such as cereal bran flakes into -the surge bin.
~s shown in Fig. 2, the floor of the bin comprises an endless belt conveyor 16 7~3~
having an upper flight adapted to move in the direction of a delivery end 20 of the surge bin. A plurality of pickers or doffers 18 at the delivery end of the ~in cooperate with the conveyor to unload the bin, f~llowing known practice.
The conveyor system of Fig. 1 comprises a trcaley 22 mounted on pairs of r~llers24 riding on tracks 26. The tracks are in turn po~itioned along the topsides of the surge bin 14 so that the tr~lley can move longitudina~ly along the bin from one end to another.
The trc~ley is provided with a framework 28 tFig. 1), which extends laterally across the bin and then outboard to the right side 30 of the bin. A vibrating sh~llr)w-pan conveyor 32 is supended beneath the tr(illey framework and extends laterally across the bin and also off to the side 30, as with the trcilley. The pan is provided with opp~sed sides 32(a) and 32(b) and a product carrying surface 32(c) having a diagonal or cross bias slot 34 through which product in the pan drops downwardly into the bin 14. The purpose of the cross bias slot is to distribute product uniformly across the f~ill width of the bin as the trcilley and pan conveyor move longitudinally.
The pan is suspended from the framework 28 and vibrated by means to be described. In addition, motor actuating means, also to be described, is providedto drive one of the r~lers 24 and move the tr~lley longitudinally. Still referring to Figs. L 2 and 3, product is de]ivered to the shallow vibrating pan 32 by means of an elongated, endless or closed 1DOP b t conveyor 36 turning on end drums 38. A diverter blade 40 rides against the upper surface of the b~Lt 36 and is po~itioned and angled with regard to the conveyor assembly to direct product on the belt into the vibrating pan. ~Lation pads 42 (Fig. 1~ alongside the vibrating pan, on opposite sLdes of the pan, are supported from a "U" shaped bracket 44 attached to framework 28 and rc~lers 24.
~s shown in Fig. 1, the belt 36, in the area between the isolation pads, is threaded through openings 32(d) in the vibrating pan conveyor sides 32(a) and 32(b), at a point remote from the bias slot~ Between the openings 32(d), the belt rides over the surface of the vibrating pan and is vibrated in ur~ison with and by vibration of the pan. The isolation pads 42 limit the vibration only to the area 7~3~
between the pads, preventing transmission of the vibration to the rest of the belt. sy means of the vibration, advancing or oncoming product on the belt 36 carrying surface is converted to a fluidized state in the area ahead of the hlade 40, permitting the blade to readily scoop the product from the belt onto the vibrating pan. It should be noted that the isolation pads 42, in addition to iscaating the oncoming portion of the belt 36 from vibration, also serve to support the belt so that it goes through the vibrating diverter with a minimum of drag and/or wear, in effect isolating the vibrating belt and tray Erom -the inherent feed belt tension forces.
Further details oE the system of -the present invention are shown in Figs. 4-6.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated the surge bin 14 having uprightsides 46, and longitudinally extending tracks 26 supported by the sides. Tr~lley22 is adapted to ride on the tracks 26 via r~llers 24. A motor 48 drives -the trc~ley 22 through a speed reducer 50. The trcaley 22 supports along the top a heavy piece of tubing 52 which extends across the width of the trolley and out over the right-hand side 30, as shown in the Figure. The vibrating pan 32 is suspended from the tubing 52 by means of flat springs 54 in a conventional manner. Details of the vibrating mechanism are shown in Fig. 4a. An eccentric 56 is mounted at one end of the tubing 52 and is provided with arm 58 oonnected to the vibrating pan 32. A motor 60 drives the eccentric 56 through belt 62.
This, in turn, causes the pan 32 to vibrate with each revolution of the eccentric.
Referring to Fig. 5, a framework 64 is constructed across the pan, on the outboard side, and the diverter blade 40 is rigidly connected to the framework so that -the blade vibrates in unison with the pan. Optiona~ly, the blade can be vibrated by a separate vibrating source, so that the pan conveyor and diverter or blade vibrate independently of each other. In such case, the vibrating diverter blade maybe independently attached to the trc~ley framework 52 by flatsprings 65, as shown in Fig. 4.
Detai~s of the blade are shown in Fig. 6. Essentially, the blade comprises a curved Eront side 66, shaped so as to have a scooping action on the oncoming fl~idized product, and a rear side 68 deEining with the front side a plenum ~'~4~3~
chamber 70. The rear side 68 is provided with an opening 72 connected to a suitable source of air (not shown) under pressure. The bottom edges of the bladefront and rear sides 66 and 68 are provided with wear strips 74 and 76, respectively, adapted to rest against the upper surface of enlLess belt 36. Alsoshown in Fig. 6 is a portion of the bottom of the vibrating pan 32. Again, in operation, the arrangement of components preferably is such that the pan 32, belt 36 and blade 40 vibrate in unison. The result is that product advancing towards the blade on belt 36 is simil~Ly vibrated and nllidized. In such a fluidized state, it is readily s~oped from the belt 36 by the blade 40 onto thevibrating pan, without the passage of product between the blade and belt, in such a way as to cause pulverization of the product or jam ming of the blade and belt.
In this regard, one can visually see a rounded pile of advancing product on the belt flatten and spread out as Flllidization takes affect.
By introducing some air under pressure into the plenum chamber, diversion of even small particles of the material from the belt, rather than flow under the blade, is assured. This is particul~Ly useful when hand]ing products which are likely to generate an amount of dust and~or sma~l particulates. As shown by the arrows in Fig. 6, the air under pressure in the plenum chamber flows from both the front (towards the advancing produc~ and back sides of the ~ade, but since the blade wear strips remain in firm contact with the surface of the belt, a minimum amount of air is utilized.
In this regard, the edges of the diverter blade effect a seal with the feed beltwith a minimum of drag and/or wear~
The principal advantages of the present invention should now be apparent.
Provided is a means which fc~lows movement of the vibrating pan conveyor in a simple and facile manner, for depositing product on the conveyor, without the cumbersome and costly structure of the prior art and which is easy to clean and sanitary. In addition, the present invention is capable of transferring fragile or delicate product without product destruction.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a conveyor system, and particularly to means for diverting product from a feed conveyor onto a second conveyor at an angle ~o-the feed conveyor.
The present invention wiU be particularly described with respect to thedistribution of de~cate or frangible particulate products, such as bran flakes, to a surge or storage bin, although it wiU be apparent to those skiUed in the art that the present invention has other app]ications.
BA C K G RO U N D OF T HE INVENTIO N
The present invention is particularly concerned with the distribution of frangible or delicate products, such as cereal bran akes, into a storage or surge bin.
Conventionally, such storage or surge bins are rectangular in cross section, open at the top, and several feet in depth. The floor of the bin is usuaUy a belt conveyor adapted to move product in the direction of the bin diæharge end. A
picker or doEfer at the discharge end is adapted to ur~oad product conveyed to such end by the f~or conveyor. One purpose of such bins is to provide a uniform feed to downstream equipment, -Eor instance a dryer.
Loading a surge bin in this invention is complicated by the fragili-ty or brittleness of the product. It is known to use a vibrating distributing conveyor mounted across the top o~ the bin on a trQUey which moves lengthwise back and forth, ~47~
along the bin. The po~;ition of the trolley is contrc~led by a sensor system which detects the position of the product pile in the bin. In operation, product is fed onto the vibrating dist~ibuting conveyor at a point to one ~:ide of the binO Thedistributing conveyor is in the shape of a shallow pan, and vibration of the pancauses the product to flow towards a slot in the bottom of the pan, and to drop through the ~lot into the bin.
One problem in loading a storage or surge bin is transferring the product (e.g.,cereal bran flakes) from a source to the vibrating pan conveyor. In practice, this may be done by using a hopper which depo6its product onto what is referred to as a reverse wrapped belt conveyor. This type of belt conveyor has a deliveryend above the vibrating pan conveyor feed point, the delivery end being adapted to travel with or fl~ w the vibrating pan conveyor as the latter moves ~Dn~ the bin length. The belt is of the continuous type, with a stationary drive drum. As the belt delivery end moves towards or away from the drum, slack in the belt is taken up or given by a pair of drums bene~th said delivery end defining a reverse loop in the belt, wherein the pair of drums and reverse loop are adapted to move with the bel-t delivery end and in the same direction the belt delivery end is moving. Obviously, the apparatus is extrernely cumbersome, subject to high maintenance costs, and unsanitary in that it is hard to clean, amoung other disadvantages.
Various other arrangements have been proposed to transfer product from one conveyor to another. One example is a Gre~lick patent No. 2,833~390, which is provided with means to tip or canter the conveyor belt so that product on the conveyor belt can fall off of or be di~EiLaced onto a second b~lt positioned along the lower side of the tipped or cantered belt.
A Bruce et al patent No. 3,138,408 and a Tipton patent No. 3,~53,477, both di~ose use of a divertmg blade on a belt to transfer product from the belt.
Jepsen patent No. 3,827,777 shows the use of an air cushion for diverting product. In the '408 patent, means are provided for directing air beneath the diverting blade to prevent fibers from passing under the diverter and jamming the belt. This use of air alone at suffisien~dy high pressure to prevent jam ming, with lightweight cereal product on the b~Lt, wo~iLd be lik~Ly to inadverten'dy scatter the product of E the belt rather than direct it onto a second belt.
3~
In the '477 patent, means are provided for producing a hump in the beltim mediately ahead of the diverter blade or deflector. The purpose of this is toprevent flat pieces of mail from passing underneath the defLector or blade. The system would not likely be effective with the diversion of particulate cereal products.
Simll~rly, the use of an air cushion as in the '777 patent would tend to scatterproduct off the belt, and would not be suitable in the present process.
DISCL OSU RE OF INVENTIO N
The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages in providing a feed system comprising a transversely extendlng elongated vibrating conveyor having an upper product carrying surface and a discharge area; means for vibrating said conveyor; a feed belt including an upper product carrying surface; a diverter blade engaging said feed belt product carrying surface;
means to vibrate said feed belt in a defined area ahead of said blade, with regard to the onccming product, to fluidize product on the belt product carrying surface in said area; said belt and diverter blade being positioned with regard to the vibrating conveyor to transfer the fluidized product onto the vibrating conveyor at a point remote from the vibrating conveyor discharge area.
PreferabLy~ the vibrating conveyor is a vibrating pan conveyor.
~lso, in a preferred embodiment, the diverter blade is in the form of a pLenum chamber with aperture means in the edge contacting the feed belt upper product carrying surface to disperse air under pressure into the area between the feed belt and diverter blade edge against the oncoming fluidized product..
Also, in a preferred embodiment, the conveyor system of the present invention is~or loading a surge bin wherein a trcdley is provided adapted to move longitudin~ly aLong the bin; the system comprising a vibrating pan conveyor supported by said trolley extending laterally across the bin; means to vibrate said pan conveyor relative to the trolley; a closed loop feed belt extending longitudinally along one side of the surge bin; said vibrating pan conveyor extending beneath the bel-t and supporting 3~
the belt so that the belt vibrates with -the pan fluidizing product on the belt,means ;s(ilating the area of the belt vibrated by the pan from the rest of the belt so that the vibration is confined to the area of the pan; diverting ~iLade meansriding on -the belt upper side vibrated with the belt, said kaade means being angled and posi-tioned so as to divert flu;dized product frorn the hlade to -the pan.
B RIEF D ES C RIPTIO N OF D RA WIN GS
The present invention will become further apparent from the f~llowing description with reference to the accompaning drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view oE the conveyor system of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a reduced-size elevation view of a surge bin in association with the conveyor system of Fig. ~;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the surye bin apparatus of Fig. 2 and accompanying conveyor system;
Figure 4 is a detailed, er~arged elevation view of a portion of the conveyor system of Fig. l;
Figure 4a is an er~arged elevation view of a vibrating mechanism -Eor the conveyor system of Fig. 4;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the conveyor system of Fig. 4, but showing a preferred support arrangement for the diverter blade; and Figure 6 is a further enlarged sec-tion view of a portion oE the apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, the conveyor system 1~, Fig. 1, is positioned above a rectangular surge bin 14 (Figs. 2 and 3). Representative dimensions of the surgebin are; length 10-50 feet; width 4-12 feet; overall heights about 11 feet. The bin may accom modate a product depth, by way of example, of about 2-6 feet.
Again, the present invention is primarily useful for distribution of fragile or brittle food products such as cereal bran flakes into -the surge bin.
~s shown in Fig. 2, the floor of the bin comprises an endless belt conveyor 16 7~3~
having an upper flight adapted to move in the direction of a delivery end 20 of the surge bin. A plurality of pickers or doffers 18 at the delivery end of the ~in cooperate with the conveyor to unload the bin, f~llowing known practice.
The conveyor system of Fig. 1 comprises a trcaley 22 mounted on pairs of r~llers24 riding on tracks 26. The tracks are in turn po~itioned along the topsides of the surge bin 14 so that the tr~lley can move longitudina~ly along the bin from one end to another.
The trc~ley is provided with a framework 28 tFig. 1), which extends laterally across the bin and then outboard to the right side 30 of the bin. A vibrating sh~llr)w-pan conveyor 32 is supended beneath the tr(illey framework and extends laterally across the bin and also off to the side 30, as with the trcilley. The pan is provided with opp~sed sides 32(a) and 32(b) and a product carrying surface 32(c) having a diagonal or cross bias slot 34 through which product in the pan drops downwardly into the bin 14. The purpose of the cross bias slot is to distribute product uniformly across the f~ill width of the bin as the trcilley and pan conveyor move longitudinally.
The pan is suspended from the framework 28 and vibrated by means to be described. In addition, motor actuating means, also to be described, is providedto drive one of the r~lers 24 and move the tr~lley longitudinally. Still referring to Figs. L 2 and 3, product is de]ivered to the shallow vibrating pan 32 by means of an elongated, endless or closed 1DOP b t conveyor 36 turning on end drums 38. A diverter blade 40 rides against the upper surface of the b~Lt 36 and is po~itioned and angled with regard to the conveyor assembly to direct product on the belt into the vibrating pan. ~Lation pads 42 (Fig. 1~ alongside the vibrating pan, on opposite sLdes of the pan, are supported from a "U" shaped bracket 44 attached to framework 28 and rc~lers 24.
~s shown in Fig. 1, the belt 36, in the area between the isolation pads, is threaded through openings 32(d) in the vibrating pan conveyor sides 32(a) and 32(b), at a point remote from the bias slot~ Between the openings 32(d), the belt rides over the surface of the vibrating pan and is vibrated in ur~ison with and by vibration of the pan. The isolation pads 42 limit the vibration only to the area 7~3~
between the pads, preventing transmission of the vibration to the rest of the belt. sy means of the vibration, advancing or oncoming product on the belt 36 carrying surface is converted to a fluidized state in the area ahead of the hlade 40, permitting the blade to readily scoop the product from the belt onto the vibrating pan. It should be noted that the isolation pads 42, in addition to iscaating the oncoming portion of the belt 36 from vibration, also serve to support the belt so that it goes through the vibrating diverter with a minimum of drag and/or wear, in effect isolating the vibrating belt and tray Erom -the inherent feed belt tension forces.
Further details oE the system of -the present invention are shown in Figs. 4-6.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated the surge bin 14 having uprightsides 46, and longitudinally extending tracks 26 supported by the sides. Tr~lley22 is adapted to ride on the tracks 26 via r~llers 24. A motor 48 drives -the trc~ley 22 through a speed reducer 50. The trcaley 22 supports along the top a heavy piece of tubing 52 which extends across the width of the trolley and out over the right-hand side 30, as shown in the Figure. The vibrating pan 32 is suspended from the tubing 52 by means of flat springs 54 in a conventional manner. Details of the vibrating mechanism are shown in Fig. 4a. An eccentric 56 is mounted at one end of the tubing 52 and is provided with arm 58 oonnected to the vibrating pan 32. A motor 60 drives the eccentric 56 through belt 62.
This, in turn, causes the pan 32 to vibrate with each revolution of the eccentric.
Referring to Fig. 5, a framework 64 is constructed across the pan, on the outboard side, and the diverter blade 40 is rigidly connected to the framework so that -the blade vibrates in unison with the pan. Optiona~ly, the blade can be vibrated by a separate vibrating source, so that the pan conveyor and diverter or blade vibrate independently of each other. In such case, the vibrating diverter blade maybe independently attached to the trc~ley framework 52 by flatsprings 65, as shown in Fig. 4.
Detai~s of the blade are shown in Fig. 6. Essentially, the blade comprises a curved Eront side 66, shaped so as to have a scooping action on the oncoming fl~idized product, and a rear side 68 deEining with the front side a plenum ~'~4~3~
chamber 70. The rear side 68 is provided with an opening 72 connected to a suitable source of air (not shown) under pressure. The bottom edges of the bladefront and rear sides 66 and 68 are provided with wear strips 74 and 76, respectively, adapted to rest against the upper surface of enlLess belt 36. Alsoshown in Fig. 6 is a portion of the bottom of the vibrating pan 32. Again, in operation, the arrangement of components preferably is such that the pan 32, belt 36 and blade 40 vibrate in unison. The result is that product advancing towards the blade on belt 36 is simil~Ly vibrated and nllidized. In such a fluidized state, it is readily s~oped from the belt 36 by the blade 40 onto thevibrating pan, without the passage of product between the blade and belt, in such a way as to cause pulverization of the product or jam ming of the blade and belt.
In this regard, one can visually see a rounded pile of advancing product on the belt flatten and spread out as Flllidization takes affect.
By introducing some air under pressure into the plenum chamber, diversion of even small particles of the material from the belt, rather than flow under the blade, is assured. This is particul~Ly useful when hand]ing products which are likely to generate an amount of dust and~or sma~l particulates. As shown by the arrows in Fig. 6, the air under pressure in the plenum chamber flows from both the front (towards the advancing produc~ and back sides of the ~ade, but since the blade wear strips remain in firm contact with the surface of the belt, a minimum amount of air is utilized.
In this regard, the edges of the diverter blade effect a seal with the feed beltwith a minimum of drag and/or wear~
The principal advantages of the present invention should now be apparent.
Provided is a means which fc~lows movement of the vibrating pan conveyor in a simple and facile manner, for depositing product on the conveyor, without the cumbersome and costly structure of the prior art and which is easy to clean and sanitary. In addition, the present invention is capable of transferring fragile or delicate product without product destruction.
Claims (18)
1. A vibrating diverter feed system comprising a transversely extending elongated vibrating conveyor having an upper product carrying surface and a discharge area;
means for vibrating said conveyor;
a feed belt including an upper longitudinally extending moveable product carrying surface;
a diverter blade positioned at an intermediate point of said longitudinally extending surface;
means to vibrate said feed belt in a defined area ahead of said blade, with regard to the oncoming product, to fluidize product on the belt product carrying surface in said area;
said belt and diverter blade being positioned with regard to the vibrating conveyor to transfer the fluidized product onto the vibrating conveyor at a point remote from the vibrating conveyor discharge area.
means for vibrating said conveyor;
a feed belt including an upper longitudinally extending moveable product carrying surface;
a diverter blade positioned at an intermediate point of said longitudinally extending surface;
means to vibrate said feed belt in a defined area ahead of said blade, with regard to the oncoming product, to fluidize product on the belt product carrying surface in said area;
said belt and diverter blade being positioned with regard to the vibrating conveyor to transfer the fluidized product onto the vibrating conveyor at a point remote from the vibrating conveyor discharge area.
2. The feed system of Claim 1 wherein said vibrating conveyor and feed belt defined area are vibrated in unison.
3. The feed system of Claim 1 wherein said vibrating conveyor, feed belt defined area, and diverter blade are vibrated in unison.
4. The feed system of Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said vibrating conveyor is moveable, said belt defined area and blade being moveable with the vibrating conveyor.
5. A vibrating diverter feed system comprising a transversely extending elongated vibrating pan conveyor including pan sides, a pan floor having an upper product carrying surface, and a discharge area, means for vibrating said pan conveyor;
a closed loop feed belt threaded through the pan sides at a point remote from said discharge area adapted to slide on the pan floor;
at least one isolation pad alongside the vibrating pan conveyor engaging the underside of the feed belt adapted to isolate the oncoming portion of the feed belt from the pan vibration and define a trailing portion;
the feed belt trailing portion vibrating in unison with the vibrating pan conveyor and fluidizing product on said trailing portion; and a diverter blade engaging said feed belt trailing portion positioned and angled to direct the fluidized product from the feed belt to the pan conveyor.
a closed loop feed belt threaded through the pan sides at a point remote from said discharge area adapted to slide on the pan floor;
at least one isolation pad alongside the vibrating pan conveyor engaging the underside of the feed belt adapted to isolate the oncoming portion of the feed belt from the pan vibration and define a trailing portion;
the feed belt trailing portion vibrating in unison with the vibrating pan conveyor and fluidizing product on said trailing portion; and a diverter blade engaging said feed belt trailing portion positioned and angled to direct the fluidized product from the feed belt to the pan conveyor.
6. The system of Claim 5 including trolley means to move said vibrating pan conveyor longitudinally with respect to the feed belt.
7. The system of Claims 5 or 6 including means to vibrate the diverter blade in unison with the pan conveyor.
8. A conveyor system comprising a first endless belt conveyor comprising a longitudinally extending moveable prodict carrying surface;
a vibrating conveyor at an angle to the endless belt conveyor positioned at an intermediate point of said carrying surface including means positioned beneath the belt conveyor to vibrate the belt conveyor along with the vibrating conveyor to fluildize product on the belt conveyor;
a diverter blade in contact with the belt conveyor adapted to vibrate with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to the vibrating conveyor.
a vibrating conveyor at an angle to the endless belt conveyor positioned at an intermediate point of said carrying surface including means positioned beneath the belt conveyor to vibrate the belt conveyor along with the vibrating conveyor to fluildize product on the belt conveyor;
a diverter blade in contact with the belt conveyor adapted to vibrate with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to the vibrating conveyor.
9. The conveyor system of Claim 8 wherein said vibrating conveyor is a vibrating pan.
10. The conveyor system of Claim 9 wherein said diverter blade defines a plenum chamber adapted to provide an air-knife seal with the belt conveyor to prevent small particles from passing under the diverter blade.
11. The conveyor system of Claim 10 including isolation pad means adapted to confine the vibration of the belt conveyor to the area of the vibrating pan.
12. A conveyor system for loading a surge bin comprising a trolley adapted to move longitudinally along said bin;
a vibrating pan conveyor supported by said trolley;
means to vibrate said pan conveyor relative the trolley;
an endless belt extending longitudinally along one side of said surge bin comprising a longitudinally extending moveable product carrying surface;
said vibrating pan extending beneath the belt at an intermediate point of said carrying surface and supporting the belt so that the belt vibrates with the pan fluidizing product on the belt;
means isolating the area of the belt vibrated by the pan from the rest of the belt so that the bibration is confined to the area of the pan;
diverter blade means riding on the belt vibrating with the belt;
said blade means being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the blade to the pan.
a vibrating pan conveyor supported by said trolley;
means to vibrate said pan conveyor relative the trolley;
an endless belt extending longitudinally along one side of said surge bin comprising a longitudinally extending moveable product carrying surface;
said vibrating pan extending beneath the belt at an intermediate point of said carrying surface and supporting the belt so that the belt vibrates with the pan fluidizing product on the belt;
means isolating the area of the belt vibrated by the pan from the rest of the belt so that the bibration is confined to the area of the pan;
diverter blade means riding on the belt vibrating with the belt;
said blade means being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the blade to the pan.
13. A conveyor system comprising a first endless belt conveyor comprising a longitudinally extending moveable product carrying surface;
a receiving conveyor adjacent to an intermediate point of said longitudinally extending surface and at an angle to the endless belt conveyor;
vibrating means for vibrating the belt conveyor in the area of the receiving conveyor to fluidize product on the belt conveyor; and a diverter blade contiguous with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to said receiving conveyor.
a receiving conveyor adjacent to an intermediate point of said longitudinally extending surface and at an angle to the endless belt conveyor;
vibrating means for vibrating the belt conveyor in the area of the receiving conveyor to fluidize product on the belt conveyor; and a diverter blade contiguous with the belt conveyor, said blade being positioned and angled to divert fluidized product from the belt conveyor to said receiving conveyor.
14. The conveyor system of claim 13 wherein said receiving conveyor, diverter blade and vibrating means are moveable longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt conveyor.
15. The conveyor system of claims 13 or 14 wherein said receiving conveyor is a vibrating pan conveyor.
16. The conveyor system of claim 13 or 14 wherein said diverter blade is adapted to vibrate in unison with the belt conveyor.
17. The conveyor system of claim 13 or 14 wherein said diverter blade is adapted to vibrate in unison with the belt conveyor, and wherein said diverter blade defines a plenum chamber adapted to provide an air-knife seal with the belt conveyor to prevent small particles from passing under the diverter blade.
18. The conveyor system of claims 13 and 14 wherein said receiving conveyor is a vibrating pan conveyor, the conveyor including isolation pad means adapted to confine the vibration of the belt conveyor to the area of the vibrating pan conveyor.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US69390985A | 1985-01-23 | 1985-01-23 | |
| US693,909 | 1985-01-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1247034A true CA1247034A (en) | 1988-12-20 |
Family
ID=24786628
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000500087A Expired CA1247034A (en) | 1985-01-23 | 1986-01-22 | Traveling vibrating diverter feed system |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0210234A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1247034A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2179315B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1986004315A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109573554B (en) * | 2019-01-17 | 2020-11-24 | 广东智源机器人科技有限公司 | Material box discharging moving mechanism for automatic cooking device and automatic cooking device |
| CN110980312A (en) * | 2019-12-06 | 2020-04-10 | 芜湖起运机械制造有限公司 | Intelligent automatic material distribution system for large-scale stockyard |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE490748C (en) * | 1928-12-15 | 1930-01-31 | Wilhelm Heidemann Dr Ing | Stripping device for conveyor belts |
| US3138408A (en) * | 1961-02-17 | 1964-06-23 | Monsanto Co | Conveying systems |
| US3153477A (en) * | 1962-07-30 | 1964-10-20 | Archibald O B Tipton | Conveyor belt systems |
| US3590983A (en) * | 1968-06-06 | 1971-07-06 | Rotec Industries | Concrete conveyor |
| US3550752A (en) * | 1968-11-08 | 1970-12-29 | Vaughn Gregor | Automatic storage system for non-free flowing products |
| US3877585A (en) * | 1974-02-04 | 1975-04-15 | Jr Ralph D Burgess | Material distributing system for nonfree-flowing products |
| SU1109351A1 (en) * | 1982-03-29 | 1984-08-23 | Институт механики и сейсмостойкости сооружений им.М.Т.Уразбаева | Apparatus for unloading material from conveyer belt |
-
1986
- 1986-01-22 CA CA000500087A patent/CA1247034A/en not_active Expired
- 1986-01-23 EP EP19860900981 patent/EP0210234A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-01-23 WO PCT/US1986/000128 patent/WO1986004315A1/en unknown
- 1986-01-23 GB GB8620826A patent/GB2179315B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2179315B (en) | 1989-06-07 |
| GB8620826D0 (en) | 1986-10-08 |
| GB2179315A (en) | 1987-03-04 |
| WO1986004315A1 (en) | 1986-07-31 |
| EP0210234A1 (en) | 1987-02-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |