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
  • B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
  • B65G15/60—Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets
  • B65G15/62—Guides for sliding belts
• • 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
  • B65G2207/00—Indexing codes relating to constructional details, configuration and additional features of a handling device, e.g. Conveyors
  • B65G2207/48—Wear protection or indication features

Definitions

• the present invention enters the field of conveying products within a production and processing line for said products.
• Such products can be, without limitation, containers, such as bottles, cans, cardboard bricks, or even such containers individually or grouped within boxes, cases, cartons or bundles. Such products can also be preforms or plugs.
• the products can receive several different successive treatments, ranging from the manufacture of the container by a plastic injection or stretch-blow molding operation to the packaging in batches of several grouped products. , notably by filling, closing with a cap and labeling the products individually.
• the invention relates to the conveyance of products, preferably individually, for their treatment. Such conveying of the products takes place between the processing stations as well as inside a station.
• the products are transported by a conveying device provided with at least one movable element ensuring at least part of the movement of the products in at least one longitudinal direction.
• a conveying device extends longitudinally, transporting the products from one end to another, preferably linearly.
• a widely used conveyor device is of the endless belt type and comprises at least one movable element in the form of a belt or a link chain, which is wound at each end around rollers.
• This belt receives the products on the upper face, directly by supporting their bottom or else indirectly, in particular by means of a bucket, a shuttle or a box.
• Another mobile element of a conveying device can be a lateral guide, often arranged along an edge of the device.
• a lateral guide can be in the form of a rail, extending substantially vertically along the direction of circulation and arranged to guide the products laterally along the device.
• each movable member moves relative to the structure of the device, in particular relative to a fixed support.
• Such support is generally has the form of at least one slide.
• One or more mobile elements circulate in contact with one or more slides.
• one or more slides support one or more mobile elements, over all or part of the length of the conveying device.
• Each slide has different technical functions, essentially depending on the mobile element that it supports, particularly in the case of a flexible or articulated mobile element, in particular of the link chain type.
• a slide can provide transverse maintenance of a movable element, and / or impart a required rigidity or flatness, especially when the movable element is loaded with products.
• Such a slide can also support a forward strand but also a return strand of a belt or chain, in particular on the underside of the conveyor.
• a belt or a link chain comes to bear on a support which may comprise several slides extending parallel over the entire length of said device, between the rollers around which rolls up said carpet.
• the latter therefore sees the underside of its upper strand resting against the upper face of each slide.
• a slide has a fixed face which finds itself in contact with or in contact with a surface of a movable element, which causes wear over time, essentially due to the friction generated between the materials.
• wear causes more deterioration of the face of a slide rather than of the material of a mobile element.
• a slide therefore has at the top or at the edge situated towards the movable element, at least one "wear surface", in contact with at least a part of at least one movable element.
• Such wear manifests itself over time in an irregular and uneven manner, depending on where the points or surfaces of contact with each movable element are located, depending on its movements as well as the loads it carries. This wear can be accentuated by external elements coming from the environment, such as for example dust or hard particles, as is the case when conveying glass or metal products, in particular dirty.
• the object of the invention is to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a device for conveying products within a production and processing line for said products, the constitution of which allows rapid and easily check the state of wear of each fixed support in contact with at least the mobile element.
• an internal material of a fixed support comprises at least one underlying layer, initially hidden behind its wear layer, said underlying layer having a visually distinct appearance, clearly and unequivocally differentiating from the material constituting said wear layer.
• the conveyor device comprises at least one mobile element in the form of a conveyor belt or chain with a conveyor link and a fixed support for said mobile element, said support being in the form of at least one slide, said slide supporting said movable element in contact with at least one wear surface which it has.
• Such a device is characterized by the fact that, at least:
• At least one slide comprises, under said wear surface, at least one underlying layer
• - Said underlying layer being made of a material with an appearance different from the appearance of the material of said wear surface.
• such a conveying device can comprise at least two underlying layers (50, 51) arranged at different thicknesses within said slide, in superposition vertically with respect to each other .
• a first underlying layer may be at least partially embedded in the thickness of a second underlying layer.
• a first underlying layer may comprise a material of a color distinct from the material of a second underlying layer.
• Said material of each underlying layer may comprise a color defined in contrast to the color of said wear surface.
• At least one underlying layer may have a thickness less than the thickness of said slide under its wear surface, said underlying layer resting on the rest of said material of said slide.
• Each underlying layer may extend over at least a part along the length of said slide, preferably over the entire length of said slide.
• Each underlying layer may extend over at least part of the width of said slide, preferably over a part less than the width of said slide.
• the invention also relates to such a slide alone for a conveying device, in particular as a wearing part which should be replaced.
• the wear of the normal material of a slide makes it possible to reveal a specific material after or during the wear.
• Figure 1 schematically shows a partial isometric view, showing a cross section of several slides of an embodiment of a conveying device
• Figure 2 schematically shows a simplified view along a vertical cross section of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of a device, showing a slide with a single underlying layer, in a configuration of pronounced degradation of the surface d 'wear;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents a view similar to FIG. 2, in an advanced degradation configuration of a part of the wear surface, showing said single underlying layer;
• FIG. 4 schematically represents a sectional view of an embodiment, showing a slide provided with two underlying layers, in superposition
• FIG. 5 schematically represents a sectional view of an embodiment, showing a slide provided with two underlying layers, juxtaposed transversely with different thicknesses; and
• FIG. 6 schematically represents a sectional view of an embodiment, showing a slide provided with two underlying layers, according to a specific configuration of partial inclusion of one with respect to the other.
• the present invention relates to the conveying of products within a production and processing line for said products.
• Such a product is a container, like a bottle, rigid or semi-rigid. Such a container is intended to contain, in a non-exhaustive manner, a fluid, a liquid, powders or granules, in particular of the food or cosmetic type.
• a product can also be a preform or a stopper.
• a product can be individually or grouped, in the form of a batch, a bundle, a case or a carton.
• the products can receive several different successive treatments, ranging from the manufacture of the container by a plastic injection or stretch-blow molding operation to the packaging in batches of several grouped products, notably passing by filling, closing with a cap and labeling the products individually.
• the invention relates to a device 1 for conveying products for a production and processing line for said products.
• Such a device 1 can be designated “conveyor”. It comprises at least one mobile element (not shown) and a fixed support 2 for the at least one mobile element.
• the movable member may include a conveying surface, such as a carpet or a link chain, on which the products rest, generally at their bottom.
• the mobile element may include a bearing surface against which a side wall of said products comes into contact: the conveyor is then used for lateral guiding of the products.
• a movable element can also be a chain partially wrapped around a wheel or a roller.
• the movable element may include one or more surfaces, it being possible for several surfaces to be moved synchronously or out of phase with each other.
• Such a movable element may comprise arranged one after the other across its width, several link chains driven at different speeds.
• the device 1 is of the endless belt type and the movable element comprises a wound band.
• the mobile element is driven by suitable motorization means.
• the movable element is driven around rollers, in particular by means of chains or belts.
• the fixed support serves as a structure and can be mounted integral with the chassis 3 of the device 1.
• a fixed support 2 can be in the form of at least one slide 20.
• the same fixed support comprises several slides 20.
• said slides 20 can extend longitudinally, with respect to the direction of movement of the mobile element of the device 1. Otherwise, said slides 20 may extend transversely or angularly inclined, relative to the direction of movement of the mobile element of the device 1.
• the slides 20 can extend in a plane parallel to the plane containing the movable element.
• the slides 20 can be located generally in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, or can be inclined to be rising or falling along the longitudinal direction of movement of the conveyor.
• the slides 20 can be straight or curved, following the trajectory of the movable element and of the conveyor.
• a slide 20 supports said movable element.
• several slides support the movable element in several zones.
• slides 20 may extend parallel or substantially parallel to each other, spaced transversely to the conveying direction at regular or irregular intervals.
• the slides 20 come against the surface opposite to the conveying surface, giving support in order to offer sufficient resistance of the mobile element for conveying the products, but also in particular guiding said mobile element so that its movement is operates as aligned as possible along the conveying direction, namely longitudinally.
• FIG. 1 shows five slides 20, mounted integral in recovery of five rails with which the chassis is provided 3. Said slides 20 are parallel and regularly spaced. The mobile element then comes to bear from above, its lower face resting in dedicated zones against the upper faces of the slides 20.
• a slide 20 supports the movable element in contact with at least one wear surface 4.
• the so-called "wear" surface 4 in contact with the mobile element degrades and diminishes over time and friction caused by contact with the mobile element.
• said wear surface 4 can be a separate layer, made of a different material, or else a portion of the material constituting the rest of a slide 20.
• a slide 20 can be made of a plastic material, in particular of the polyethylene (PE) type, for example ultra-high density polyethylene (UHMW-PE).
• PE polyethylene
• UHMW-PE ultra-high density polyethylene
• a wear surface 4 can be made of similar materials, in particular if it is an integral part of the rest of the slide 20.
• a slide 20 comprises under said wear surface 4 at least one underlying layer 5.
• only one of the slides 20 of the device 1 comprises under said wear surface 4 at least one under layer.
• underlying 5 but preferably several slides 20 comprise, under each of their wear surfaces 4, at least one underlying layer 5.
• underlying means that the layer 5 is hidden at least in part by the wear surface, in a new state and possibly also in a slightly deteriorated state of a slide 20.
• An underlying layer 5 extends in the three dimensions of the space, having a volume determined by a length preferably extending longitudinally and a width preferably extending transversely with respect to the greatest length of the corresponding slide, as well as a thickness.
• the underlying layer 5 is located below the wear surface. In a vertical direction, the wear surface 4 is then located above and the underlying layer 5 below.
• the underlying layer 5 is located on the side opposite the surface of the movable element against which the products come to bear. In other words, the underlying layer 5 is located behind the wear surface 4, relative to the movable element.
• an underlying layer 5 is preferably found included or incorporated in the material of a slide 20.
• the underlying layer 5 can be encompassed by the material of the slide 20, covered by the wear surface 4, but also at its edges by other parts of the material constituting said slide 20.
• the layer under adjacent 5 may or may not be apparent, then being entirely trapped inside said slide 20.
• said underlying layer 5 is made of a material visually distinct from said wear surface 4, preferably for an operator without an optical instrument. Such a material has a distinct appearance which can have very different visual characteristics from those of the wear surface 4, due to its texture or pattern, but also to its coloring.
• each underlying layer 5 can comprise a defined color with high contrast, in particular in an opposite manner, with respect to the color of said wear surface 4.
• the color or colors of the underlying layer 5 stand out clearly, unequivocally.
• a wear surface 4 can be green or blue, while the material of an underlying layer 5 can be yellow, orange or red. If a wear surface 4 is black or white, then the underlying layer 4 can be white or black respectively.
• the colors between the wear surface 4 and the underlying layer 5 can be complementary.
• the material constituting the underlying layer 5 can be colored in a degraded manner.
• the coloring of the underlying layer 5 can be close to the surface of the color of the wear surface 4 and then differentiate progressively with its depth, in particular changing color to have a brighter, more pigmented color, sharper visually: differentiating more and more from the initial color, as well as from the color of said wear surface 4.
• the contrast between the wear surface 4 and the underlying layer 5 increases as and as the degradation, becoming extremely strong with the erosion of said underlying layer 5.
• the colors of the underlying layer 5 are distinguished through the use of complementary vision equipment, in particular of the ultraviolet or infrared radiation type, or else of the cold light or light type. black.
• complementary vision equipment in particular of the ultraviolet or infrared radiation type, or else of the cold light or light type. black.
• each underlying layer 5 extends over a part of the depth of said slide 20.
• the underlying layer 5 extends under the wear surface 4, but it can also s 'extend, under the wear layer 4, over all the thickness or part of the thickness of the slide 20, or even of one of its components or constituent.
• the underlying layer or layers 5 extend under the wear surface 4, framed by vertical segments of a slide 20, for example shaped like an inverted U.
• each underlying layer 5 is covered by the wear surface 4 and encompassed by the branches of such a slide 20.
• Each underlying layer 5 then has, under the wear layer 4, an equivalent thickness to the rest of the material constituting the slide 20 at this level.
• an underlying layer 5 can be completely included in the material of the slide 20, also enclosed from below, resting on said material of said slide 20. An underlying layer 5 is then found entirely framed or enclosed, sandwiched inside its slide 20. It will be noted that the material forming the rest of the slide 20, namely its wear surface 4 and its lateral branches, can constitute a single monolithic block, to which is added by inclusion the underlying layer (s) 5.
• the inclusion of the underlying layers 5 can be carried out in continuity of material, without space or void, by gluing, heat-bonding, diffusion of material, or even nested in force, possibly with plastic deformation.
• underlying layers 5 can be butted longitudinally and / or transversely.
• each underlying layer 5 extends over only part of the width of said slide 20.
• each underlying layer 5 is arranged at a specific location, in particular at center of the material constituting the rest of the slide 20, always under the wear surface 4.
• An underlying layer 5 is then framed transversely on one side and on the other the material constituting the slide 20.
• each underlying layer 5 extends over at least part of the length of said slide 20.
• the same underlying layer 5 can extend in one or more separate segments, at regular intervals or irregular longitudinally.
• An underlying layer 5 can therefore have several segments which makes it generally continuous or discontinuous longitudinally.
• the location and the length of each segment of an underlying layer 5 can be determined as a function of the conveyor, in particular as a function of the bearing and wear zones by the movable element.
• an underlying layer 5 extends over the entire length of said slide 20.
• an underlying layer 5 can be limited in length relative to the length of the slide 20, forming segments, in particular whose dimension extending transversely is greater than the dimension extending longitudinally, each underlying layer 5 forming a transverse witness at a location of the slide 20.
• a slide 20 comprises a single underlying layer 5.
• This underlying layer 5 extends only over part of the width of the slide 20, in particular of centered in a transverse direction.
• each underlying layer 5 can have a parallelepipedal section, in particular rectangular, as visible in FIGS. 2 to 5.
• the lateral edges extend vertically or substantially vertically.
• each underlying layer 5 can have a pyramidal or trapezoidal section, in particular by widening from the wear surface 4.
• each underlying layer 5 can present a section with edges oriented in a divergent manner from the wear surface 4.
• the progressive wear of the underlying layer 5 gradually enlarges its upper surface which has become visible.
• each underlying layer 5 may have a section with straight or rounded edges, in particular convex or concave with respect to the interior of said underlying layer 5.
• the underlying layer 5 can have any thickness, preferably a thickness approximately equivalent to the thickness of the material constituting the wear surface 4.
• the device 1 comprises several underlying layers 50, 51.
• Such underlying layers 50, 51 may have different configurations, namely that they may have different lateral or longitudinal distributions, different thicknesses, or even different depths with respect to each other.
• the erosion of a first depth 40 of the wear surface 4 will first expose a first underlying layer 50, leaving hidden a second underlying layer 51 at a second depth 41 of the wear surface 4, until the wear reaches said second underlying layer 51 and exposes it.
• the different underlying layers 50, 51 may not be monolithic, that is to say made of the same material, but be separate components, possibly with different materials.
• the invention thus makes it possible to obtain degrees of progressive wear and to be able to easily observe them.
• the wear up to the first underlying layer 50 makes it possible to calculate the time required to deteriorate the rest of the wear surface 4 or of said first underlying layer 50 to said second layer underlying 51.
• the degradation time observed in relation to the state of the wear surface 4 and / or of each underlying layer 5, 50, 51 is equivalent and makes it possible to make a extrapolated temporal approximation of the rest of the life of the slide 20 before its replacement Therefore, it is possible to schedule maintenance by then, or even order the parts and receive them, thus limiting the congestion of stocks replacement parts.
• a first underlying layer 50 may have a yellow or orange color, while the second underlying layer 51 has a red or similar color, making it possible to directly observe the state of wear of the slide. 20.
• the device 1 comprises at least two underlying layers 50, 51 arranged at different thicknesses or depths of said slide 20.
• the underlying layers 50.51 are superimposed.
• the second underlying layer 51 is located under or behind the first underlying layer 50.
• the two underlying layers 50, 51 have the same width.
• a first underlying layer 50 is at least partially embedded in the thickness of a second Underlying layer 51.
• the second underlying layer 51 receives in its thickness part of the thickness of the first underlying layer 50, the latter exceeding and not being flush with respect to said second Underlying layer 51. Indeed, it is necessary that the first underlying layer 50 is visible before the second underlying layer 51 and the first underlying layer 50 must therefore internally protrude from the second underlying layer 51 , while remaining in the material of the slide 20, in particular behind and in inclusion in the wear surface 4.
• the device 1 comprises two underlying layers 50, 51 offset one with respect to the other. This offset is understood transversely, as partially shown in FIG. 4.
• the underlying layers 50, 51 may have different thicknesses, as visible in FIG. 4, or else have the same thickness: one of the underlying layers 50 (or 51) can then be pressed further inside the material of the slide 20, relative to the other underlying layer 51 (or 50).
• a first underlying layer 50 comprises a material of a color distinct from the material of a second underlying layer 51.
• one or each of the underlying layers 5, 50, 51 can be produced at the time of the manufacture of the slide 20, for example by injection, by extrusion or lamination, inclusion by gluing or heat-bonding, or even mechanically with or without plastic deformation.
• the material of the underlying layers 5, 50, 51 is directly incorporated during the manufacture of the material of the slide 20.
• the underlying layers 5, 50, 51 can be incorporated after manufacture of the rest of the slide 20, in particular within housings or grooves that are shaped and additionally sized, which make it possible to receive and fix said layers underlying 5.50.51.
• Such an addition can be carried out mechanically or else by adding the material constituting said underlying layers 5, 50, 51, for example by an additional injection or casting step.
• a suitable fixing of the materials of the underlying layers 5, 50, 51 with the material of the slide 20 can be envisaged, in particular by gluing or heat-bonding.
• the device 1 comprises at least two underlying layers 50, 51 arranged at different thicknesses within the slide 20.
• the different layers under adjacent 50.51 are arranged at different distances from the wear surface 4.
• Figures 4 to 6 illustrate examples corresponding to this embodiment. As the slide wears out, we can then see the first underlying layer 50 appear, which is closest to the wear surface 4 and then the second 51, which is more distant.
• each underlying layer 50, 51 consists of a different appearance not only from the appearance of the material of the wear surface, but also different from the appearance of the material of the other (s). underlying layer (s).
• the underlying layers 50, 51 can be visually distinguished from each other.
• the device 1 comprises at least two underlying layers 50, 51, it is possible to identify more precisely the degree of wear of the slide 20 and to anticipate its replacement.
• the device 1 can comprise at least two underlying layers 50, 51 superimposed vertically.
• the different layers 5 can then be stacked on top of each other.
• the underlying layers 50,51 can also be offset transversely.
• the layers 50, 51 can then be in contact with one another or be spaced transversely. They can have the same thickness or not. They can for example be present at distinct and disjointed depths so that, depending on the wear of the slideway, only one underlying layer 5 can be visualized at a time. They can also, as shown in FIG. 5, be present in common from a certain depth. In this way, when the slide wears out, a first underlying layer 50 is visualized first, then two layers 50, 51 simultaneously, and possibly more, depending on the number of underlying layers possibly present.
• a first underlying layer 50 can be at least partially incorporated into the thickness of a second underlying layer 51.
• the conveying device 1 with its slide (s) 20 provided with underlying layers 5, 50, 51, with a material which can be distinguished visually, makes it possible to quickly and simply control the state of wear.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Belt Conveyors (AREA)
• Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2018
  • 2018-12-21 FR FR1873931A patent/FR3090601B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-12-20 WO PCT/IB2019/061200 patent/WO2020129011A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-12-20 US US17/416,470 patent/US11679938B2/en active Active
  • 2019-12-20 CA CA3119233A patent/CA3119233A1/fr active Pending
  • 2019-12-20 EP EP19898535.0A patent/EP3898460A4/de active Pending

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