FR2783813A1 - Conveyor for bulk products comprises endless band and pulleys with mobile transverse members moving on its upper surface displaced by drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor comprises two drive pulleys (12) and an endless band (14) that is mobile and arranged between them. This forms a transport route (14A) for the bulk products. A retaining arrangement (18) is comprised of mobile transverse members (28) that can be displaced with respect to the upper surface of the endless band. A drive system (30) is provided to displace the transverse members in the direction of the transport route.

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyor for bulk products, of the type

  comprising at its ends two deflection drums, between which an endless band is movably mounted, the upper surface of the endless band delimiting a transport path for bulk products, the conveyor further comprising means for retaining the products on the bandaged.

  Belt conveyors are used in many applications.

  transport in order to move bulk products from their area

  extraction or production to their area of use.

  This type of conveyor is particularly effective for moving ho-

horizontally bulk products.

  However, the transport of bulk products is delicate on the ascending sections of the conveyor path, where the latter is inclined upwards. Indeed, products tend to descend under the action of their own

  weight along the line of greatest slope.

  In order to allow the transport of bulk products on ascending sections, the conveyors are equipped with a band comprising, on its

  upper surface supporting the products, transverse ribs in

  core called chevrons. These transverse ribs constitute stops

  retaining the products on the strip when crossing the sections as-

ashes of the ride.

  Conveyors thus provided with herringbone band are effective for crossing low slopes, but do not allow inclinations

greater than about 15,.

  In addition, the presence of the rafters on the surface of the upper strip

  carrying the products promotes the retention of loose product debris. This debris is then deposited under the conveyor on the return path of the belt. Indeed, the presence of the rafters prohibits easy cleaning, by

  example by a scraper of the belt transport surface.

  The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the problem of trans-

  port of bulk products by a conveyor belt comprising an ascending section. To this end, the invention relates to a conveyor for bulk products, of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the means for retaining the products

  have movable cross members displaceable opposite the upper surface

  end of the endless belt following at least one section of the trans-

  port, and means for driving the sleepers in the direction

  advancement of the endless belt on its product transport path.

  According to particular embodiments, the conveyor comprises one or more of the following characteristics: - said drive means comprise at least one closed drive loop, movable between two return drums arranged at its ends, said crosspieces being driven by the or each loop, at least on said section of the transport path; - The return path of the or each loop, on which the crosspieces are driven in the opposite direction to that of the transport path, is arranged above the endless belt on said section of the path for transporting bulk products;

  - the sleepers are integral in translation with the or each bou-

  drive key, at least on said section of the transport path;

  - the sleepers are suspended from the or each drive loop-

  ment on said section of the transport path; - Said sleepers are each articulated on the or each drive loop around an axis perpendicular to the direction of advance

  of the strip on said section of the product transport path, and the tra

  verses include a stop limiting their angular movement against the direction of advancement of the strip on said section of product transport path;

  - the lower edge of the sleepers has a substantially complete shape

  mentary to that of the endless belt on said section of the product transport path; it comprises a cover covering the strip on its product transport path, which cover delimits with the strip a confinement space,

  and said sleepers are mounted to be movable in said confidance space

  ment; and - the upper surface of the endless belt is smooth, and it comprises

  exit from the transport path a device for cleaning the upper surface

smooth edge of the band.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given only by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a side view with partial cutaway of the lower end of an inclined conveyor according to the invention; and - Figure 2 is a cross section of the conveyor of Figure 1

  taken in its current part along line 11-11.

  The conveyor according to the invention, shown in Figure 1, is suitable

  for transporting bulk products on a defined upward slope-

  sant an angle of about 40 with the horizontal.

  The conveyor comprises, at each end, return drums 12, of which only the lower drum is shown in FIG. 1 and a conveyor belt 14. The upper surface of the band 14 supported between the

  two return drums follows a transport path 14A. On the contrary, the

  lower tie of the band maintained between the two drums 12 and circulating in the opposite direction to the direction of advancement of the conveyor follows a path 14B of

  return of the strip, which, in the example considered, is descending. The over-

  external face of the strip constituting the product transport surface is

advantageously smooth.

  The return drums 12 are rotatably mounted on a frame 16. The upper drum is mechanically coupled to drive means

in rotation.

  The conveyor further comprises means 18 for retaining the

  duits on the upper surface of the strip 14, during their transport by

  this on an ascending section of the transport path 14A.

  Furthermore, the strip 14 is guided on its product transport path by sets of drums 20. Each set of drums comprises a lower drum 20A arranged in the middle part of the strip and two inclined lateral drums 20B arranged on the right and left sides. other of the middle drum 20A. They together define a raceway in

  trough shape on which the endless belt moves 14.

  The width of the endless belt 14 is greater than the road

  lement defined by the sets of drums 20. Thus, the longitudi-

  ends of the strip 14 project laterally from the raceway.

  On either side of the raceway, two slides are arranged

  longitudinal rails 22 formed by inclined sliding surfaces

  downwards on which the longitudinal edges of the strip 14 rest.

  An upper cover 24 bears on the runners 22 and covers the strip

  over most of the length of the conveyor.

  The cover 24 has a shape substantially symmetrical to that of

  the strip supported on the set of drums 20 and on the slides 22.

  The cover 24, the slides 22 and the upper surface of the strip 14

  create a containment space, denoted 26, in which the pro-

bulk products.

  The means 18 for retaining the products are disposed inside of

  the containment space 26. They have solid crosspieces 28 mon-

  displaceable tees opposite the upper surface of the endless belt 14

  along the ascending section of the conveyor transport path.

  In the example described, the conveyor is inclined along its entire length.

  cheerfully. The cross members 28 are thus mounted movable along the entire length

of the conveyor.

  However, if the conveyor has only one or more ascending sections distributed between horizontal sections, movable sleepers

  28 are only provided on the ascending sections of the conveyor.

  These crosspieces 28 are carried and moved by drive means.

  ment 30. These are adapted to move the crosspieces 28 in the direction of advancement of the strip on its transport path 14A. These means

  are arranged inside the confinement space 26.

  The drive means 30 comprise two closed drive loops 32A, 32B mounted movable between two return drums 34 of which only the lower drum is shown in FIG. 1. The upper drum 34 is mechanically connected to a gearmotor group in order to moving the loops 32A, 32B at the same linear speed as that of the strip 14. These loops 32A, 32B extend parallel to

  the upper surface of the strip 14 and above it.

  More specifically, the upward path denoted 30A of the loops 32A, 32B is arranged immediately above the upper surface of the strip 14. On the contrary, the return path denoted 30B of the loops 32A, 32B, or downward path, is arranged in parallel above the ascending path. Thus, the return path 30B of the drive loops extends above the

  ascending section of the strip transport path 14A.

  The cross members 28 are secured in translation in an articulated manner on the loops 32A, 32B. They are each articulated around an axis 35 extending perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the conveyor and

  substantially parallel to the surface thereof.

  Each cross member 28 comprises for example a rubber plate

  rigid curtain. The free edge of each crosspiece has a corresponding shape

  laying exactly on the internal shape of the strip 14 on its path 14A for transporting bulk products. In the example shown, each cross member has a curved lower edge, since the strip is held there in the form of a trough by the sets of rollers 20. Thus, the free edge of the cross members

  28 is flush with the upper surface of the strip 14.

  Each cross member 28 is integral with a stop 36 adapted for cooperation

  rer with one of the loops 32A, 32B in order to limit the angular movement

  of the cross member 28 relative to the strip 14.

  In particular, the stops 36 each consist of an arm extending perpendicular to the surface of the cross member 28. This arm is disposed behind the cross member 28 considering the direction of advance of the drive loops 32A, 32B. It is suitable to apply to the

  running part of loops 32A, 32B to keep the crosspiece perpendicular

  ring with loops 32A, 32B. In this extreme position, the stop 36 is

  resting on one of the loops 32A, 32B. The cross member 28 then extends sensi-

  perpendicularly to the upper surface of the strip 14.

  In addition, the conveyor comprises, downstream of the area for unloading the bulk products, considering the direction of advance of the strip 14, means for cleaning the conveyor surface of the strip. These means comprise for example a scraper applied to the smooth surface of

  the strip to remove debris that may have caught on it.

  With such a conveyor, it can be understood that on the ascending sections of the belt 14, the bulk products are retained by the solid crosspieces 28 and cannot therefore follow the line of greatest slope of the conveyor under

the action of their own weight.

  The synchronization of the drive loops 32A, 32B and the

  endless belt 14 allows a regular progression of bulk products.

  Furthermore, the return path of the loops 32A, 32B causing with

  the return of the crosspieces 28 takes place above the conveyor belt.

  teuse 14. The residues of the transported products, possibly stuck on the sleepers, and which could under the effect of vibrations be released during the return journey, therefore fall directly on the strip and thus do not soil

  not the bottom of the conveyor.

  The means 18 for retaining the products may only be used on the ascending sections of the conveyor transport path, in the case where the latter consists of a succession of horizontal sections and

ascending sections.

  In such a case, the means for retaining the products may be separate or constituted by the same arrangement causing crosspieces

  on several of the ascending sections.

  In addition, similar product retaining means can be used on the descending sections, in order to prevent the products from falling under the action of their own weight, especially when these products

are fragile.

  Finally, the presence of the sleepers allows the use of a smooth strip

  for the transport of bulk products. So simple ways to net-

  toys such as a scraper can be used to take off any

breakages retained on the tape.

Claims (9)

  1.- Conveyor of bulk products, of the type comprising at its ends   mites two return drums (12), between which an endless belt (14) is movably mounted, the upper surface of the endless belt (14) delimiting a path (14A) for transporting bulk products, the conveyor comprising in addition to means (18) for retaining the products on the strip, characterized   in that the means (18) for retaining the products include crossings   its mobiles (28) movable opposite the upper surface of the endless belt (14) along at least one section of the transport path (14A), and means (30) for driving the sleepers (28) in the direction advancement of the endless belt (14) on its path (14A) for transporting products. 2.- Conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that said drive means (30) comprise at least one closed loop (32A, 32B) drive, movable between two return drums (34) disposed at its ends, said sleepers (28) being driven by the or each   loop (32A, 32B), at least on said section of the transport path (14A).   3.- Conveyor according to claim 2, characterized in that the return path (30B) of the or each loop (32A, 32B), on which the crosspieces (28) are driven in the opposite direction to that of the transport path ( 14A), is arranged above the endless belt (14) on said section of the path (14A) for transporting bulk products.   4.- Conveyor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the crosspieces (28) are integral in translation with the or each drive loop (32A, 32B), at least on said section of the transport path (14A).   5.- Conveyor according to any one of claims 2 to 4, ca-   characterized in that the crosspieces (28) are suspended from the or each bou-   drive key (32A, 32B) on said section of the transport path (14A).   6.- Conveyor according to claim 5, characterized in that said crosspieces (28) are each articulated on the or each drive loop (32A, 32B) about an axis (35) perpendicular to the direction of advance of the strip (14) on said section of the transport path (14A)   products, and in that the crosspieces (28) comprise a stop (36) li-   reducing their angular movement against the direction of travel of the   strip (14) on said path section (14A) for transporting products.   7.- Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that the lower edge of the crosspieces (28) has a shape   substantially complementary to that of the endless belt (14) on said section   lesson of the journey (14A) for transporting products.   8.- Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that it comprises a cover (24) covering the strip (14) on its path (14A) for transporting the products, which cover (24) delimits with   the strip (14) a containment space (26), and in that said crossings   its (28) are mounted displaceable in said containment space (26).   9.- Conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that the upper surface of the endless belt (14) is   smooth, and in that it comprises at the outlet of the transport path (14A) a provision   cleaning agent for the smooth upper surface of the strip (14).