GB2028247A

GB2028247A - Conveyed articles retained by suction

Info

Publication number: GB2028247A
Application number: GB7928521A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TALLERES ZUBIOLA SCOOP
Current assignee: TALLERES ZUBIOLA SCOOP
Priority date: 1978-08-16
Filing date: 1979-08-16
Publication date: 1980-03-05
Also published as: ES237776U; GB2028247B; ES237776Y

Abstract

In a conveyor in which articles e.g. boards are held on the conveyor band by suction, loss of suction is reduced by arranging perforations 10 in the band in alignment with perforations 5 in the base of grooves 6 in the suction box over which the band passes, the band being of greater width than the groove. The band preferably runs on strips 9 on the box surface. The article contacting surface of the band preferably includes raised ribs 7 and transverse ribs 12 which define enclosed areas. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stacker-feeder device The invention relates to a device for handling especially articles of board form, which achieves the object of increasing the suction capacity of this type of elements by avoiding all loss of air, and is of the known type using a suction box connected to a turbofan and a series of endless conveyor belts or bands surrounding the box.

Along these lines, arrangements are known using perforated strip and others using unperforated strip, in conjunction with a suction box, but in both cases there was a considerable loss of air between the endless belt and the box.

It is one object of the invention to obtain a device which gives maximum avoidance of air losses, reducing the said loss almost completely.

Another purpose of the invention is the improvement of the suction capacity of the installation, increasing the suction area of the installation.

The device is based on a rectangular box on the lower part of which there is formed a specific number of longitudinal grooves. Along the grooves there are formed orifices or slots for communication between each groove and the interior of the box. On the same lower part of the box and over the grooves there are fitted bands having a specific number of perforations.

The said bands are provided with continuous longitudinal profiles or rims with closure pieces of the same height located at regular intervals, forming closed zones, the perforations of the band being left in the interior of the zone. These bands will be actuated buy a drive group. From the interior of the box through the orifices or slots communicating with the grooves and thence through the perforations of the bands, a suction current is caused by means of a turbo-fan and is used to cause the pieces to be fed or stacked to adhere against the box, the flat bands which are to serve for suspended conveying of the piece at the lower part of the box being pressed against the box.

The traction bands possess a smooth face which is placed over the box totally covering the grooves, in such form that the orifices of the suction box remain situated exactly in vertical alignment with the orifices of the belt. The zones constituted between the rims and closure pieces of the belt increase the capacity and area of the suction, and the panels come into contact with the upper extremities of the said rims and closure pieces, being shifted from one location to another by the effect of the movement of the belts.

As the suction area is large, contact with the band is ensured at all times, so that there is practically no air loss. Moreover the rims of the suction box are closed in the longitudinal direction, which appreciably diminishes the possible air losses by escape, ensuring coveying of the panels.

For better understanding of the invention as disclosed, a sheet of drawings is attached in which the constitution and arrangement of the component elements of the invention, as also its utilisation and operation, are adequately detailed in a non-limitative example of practical realisation.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the lower part of the suction box, Figure 2 refers to the details of one of the grooves and the band of zones, Figure 3 shows a detail of the conveyor band, Figure 4 refers to the extremes of the suction box.

The numbering accompanying the Figures has the same significance for all, and is as follows:1. Turbo4an, 2. Suction funnel, 3. Suction box, 4. Traction bands, 5. Communication orifices, 6. Longitudinal grooves, 7. Longitudinal rim of the belt, 8. Base or bottom of the band, 9. Sliding means, 10. Perforations of the belt or band, 11. Suction zone, 12. Transverse closure pieces of the belt, 13. Line of travel of band, 14. Line of travel of band, 15. End wall.

The articles of board form to be handled, which are stacked and held at the necessary height by a lifting device, are raised by air suction produced in the zones 11 through the communication orifices 5 of the grooves 6 and the perforations of the bands 7 of the suction box 2 and 3, caused by the turbo-fan 1, thus putting the boards in contact with the belts 4, the movement of which entrains the boards for their subsequent handling. In the converse direction the boards can be stacked by the same suction procedure, thus in both cases avoiding damage by dragging them.

According to what is seen in Figure 2, the traction belt 4 slides over the suction box, either directly or through straps 9 as sliding means, fully occupying the space produced by the grooves 6.

In Figure 3 there is seen the form of the outer surface of the traction band 4, with its longitudinal rim 7, its closure pieces 12 and the zones 11 produced in its interior.

In Figure 4 we see the extreme wall 15 of the grooves of the suction box 3, which closes the said exit with the purpose of impeding unnecessary air losses, conducing to maximum increase of the suction capacity of the installation. In any case this solution can be optional.

Once the nature and advantages of the invention have been described, its non-limitative character should be conspicuous, in as much as changes in the form, material or dimensions of its constituent parts do not in any way alter its essential nature, in so far as they do not suppose a substantial variation of the entirety.

1. Stacker-feeder device, characterised essentially in that the endless conveyor bands which slide on the lower face of the suction box are orificed in their central portion corresponding to their axis of longi

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Stacker-feeder device The invention relates to a device for handling especially articles of board form, which achieves the object of increasing the suction capacity of this type of elements by avoiding all loss of air, and is of the known type using a suction box connected to a turbofan and a series of endless conveyor belts or bands surrounding the box. Along these lines, arrangements are known using perforated strip and others using unperforated strip, in conjunction with a suction box, but in both cases there was a considerable loss of air between the endless belt and the box. It is one object of the invention to obtain a device which gives maximum avoidance of air losses, reducing the said loss almost completely. Another purpose of the invention is the improvement of the suction capacity of the installation, increasing the suction area of the installation. The device is based on a rectangular box on the lower part of which there is formed a specific number of longitudinal grooves. Along the grooves there are formed orifices or slots for communication between each groove and the interior of the box. On the same lower part of the box and over the grooves there are fitted bands having a specific number of perforations. The said bands are provided with continuous longitudinal profiles or rims with closure pieces of the same height located at regular intervals, forming closed zones, the perforations of the band being left in the interior of the zone. These bands will be actuated buy a drive group. From the interior of the box through the orifices or slots communicating with the grooves and thence through the perforations of the bands, a suction current is caused by means of a turbo-fan and is used to cause the pieces to be fed or stacked to adhere against the box, the flat bands which are to serve for suspended conveying of the piece at the lower part of the box being pressed against the box. The traction bands possess a smooth face which is placed over the box totally covering the grooves, in such form that the orifices of the suction box remain situated exactly in vertical alignment with the orifices of the belt. The zones constituted between the rims and closure pieces of the belt increase the capacity and area of the suction, and the panels come into contact with the upper extremities of the said rims and closure pieces, being shifted from one location to another by the effect of the movement of the belts. As the suction area is large, contact with the band is ensured at all times, so that there is practically no air loss. Moreover the rims of the suction box are closed in the longitudinal direction, which appreciably diminishes the possible air losses by escape, ensuring coveying of the panels. For better understanding of the invention as disclosed, a sheet of drawings is attached in which the constitution and arrangement of the component elements of the invention, as also its utilisation and operation, are adequately detailed in a non-limitative example of practical realisation. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the lower part of the suction box, Figure 2 refers to the details of one of the grooves and the band of zones, Figure 3 shows a detail of the conveyor band, Figure 4 refers to the extremes of the suction box. The numbering accompanying the Figures has the same significance for all, and is as follows:1. Turbo4an, 2. Suction funnel, 3. Suction box, 4. Traction bands, 5. Communication orifices, 6. Longitudinal grooves, 7. Longitudinal rim of the belt, 8. Base or bottom of the band, 9. Sliding means, 10. Perforations of the belt or band, 11. Suction zone, 12. Transverse closure pieces of the belt, 13. Line of travel of band, 14. Line of travel of band, 15. End wall. The articles of board form to be handled, which are stacked and held at the necessary height by a lifting device, are raised by air suction produced in the zones 11 through the communication orifices 5 of the grooves 6 and the perforations of the bands 7 of the suction box 2 and 3, caused by the turbo-fan 1, thus putting the boards in contact with the belts 4, the movement of which entrains the boards for their subsequent handling. In the converse direction the boards can be stacked by the same suction procedure, thus in both cases avoiding damage by dragging them. According to what is seen in Figure 2, the traction belt 4 slides over the suction box, either directly or through straps 9 as sliding means, fully occupying the space produced by the grooves 6. In Figure 3 there is seen the form of the outer surface of the traction band 4, with its longitudinal rim 7, its closure pieces 12 and the zones 11 produced in its interior. In Figure 4 we see the extreme wall 15 of the grooves of the suction box 3, which closes the said exit with the purpose of impeding unnecessary air losses, conducing to maximum increase of the suction capacity of the installation. In any case this solution can be optional. Once the nature and advantages of the invention have been described, its non-limitative character should be conspicuous, in as much as changes in the form, material or dimensions of its constituent parts do not in any way alter its essential nature, in so far as they do not suppose a substantial variation of the entirety. CLAIMS

1. Stacker-feeder device, characterised essentially in that the endless conveyor bands which slide on the lower face of the suction box are orificed in their central portion corresponding to their axis of longi tudinal symmetry, with a series of perforations, and move to and fro exactly beneath the grooves formed in the said lower face of the box, the width of the endless belt being greater than that of the grooves, in the base of which grooves perforations are also formed which are located in the same vertical alignment as those of the belt and are in communication with the interior of the suction box and with the fan of the latter.

2. Stacker-feeder device according to the previous Claim, characterised in that the band has a face towards the box which is smooth, while the opposite face has longitudinal edge rims of height greater than that of the rest of the band, which rims are connected with one another at regular intervals by transverse closure pieces of equal height which, in conjunction with the rims, constitute several suction zones at the base of which the orifices are located, of such form that each panel comes into conactsolely with the surfaces of the rims and closure pieces.

3. Stacker-feeder device, All as described in the present Specification, accompanied by the corresponding drawings.