GB2061853A

GB2061853A - A method and machine for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt

Info

Publication number: GB2061853A
Application number: GB7937583A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-10-30
Filing date: 1979-10-30
Publication date: 1981-05-20
Also published as: NL7908201A; GB2061853B

Abstract

A flexible tubular endless belt 1 for conveying bulk material normally has a tubular form which is shaped by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, its side ends 1a, 1b overlapping one on another along its length. The tubular endless belt 1 is supported by surrounding support rollers 5, 6. Partition members may be mounted inside the belt 1 for preventing the material from slipping while being conveyed along a steep slope. The inner surface of the outer side end and the outer surface of the inner side end of the belt may be provided with fine projections and complementary recesses 22a, 22b or mechanical adhesive tape fasteners 32a, 32b for strengthening the coupling of the side ends. The belt is opened over rollers 3 at the end of the conveying path for purposes of loading and unloading. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method and machine for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and machine for conveying and elevating bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt.

A flat or troughed belt conveyor has been used for conveying bulk material such as powder, granule, pulverized solid, a mixture thereof. However, a conventional belt conveyer cannot climb steep slopes of even moderate length without slippage of the material to be conveyed. It cannot be used at a slope angle steeper thatn 30 degrees, even if it is troughed and is provided with nonskid cleats mounted across the inner surface of the belt to prevent the slide down of the material during operation. The conventional belt conveyer cannot be used in a curved line continuously.

Further, when the conventional belt conveyor is used outdoors, the material to be conveyed is wetted in the rain, in case of powder, it is blown off by a wind, and it is often contaminated by dust. The material is often split over the belt by schocks or vibrations.

In order to improve such disadvantages, a tubular belt conveyor comprising a flexible tubular endless belt which is provided with a zipper device along its entire length. In this case, however, the zipper device is often broken by the material enclosed within the belt, which is attached to the zipper. Further, the opening and closing of the zipper device is not always operated smoothly and readily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt free from the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt free from the aforementioned disadvantages.

A further object of the present invention to provide a method and machine for conveying bulk material in any direction and any height.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt in any direction and any height, the belt having normally a tubular form formed by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, its side ends being adapted to overlap one on another along its length, wherein the belt is extended between first and second rollers positioned at a certain distance way, on which the belt is opened, comprising: loading the bulk material onto the belt at the first open portion where the first roller is situated; conveying the bulk material completely enclosed within the tubular belt to the second open portion where the second roller is situated; and discharging the bulk material enclosed within the tubular belt at the second open portion.

According to the present invention there is also provided a machine for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt, comprising: a flexible tubular endless belt having normally a tubular form which is formed by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, its side ends being overlapped one on another along the length; two rollers positioned at a certain distance away, on which the belt opened is extended; support rollers for holding the tubular belt enclosing the bulk material; and a feeder for feeding the bulk material onto the belt opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other and more specific objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary cross-section of the loading portion of the machine in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary side view of the discharge portion of the machine in Fig. 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section, taken along the line V-V in Fig. 1; Figure 6 is a schematic side view of another machine according to the present invention; Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of Fig. 6;; Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of still another machine according to the present invention; Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-section of a partition plate for preventing the slippage of the material to be conveyed, mounted inside a tubular endless belt; Figure lOis an enlarged cross-section of partition fins for preventing the slippage of the material to be conveyed, fixed inside a tubular endless belt; Figure ii is an enlarged longitudinal crosssection of another tubular endless belt applied to the machine of the present invention; Figure 12 is an enlarged longitudinal crosssection of still another tubular endless belt applied to the machine of the present invention; and Figure 13 is an enlarged longitudinal crosssection of further tubular endless belt applied to the machine of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENTS Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs 1-8 preferred embodiments of a tubular belt conveyor according to the present invention, comprising a tubular endless belt 1 which is made of a flexible or elastic material such as rubber, somewhat soft plastic material, or the like. The flexible tubular endless belt 1 is normally biased in the tubular form by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, and its inner and outer side ends 1 a and 1 b overlap one on another along its length.

Such a flexible tubular endless belt can be obtained by cooling only one surface of a belt by a coolant such as water before it cures completely. It can be also obtained by joining together a plurality of layers having different elasticities.

The side ends 1 a and 1 b of the belt 1 are preferably somewhat soft and adherent so as to contact or interlock one another properly.

The thickness of the free side ends of the belt are preferably decreased moderately so as not to increase excessively while they overlap, as shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 is shown the first embodiment of a tubular belt conveyer comprising the flexible tubular endless belt 1 stretched between an upper drive roller 2 and a lower roller 3 on which the endless belt is opened in its width direction, at a standard slope angle.

Between the two rollers 2 and 3, the tubular belt 1 is properly supported by a plurality of support frames 4 which are arranged at a certain interval along the travelling path of the endless belt 1. The support frame 4 comprises upper and lower chambers 4a and 4b through which the going or conveying path 1A and the return path 1 B of the endless belt 1 are passed, as shown in Fig. 5. In each chamber 4a or 4b of the support frame 4 support rollers 5 are disposed radially around and in contact with the tubular belt 1. The support roller 5 hold and maintain the belt of the tubular form.

The belt opened on the lower roller 3 is closed gradually in a tubular form by its own rolling up force while guide rollers 6 support the bottom and both the sides of the belt 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this process, the bulk material such as powder, granule, pulverized solid, a mixture thereof, is fed onto the belt 1 opened from a hopper 7 situated above the lower roller 3.

The tubular belt 1 now enclosing the bulk material completely, while the side ends 1 a and 1 b of the belt 1 overlap one on another, is passed through the upper chambers 4a of the support frames 4 along the going path 1 A of the belt 1, while the tubular belt 1 is supported by the support rollers 5 in the upper chambers 4a, as described above. In this process, the side ends 1 a and 1 b overlapped are situated in the top of the belt along the going path while the material is enclosed in the belt, and hence there is no danger that the material enclosed in the tubular belt completely is split over the belt.

Then, the tubular belt 1 is opened gradually near the upper drive roller 2, and its lower part is supported by guide rollers 8. The opened belt is turned around the upper drive roller 2, while the bulk material conveyed is discharged from the belt 1 to a receiver 9 in which the belt 1 is opened, as shown in Fig.

4.

Then, the belt 1 is moved downwards along, the return path 1 B of the belt. The belt 1 opened is gradually rounded again into the tubular form by its own rolling up tendency after through a guide roller 10. The empty tubular belt 1 is passed through the lower chambers 4b of the support frames 4 while it is supported by the support rollers 5 in the lower chambers 4b, as described above.

The tubular belt 1 is then gradually opened again after passing another guide roller 10.

The opened belt 1 is returned to the lower 3.

In Fig. 6, there is shown the second embodiment of a tubular belt conveyer according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the endless belt 1 first runs a horizontal path, climbs a steep slope, and then, again, runs a horizontal path. The travelling path of the tubular belt 1 is curved twice, but it can move smoothly without any trouble. The maximum slope angle of the tubular belt conveyer is somewhat different depending on the conditions of the material to be conveyed, such as shape, quality, water content, and so forth. According to the present invention, when dry powder, granule, or a a mixture thereof, is conveyed, the tubular belt conveyor can be used appro::imately at a slope angle 60 degrees.

In this case, in the return path 1 B of the belt 1, the empty tubular belt 1 is apt to be collapsed, and accordingly the tubular belt 1 is once opened at a turning point where the belt opened is turned around a guide roller 1 0a, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8 is shown the third embodiment of a tubular belt conveyer according to the present invention.

The endless belt 1 runs around an obstruction 11 such as a house, i.e. first runs horizontally in a curved line, and then climbs a slope. Bn the return path 1 B of the endless belt 1, it is opened horizontally by a horizontal guide roller 1 0a at a vertical turning point, and is then opened vertically by a vertical guide roller 1 2 at horizontal turning point.

It is readily understood from the abovedescription, that the tubular form of the endless belt is held by its own rolling up force, while its side ends overlap, without using any interlocking means such as a zipper device of a conventional tubular belt conveyer, and hence it can be operated quite smoothly and readily, that since the material to be conveyed is completely enclosed within the tubular belt, the flexible tubular belt can be conveniently used in a steep slope, and that the flexible tubular endless belt can run continuously in a curved line, according to the present invention.

There is shown in Fig. 9 a partition plate 1 3 for stopping the slappage of the material enclosed in the tubular belt 1, which is particularly effective in a steep slope. The partition plates 1 3 may be mounted across the inner surface of the belt 1 at a certain interval in a conventional manner.

There is shown in Fig. 10 partition fins 14 which have the same function as the partition plate 13, and may be mounted across the inner surface o the belt 1 at a certain interval. The partition fins 14 may be made of the same material as the belt at the same time as the belt 1 is manufactured.

In Fig. 11, there is shown another embodiment of a flexible tubular endless belt 21. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the outer side end 21 a and the outer surface of the inner side end 21 b of the belt 21 are provided with fine projections and complementary recesses 22a; 22b which are overlapped one another, and thus the side ends are connected stronger than the first embodiment.

In Fig. 12, there is shown still another embodiment of a flexible tubular endless belt 31 having mechanical adhesive tape fasteners 32a and 32b in the inner surface of the outer side end 31 a and the outer surface of the inner side end 31 b. The tape fasteners 32a and 32b are interconnected each other. The same functions and effects are obtained as the one of Fig. 11.

In Fig. 13, there is shown further embodiment of a flexible tubular endless belt 41 which is the same as the first embodiment except that the central portion of the belt is thicker than the side ends along its entire length, and the thickness of the belt is decreased moderately from the center to the side ends. In this embodiment, it is convenient to give the own rolling up tendency in its width direction to the belt when the belt is manufactured, and the central portion of the belt, which is usually given by a strong tension by the drive roller, is stronger than the embodiments described above.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, however, various changeds and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt in any direction and any height, the belt having normally a tubular form formed by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, its side ends being adapted to overlap one on another along its length, wherein the belt is extended between first and second rollers positioned at a certain distance away, on which the belt is opened, comprising: loading the bulk material onto the belt at the first open portion where the first roller is situated; conveying the bulk material completely enclosed within the tubular belt to the second open portion where the second roller is situated; and discharging the bulk material enclosed within the tubular belt at the second open portion.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tubular belt having a tubular form is held in its going path by support rollers arranged radially around the tubular belt.

3. A machine for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt, comprising: a flexible tubular endless belt having normally a tubular form which is formed by its own rolling up tendency around its axis, its side ends being overlapped one on another along the length; two rollers positioned at a certain distance away, on which the belt opened is extended; support rollers for holding the tubular belt enclosing the bulk material; and a feeder for feeding the bulk material onto the belt opened.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the outer side end and the outer surface of the inner side end of the belt are provided with fine projections and complementary recesses which are engaged one another.

5. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the outer side end and the outer surface of the inner side end of the belt are provided with mechanical adhesive tape fasteners which are contacted each other.

6. A machine according to any of claims 3-5, wherein the belt is provided with partition plates mounted across its inner surface at a certain distance.

7. A machine according to any of claims 3-5, wherein the belt is provided with partition fins fixed across its inner surface at a certain interval.

8. A machine according to claim 6, wherein the central portion of the belt is thicker than its side ends along its entire length.

9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the central portion of the belt is thicker than its side ends along its entire length.

10. A method for conveying bulk material completely enclosed within a flexible tubular endless belt substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A machine for conveying bulk material substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A machine for conveying bulk material substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A machine for conveying bulk material substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A machine for conveying bulk material as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, and incorporating a partition plate substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A machine for conveying bulk material as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, and incorporating partitioning substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A machine for conveying bulk material as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, and incorporating a tubular endless belt substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A machine for conveying bulk material as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, and incorporating a tubular endless belt substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A machine for conveying bulk material as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13, and incorporating a tubular endless belt substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 3 of the accompanying drawings.