GB2140373A

GB2140373A - Drive roller arrangement for laterally flexible belt conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2140373A
Application number: GB08406063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Riccardo Mattei; Osso Gastone Dall
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1983-05-27
Filing date: 1984-03-08
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB8406063D0; IT8303437A0; IT1168673B; DE3409273A1

Abstract

The conveyor (1) described for transferring articles along a path that has at least one laterally curved section and, in the case under consideration, is linked to rectilinearly extending sections, is constituted by a metal mesh belt (2) that is able to bend laterally and is wound endlessly around rollers (3 and 4), the roller 4 being driven. The forward movement of the belt (2) is effected by the driven roller (4) in combination with a roller (21) tangential with respect to the former, and placed on the opposite side of the belt to the roller (4). At least one of the rollers (4, 21) is provided with a resilient material jacket (27, 28). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Belt conveyor The invention relates to a belt conveyor and, in particular, to one that is able to transfer articles along a path consisting of at least one laterally curved section which, in the case described herein, is linked to rectilinearly extending sections.

With one type of conveyor that can operate over paths of the type described, the use is envisaged of metal mesh belts able to bend laterally and mounted endlessly around the extremity rollers through which a friction drive is given to the conveyor.

One typical problem experienced with the said conveyors is that slipping inevitably occurs between the belts and the said and that this is accentuated as time goes by because of the component parts of the said conveyors wearing.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to make available a belt conveyor of the above mentioned type that is able to carry articles along both laterally curved and straight paths, and though simple to construct has characteristics of great robustness.

A further object of the invention is to make available a belt conveyor of the above mentioned type provided with drive means that are particularly simple, cheap and reliable on a long term basis.

The foregoing objects are achieved with the belt conveyor according to the invention for transferring articles along a determinate path, comprising a laterally flexible metal mesh belt wound endlessly around extremity rollers, one of which driven, and means for guiding the said belt along the said path, and characterized by the fact of comprising a pair of rollers, one virtually tangential with respect to the other, constituted by the said driven roller and by a counter-roller, the latter placed with respect to the former on the opposite side of the said belt, at least one of the rollers in the said pair being provided with a resilient material jacket.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the detailed description that follows of one preferred embodiment for the belt conveyor in question, illustrated purely as an unlimited example on the one accompanying drawing in which is shown a perspective view thereof.

With reference to the said drawing, shown globally at 1 is a conveyor that extends along a path virtually of 'S' conformation, has laterally curved and straight sections and comprises a belt 2 wound endlessly around two rollers 3 and 4 on horizontal axes.

The said rollers 3 and 4 are mounted, the former in a rotatable fashion and the latter in an angularly fixed fashion, on the shafts 5 and 6, respectively, these being supported by corresponding pairs of vertical brackets 7 connected to a horizontal wall 8 fixed beneath the conveyor 1. To the shaft 6 is coupled a motor 9 supported by the said wall 8.

The belt 2 is of the metal mesh type that is able to bend laterally because of the presence of guide means 10 adjacent to the lateral edges thereof. The said guide means 10 are constituted, for the upper branch 11 and for the lower branch 1 2 of the belt conveyor 2, by the pairs of vertical walls 1 3 and 14, respectively.

The walls 1 3 are integral with a horizontal plate 15, and the walls 14 with a horizontal plate 16. The said plates 1 5 and 16, both supported by the wall 8 through the brackets 17, bear the weight of the upper branch 11 and of the lower branch 12, respectively, of the belt conveyor 2.

In proximity of the roller 3, the lower branch 1 2 of the belt conveyor 2 flanks a take-up roller 18 on an axis parallel to the shaft 5, supported in a rotatable fashion, through a shaft 19, by two vertical brackets 20 integral with the wall 8 (one only of which is shown on the drawing).

An idle or counter-roller 21 is supported underneath the lower branch 12, in a way whereby it is virtually tangential with respect to the roller 4, by means of a shaft 22 carried by two vertical brackets 23 (one only of which illustrated) secured to a plate 24 adjacent to the top side of the wall 8. The said plate 24 is able to slide over the wall 8 in a direction perpendicular to that of the shafts 6 and 22, and is provided with means for the fine positioning thereof with respect to the roller 4 that comprise a plurality of slots 25 perpendicular to the shaft 22, through which pass screws 26 that engage with the said wall 8.

The rollers 4 and 21 are faced circumferentially with the resilient material jackets 27 and 28, respectively, and between one and the other they compress the lower branch 1 2 of the belt conveyor 2 preventing any longitudinal sliding movement thereof.

In use, as stated above, one section of the lower branch 1 2 of the belt conveyor 2 is pressed by the roller 21 against the roller 4, it being possible to adjust the pressure in accordance with the requirements and compatibly with the length of the conveyor 1 and the weight of the load carried, by loosening the screws 26 and displacing the plate 24 in such a way as to cause it to approach or move away from the said roller 4.

The motor 9 carries in rotation the said roller 4, called the drive roller, and through the combined action of this and the roller 21, causes the forward movement to take place of the belt conveyor 2, the path of which is defined by the pairs of walls 1 3 and 1 4 adjacent to the lateral edges thereof.

Any slipping of the belt conveyor 2 with respect to the rollers 4 and 21 is prevented by the compression action exerted by these on the lower branch 12, and by the fact that the said rollers are faced circumferentially with the said resilient material jackets 27 and 28, respectively.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the conveyor 1 described herein is able to operate without the problems mentioned with reference to the known art arising, and lengthy experiments have shown the conveyor to be highly reliable on a long term basis.

Naturally, leaving unchanged the principles of the invention, numerous modifications could be made to the conveyor 1 described herein without in any way deviating from the framework of protection afforded to the invention.

For example, one only of the rollers 4 and 21 could be provided with a resilient material jacket, and also the carrying in rotation of the roller 21 could be brought about directly by the motor 9, as is the case for the roller 4, instead of it being entrusted to the friction with the belt 2.

Furthermore, the path followed by the transportation surface of the belt 2, which in the described example extends over a virtually horizontal plane, could instead be inclined or even have sections that extend vertically.

Claims

1. Belt conveyor for transferring articles along a determinate path, comprising a laterally flexible metal mesh belt wound endlessly around extremity rollers, one of which driven, and means for guiding the said belt along the said path, and characterized by the fact of comprising a pair of rollers, one virtually tangential with respect to the other, constituted by the said driven roller and by a counter-roller, the latter placed with respect to the former on the opposite side of the said belt, at least one of the rollers in the said pair being provided with a resilient material jacket.

2. Belt conveyor according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact of comprising means for the fine positioning of one roller in the said pair with respect to the other, in order to vary the pressure applied by the said rollers on the said belt.

3. Belt conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.