GB2177994A

GB2177994A - Belt conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2177994A
Application number: GB08617279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kunio Hashimoto
Original assignee: JAPAN PIPE CONVEYOR; Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd; JAPAN PIPE CONVEYOR CO Ltd
Current assignee: JAPAN PIPE CONVEYOR; Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd; JAPAN PIPE CONVEYOR CO Ltd
Priority date: 1985-07-16
Filing date: 1986-07-16
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: IT8621116A0; KR870001097A; AU6011886A; SE8603108L; IT1198294B; FR2585007A1; NL8601859A; GB8617279D0; NO862854D0; JPS6216907A; NO862854L; CN86104492B; DE3620906A1; GB8617125D0; ZA864694B; ES556410A0; JPH0224725B2; CN86104492A; SE8603108D0; BR8603317A

Abstract

A belt conveyor is supported through support frames (1). Forward and return paths (2a, 2b) are supported by a plurality of a shape maintaining rollers provided in each support frame. An intermediate roller (6), which is horizontally provided as one of the shape maintaining rollers, contacts and supports both of the forward and return paths to simplify the construction of the belt conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Belt conveyor The present invention relates to a belt conveyor, and particularly, to a tubular belt conveyor in which a flat belt is rolled up to transfer materials without scattering.

A conventional tubular belt conveyor is shown schematically in Figures 5 and 6, in which an end less rubber belt 13 is wound around rollers 11 and 12 located at the forward and rear ends respectively and is rotated therebetween. A forward path 13a at the upper part of the belt 13 is rolled up by a plurality of shape-maintaining rollers 15 provided in a support frame 14 to form a tubular shape.

There is generally known a tubular conveyor for transferring materials which are thrown off from a hopper 16 in the vicinity of the rear end roller 12.

In such a tubular belt conveyor, the return path 13b of the lower part is also rolled up downwardly by a plurality of shape-maintaining rollers 18.

Therefore, the height of the support frame 14 and, thus, of the apparatus itself increases, so that the number of the shape-maintaining rollers 15 and 18 increases. Therefore, there is disadvantage in the location and the cost.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a belt conveyor which is simple in construction and is less expensive, According to the present invention there is provided a belt conveyor comprising an endless belt which is wound around two rollers and rotates therebetween, the belt comprising forward and return paths, support frames each of which includes a plurality of shape maintaining rollers at upper and lower parts to support the forward and return paths, and intermediate rollers each of which is horizontally provided between the upper and lower parts of each support frame to support both of the forward and the return paths.

In the prior art, as mentioned above, the forward and return paths 13a and 13b are supported by a different group of shape maintaining rollers 15 and 18 respectively, and, thus, the height of the support frame 14 increases. According to the present invention, an intermediate roller contacts the lower surface of the forward path and the upper surface of the return path to support both the paths.

Therefore, the height of the support frame decreases, and the number af the shape maintaining rollers can be saved.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and contrasted with the prior art, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the travelling direction of a first embodiment of a tubular belt conveyor according to the present invention so as ta show the location of a support frame and shape maintaining rollers therein; Figure 2 is a front view in which the intermediate roller shown in Figure 1 simultaneously contacts forward and return paths of the tubular endless belt; Figure 3 and 4 are similar to Figure 1, and are views showing the other embodiments of the present invention respectively; Figure 5 is a schematic front view showing the conventional tubular belt conveyor; and Figure 6 is an enlarghed longitudinal section view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 1 is similar to Figure 6, and shows a first embodiment of the present invention. A tubular belt conveyor is similar to the conventional tubular belt conveyor.

In the first embodiment, a forward path 2a is supported at its upper surface and right and left sides by three shape maintaining rollers 3, and a return path 2b is supported at its lower surface and right and left sides by three shape maintaining rollers 4. The forward and return paths 2a and 2b are also supported at the lower and upper surfaces respectively by a horizontal intermediate roller 5.

As shown in Figure 2 schematically, the forward and return paths 2a and 2b travel in the opposite direction, but there is no problem as the intermediate roller 5 can rotate only in one direction.

The present inyention may be applied to an apparatus having five or more shape maintaining rollers for supporting each path. Figure 3 shows five rollers, and Figure 4 shows six rollers. In either case, the forward and return paths 2a and 2b are simultaneously supported by a horizontal intermediate roller 6 and 7.

Needless to say, the present invention may be applied not only to a conveyor belt in closed tubular shape, but also to a U-shaped belt which opens at one end.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A belt conveyor comprising; an endless belt which is wound around two rollers and rotates therebetween, the belt comprising forward and return paths; support frames each of which includes a plurality of shape maintaining rollers at upper and lower parts to support the forward the return paths; and intermediate rollers each of which is horizontally provided between the upper and lower parts of each support frame to support both of the forward and return paths.

2. A belt conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the belt comprises a tubular shape.

3. A belt conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the belt is U-shaped form which opens at one end.

4. A belt conveyor according to Claim 2 wherein the number of the shape maintaining rollers is four.

5. A belt conveyor according to Claim 2

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Belt conveyor The present invention relates to a belt conveyor, and particularly, to a tubular belt conveyor in which a flat belt is rolled up to transfer materials without scattering. A conventional tubular belt conveyor is shown schematically in Figures 5 and 6, in which an end less rubber belt 13 is wound around rollers 11 and 12 located at the forward and rear ends respectively and is rotated therebetween. A forward path 13a at the upper part of the belt 13 is rolled up by a plurality of shape-maintaining rollers 15 provided in a support frame 14 to form a tubular shape. There is generally known a tubular conveyor for transferring materials which are thrown off from a hopper 16 in the vicinity of the rear end roller 12. In such a tubular belt conveyor, the return path 13b of the lower part is also rolled up downwardly by a plurality of shape-maintaining rollers 18. Therefore, the height of the support frame 14 and, thus, of the apparatus itself increases, so that the number of the shape-maintaining rollers 15 and 18 increases. Therefore, there is disadvantage in the location and the cost. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a belt conveyor which is simple in construction and is less expensive, According to the present invention there is provided a belt conveyor comprising an endless belt which is wound around two rollers and rotates therebetween, the belt comprising forward and return paths, support frames each of which includes a plurality of shape maintaining rollers at upper and lower parts to support the forward and return paths, and intermediate rollers each of which is horizontally provided between the upper and lower parts of each support frame to support both of the forward and the return paths. In the prior art, as mentioned above, the forward and return paths 13a and 13b are supported by a different group of shape maintaining rollers 15 and 18 respectively, and, thus, the height of the support frame 14 increases. According to the present invention, an intermediate roller contacts the lower surface of the forward path and the upper surface of the return path to support both the paths. Therefore, the height of the support frame decreases, and the number af the shape maintaining rollers can be saved. Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and contrasted with the prior art, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the travelling direction of a first embodiment of a tubular belt conveyor according to the present invention so as ta show the location of a support frame and shape maintaining rollers therein; Figure 2 is a front view in which the intermediate roller shown in Figure 1 simultaneously contacts forward and return paths of the tubular endless belt; Figure 3 and 4 are similar to Figure 1, and are views showing the other embodiments of the present invention respectively; Figure 5 is a schematic front view showing the conventional tubular belt conveyor; and Figure 6 is an enlarghed longitudinal section view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5. Figure 1 is similar to Figure 6, and shows a first embodiment of the present invention. A tubular belt conveyor is similar to the conventional tubular belt conveyor. In the first embodiment, a forward path 2a is supported at its upper surface and right and left sides by three shape maintaining rollers 3, and a return path 2b is supported at its lower surface and right and left sides by three shape maintaining rollers 4. The forward and return paths 2a and 2b are also supported at the lower and upper surfaces respectively by a horizontal intermediate roller 5. As shown in Figure 2 schematically, the forward and return paths 2a and 2b travel in the opposite direction, but there is no problem as the intermediate roller 5 can rotate only in one direction. The present inyention may be applied to an apparatus having five or more shape maintaining rollers for supporting each path. Figure 3 shows five rollers, and Figure 4 shows six rollers. In either case, the forward and return paths 2a and 2b are simultaneously supported by a horizontal intermediate roller 6 and 7. Needless to say, the present invention may be applied not only to a conveyor belt in closed tubular shape, but also to a U-shaped belt which opens at one end. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. CLAIMS

5. A belt conveyor according to Claim 2 wherein the number of shape maintaining rollers is five.

6. A belt conveyor according to Claim 2 wherein the number of the shape maintaining rollers is six or more.

7. A belt conveyor according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

8. A belt coveyor substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.