GB2256179A

GB2256179A - Sorting module for belt conveyor system.

Info

Publication number: GB2256179A
Application number: GB9206933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adolfo Passero
Original assignee: Alcatel Italia SpA
Current assignee: Alcatel Lucent Italia SpA
Priority date: 1991-05-15
Filing date: 1992-03-30
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-30
Also published as: GB9206933D0; FR2676426B1; GB2256179B; FR2676426A1; DE9206131U1; CH685490A5

Abstract

The module comprises a parallelepiped-shaped fixed structure 4 supporting a plurality of endless belt members 2 driven by a motor and supported on respective rolling and supporting assemblies 21 forming a supporting frame and each consisting of a channel 15 designed to slidably receive the respective belt member which makes rolling engagement with a plurality of ball bearings 14 snap fitted into cavities (13, Figure 3). The fixed structure also supports a vertically movable structure 8 which supports a plurality of sorting rollers 3 that are arranged between belt members 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SORTING MODULE FOR BELT CONVEYOR SYSTEM The present invention relates to a sorting module for a belt conveyor system.

The sorting module is of the so-called cross-point construction, in which the longitudinal advancement of objects to be sorted may be by means of belts, and the transverse displacement of the objects by means of rollers, and achieved by independent driving motors.

It is already known from Italian Patent No.

1,025,846 assigned to the present Applicant, to provide a sorting module for belt conveyor systems, comprising a parallelepiped-shaped fixed structure adapted to be coupled to a switching or sorting point of a conveyor, this structure supporting a plurality of belt members which are mounted on rigid guides and which are driven by a motor.

The fixed structure also supports a vertically movable structure, which supports a plurality of sorting rollers located between the belt members and independently driven by another motor. This system operates as follows.

As the movable structure supporting the rollers is lowered, the parcel, envelope or other object to be sorted is entrained by the belts for movement in the advancement direction of the conveyor. As the movable structure is raised, the object to be sorted is caused to rest on the sorting rollers, thereby becoming disengaged from the conveyor belt members. Accordingly, depending on whether the rollers are stationary or rotate in one direction-or the other, the object to be sorted either remains stationary, or is displaced or removed by the sorting rollers in the respective transverse direction and discharged either to the right or to the left of the module.

In another module construction, similar to the preceding one, it is contemplated that the advancing means consist of rotating rollers having their axes arranged perpendicularly to the main advancing direction, while the diverting means consist of belt members arranged side by side with rotating rollers and vertically movable up to an operative position where the belts rise just minimally above the rotating rollers, grip an article and divert it on auxiliary collection devices.

The known sorting modules of this type have been found to be satisfactory and to give good performanceO However, the presence of rigid guides for supporting the belt members causes some drawbacks.

In fact, friction between belt and guide surfaces in addition to a wear and tear of the belts, causes a loss of power and makes the module noisy.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting module for belt conveyor systems, which is not subject to the same deficiencies of the above-mentioned cross-point sorting modules and in particular is less noisy and more effective with respect to them.

In accordance with the present invention therefore there is provided a sorting module for a belt conveyor system comprising a fixed structure, a plurality of endless belt members arranged to be driven by a motor and a plurality of sorting rollers located between the belt members and rotatably mounted on a movable structure and driven independently with respect to the belt members and vertically movable, and support means for supporting the belt members in order to limit the yielding thereof under the weight of overlying objects and oscillation thereof during operation of the module, in which the support means comprises a plurality of support members connected with the fixed structure and arranged beneath the respective belt members and extending parallel thereto and in which each of the support members has mounted thereon a plurality of rotatable elements spaced at regular intervals along the length of the support member and with which rotatable elements the associated belt member makes rolling engagement under the weight of carried objects.

By way of example the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a cross-point sorting module; Figure 2 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view of the module which highlights the positon of belts, pulleys, sorting rollers and movable structure supporting the rollers of the cross-point sorting module in a first embodiment according to the invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of an assembly for slidably and rollably supporting a belt member in a preferred embodiment, according to the invention; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side and partially cross-sectional view of the assembly in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the assembly of Figure 3 without the belt; Figure 6 represents an enlarged fragment of the assembly in Figure 5;; Figure 7 is a cross section taken at line A-A of the fragment in Figure 6 showing also the belt member; and, Figure 8 shows a schematic top plan view of the frame for supporting the belt members of the cross-point sorting module according to the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a cross-point sorting module 1 consists of a parallelepiped-shaped fixed structure 4 on which are positioned a plurality of endless belt members 2 preferably having a circular cross section and running parallel to each other. The members 2 are spaced apart by a distance 11 and slide in appertaining grooves formed in rollers X rotatable in ball bearings mounted in the upper portion of the fixed structure 4 and in rollers Y rotatable in ball bearings mounted in the lower portion of the fixed structure.

In the upper horizontal portion of the fizzed structure 4 the belt members 2, according to a first embodiment, are supported in rolling engagement with appropriate idle pulleys 10 (Figure 2) mounted on a frame 5 fixedly connected with the fixed structure 4 so that the belt members 2 do not yield under the weight of an overlying object and oscillations are prevented.

The idle pulleys 10 are preferably race pulleys, and are arranged adjacent the upper horizontal sections of the belt members 2. The pulleys are rotatably mounted on antl- friction pivots 6 fixed to rod-like structural members forming the frame 5.

In Figure 2 there may be observed a movable structure 8 which supports a plurality of sorting rollers 3 rotatably pivoted at their ends between the belt members 2 and running parallel to them so that each roller 3 occupies the space between two adjacent belt members (see Figure 1).

The rotational direction of the sorting rollers 3 is perpendicular to the main direction of movement of the belt members 2.

The movable structure 8 is arranged to be moved upwards when required, in response to the operation of an appropriate lifting means with damped stroke (not shown) which is known per se. Still referring to Figure 2, there may be seen further sorting rollers 3 spaced at intervals, in a somewhat lower plane and having transmission pulleys 7 located at the ends thereof.

A transmission belt 12 driven by motor 9 (see Figure 1) passes over a transmission pulley 7 to a sorting roller 3 and so on, so as to ensure a proper drive transmission to the sorting rollers 3 for a rotation in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

Various component parts of a preferred embodiment of the invention are shown in Figures 3 to 8.

Figure 8 illustrates a frame structure for slidably supporting the belt members of a cross-point module, structure being formed by a plurality of supporting and sliding assemblies 21 arranged beneath and parallel to respective belt members 2.

As can be seen from Figure 3, each supporting and sliding assembly 21 consists of a channel-shaped support 22 (e.g. an extrusion from a bar made of light alloy, preferably an aluminium alloy such as Anticorodal (tradename) anodised but steel or any other suitable material could be used if provided with sufficient elasticity).

The channel-shaped support 22 has at the top thereof a U-shaped channel 15 extending longitudinally which is designed to slidably receive a belt member 2. Produced in the bottom of the channel are several cavities 13 regularly spaced along the length of the channel (see also Figures 4 and 5) for housing ball bearings 14 on which the belt member 2 is supported. The housings 13 comprise two cavities 16,17 of generally rectangular plan shape (see Figure 6) with the short sides 18,19 thereof being curved outwards in a semicircular shape and having different areas. The cavity 16 having the larger area has its long sides parallel to and symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel 15, whilst cavity 17 having the smaller area extends transversely to the cavity 16 and located generally at the centre line thereof.

Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the assembly of Figure 3 but with the belt member removed whereas an enlarged detail of the assembly is illustrated in Figure 6.

As can best be seen from Figure 6, the ball bearing 14 shown in cross-section has its pivot 20 forcibly snapped into the appertaining cavity 17 while the ball bearing is free to rotate in a central position within the appertaining cavity 16 (see also Figure 7). The snap action is possible due to the elasticity of the material in which the cavity 17 is formed and to suitable tolerances.

The central position of the ball bearing is assured by the curvature of the ends 19 of cavity 17 receiving the pivot 20.

Since the operation of the sorting module has been briefly described at the outset the operation is not repeated again here, any further details of such operation being obtainable from the previously mentioned Italian patent.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the invention, the replacement of a belt/guide sliding friction with a belt/rotatable member rolling friction causes a reduction in friction horsepower and in wear of the belt members and makes the module more noiseless and more effective.

This has the advantage of providing a lower rating on, at a parity of rating, an increase in the items maximum loading weight.

For example, in a prototype sorting module, more than 200% increase in the items maximum weight has been obtained at a parity of rating.

Moreover, the frame structure of the module is easy to manufacture and the ball bearing pressure snap mounting allows the mounting operation to be automated with a remarkable cost saving.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is provided by way of example only and is not intended as a limitation to the scope of the invention which allows various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the technical solution as described.

In particular, the invention could be used also when the advancing of objects in the main feed direction is performed by rollers pivoted in the fixed structure and the sorting is performed by belt members connected to the movable structure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sorting module for a belt conveyor system comprising a fixed structure, a plurality of endless belt members arranged to be driven by a motor and a plurality of storing rollers located between the belt members and rotatably mounted on a movable structure and driven independently with respect to the belt members and vertically movable, and support means for supporting the belt members in order to limit the yielding thereof under the weight of overlying objects and oscillation thereof during operation of the module, in which the support means comprises a plurality of support members connected with the fixed structure and arranged beneath the respective belt members and extending parallel thereto and in which each of the support members has mounted thereon a plurality of rotatable elements spaced at regular intervals along the length of the support member and with which rotatable elements the associated belt member makes rolling engagement under the weight of carried objects.

2. A sorting module according to claim 1, in which the support means comprises a frame connected with the fixed structure and formed by a plurality of rod or bar-like structural members.

3. A sorting module according to claim 2, in which the rod-like structural shapes are each provided with a Ushaped longitudinal channel designed to slidably receive an associated belt member with a plurality of housings being provided in the bottom of the channel and spaced at regular intervals along its length.

4. A sorting module according to claim 3, in which each of the housings is formed by two cavities having semicircular shaped parts and having different areas, the larger area cavity having its long sides parallel, and symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel and the smaller area cavity extending transversely to the larger area cavity at the centre line thereof.

5. A sorting module according to any preceding claim, in which the rotatable members consist of ball bearings disposed in respective housings and their respective pivots being forced into the smaller area cavities of housings.

6. A sorting module according to any preceding claim, in which the rod or bar-like structural member is extruded from a rod or bar of light alloy type Anticorodal and anodised.

7. A sorting module according to claim 1, in which the rotatable members consist of idle race pulleys rotatably mounted on anti-friction pivots rigidly connected with the support members (e.g. rod-like structural members).

8. A sorting module for belt conveyor systems comprising first and second relatively movable structures, a plurality of endless belt members driven by a motor and a plurality of rollers located between the belt members rotatably mounted on the first structure and driven independently with respect to the belts and support means for supporting the belt members designed to limit their yielding under the weight of overlying objects and oscillation during operation of the module, in which the support means consist of a frame or the like connected with the second structure and formed by a plurality of support members arranged beneath respective belt members and parallel thereto, each of the support members mounting a plurality of rotatable members spaced at regular intervals along its length and with which the respective belt member makes rolling engagement under the weight of the carried objects.

9. A sorting module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.