GB2320235A

GB2320235A - Conveying plant

Info

Publication number: GB2320235A
Application number: GB9726113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martinus Johannes Mar Vertogen; Den Goor Jakobus Van; Hubertus Theodorus Petru Hulst
Original assignee: Vanderlande Industries Nederland BV
Current assignee: Vanderlande Industries BV
Priority date: 1996-12-13
Filing date: 1997-12-10
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Also published as: NL1004772C2; GB9726113D0; DE19755204A1

Abstract

A conveying plant comprises at least two discharge conveyors 1,2 disposed one above the other and at least one supply conveyor (not shown). Two auxiliary conveyors 3,8 are used to transport goods from the supply conveyor to either one of the discharge conveyors 3,8. One auxiliary conveyor 8 is disposed near a discharge end of the supply conveyor, and is pivotable about a pivot axis 12 located near the discharge end of the supply conveyor, between a first position (solid lines) and a second position (broken lines) adjacent discharge conveyor 2. A second auxiliary conveyor 3 connects to one of the two discharge conveyors 1 and is pivotable about a pivot axis 7 located near one end of the discharge conveyor 1, between a first position (solid lines), in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 3,8 are located near each other, and a second position (broken lines), in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor 3 furthest from the discharge conveyor 1 has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position. In the first position goods are supplied to discharge conveyor 1 and in the second position goods are transferred to discharge conveyor 2. A variety of methods to pivot the auxiliary conveyors 3,8 are disclosed. Shown here are two connecting rods 13,19 linked from the two auxiliary conveyors 3,8 respectively to a pivotable connecting piece 14 which is pivoted using a setting cylinder 21. Alternatively the connecting piece (24, figure 2; 28, figure 3) is slidable within a guide member (25, figure 2; 29, figure 3). Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment where the auxiliary conveyors 3,8 are directly pivoted using setting cylinders 33,35 respectively. Alternatively motors, pulleys or gears are used to pivot the auxiliary conveyors (figures 5-8).

Description

1 Conveying plant 2320235 The invention relates to a conveying plant

comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position.

Such a conveying plant makes it possible to selectively supply objects being supplied by means of a single supply conveyor to one of the discharge conveyors, so as to be able to achieve a desired sorting between the objects being supplied. For easy reference the present description discusses a plant comprising one supply conveyor and two discharge conveyors cooperating therewith. It will be apparent, however, that it is also conceivable that the two conveyors disposed one above the other are supply conveyors, by means of which objects can be supplied to a common discharge conveyor. The construction according to the invention can be used in the same manner as described below with regard to a similar plant comprising two supply conveyors and one discharge conveyor, and consequently a conveying plant of such type shall fall within the scope of the present claims as well.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for adjusting the two auxiliary conveyors between the two different positions.

According to a first aspect of the invention this can be achieved in that coupling rods engage the facing ends of the two 2 auxiliary conveyors, whereby the ends of the coupling rods remote from the auxiliary conveyors are pivotally connected at spaced-apart points to a connecting piece which is pivotable about a pivot axis, which connecting piece can be pivoted by means of a setting cylinder, which is capable of pivoting movement relative to said connecting piece, about a pivot axis which coincides with a pivot axis about which a coupling rod pivots relative to said connecting piece.

When this construction is used, a simple and efficient construction as well as an efficient coupling of the various parts that pivot with respect to each other can be obtained whilst effecting a favourable transmission of forces from the setting cylinder to the pivoted connecting piece.

According to a second aspect of the invention coupling rods engage the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors, whereby the ends of said coupling rods remote from the auxiliary conveyors are coupled by means of a connecting piece, which is capable of sliding movement along a guide, in a direction transversely to the longitudinal direction of the two coupling rods.

In certain installation conditions such a solution may provide a favourable alternative to a connecting piece which interconnects the coupling rods.

According to a third aspect of the invention a connecting rod, which is movable in its longitudinal direction by means of its own drive means, engages each of the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors.

When this construction is used, the angle through which one auxiliary conveyor is pivoted from one position to the other position can be determined independently of the angle through which the other auxiliary conveyor is pivoted from one position to the other position, so that it is possible to realise an adjustment of the pivoting angles of the auxiliary conveyors which is optimally suited to the operating conditions and to the available space.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention the auxiliary conveyors are provided at their ends facing away from each other with drive means to be rotated so as to pivot the auxiliary conveyors, which drive means are rotatable about axes of rotation which coincide with the pivot axes about which the auxiliary conveyors in question pivot.

3 When such a construction is used, it is no longer necessary to provide adjusting means and connect said adjusting means to the ends of the auxiliary conveyors located near each other, which may be advantageous with certain arrangements of the conveying plant, in connection with the space that is available at the ends of the respective auxiliary conveyors that are capable of upward and downward movement.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors each comprise a curved gear segment, and both gear segments are in mesh with a common drive pinion.

This may result in a compact construction of the mechanism for adjusting the two auxiliary conveyors near the facing ends of the respective auxiliary conveyors.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to a few possible embodiments of the construction according to the invention, which are diagrammatically illustrated in the Figures.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a first embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of a second embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of a part of a third embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a fourth embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of a fifth embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of a sixth embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of a seventh embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of an eighth embodiment of a conveying plant according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the ends of two discharge conveyors 1 and 2 which are disposed one above the other. An auxiliary conveyor 3 connects to the illustrated end of discharge conveyor 1, which auxiliary conveyor is in the illustrated embodiment made up of an endless conveyor belt 4, which is passed over two reversing rollers 6 which are journalled in a frame 5. Frame 5 and the parts supported by said frame pivot about 4 a shaft 7, whose central axis coincides with the central axis of the reversing roller 6 disposed near the end of discharge conveyor 1.

In the position of auxiliary conveyor 3 illustrated in full lines in Figure 1, a further auxiliary conveyor 8 is disposed in line with said auxiliary conveyor 3. Said auxiliary conveyor 8 is likewise provided with an endless conveyor belt 9, which is passed over two reversing rollers 10, which are bearingmounted in a frame 11.

Said auxiliary conveyor 8 pivots about a shaft 12, whose central axis coincides with the central axis of reversing roller 10, which is located at the end of the auxiliary conveyor 8 remote from auxiliary conveyor 3. A supply conveyor (not shown) connects to the end of auxi I iary conveyor 8 located near pin 12.

The upper ends of coupling rods 13 pivotally connect to frame 5 on either side of conveyor belt 4 of auxiliary conveyor 3, in such a manner that said coupling rods can pivot with respect to the frame about pivot pins extending parallel to the axes of rotation of reversing rollers 6. The lower ends of coupling rods 13 are connected to triangular connecting plates 15 forming part of a connecting piece 14. The coupling rods 13 are pivotally connected to connecting piece 14 by means of a pin 16 extending between first corner points of the two spaced-apart connecting plates 15, which pin extends parallel to the reversing rollers 6, 10 of auxiliary conveyors 3, 8. Connecting piece 14 is furthermore pivotally supported, by means of a pin 17 extending parallel to pin 16 and between second corner points of connecting plates 15, by supports 18 which are fixed to the frame of the conveying plant.

In a similar manner the end of coupling rods 19 are connected to the end of auxiliary conveyor 8 that faces auxiliary conveyor 3, which coupling rods are pivotally connected with their other ends to connecting piece 14 at a third corner point of a connecting plate 5.

A piston rod 20 of a setting cylinder 21 engages the pin 16 extending between the connecting points of coupling rods 13 to connecting piece 14. Connecting piece 14 can be pivoted about pin 17 by means of said setting cylinder, as a result of which coupling rods 13 and 19 will be moved substantially in their longitudinal direction, so as to pivot the two auxiliary conveyors 3, 8 from their positions shown in full lines in Figure 1 to the position illustrated in dotted lines.

It will be apparent that in the positions of the two auxiliary conveyors 3, 8 illustrated in full lines in Figure 1, objects being supplied by means of the supply conveyor (not shown) can be moved over auxiliary conveyors 8 and 3 and be delivered to the upper discharge conveyor 1. In the positions of the two auxiliary conveyors illustrated in dotted lines, in which auxiliary conveyor 8 has been pivoted downward from the position illustrated in full lines, and auxiliary conveyor 3 has been pivoted upwards from the position illustrated in full lines, the objects being supplied by the supply conveyor will be delivered, via auxiliary conveyor8, to the lowerdischarge conveyor 2, towhich auxiliary conveyor 8 connects with one end.

As already explained above, the two conveyors 1 and 2 may also be used for supplying goods, in which case said goods can be discharged by the conveyor (not shown) that connects to the end of auxiliary conveyor 8 located near shaft 12. Although the description and the claims consistently refer to one supply conveyor and two discharge conveyor disposed one above the other, it is to be understood that within the spirit and scope of the invention the two discharge conveyors may also function as supply conveyors, and the supply conveyor may function as a discharge conveyor.

Furthermore it has been indicated above that the auxiliary conveyors comprise endless conveyor belts. It will be apparent, however, that it is possible within the spirit and scope of the invention to use not only belt conveyors but also roller conveyors or the like, whereby also a combination of roller conveyors and belt conveyors is conceivable.

As is diagrammatically shown in Figure 2, the ends of coupling rods 22 and 23 may be pivotally connected to the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8. The ends of coupling rods 22 and 23 remote from auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 are thereby interconnected by means of a connecting piece 24, for example a connecting rod 24, by means of which coupling rods 22 and 23 are likewise pivotally interconnected.

Said connecting piece 24 is capable of linear sliding movement in a guide member 25, which is fixed to the frame (not shown) of the conveying plant.

Connecting piece 24 can be moved to and fro in guide member 25, as indicated by arrow A, by means of a drive unit (not shown), for example a setting cylinder or the like, whereby sliding movement of connecting 6 piece 24 causes auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 to pivot from the positions illustrated in full lines in Figure 2 to the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2, and vice versa.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the coupling rods 26 and 27, which are pivotally connected to the facing ends of auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8, are also connected to a connecting piece 28 at their ends remote from said auxiliary conveyors.

Said connecting piece 28 co-operates with a guide member 29 which is fixedly disposed in the frame of the conveying plant, which guide member comprises two curved guide tracks 30 and 31, which each extend from their uppermost point, which is located near the uppermost point of the other guide track, in a direction away from the other guide tracks and from the auxiliary conveyors. One end of connecting piece 28 is thereby movable one guide track, and the other end of connecting piece 28 is movable along the other guide track. Also in this case the movement of the connecting piece can be effected by means of a drive unit (not shown), such as a setting cylinder or the like. When the connecting piece moves from the position illustrated in Figure 3, the right-hand end (seen in Figure 3) of the connecting piece will move upward along guide track 30 in the direction of the auxiliary conveyors, whilst the end of the connecting piece which is capable of movement along guide track 31 will move downward along guide track 31, in a direction away from the auxiliary conveyors. This causes auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 to pivot from the position illustrated in full lines to the position illustrated in dotted lines. When the connecting piece is moved in the opposite direction, the auxiliary conveyors will be returned to the position illustrated in full lines.

In the embodiment of the conveying plant shown in Figure 4, the ends of connecting rods 32 of setting cylinders 33 are connected to auxiliary conveyor 3. In a similar manner the ends of connecting rods 34 of setting cylinders 35 are connected to auxiliary conveyor 8.

Connecting rods 32, which can be moved by means of setting cylinders 33 forming drive units, are thus driven independently of the connecting rods 34 that can be moved by means of setting cylinders 35 forming drive units.

One possibility is thereby inter alia the fact that said pivoting between the two positions suitable for operation may take place in such a manner that one auxiliary conveyor is pivoted through a different angle than the 7 other auxiliary conveyor. Furthermore, a greater freedom in selecting a suitable arrangement is possible in this case because of the fact that the various drive units are not interconnected by means of coupling rods or connecting pieces.

Another variant of this embodiment shown in Figure 4 can be obtained when externally threaded connecting rods are used, which are caused to mate with nuts, which can be rotated so as to move said threaded connecting rods lengthwise.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment wherein the shafts 7 and 12 located near the ends of auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 facing away from each other are fixedly connected to frames 5 and 11 respectively of the auxiliary conveyors. Shafts 7 and 12 are directly connected to the outgoing shafts of motors 36 forming drive units or of motor reduction gear units. One advantage of this arrangement is that no drive means or the like are coupled to the auxiliary conveyors near the facing ends thereof, which may be advantageous under certain circumstances as regards the available space and the like.

One variant of this embodiment is shown in Figure 6, wherein gears 37 are mounted on shafts 7 and 12, which gears are in mesh with pinions 38. Said pinions may each be driven by means of a motor (not shown).

Another variant of this embodiment is shown in Figure 7, wherein drive means in the form of pulleys 39 are mounted on shafts 7 and 12. An endless belt 43 is passed over said pulleys 39 and over further pulleys 40-42. Pulley 42 can be rotated by means of a motor 43' thereby, so as to move belt 43 in its longitudinal direction.

It will be apparent that if belt 43 is moved in the direction indicated by arrowB, auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8will be pivoted from the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 7 to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 7. When belt 43 is driven in a direction opposed to the direction indicated by arrow B, auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 will be pivoted in the opposite direction.

As will furthermore be apparent from Figure 7, pulley may be mounted on a shaft 44, which is fixed to the frame of a further auxiliary conveyor 45, so that said further auxiliary conveyor can be pivoted in a similar manner as auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 when belt 43 is driven, which may be of use with conveying plants comprising a 8 combination of supply conveyors and/or discharge conveyors which differs from that explained above. If pivoting of conveyor 45 is not desired, pulley 40 will be freely rotatable.

Figure 8 shows another possibility of pivoting the auxiliary conveyors by means of a motor rather than by means of setting cylinders, for example. It is possible thereby to use a single motor, which is disposed near the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8, on the outgoing shaft of which motor a gear 46 is mounted. Said gear or drive pinion 46 is in mesh with a curved gear segment 47, which is attached to the nearby end of auxiliary conveyor 3, and with a curved gear segment 48, which is attached to the nearby end of auxiliary conveyor 8. It will be apparent that, depending on the direction of rotation of drive pinion 46, auxiliary conveyors 3 and 8 can be pivoted from the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 8 to the position indicated in dotted lines, and vice versa.

-9 9

Claims

1.

A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position, characterized in that coupling rods engage the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors, whereby the ends of the coupling rods remote from the auxiliary conveyors are pivotally connected at spaced-apart points to a connecting piece which is pivotable about a pivot axis, which connecting piece can be pivoted by means of a setting cylinder, which is capable of pivoting movement with respect to said connecting piece, about a pivot axis which coincides with a pivot axis about which a coupling rod pivots with respect to said connecting piece.

2. A conveying plant according to claim 1, characterized in that said setting cylinder engages said connecting piece at a point which is located between the connecting points of two coupling rods, which are connected to a respective auxiliary conveyor, on either side thereof.

3. A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position, characterized in that coupling rods engage the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors, whereby the ends of said coupling rods remote from the auxiliary conveyors are coupled by means of a connecting piece, which is capable of sliding movement along a guide, in a direction transversely to the longitudinal direction of the two coupling rods.

A conveying plant according to claim 3, characterized in that a connecting piece is capable of linear sliding movement.

5. A conveying plant according to claim 3, characterized in that the ends of said connecting piece are movable along two curved guide tracks, whereby each guide track extends from its uppermost point in a direction away from the other track and from the auxiliary conveyors.

6. A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative 11 to said first position, characterized in that a connecting rod, which is movable in its longitudinal direction by means of its own drive means, engages each of the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors.

7. A conveying plant according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting rod forms part of a setting cylinder.

8. A conveying plant according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting rod is circumferentially provided with screw thread, whereby said connecting rod can be moved in its longitudinal direction by means of a nut to be rotated.

9. A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position, characterized in that the auxiliary conveyors are provided at their ends facing away from each other with drive means to be rotated so as to pivot the auxiliary conveyors, which drive means are rotatable about axes of rotation which coincide with the pivot axes about which the auxiliary conveyors in question pivot.

10. A conveying plant according to claim 9, characterized in that each auxiliary conveyor comprises, at its end facing away from the other auxiliary conveyor, a shaft connected to the frame of the respective auxiliary conveyor, which shaft is directly connected to the outgoing shaft of a motor or of a motor reduction gear unit.

11. A conveying plant according to claim 10, characterized in that each auxiliary conveyor comprises, at its end facing away from 12 the other auxiliary conveyor, a shaft connected to the frame of the respective auxiliary conveyor, on which shaft a gear is mounted, which is in mesh with a pinion of a drive motor.

12. A conveying plant according to claim 9, characterized in that each auxiliary conveyor comprises, at its end facing away from the other auxiliary conveyor, a shaft connected to the frame of the respective auxiliary conveyor, on which shaft a pulley is mounted, whilst a driving belt is passed over said pulleys.

13. A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other, whereby an auxiliary conveyor is disposed near a discharge end of said supply conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the discharge end of said supply conveyor, between a first position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to one discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, and a second position, in which objects being supplied by means of said supply conveyor can be supplied to the other discharge conveyor via said auxiliary conveyor, whilst a second auxiliary conveyor is provided, which connects to one of the two discharge conveyors and which is pivotable with respect to said discharge conveyor about a pivot axis located near one end of the discharge conveyor, between a first position, in which the facing ends of the two auxiliary conveyors are located near each other, and a second position, in which the end of the second auxiliary conveyor facing away from the discharge conveyor has been pivoted upwards relative to said first position, characterized in that the facing ends of the auxiliary conveyors each comprise a curved gear segment, and that both gear segments are in mesh with a common drive pinion.

14. A conveying plant comprising at least one supply conveyor and at least two discharge conveyors disposed one above the other constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.