GB2335638A

GB2335638A - Curved path conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2335638A
Application number: GB9806472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grenville Brian Bettridge
Original assignee: PRECISION TURNED PARTS Ltd
Current assignee: PRECISION TURNED PARTS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-27
Filing date: 1998-03-27
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Also published as: GB9806472D0

Abstract

A conveyor unit comprises a substantially curved outer wall 3 a substantially curved inner wall 1 defining therebetween a curved conveying region, a plurality of first frustoconical rollers 5 extend between the outer wall 3 and the inner wall 1, and a plurality of second frustoconical rollers 19 extend from the outer wall 3 towards the inner wall 1, one second roller 19 being positioned between each pair of first rollers 5, the inner end of each second roller 19 being supported intermediate the outer and inner walls. The second rollers 19 may be mounted in bearings 21 in the outer wall 3 and maybe supported at their inner ends in pillar bearings 23. The pillar bearings 23 maybe mounted on a support member 25.

Description

2335638 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CONVEYORS This invention relates to a

conveyor unit for use in transferring movement from a conveyor operating in a first direction to another conveyor operating in a second direction.

conveyors for manufactured goods and pallets carrying goods generally operate in straight lines and it is especially difficult to incorporate angles and bends in order to deflect or change the direction in which the goods are travelling. This is often achieved by providing special apparatus which receives and rotates goods into a desired orientation. Such apparatus is expensive to manufacture and maintain and it would be advantageous to be able to provide a conveyor to fulfill this function.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor unit for use in transferring movement from a conveyor operating in a first direction to another conveyor operating in a second direction.

According to the present invention there is provided a conveyor unit for use in transferring movement from a conveyor operating in a first direction to another conveyor operating in a second direction, the conveyor unit comprising:

- 2 a substantially curved outer wall and a substantially curved inner wall defining therebetween a curved conveying region; is a plurality of first frustoconical rollers extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, that part of each roller of relatively large cross-sectional area being positioned adjacent to the outer wall; a plurality of second frustoconical rollers extending from the outer wall towards the inner wall, one second roller being positioned between each pair of first rollers, that part of each roller of relatively large cross- sectional area being positioned adjacent to the outer wall; and means for supporting the inner end of each second roller intermediate the outer and inner walls.

The inner wall and/or the outer wall may be arcuate. Alternatively, the inner wall and/or the outer wall may form part of a polygon.

The first and second rollers may comprise an axial shaft carrying a plurality of frustoconical elements. The frustoconical elements may be made of elastomeric material. The frustoconical elements may be secured together to inhibit relative rotation therebetween. The securing means may comprise one or more axially extend pegs. one or more - 3 of the frustoconical elements may be secured to the shaft to inhibit relative rotation therebetween. The securing means may comprise a peg.

The taper of the frustoconical rollers may be such that the circumference of each roller at any location in the axial direction thereof is proportional to the length of an arc traversed by goods travelling along the conveyor unit.

The axis of each roller may be angled such that the upper surface of the roller is substantially horizontal.

The inner end of each second roller may be supported on a pillar bearing. The pillar bearing may be adjustable upwardly and downwardly.

The outer ends of the rollers may be adjustable laterally and may be locked in position following adjustment or may remain floating.

Sprocket wheels may be provided on the outer ends of the rollers for providing duplex chain drive. The drive chain may comprise sidewards flexible chain.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made,' by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one embodiment of a conveyor unit according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic end elevational view, to a larger scale, of part of the conveyor unit shown in Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow A shown in Figure 1.

is The conveyor unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an inner curved wall 1 and an outer curved wall 3, the inner and outer curved walls being formed with a required curvature in order to define the angle through which goods are to be conveyed. It is clearly not essential for the goods to be conveyed through an angle of 180 degrees as illustrated. The inner and outer curved walls can be formed in a continuous curve or can be formed in a polygonal configuration. A polygonal configuration is particularly useful for the inner curved wall where the curvature might otherwise make it difficult to mount bearings as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Mounted between the inner and outer walls is a series of first frustoconical rollers 5.

As can be seen in more detail in Figure 2, each f irst frustoconical roller 5 comprises an axial shaft 7 which is mounted in a bearing 9 in the inner wall 1 and in a bearing 11 in the outer wall 3. To facilitate maintenance, the - 5 bearings 9 and 11 are ideally mounted on that side of the inner and outer walls remote from the goods to be conveyed.

Slidably mounted on the axial shaft 7 is a plurality of elastomeric frustoconical elements 13 for supporting the goods to be conveyed. The elements 13 are arranged side by side and are interconnected by means of pegs 15 extending between adjacent ends of adjoining elements in order to inhibit relative rotation between the elements. A collar (not shown) is welded around the shaft 7 at the outer end of the outermost element 13 to inhibit outward axial movement of the elements 13. Relative rotation between the elements 13 and the axial shaft 7, together with inward axial movement of the innermost element 13, is inhibited by a transverse peg 17 inserted through one of the frustoconical elements 13 and the shaft 7.

The taper of the first frustoconical rollers 5 is adapted to the curvature of the conveyor unit such that the circumference of the roller 5 at any location in the axial direction thereof is proportional to the length of the arc between an entry point of the conveyor unit and an exit point thereof at that axial location. Thus, the taper allows conveyed goods to move around an arc without deviation towards either the inner or outer walls.

The axial shaft 7 is inclined downwardly between the inner and outer walls at an angle corresponding to substantially half the included angle of the frustoconical rollers 5 such that the upper surface of each roller 5 is substantially horizontal.

It is not possible to provide sufficient support for goods being conveyed around a tight turn with frustoconical rollers 5 extending wholly between the inner and outer walls. The reason for this is that there is insufficient space around the inner wall to receive the required number of bearings 9.

We have resolved this problem by providing a series of second frustoconical rollers 19, with a second frustoconical roller 19 being located intermediate each pair of first frustoconical rollers 5. The axial length of the second frustoconical rollers 19 is less than the axial length of the first frustoconical rollers 5, but in other respects the construction of the second rollers is essentially the same as the construction of the first rollers 5.

The second rollers 19 are mounted in bearings 21 in the outer wall 3 and are supported at their inner ends in pillar bearings 23. The pillar bearings 23 are mounted on a support member 25 which extends between the inner and outer walls by means of a threaded shaft which extends through and is secured to the support member 25 by way of threaded locking members 26, such as nuts, provided at opposing sides of the support member 25. The threaded locking members permit upward and downward adjustment of the pillar bearing 23 for alignment purposes. The aperture through the support member 25 may be sleeved with a bush to provide adequate and sufficiently rigid support for the pillar bearing 23.

The outer ends of the first and second frustoconical rollers 5 and 19 are each provided with a sprocket wheel 27 for transmitting rotational drive from roller to roller. Thus, each roller other than those at each end of the conveyor unit is provided with two (duplex) sprocket wheels 27. Drive may be transmitted to one of the rollers at an end of the conveyor unit by way of an additional sprocket wheel or by any other convenient means. The sprocket wheels of adjacent rollers are connected in pairs by means of a drive chain 29. Because the rollers are located in a radial direction and the axes thereof are at an angle relative to each other, the drive chain comprises sidewards flexible chain.

Because the drive chains 29 are of necessity each constructed from an integral number of links, the length of each drive chain can only be adjusted in a series of steps. It is therefore necessary to allow for lateral adjustment of the outer end of each of the first and second rollers 5 and 19 when setting up or maintaining the conveyor unit. This is accomplished by providing an aperture through the outer wall 3 for the axial shaft 7 and by providing laterally elongate slots for mounting means for the bearings 11 and 21. The bearings 11 and 21 may be secured in position following lateral adjustment thereof, or may be allowed to remain laterally floating if desired.

In use, the outer bearings, sprockets and drive chains are covered by a protective housing, but this is not shown for clarity.

- 9

Claims

CLAIMS is A conveyor unit for use in transferring movement from a conveyor

operating in a first direction to another conveyor operating in a second direction, the conveyor unit comprising:

a substantially curved outer wall and a substantially curved inner wall defining therebetween a curved conveying region; a plurality of first frustoconical rollers extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, that part of each roller of relatively large cross-sectional area being positioned adjacent to the outer wall; a plurality of second frustoconical rollers extending from the outer wall towards the inner wall, one second roller being positioned between each pair of first rollers, that part of each roller of relatively large cross- sectional area being positioned adjacent to the outer wall; and means for supporting the inner end of each second roller intermediate the outer and inner walls.

A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall and/or the outer wall is arcuate.

- 3.

A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall and/or the outer wall form part of a polygon.

4. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second rollers comprise an axial shaft carrying a plurality of frustoconical elements.

5. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the frustoconical elements are made of elastomeric material.

6. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the frustoconical elements are secured together to inhibit relative rotation therebetween.

A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the securing means comprise one or more axially extending pegs.

8. A conveyor unit as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein one or more of the frustoconical elements is secured to the shaft to inhibit relative rotation therebetween.

9. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein th securing means comprises a peg.

11 - 10. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the taper of the frustoconical rollers is such that the circumference of each roller at any location in the axial direction thereof is proportional to the length of an arc traversed by goods travelling along the conveyor unit.

11. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the axis of each roller is angled such that the upper surface of the roller is substantially horizontal.

12. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner end of each second roller is supported on a pillar bearing.

13. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pillar bearing is adjustable upwardly and downwardly.

14. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer ends of the rollers are adjustable laterally.

15. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the outer ends of the rollers are locked in position following adjustment.

16. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the outer ends of the rollers remain floating following adjustment.

17. A conveyor unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein sprocket wheels are provided on the outer ends of the rollers for providing duplex chain drive.

18. A conveyor unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the drive chain comprises sidewards flexible chain.

19. A conveyor unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.