GB2391850A

GB2391850A - Conveyor support frame with all surfaces inclined to the horizontal

Info

Publication number: GB2391850A
Application number: GB0218853A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Brodie
Original assignee: AUTOVEYTION; BIOCOTE Ltd
Current assignee: AUTOVEYTION; BIOCOTE Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-13
Filing date: 2002-08-13
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Also published as: GB0218853D0

Abstract

A conveyor 10 comprises a body 12, supporting an endless belt 50, comprising a base in the form of two side walls 14 interconnected by cross members 16, themselves interconnected by longitudinal members 18, mounted on legs 20, 22. All the surfaces of the base and legs 20, 22 are smooth, substantially devoid of dust traps and inclined to the natural horizontal plane so as to reduce the collection of dust or debris. This may be achieved by making members 16 and 18 of rectangular or diamond shaped cross-section and placing an edge point of the cross section generally vertically such that the outer surfaces are inclined to the horizontal. Side walls 14 may be provided with inclined faces, 14(d). The legs 20, 23 may be of an inclined cantilever configuration. Surfaces may be of polished stainless steel, be provided with a friction reducing coating, and/or bactericidal coating. The conveyor 10 may have application in the hygienic handling of food, pharmaceutical or veterinary products, and may prevent the nurturing of bacteria fungi and mould which dust and debris might accumulate. Fig.4 shows a slot 40 and leaf spring 41 mechanism for the accommodation of rollers (44, fig.3) against belt 50 tension. Sections 14(c), 14(d) of the base may unlatch such that one section 14(d) can be folded up, loosening tension in the belt 50, such that the unit as a whole, and is sub-components can be accessed for cleaning.

Description

239 1 850

Agents ref: P03324GB HYGIENIC CONVEYOR

THIS INVENTION relates to conveyor systems for use in clean room environments. By "clean room environments" Is meant those environments such as, for example, in food processing, handling of pharmaceutical or veterinary products or the like where utmost cleanliness and hygiene are essential In the past little thought has been given to the design of conveyors for use in clean room environments. In the main the conveyors have been adapted from conveyors used for the handling of general engineering mechanical components and parts. Often the conveyors have many places, such as brackets, horizontal surfaces, rough components, screw threads and adjusters where dust and debris may collect. Often the processing environment is one which is conducive to the nurturing of bacteria, fungli and mould which collect and grow where the dust and debris accumulates.

An object of the present invention Is to provide a conveyor where places where bacteria, fungli or mould can form or grow is reduced or eliminated A further object Is to provide a conveyor that is relatively simple and easy to decontaminate or stenlise.

According to one aspect of the present Invention there is provided a hygienic conveyor comprising a body constructed to support an endless conveyor belt, the body comprising a base in the form of two side walls Interconnected by cross members that are interconnected by longitudinal members, said base being mounted on legs, and located at each end of the side walls around which extends an endless conveyor belt characterized in that all the surfaces of the base and legs on which, In use dust would

otherwise collect, are smooth, substantially devoid of dust traps and are inclined to a horizontal plane so as to reduce the collection of dust or debris.

The present Invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows the conveyor with the conveyor belt removed.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the base of the conveyor shown in Figure 2 but without the legs; Figure 4 shows in more detail the method of mounting the rollers over which the conveyor belt runs.

figure 5 shows details of a foot of the conveyor shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a free standing conveyor system 10 which ',s made predominantly of stainless steel, but could be made of highly polished metals such as mild steel, or made of plastic coated metals The conveyor has no exposed screw threaded parts or regions where duct can collect The conveyor comprises a base 12 Comprising two spaced opposed sides 14 connected by spacing bars 16 The spacing bars 16 are of rectangular or diamond shaped cross-section and are positioned and arranged so that they do not have any horizontal surfaces. In other words, all the surfaces are inclined. The spacing bars 16 are connected together by longitudinal bars 18, which again, are of rectangular or

diamond shaped cross section and have inclined surfaces. The Inclined surfaces assist In shedding any dust or debris rather than allowing it to settle. The bars 16 are welded to the sides 14 and the bars 18 are welded to the bars 16 to provide smooth connections. The side members 14 also have inclined surfaces 14(a), 14(b) to assist In the shedding of dust or debris.

The base 10 is provided with two spaced leg assemblies 20, 22 each of which comprises an upper part which is cantilevered from one side 14 and extends across the width of the base to form a leg 26 that terminates in a foot 28.

A second leg 30 is welded to the upper part of each assembly, and extends downwards at an angle and terminates In a foot 28. The leg assemblies 20, 22 are hollow tubes of rectangular cross-sectional shape.

One of the feet 28 is shown in greater detail in figure 5 and comprise a spigot 31 that fits Inside the legs 26, 30 of each leg assembly. Each foot 28 has a ball socket located at the end of a rod 32 that fits inside a part-spherical socket member 34. The socket member has two orthogonal slots 36, 38 that allow movement of the socket member relative to the rod 32 to accommodate Irregularities in the surface of the floor.

Each side member Is made in two parts 14(c) and 14(d) that are connected by hinges that are hidden from view. A locking mechanism (not shown) holds the sides in their operating position as shown In Figure 1. Similarly the longitudinal bars 18 are cut in the plane of the hinge.

Referring to Figure 4 each side member has a slot 40 at each end that extends in a direction away from the middle of the side member 14(c). A "C" shaped leaf spring 41 is located at the base of each slot 40 on studs 43 and arranged with the convex surface of the leaf spring facing away from the middle of the side member. In use, a roller 42, 44 (shown in Figure 3) having a spindle 46, 48 is located in the slot 40 with the spindle46,48 resting against the convex surface of the leaf springs 41.

An endless belt 50 made of flexible web material such as rubberised fabric, plastic coated fabric or polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) coated glass fibre synthetic or natural textile flbres Is positioned around the rollers 42, 44. The length of the belt 50 is such that it pulls the rollers against the C-shaped leaf springs 41 In this way the leaf springs 41 keep the belt 50 tensioned.

The method of removing and replacing the belt is accomplished by unlatching the front part 14(c) from the rear part 14(d) of the side members 14 and lifting the front end 14 (c) upwards The belt 50 is then removed from the rollers 42,44 and a new one is placed around the rollers 42, 44. The front part 14(c) is then lowered into place to tension the belt 50 The leaf springs 41 maintain the belt 50 in tension. The lowered part 14(c) Is held into position by a locking latch (not shown).

Claims

1. A hygienic conveyor comprising a body constructed to support an endless conveyor belt, the body comprising a base In the form of two side walls interconnected by cross members that are interconnected by longitudinal members, said base being mounted on legs, and located at each end of the side walls around which extends an endless conveyor belt charactersed In that all the surfaces of the base and legs on which, in use dust would otherwise collect, are smooth, substantially devoid of dust traps and are inclined to a horizontal plane so as to reduce the collection of dust or debris.

2. A conveyor according to Claim 1, wherein the said surfaces of the base are

coated with a friction reduction coating that assists in the shedding of dust and debns.

3 A conveyor according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the surfaces of the base are coated with a bactericidal coating

4. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the surfaces of the base are polished stainless steel

5. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the side members are provided with an open ended slot, the drums have a spindle which locates In the slots, and each slot is provided with a resilient biasing means in the form of a curved leaf spring which Is attached at each end to the side member and Is positioned relative to the slot so that, in use, the spindle of the drum is held

against a convex surface of the leaf spring by the endless belt, whereby the leaf springs tension the endless belt by urging the drums apart

6. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the base comprises two hinged parts.

7. A conveyor according to Claim 6, wherein one part is pivotal relative to the other part for the purpose of facilitating removal of the endless belt.

KUJW/P03324GB

August 12, 2002