GB571210A - Improvements in or relating to conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

571,210. Conveyers. JOHNS, H. S., and JOHNS, W. H. May 5, 1943, No. 7124. [Class 78 (i)] In conveying apparatus of the endless tubular conveyer belt type, the belt comprises a substantially planar base 16 Figs. 5, 8 and spaced side portions 17 connected to or formed integral with the base and having their outer edges provided with interlocking means. As described, the outer edges of the sides 17 are each formed with substantially identical projections 21 and recesses 22, those on one edge being staggered with respect to those on the other and adapted to be interlocked therewith and unlocked therefrom to permit the conveyer to receive loads at a loading station and to discharge loads at an unloading station. The conveying apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 4 comprises a framework 1, 2 which supports the belt 16, 17 at three corners by means of curved plates 7 each carrying outer rollers 8 and a curved series of rollers 10 adapted respectively to engage the outer surface of the base 16 of the belt and the inner surfaces of opposed side flanges on the belt, while the belt is supported at the other corner of the framework by a pulley 3 driven from a motor 6. The framework also supports the feed hopper 11 of a loading station and a series of discharge hoppers 14 at unloading stations. To enable the material being conveyed by the belt to be raised when the belt is moving upwardly transverse partitions 24 or flights, Figs. 2, 4, are secured therein. Operation.-Assuming the belt is moving clockwise, in Figs. 1, 4, as successive portions approach the hopper 11, the edges of the sides 17 are engaged between a pair of rollers 27 and held against upward movement by a roller 29 and thereafter the neck 12 of the hopper spreads the sides of the belt apart and material is delivered into the belt. To prevent the inner surfaces of the belt from being chafed by the neck, the latter is provided with upwardly convex saddles 13, 13x carrying rollers 30 bearing on the sides of the belt. After the belt has passed the hopper, the sides are locked together by rollers 27a, 29a. When the belt reaches the left-hand upper corner, it is carried across the hoppers 14 with its edges directed downwardly and each hopper is provided with means for. opening the belt, to allow discharge of material, comprising a roller 32 carried by a lever arm 33 controllable by a cable 35. By pulling the cable, the roller 32 opens the adjacent part of the belt by pressure on the' interengaging projections, opening of the part of the belt outside the hopper being prevented by rollers 27c, 29c, while the opening is closed at the other side of the hopper by rollers 27b, 29b. The belt may be maintained with its edges interlocked while passing over any hopper 14 by means of lever arms 36, Fig. 2, pivotally mounted at 37 and carrying rollers 38 adapted to engage the edges 17b of the belt, the upper end of each arm 36 having a gear segment 36a meshing with a pinion 370. Normally the parts are in the positions shown in broken lines to allow the load to be discharged if the belt is opened, but when it is desired to prevent further discharge of material, a cable 39 on one of the arms 36 is pulled downwardly causing the arms to grip the edges of the belt between the rollers 38. To prevent air being forced by the flights 24 into an open receiving portion of the belt when material is being fed from the hopper 11, an opening 13a, Fig. 4, is provided in the saddle 13 and a flexible flap valve 130 is secured to the neck 12 of the hopper and is wiped or moved aside by the flights as they pass beneath the neck. The belt may cooperate with ordinary types of rollers to discharge its contents and, as shown in Fig. 18, by giving the belt a half-turn after passing the hopper 14, it discharges its contents over a pulley 400. It may then be driven in open position over a pulley 410, given another half-turn and led around a second pulley 410a, after which it is closed by a series of rollers 270,290. By supporting the sides in angular relation to the base by suitably arranged rollers, the belt may be used as a trough-like conveyer. Construction of belt.-The base 16, Fig. 8, consists of flexible material with reinforcing layers 16a and is covered with sheet rubber 16b, while the sides are preferably of rubber reinforced with fabric. The sides 17 are connected to the base by inner and outer hinges 18, 19 preferably of duck moulded into the inner and outer surfaces of the sides. A fabric strip 20 prevents access of finely-divided material or liquid or semi-liquid material between each side and the base and also limits the downward movement of each side. Alternatively, in a modification, a sheet, preferably of rubber, extends over the base between the lower parts of the sides and is stretched by the sides when fully open. Flaps 23 carried by the inner faces of the outer ends of the sides abut each other under pressure when the belt is closed, forming a joint which prevents leakage of liquid &c. from the belt. Other modifications are also described.