JP2002046838A - Air levitation type belt conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress contact between a belt and a trough even if a step, a protrusion or a gap is generated in a connection part of trough units. SOLUTION: In this air levitation type belt conveyor, the plural trough units 2a are connected, and the belt 1 is traveled with the belt 1 levitated by supplying air between the trough units 2a and the belt 1. An air supply amount increase part 11 wherein an air supply amount is increased as compared to a part except the connection part 10 is provided near the connection part 10 of the adjacent trough units 2a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air-floating belt conveyor that travels in a state in which a belt for transporting a lump, granular, or powdery load of ore, coal, grain, or the like is floated by an air layer. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a belt conveyor is used to continuously transport lumps, granules, and powders of ore, coal, grain, etc., and has a structure as shown in FIG. 8 as an example. Has been proposed. The belt conveyor shown in FIG. 8 includes a carrier-side trough 2 and a return-side trough 3 having an arc-shaped cross section, and a belt 1 on which a load is placed is disposed on the upper surface thereof. An air levitation system is adopted in which an air layer is formed by supplying air between the belts and the belt 1 travels while floating.

This belt conveyor has ducts 6 and 7 on the lower surface of the troughs 2 and 3 for guiding the belt 1, and has a large number of air holes 4 and 5 at the center in the width direction of the troughs 2 and 3 along the longitudinal direction. Is provided. By sending air from the blowers 8 and 9 into the ducts 6 and 7, the air holes 4 and 5 are provided.
Air is blown upward from the belt 1, thereby forming an air layer between the belt 1 and each of the troughs 2, 3, and
The belt 1 moving above is levitated. By adopting such a configuration, the air levitation type belt conveyor greatly reduces the resistance acting on the belt as compared with the roller type belt conveyor, reducing the burden of driving the belt and reducing noise and vibration. can do.

[0004]

By the way, this type of belt conveyor has a plurality of trough units of a predetermined length arranged in a longitudinal direction, and a belt is stretched over the trough units to have a desired length. At this time, the plurality of trough units are arranged such that the butted ends are connected by welding or the like, or a gap is provided between the ends to allow the trough to expand and contract due to a temperature change. Then, if there is a manufacturing error in the trough cross section of each trough unit, a step will be generated at the connection portion of the trough unit at the time of welding or at the time of forming a gap. Further, even when there is no error in the trough cross section, if there is an inconvenience in the processing after welding, a projection or the like may remain on the trough surface.

[0005] If there is a step or a projection at the connecting portion of the trough unit, the belt comes into contact with the trough (step or projection) when the floating amount of the belt is small, and the frictional resistance is increased. There is a problem that the cost is increased and the durability of the belt is reduced. On the other hand, if a large amount of air for levitation is supplied to increase the levitation amount of the belt as a whole, the operation cost similarly increases, which is not preferable. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to increase the production accuracy of the trough cross-section to suppress the occurrence of a step, or to thoroughly perform processing after welding, but this is economically disadvantageous because it causes an increase in manufacturing cost.

When a gap is provided between the trough units, the air for levitation escapes from the gap to reduce the levitation force of the belt, so that the belt comes into contact with the trough surface to increase frictional resistance. It has become. In particular, when a step is generated at the connection portion as described above, the possibility that the belt and the trough come into contact with each other due to the effect of the step in addition to the reduction of the levitation force increases the operation cost and decreases the durability of the belt. Easy to invite.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and suppresses the contact between the belt and the trough and increases the frictional resistance even when a step, a projection, or a gap is formed at the connection portion of the trough unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air-floating belt conveyor capable of preventing the occurrence of the above problem, reducing the operating cost and improving the durability of the belt.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of trough units are connected, and a belt is provided by supplying air between the trough units and the belt. An air-floating belt conveyor that travels in a state where air is levitated, characterized in that an air supply amount increasing portion is provided near a connection portion between the trough units and an air supply amount is increased from a portion other than the connection portion. And In this air levitation type belt conveyor, the air supply increasing portion supplies more air for belt levitation in the vicinity of the connection between the trough units than in other portions, so that the levitation amount of the belt in the connection portion increases,
Even if a step or the like occurs at the connection portion, it is possible to avoid the belt and the trough from coming into contact with each other. Therefore, by avoiding an increase in frictional resistance, it becomes possible to reduce the operating cost required for driving the belt and to improve the durability of the belt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the air levitation type belt conveyor of the first aspect, the air supply amount increasing portion is provided in the width direction of the trough unit and has an auxiliary air hole for discharging air for belt floating. It is characterized by having. In this air levitation type belt conveyor, air for belt levitation is discharged from auxiliary air holes arranged in the width direction of the trough unit, so that a large amount of air to be supplied near the connection portion is efficiently supplied to the belt width. It becomes possible.

[0010] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
Is characterized in that the air supply increasing portion is provided upstream of the connecting portion in the running direction of the belt. In this air levitation type belt conveyor, a large amount of air is supplied to the upstream side of the connection portion by utilizing the movement of the air for belt levitation moving downstream with the movement of the belt, and the air is supplied to the downstream side. By moving to, the air can be efficiently supplied to the vicinity of the connection portion.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an air-floating belt conveyor according to the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a cross-sectional view other than a connection portion, FIG. 2 (b) is a cross-sectional view near a connection portion, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state. 1 and 2, only the carrier side is shown and the return side is omitted. In addition,
Those denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8 use the same members,
For example, regarding the belt 1, the carrier side trough 2, the air holes 4 and 5, the ducts 6 and 7, and the blowers 8 and 9, FIG.
Is omitted, and the description is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air-floating type belt conveyor is configured such that trough units 2a of a predetermined length are abutted to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the abutted portions are connected by welding to form a carrier-side trough. 2 are formed. However, the invention is not limited to connecting the trough units 2a by welding. For example, a method of bonding the trough units 2a using an adhesive or forming a flange at the end of each trough unit 2a and joining the flanges together. Various connecting means can be used, such as a method of fixing with a bolt.

An air supply increasing portion 11 is formed near the connecting portion 2 of the trough unit 2a. The air supply amount increasing unit 11 increases the amount of air supply per unit time to the vicinity of the connection unit 2 as compared with other parts on the trough 2, and is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trough 2. It has a plurality of auxiliary air holes 12 arranged along the direction, and an expansion duct 13 formed on the lower surface side of the trough 2 corresponding to the auxiliary air holes 12. Further, since the expansion duct 13 is provided in communication with the carrier-side duct 6, the air for floating the belt 1 is discharged from each auxiliary air hole 12 onto the trough 2.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), at locations other than the vicinity of the connecting portion 10, the carrier side duct 6 extending to the center of the lower surface side of the trough 2 and the air hole 4 provided substantially at the center of the trough 2 The air for lifting the belt 1 is discharged onto the trough 2 via the air passage, and as shown in FIG. 2B, near the connecting portion 10, from the expansion duct 13 expanded in the width direction of the trough 2. 4 arranged in the width direction of the air hole 4 and the trough 2 (the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the trough 2).
Air for floating the belt 1 is discharged through the auxiliary air holes 12. Therefore, the flying height of the belt 1 is larger near the connection portion 10 than at other portions.

The arrangement, number, and shape of the auxiliary air holes 12 are arbitrary. As shown in FIG. 1, each auxiliary air hole 12 is provided on the upstream side in the moving direction of the belt 1 with respect to the connection portion 10. This is because the floating air discharged from the auxiliary air holes 12 is pulled by the lower surface of the belt 1 and moves to the downstream side, so that the floating air is positioned near the downstream connection portion 10. It is. However, the present invention is not limited to providing the auxiliary air hole 12 on the upstream side of the connecting portion 10, and may be provided on the downstream side of the connecting portion 10 or on both the upstream side and the downstream side.

Next, a description will be given of how the air-floating belt conveyor is used. First. By driving a blower (not shown), air for levitation is sent to the carrier side duct 6,
The levitation air is supplied between the trough 2 and the belt 1 from the air holes 4 and the belt 1 is driven by driving a belt driving device (not shown). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, in the air supply amount increasing unit 11, the levitation air is released from the carrier side duct 6 through the expansion duct 13 through the auxiliary air hole 12, so that the belt 1 It is in a state of rising higher than others.

Therefore, even if a step is generated in the connecting portion 10 when the trough units 2a are connected to each other,
The belt 1 is raised by the air for floating from the air supply amount increasing unit 11.
, The contact between the belt 1 and the trough 2 (that is, the step of the connecting portion 10) is suppressed, so that an increase in operation cost due to an increase in frictional resistance can be avoided and the durability of the belt 1 is improved. Can be. Further, since the contact between the belt 1 and the trough 2 is suppressed, it is possible to prevent the vibration and abnormal noise of the entire conveyor from being generated, and to improve the working environment. Further, since the air holes 12 are arranged in the width direction of the trough 2, it is possible to efficiently supply air for floating in the width direction of the belt 1.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the air levitation type belt conveyor, and is a cross-sectional view showing the air supply amount increasing section 14. As shown in FIG. The difference from the air supply amount increasing unit 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the air supply amount increasing unit 11 is independent from the air supply path to the air holes 4. The empty supply increasing unit 14 includes an auxiliary duct 15 provided corresponding to the auxiliary air hole 12, and an auxiliary blower 16 that supplies air for floating to the auxiliary duct 15. In the vicinity of the connection portion 10, the air for floating from the blower 8 is supplied onto the trough 2 via the carrier side duct 6 and the air hole 4, and the auxiliary blower 16
From the auxiliary air duct 15 and the auxiliary air holes 12
Through the trough 2.

Accordingly, the flying height of the belt 1 becomes large in the vicinity of the connecting portion 10, and even if a step is formed in the connecting portion 10, contact with the step is suppressed. Note that the arrangement, the number, and the shape of the auxiliary air holes 12 are also arbitrary in the air supply amount increasing unit 14. When there are a plurality of connecting portions 10 in the entire length of the conveyor, each connecting portion 1
The auxiliary duct 15 may be provided for each of the zeros and the auxiliary blower 16 may be shared.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the air levitation type belt conveyor. The air supply increasing section 17 used in this conveyor is divided into an air supply chamber 18 near the connection section 10 by partitioning the carrier side duct 6, and a branch for connecting the pipe 8 a from the blower 8 to the air supply chamber 18. A pipe 19 is provided, and the branch pipe 19 is provided with a valve 20. Note that a valve 20a is provided in the pipe to the carrier-side duct 6.

The amount of air supplied to the carrier side duct 6 and the air supply chamber 18 is controlled by valves 20 and 20.
By adjusting the opening degree of the air supply chamber a, the amount of air supplied to the air supply chamber 18 at this time is set to be large, so that the air for floating released from the air holes 4 corresponding to the air supply chamber 18 is compared with the others. More. Accordingly, the flying height of the belt 1 becomes large in the vicinity of the connecting portion 10, and even if there is a step in the connecting portion 10, contact with the step is suppressed. In the air supply amount increasing section 17, it is optional to use a plurality of air holes 4 or to increase the diameter of the air holes 4 and discharge air for floating from the holes. Further, instead of using the blower 8 to supply air to the air supply chamber 18, another blower may be used.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the air floating type belt conveyor. The air supply amount increasing portion 21 used in this conveyor is configured such that the arrangement interval of the air holes 4 is reduced near the connection portion 10. Then, the levitation air from the blower 8 is sent to the carrier side duct 6 and uniformly discharged from each air hole 4.
In the vicinity of the connection portion 10 where the arrangement intervals of the above are short, a large amount of floating air is supplied. Accordingly, the flying height of the belt 1 becomes large in the vicinity of the connecting portion 10, and even if there is a step in the connecting portion 10, contact with the step is suppressed.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the air levitation type belt conveyor. In FIG. 7, the trough unit 2
a indicates a state in which the gaps 20 are opened and connected to each other, and the gaps 20 correspond to the connection portions 10. In addition,
The gap 20 is used to absorb the expansion and contraction of the conveyor due to the temperature difference. The air supply increasing section 23 used in this conveyor has an air supply chamber 24 formed at the end of the carrier side duct 6 and a branch pipe 25 for connecting the pipe 8a from the blower 8 to the air supply chamber 24. The branch pipe 25 is provided with a valve 26. Note that a valve 26a is provided in the pipe to the carrier-side duct 6. Such a configuration is similar to the air supply amount increasing unit 17 in FIG. The carrier-side duct 6 of the trough unit 2a on the downstream side is provided with a lid 6a for preventing leakage of air for floating.

The amount of air supplied to the carrier side duct 6 and the air supply chamber 24 is controlled by valves 26 and 26.
By adjusting the opening degree of the air supply chamber a, the amount of air supplied to the air supply chamber 24 at this time is set to be large, so that the levitation air discharged from the air holes 4 corresponding to the air supply chamber 24 is compared with the others. More. Therefore, the floating amount of the belt 1 is ensured near the connecting portion 10 while the air for floating is leaking from the gap 20, and the contact between the belt 1 and the trough 2 is suppressed. Also,
Even if there is a step in the connecting portion 10, the flying height of the belt 1 can be easily increased by increasing the air supply amount to the air supply chamber 24.

In the air supply increasing section 23, the air holes 4 are made plural or the diameter is made larger than the others.
It is optional to release air for floating from here. Further, instead of using the blower 8 to supply air to the air supply chamber 24, another blower may be used. Further, as an air supply amount increasing portion used for a connection portion where such a gap 20 is generated,
The present invention is not limited to the use of the air supply amount increasing unit 23 shown in FIG. 7, and the air supply amount increasing units 11, 14, and 21 shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6 can be used. further,
It is a matter of course that an air supply amount increasing portion may be provided on the downstream side of the gap 20.

It should be noted that the shapes, combinations, and the like of the components shown in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and can be variously changed based on design requirements without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027]

As described above, the air-floating type belt conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention has the following features.
Since more air for floating the belt is supplied in the vicinity of the connection between the trough units than in the other parts, the amount of floating of the belt at the connection is increased, and air is evenly supplied to the connection. Even when there is a step, the contact between the belt and the trough can be suppressed. Therefore, by avoiding an increase in frictional resistance, it is possible to reduce the operating cost required for driving the belt and improve the durability of the belt. Further, by suppressing the contact between the belt and the trough, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of vibration and abnormal noise and to improve the working environment.

In the air levitation type belt conveyor according to the second aspect, the air for belt levitation is discharged from auxiliary air holes arranged in the width direction of the trough unit. Can be supplied efficiently.

In the air levitation type belt conveyor according to the third aspect, a large amount of air is supplied to the upstream side of the connecting portion by utilizing the movement of the air for lifting the belt downstream as the belt moves. At the same time, by moving this air downstream, air can be efficiently supplied to the vicinity of the connection portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a conveyor belt according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the air-floating type belt conveyor shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a use state of the air-floating belt conveyor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the air levitation type belt conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment of the air levitation belt conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment of the air levitation belt conveyor.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment of the air levitation type belt conveyor.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional air levitation type belt conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Belt 2 Carrier side trough 2a Trough unit 3 Return side trough 4 Air hole 6,7 Duct 10 Connection part 11,14,17,21,23 Air supply increase part 12 Auxiliary air hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air-floating belt conveyor to which a plurality of trough units are connected, and air is supplied between the trough units and a belt to cause the belt to float and run. An air-floating belt conveyor characterized in that an air-supplying-amount increasing portion is provided near a connecting portion between units so that an air-supplying amount is increased from a portion other than the connecting portion. 2. The air floating type according to claim 1, wherein the air supply amount increasing section is provided in the width direction of the trough unit and has an auxiliary air hole for discharging air for floating the belt. Belt conveyor. 3. The air-floating belt conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the air supply amount increasing portion is provided on an upstream side in a running direction of the belt with respect to the connection portion.