JP2016524574A - Equipment for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts - Google Patents

Abstract

A hub assembly for storing and transporting rolled material, in particular a conveyor belt, comprising a rotating shaft (910) and a first hub (950) attached to the rotating shaft, wherein the first A hub assembly, wherein the outer periphery of the hub comprises a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a step between the minimum radius and the maximum radius.

Description

  The present invention relates to a crate system, and more particularly to an apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts.

  Conveyor belt systems are commonly used in various industrial fields for material handling and processing applications. For example, conveyor systems are used in food processing systems where food items are placed and processed on a support surface of a conveyor belt while being conveyed from one location to another. There are various types of conveyor belts, including modular conveyor belts that are particularly prevalent in food processing systems. In addition, conveyor systems are often used in helical accumulators that allow a large number of items to be stored in the conveyor system as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,070,999 to Layne et al.

  Such conveyor belts are often very long and extend over tens of meters (hundreds of feet) or even hundreds of meters (thousands of feet). Various types of crate are used to handle such large amounts of belts during transport, storage and distribution. A conventional crate is typically a large, essentially square wooden box with a fixed length and width, as shown in FIG. 1A. For example, in order to pack a self-stacking spiral belt into such a crate, the belt must be broken up into short flat portions and stacked in the crate as in FIGS. 1B and 1C. As shown in FIG. 1C, a conventional crate system 100 comprised of a housing 110 stacks disassembled belt portions 120a-120c therein, and side plates separate adjacent disassembled belt portions. For example, disassembled belt portion 120a has side plates 125a and 125b, of which side plate 125b separates this portion from disassembled belt portion 120b. When the belt arrives at its destination, it must be reassembled and joined between the separated parts. For example, in food processing facilities with narrow passages and sparse empty areas, many large crates are often disassembled elsewhere and the belt portions are often transported one at a time to the installation point.

  In addition, since conveyor belts can be constant and vary in length and width, a large number of such conventional crates of various sizes are required to ship the belt. Thus, in order to accommodate various belt size orders, belt manufacturers need to keep a large number of crate of many different sizes at hand. Thus, a large portion of the manufacturing space may be occupied due to the storage of unused crate, increasing overhead and shipping costs, which are ultimately passed on to cost sensitive customers.

  Other containers are known in which the material can be transported as a roll without being broken down into flat parts. For example, Eldridge US Pat. No. 3,184,053 is a combined shipping, storage and dispensing container for coiled material, where the coil contacts either the inner side of the container or its side or edge. Disclosed is a container that is mounted within the container so that it can be completely suspended without. The Eldridge patent discloses a rectangular empty box having a fixed core member around which the material to be stored is coiled and a pair of cup members at each end of the core member fixedly attached to the container. doing. However, this patent requires the use of conventional cardboard boxes that are preferably made of cardboard box material. In addition, because the material is suspended horizontally on the core member, the container is stressed throughout the shipping and storage process. The Eldridge patent is therefore limited with respect to the type and weight of materials that can be shipped and stored.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,122 to McCord et al. Discloses a palletless packaging system having an end plate that includes a vertical groove that houses a core of a rolled product. However, this system is lightweight and reusable and contains little or no wood. Furthermore, the core of the rolled product must be lowered into the vertical groove. Thus, the McCord et al. Patent is only suitable for packaging lightweight materials such as cloth, thin films, or wiring. In addition, loading and unloading the core material by removing it through the vertical groove is time consuming and energy consuming as it requires additional space and tools to properly handle the material.

US Pat. No. 5,070,999 US Pat. No. 3,184,053 US Pat. No. 6,315,122

  The crate system described above proposes various mechanisms for moving, storing and dispensing roll products. However, especially for self-stacking spiral belts, it is cost-effective to store, transport and distribute conveyor belts, maximizing the amount of belts stored while minimizing the space used for storage. A robust device is still needed. In addition, a crate device that shortens the installation time is required. Furthermore, there remains a need for a crate system that can be adapted to various belt sizes.

  In view of the above, one aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing new replacement conveyor belts using conventional upper and lower pallets. Use of a conventional pallet in this device provides easy handling with a forklift and strength that allows multiple crate stacks. Furthermore, conventional pallets are inexpensive compared to a large number of custom-made crate that are not made or manufactured in cost-effective bulk quantities. Thus, the present invention has a standard shape that is easily loaded into a box trailer and transported to an installation point.

  One advantage of the present invention is that it allows a belt, especially a self-stacking spiral belt, to be wound on a spool. The spool allows for rotational movement and minimizes the amount of manual work required to install the belt. Furthermore, the rotational movement allows the belt to self-distribute at the installation point.

  Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows belts to be packaged, shipped, and distributed in lengths. Since joining conveyor belts is a time, energy and costly process, it is desirable to use as long a conveyor belt as possible to reduce the time and materials required to rejoin the belt at the destination. The apparatus of the present invention meets that need by holding a continuous belt section of up to 15 meters (50 feet) or more and reducing the number of weld joints required for reassembly. This speeds up packing, unpacking and installation of the belt at the destination.

  A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cam-shaped hub that can be freely rolled and unrolled and allows a smooth transition between the layers of the roll conveyor belt. In one embodiment, the cam is made with different offsets to accommodate different side plate heights of the self-stacking spiral belt.

  Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the rolls of the conveyor belt are turned sideways during shipping and handling because the spool extends vertically from the upper pallet to the lower pallet. Thus, both the rotational movement during transport and the stress on the hub caused by the weight of the conveyor belt are significantly reduced.

  A further advantage of the present invention is that it is smaller than conventional conveyor belt crate systems and allows it to be easily loaded onto a box trailer and transported to an installation point. Furthermore, the present invention occupies less space than a conventional conveyor belt crate system at an installation point such as a food processing facility that typically has a narrow passage and little free space.

  According to one embodiment, a conveyor belt crate system of the present invention is a housing having first and second pallets, each of the first and second pallets comprising a pallet hole, a plurality of planks, and A housing having one or more grooves formed between adjacent planks, wherein the pallet holes of the first pallet are parallel to the pallet holes of the second pallet; A first drum hub and a second drum hub located between the two pallets, each of which includes a hub hole, and a hub hole of the first and second drum hubs; A rotating shaft that engages the pallet holes of the first and second pallets, thereby interconnecting the first and second pallets.

The first and second drum hubs may have at least two outer radius dimensions equal to a minimum radius r _o1 and a maximum radius r _o2 . These outer radius dimensions may gradually increase from a minimum radius r _o1 to a maximum radius r _o2 . The first and second drum hubs may further comprise a step. This step may be of a length equal to the maximum radius r _o2 minus the minimum radius r _o1 .

  A conveyor belt may be wound around the first and second drum hubs. The conveyor belt may be a single continuous conveyor belt piece. The conveyor belt may be, for example, a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt. Two or more adjacent layers of a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt can be interconnected.

  The conveyor belt crate system housing may further comprise a plurality of edge supports attached to one or more corresponding edges of the first and second pallets at the distal ends. The housing may further comprise one or more lateral cross beams attached obliquely to the upper part of one edge support and the lower part of an adjacent edge support, wherein one or more of the transverse cross beams Can be removable. In lieu of or in addition to the edge support and / or the transverse cross beam, the housing may comprise one or more side plates attached to corresponding edges of the upper and lower pallets. Further, the edge support may have one or more inner support beams attached to the inner surface. The upper pallet and lower pallet can be conventional shipping pallets and / or at least one of the one or more grooves can be configured to receive a fork portion of a forklift. Furthermore, a plurality of planks provided on the upper pallet and the lower pallet can be located in two or more layers.

  The axis of rotation of the conveyor belt crate system can be cylindrical or have a square cross section. The rotating shaft may further include at least one of a notch, a hole, a key, a pin, and a hook. The rotating shaft may extend through the pallet holes of the first and second pallets. Nevertheless, the outer surface of each of the first and second pallets can be flat. The pallet hole can be in at least one plank of the first and / or second pallet. Alternatively or additionally, the pallet hole can be in at least one of the one or more grooves between adjacent planks of the first and / or second pallet.

  According to one embodiment, a hub assembly for storing and transporting rolled material is described. The hub assembly includes a rotation shaft and a first hub attached to the rotation shaft. The outer periphery of the first hub comprises a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a step between the minimum radius and the maximum radius.

  The roll material may be wound on the first hub. The width of the first hub can be equal to the width of the roll material. The length of the step can be equal to the thickness of the roll material.

  The second hub can be attached to the rotating shaft. In one embodiment, the width of the first hub is less than the width of the roll material and the width of the second hub is less than the width of the roll material. The outer periphery of the second hub may comprise a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a step between the minimum radius and the maximum radius. The first hub and the second hub can be located on opposite edges of the roll of material, and the first hub step and the second hub step can be aligned.

  In one embodiment, the rolled material includes a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can include side plates. The length of the step can be equal to the thickness of the side plate.

  The perimeter can be defined by a spiral shape formed by gradually increasing the radius of the first drum hub through one revolution around the common central portion, the length of the step being the maximum and minimum radius Can be equal to the difference between The outer periphery may comprise a first smaller radius having a first center point and at least one continuously increasing radius having a center point different from the first center point. The radius to touch can contact the previous radius through one revolution, and a step is formed between the beginning of the first smaller radius and the end of the last larger radius.

  Also described is a method of storing and transporting a roll of material according to one embodiment. This method abuts the end of the roll material on a step defined by the difference between the maximum and minimum radii of the hub and wraps a long roll of material around the outer periphery of the hub And the hub is attached to the rotating shaft.

  The axis of rotation can be arranged horizontally when winding a long roll of material around the outer periphery of the hub. Both ends of the rotating shaft can be constrained inside the crate. The axis of rotation may be allowed to rotate freely. The roll-shaped material can be placed on the pallet with the rotation axis in the vertical direction. The rolled material can include a conveyor belt.

  Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail below, merely by way of illustration of several exemplary embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. It will be readily apparent from the explanation. Various other embodiments are possible in the present invention, some of which may be modified in various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

  The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention. However, the various embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limiting the invention to the particular embodiments, but are merely for explanation and understanding.

FIG. 4 shows stacked conventional crate for storing and transporting a conveyor belt. FIG. 5 shows an open conventional crate for storing and transporting a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt with the disassembled portions of the belt stacked. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional crate for storing and transporting a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt with the disassembled portions of the belt stacked. 1 is a perspective view of an exploded crate system for storing, transporting, and dispensing conveyor belts according to one implementation of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hub assembly used in a crate system according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a detailed perspective view of the distal end of the hub assembly shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the hub assembly shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drum hub used in a crate system according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the drum hub shown to FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B is a side view of the drum hub shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 3 is an internal view of an end pallet used in a crate system, according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a side view of the end pallet shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is a different side view of the end pallet shown in FIG. 5A. 1 is a perspective view of a crate system storage and transport configuration according to one implementation of the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pre-load configuration and / or a pre-remove configuration of a crate system according to one implementation of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crate system configuration during loading and / or removal, according to one implementation of the invention. FIG. 1 is an end view of a drum hub wound with a self-stacking spiral belt, according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled crate system for storing, transporting, and dispensing conveyor belts according to another implementation of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an internal view of an end pallet used, for example, in the crate system of FIG. 10 according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. 11B is a side view of the end pallet shown in FIG. 11A. FIG. 11B is a different side view of the end pallet shown in FIG. 11A. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hub of a hub assembly according to an implementation of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of a hub wound with a self-stacking spiral belt, according to an implementation of the present invention.

  An apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing a conveyor belt is described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalent constructions.

  Reference is now made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exploded crate system 200 for storing, transporting, and dispensing conveyor belts according to one implementation of the present invention. The crate system has a conventional pallet, an upper pallet 210a and a lower pallet 210b, as recognized by those skilled in the art and further described herein. Upper pallet 210a and lower pallet 210b are each centered with pallet holes 220a and 220b, and pallet holes 220a and 220b are configured to receive a distal end of a hub assembly comprising a rotating shaft 240 and drum hubs 250a and 250b. The Pallet holes 220a and 220b can be formed in upper pallet 210a and lower pallet 210b using a tool such as a hole saw, for example.

  The upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b are connected to each other at the corresponding edge of the pallet via edge supports 230a-230d, each having approximately the same height. The edge supports 230a-230d can be made from any sturdy material such as, for example, wood, metal, and / or plastic, especially when the crate system 200 is stacked, the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b. Functions to support. In this embodiment, the edge supports 230a-230d are composed of two wooden planks that are joined along a length that covers the corresponding outer corners of the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b.

  The edge supports 230a-230d may further include inner support beams as indicated by reference numeral 231d with respect to the edge support 230d. In this embodiment, the inner support beam 231d is inside the edge support 230d and is therefore flush with the edge support 230d on two sides. Further, the inner support beam 231d is shorter than 230d, and therefore the end portion of the inner support beam 231d is in contact with the inner surfaces of the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b. The edge supports 230a-230d and their associated inner support beams may be of any height, but generally have a higher height to accommodate a wider conveyor belt width and accommodate a narrower conveyor belt width. If so, the height is lower.

  The side beams 235a-235d extend diagonally across the inner surfaces of the edge supports 230a-230d and / or their corresponding inner support beams and interconnect adjacent edge supports and / or inner support beams. , Providing additional support for the crate system 200. For example, the side beams 235a extend from the top of the edge support 230a to the bottom of the edge support 230b, the side beams 235b extend from the top of the edge support 230b to the bottom of 230c, and so on. The edge supports 230a-230d and the cross beams 235a-235d form the four open sides of the crate system 200 and connect the corresponding edges of the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b. The side beams 235a-235d may be of any length, but are generally longer to accommodate wider conveyor belt widths and / or thicker rolls of belts, narrower conveyor belt widths and / or thinner belts. Shorter for rolls.

  A hub assembly or “spool” disposed within the crate system 200 is comprised of a rotating shaft 240 and drum hubs 250a and 250b. The rotating shaft 240 is cylindrical and can be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, PVC tubing, and can be reusable or disposable. The diameter of the rotating shaft 240 is less than or equal to the diameter of the holes in the pallet holes 220a and 220b and the drum hubs 250a and 250b (discussed further herein), and thus during assembly or disassembly, the pallet holes 220a and 220b and the drum hub 250a. And the rotating shaft 240 can be inserted into or removed from 250b. The rotating shaft 240 is attached to the drum hubs 250a and 250b at the distal ends, as further described herein.

  Although illustrated and described in FIG. 2 with respect to edge supports 230a-230d and side beams 235a-235d, any number of other configurations may be used to connect and support upper pallet 210a and lower pallet 210b. In one embodiment, side beams 235a-235d may be provided across the outer surface of edge supports 230a-230d. Alternatively or additionally, solid wood panels and / or sheet metal pieces are used to form closed sides on the crate system 200 and connect the corresponding edges of the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b. Also good. In addition or alternatively, other forms of supports may be provided, such as, for example, edge supports 230a-230d and screws drilled in upper pallet 210a and lower pallet 210b. Alternatively, the side beams 235a-235d or other forms of support can be omitted entirely.

  3A and 3C are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a hub assembly 300 used in a crate system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hub assembly 300 includes a rotating shaft 340 and drum hubs 350a and 350b. Although shown generally cylindrical, the rotation axis 340 can be any shape that allows rotational movement in a clockwise and / or counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows. . For example, the rotating shaft 340 can be formed of a rectangular tube in which a cylindrical tube is mainly welded to the end portion.

  The drum hubs 350a and 350b are attached to the end portions of the rotating shaft 340, and both end portions 345a and 345b of the rotating shaft 340 protrude from the drum hubs 350a and 350b. In this configuration, end portions 345a and 345b on both sides of the rotating shaft 340 are slidably inserted into pallet holes such as pallet holes 220a and 220b penetrating the inner thick plates of the upper pallet 210a and the lower pallet 210b in FIG. Make it possible. Drum hubs 350a and 350b can be made of any sturdy material, such as wood, plastic, and / or metal, and can be reusable or disposable.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, notches are formed in the end portions 345a and 345b on both sides of the rotating shaft 340, respectively. These notches may, for example, to deploy the conveyor belt around the axis a _r a drum hub 350a and 350b to winding into a roll and / or the drum hub 350a and 350b, in order to engage in a manual or automated components Can be used. For example, automatic rollers can be used to wind the conveyor belt on drum hubs 350a and 350b at the manufacturing point. In this embodiment, the key on the automatic roller slides into and engages one or both notches of the rotary shaft 340 so that the automatic roller torques the rotary shaft 340 and rotates about the axis a _r. 340 can be rotated. However, although shown and described with respect to the notches, any component or combination of components such as friction components, magnetic components, mechanical components (such as holes and pins) may be used to rotate the rotating shaft 340. The rotating shaft 340 can be rotated by being gripped and / or engaged with the rotating shaft 340.

  FIG. 3B is a detailed perspective view of the distal end of the hub assembly shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, showing the connection between the rotating shaft 340 and the drum hub 350a according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 340 is coupled to the drum hub 350a at two points separated about 180 degrees using square bracket assemblies 355a and 355b, each comprising a square bracket and a screw. Square bracket assemblies 355a and 355b function to resist torque that is applied by manual or automatic rotating means during loading or unloading to cause rotational movement, as further described herein. Although illustrated and described with respect to the square bracket assemblies 355a and 355b, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rotational shaft 340 can be secured to the drum hubs 350a and 350b according to any method while performing the same purpose. For example, alternatively or in addition, an axis of rotation 340 can be secured to the drum hubs 350a and 350b using an adhesive, collar, clamp, or the like.

  The rotating shaft 340 can be of various lengths to accommodate conveyor belts of various widths. In general, the length of the rotating shaft 340 is longer as the conveyor belt width is wider and shorter as the conveyor belt width is narrower. Similarly, the distance between the drum hubs 350a and 350b may be longer as the conveyor belt width is wider and shorter as the conveyor belt width is narrower.

4A and 4B are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a drum hub 400 of a hub assembly used in a crate system. The drum hub 400 has a hub hole 410 having a constant radius r _i . The radius r _i is equal to or larger than the radius of the rotation shaft in the entire hub assembly such as the rotation shaft 240 of FIG. 2 so that the rotation shaft can be slidably inserted into the hub hole 410. Hub hole 410 is shown to be positioned centrally with respect to the minimum outer radius r _o1 of drum hub 400 need not be in any particular central radius, eccentrically on the drum hub 400 instead arrangement May be. The arrangement of the hub holes 410 may be selected so that the conveyor belt wound on the drum hub of the rotating shaft can be centered within the crate system.

  The hub hole 410 is shown as being cylindrical, but can be any shape configured to receive a rotational axis. For example, the hub hole 410 may be square shaped to receive a rotating shaft with a square tube. In this embodiment, greater resistance to friction can be created by increasing the resistance of the torque applied at all four corners of the square when loading and unloading conveyor belts, particularly large conveyor belts. In this embodiment, the fixed connection between the rotating shaft and the drum hub 400 is optional.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the drum hub 400 has an outer radius that increases in length between a minimum radius r _o1 and a maximum radius r _o2 . After the outer radius of the drum hub 400 reaches the maximum radius r _o2 , the outer radius returns to the minimum radius r _o1 to form the step s in the drum hub 400. In the illustrated embodiment, a full 360 degree rotation of the drum hub 400 begins with a constant minimum radius dimension r _o1 for the first 180 degrees rotation and gradually increases to the maximum radius dimension r _o2 and after a complete 360 degree rotation. Decrease or drop to minimum radius dimension _ro1 .

The increase between the minimum radius r _o1 and the maximum radius r _o2 can be gradual, constant, zigzag, or variable, but preferably the transition is smooth. For example, although the first 180 degree rotation is shown and described with a constant minimum radius r _o1 , the outer radius of the drum hub 400 is from a minimum radius r _o1 to a maximum radius r _o2 through a full 360 degree rotation. May increase. In this embodiment, the drum hub 400 may have a more spiral shaped appearance than the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B.

As shown in FIG. 4C, which is a cross-sectional view of the drum hub of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the drum hub 400 has a constant width w. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the drum hub has multiple widths in alternative embodiments, but still performs the same function as the drum hub 400 having a constant width w. Drum hub 400 is configured to around the axis a _r that can be located or eccentrically positioned centrally with respect to the minimum outer radius r _o1, as described above, rotational motion.

The drum hub 400 can be made in various sizes to accommodate conveyor belts of various thicknesses. For example, for most conventional conveyor belts, the step s between the minimum radius r _o1 and the maximum radius r _o2 of the drum hub 400 is increased for thicker belt thicknesses and for thinner belt thicknesses. Is made smaller. For a self-stacking spiral belt, the step s is approximately equal to the height of the side plate of the belt as further discussed and illustrated herein. In either embodiment, attaching the belt at step s forms a substantially coplanar surface and fills the gap between the minimum radius r _o1 and the maximum radius r _o2 . In yet another embodiment, the minimum radius r _o1 is equal to the maximum radius r _o2 and the step s is completely removed.

  The outer periphery of the drum hub 400 can be made larger or smaller to accommodate belts of various radii of curvature. For example, a belt with a small radius of curvature may allow a smaller outer peripheral drum hub 400, while a belt with a larger radius of curvature may require a larger outer peripheral drum hub 400. The outer periphery of the drum hub 400 is preferably large enough to prevent the winding belt connections from being separated. For example, for a wound self-stacking spiral belt, the gap formed between the side plates is preferably narrower than the width of the side plate itself, as shown in FIG. 9, for example. In this embodiment, since the width of the gap increases as the height of the side plate increases, in order to reduce the size of the gap to an allowable width, the radius of curvature is increased, and thus the outer periphery of the drum hub 400 is increased. May be needed.

  FIG. 5A is an internal view of an end pallet 500 used in a crate system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The end pallet 500 is similar to a conventional shipping pallet, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, but can be a pallet of any configuration. The end pallet 500 is typically made of wood, but may be made of heat-treated lumber of various sizes, for example. However, end pallet 500 can also be made of any other suitable material, such as metal and / or plastic. The end pallet 500 is preferably approved for domestic and international shipments.

  The end pallet 500 includes internal planks 510a-510e that are located inside the crate system when fully assembled. Although shown approximately equally spaced, those skilled in the art will recognize that the spacing of the internal planks 510a-510e need not be equal to achieve the function of the end pallet 500. However, it is preferable that one of the internal thick plates 510a to 510e is arranged at the center so as to correspond to the pallet hole 520. In the illustrated embodiment, the pallet hole 520 is cut, drilled, or otherwise formed in the internal plank 510c to be centered on the end pallet 500 in both the width and length directions. The

  FIG. 5B is a side view of the end pallet 500 that can be seen from the side parallel to the inner planks 510a-510e and the outer planks 515a-515d, for example, the planks themselves are parallel to each other. External planks 515a-515d are located outside the crate system when fully assembled. Although shown approximately equally spaced, those skilled in the art will recognize that the spacing of the outer planks 515a-515d need not be equal to achieve the function of the end pallet 500. However, the outer planks 515a-515d are preferably located on the end pallet 500 so as to provide access to the pallet holes 520 of the inner plank 510c.

  Each of the internal planks 510a to 510e and the external planks 515a to 515d have substantially the same length. Further, the combined width of the internal planks 510a-510e including the spacing between the planks is approximately equal to the combined width of the external planks 515a-515d including the respective spacing. Inner planks 510a-510e and outer planks 515a-515d are mounted at right angles across the entire width of lateral planks 530a-530d such that there is little or no protrusion on any side of end pallet 500. In other words, the length of each of the horizontal thick plates 530a to 530d is preferably equal to or less than one of the combined widths described above.

  Although a specific number of internal planks 510a-510e, external planks 515a-515d, and lateral planks 530a-530d have been illustrated and described, the number of planks used at any of these positions may vary. . Further, although the lengths are shown to be approximately equal so that a square configuration can be seen from the angle shown in FIG. 5A, alternatively, the internal planks 510a-510e and the external planks 515a-515d are lateral planks. It may have a length that is shorter or longer than the length of 530a-530d, so that a rectangular configuration is visible instead from the angle shown in FIG. 5A.

  FIG. 5C is a different side view of the end pallet 500 from a viewpoint parallel to the lateral thick plates 530a-530d. As described above, the lateral thick plates 530a to 530d are positioned at right angles to the internal thick plates 510a to 510e and the external thick plates 515a to 515d between the internal thick plates 510a to 510e and the external thick plates 515a to 515d. ing. The lateral planks 530a-530d are preferably positioned such that the space between the planks can accept a fork portion of a forklift or other lift machine or device. Furthermore, the lateral thick plates 530a to 530d have such a length that there is little or no protruding portion on any side surface of the end pallet 500, as described above.

  The end pallet 500 as described above can be used for both the upper and lower pallets in the crate system of the present invention, and thus the vertical positioning of the crate system is not critical. Alternatively, the end pallet 500 may be used only for the lower pallet to facilitate handling with a forklift. In this embodiment, the upper pallet may be of a design configured to receive the outer planks 515a-515d in the grooves to allow the crate to be securely stacked.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a crate system 600 according to one implementation of the present invention. In this embodiment, the crate system 600 has a configuration suitable for storing and transporting the belt roll 610. Accordingly, the crate system 600 may have a standard shape that is easily loaded onto the box trailer and transported to the installation point. For example, the crate system 600 is a 1.2 meter (4 feet) x 1.2 meter (4 feet) x 1.2 meter (4 feet) cube transported on a 2.4 meter trailer (8 feet trailer). There may be.

  The belt roll 610 can be any roll material, but is preferably a conveyor belt. The belt roll 610 can be a new or replacement conveyor belt for a customer, or an old, worn, damaged or defective conveyor belt returned to the manufacturer. Further, the belt roll 610 can be a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt as described herein, or any other type of conveyor belt. A single continuous portion of the conveyor belt can be wound into a belt roll 610, which is wound on a drum hub attached to a rotating shaft as described above.

  In this configuration, the belt roll 610 is positioned sideways so that the rotation axis is perpendicular to the end pallets 620a and 620b. Thus, in this embodiment, the width of the crate system 600 is preferably equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the belt roll 610 across multiple wound layers. The vertical position of the belt roll 610 reduces rotational movement during transport of the crate system 600 and reduces stress on the hub assembly caused by the weight of the belt roll 610.

  The crate system 600 may optionally have a strap that, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, covers the sides and around the upper pallet 620a and lower pallet 620b to provide additional support during transport. In another embodiment, the crate system 600 can be covered with plastic or other material (not shown) to protect against dangerous weather or environmental conditions.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a crate system 600 that is tilted or otherwise rotated laterally (eg, with the side beam side down as described above). This configuration is used after loading the belt roll 610 or before removing the belt roll 610. The space between the end pallets 620a and 620b and their adjacent drum hubs is minimized so that the belt roll 610 is not substantially displaced within the crate system 600 when it is tilted or rotated. It is preferable. The belt roll 610 remains wrapped around the drum hub and the axis of rotation remains perpendicular to the end pallets 620a and 620b. With the rotation axis positioned horizontally, the belt roll 610 can be attached to or removed from the drum hub, allowing easy loading or unloading of the belt roll 610.

  FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the crate system 600, with the crate system 600 tilted sideways, but with adjacent sides removed to load or remove the belt roll 610. The side of the crate system 600 that is adjacent to the side on which the crate system 600 is tilted down has been partially or wholly removed. All other aspects remain the same and the removal time is reduced. The belt roll 610 is then deployed to be delivered to the destination through the removed portion of the crate system 600. Alternatively or in addition, the side of the crate system 600 that faces the side from which the crate system 600 is tilted down may be removed to facilitate loading or removal from, for example, a position above the crate system 600. .

  The belt roll 610 may be deployed manually from the crate system 600 or may be deployed using a motor or other mechanical device. In one embodiment, a crank handle can be attached to the rotating shaft 640 and the belt roll 610 can be manually removed from the drum hub and fed out of the crate system 600. As described above, the crank handle may be configured to engage with the notch of the rotating shaft 640 in order to increase the static friction when the user deploys the belt roll 610.

  An existing conveyor belt system at the destination may be used to unfold and roll the belt roll 610. For example, the belt roll 610 is held until the destination customer holds the distal end of the belt roll 610 and the belt roll 610 is deployed long enough to connect to the rear end of an existing belt to be replaced. Can be deployed from the drum hub. After forming a connection between the belt roll 610 and the existing belt using a welded joint or any other means, the existing conveyor belt system can be switched on to deploy the belt roll 610.

  The belt roll 610 is rotated from the drum hub on the rotation shaft 640 and is developed. The rotating shaft 640 protrudes from the drum hub and passes through the pallet holes of the end pallets 620a and 620b. It is preferable that the terminal part of the rotating shaft 640 is located between the internal planks and the external planks of the end pallets 620a and 620b. Thus, the rotating shaft 640 remains in the various pallet holes without protruding from the external plank throughout the movement of the rotating shaft 640 and the crate system 600. The pallet holes, along with the respective end pallets 620a and 620b, serve as bearing and support surfaces for the rotating shaft 640 and allow the belt roll 610 to rotate freely about that axis.

  In one embodiment, the opposing rear end of an existing belt that is not attached to the belt roll 610 can be placed and attached on the drum hub of an empty crate system (not shown) that does not include the belt roll 610, which By using the same existing conveyor belt system, the existing belt may be wound and self-loaded. In other words, when the existing conveyor belt system is switched on, the existing belt can be wound on the drum hub of the crate system and at the same time the belt roll 610 is deployed from the crate system 600. Thus, the time for packing and disposal of existing belts that are exchanged at the destination is reduced and no additional supplies are needed to implement such functions.

  After the first belt roll 610 is deployed, another crate system 600 is moved into place and the corresponding belt roll 610 is attached to the previously deployed belt using a welded joint or other means. Can be attached to the rear end. This process can be repeated using multiple crate systems until the desired portion of the existing belt has been replaced. In the case of a complete replacement, the old belt is cut at the portion welded to the first belt roll 610, and the unconnected end of the first belt roll is last using a welded joint or other connecting means. Attached to the unconnected end of the belt roll. Each belt roll preferably includes one continuous belt portion to reduce the number of weld joints required to reassemble the belt at the destination.

  In embodiments where the existing belt is rewound into an unused or empty crate system, the belt is cut after the crate system reaches its maximum load. Then move another unused or empty crate system, such as the one from which the belt was recently removed, into place and remove the unconnected end of the existing belt that is still attached to the existing conveyor belt system, It can be placed on the drum hub of the next crate system and the existing conveyor belt system can be switched on to resume loading. This process can be repeated until the desired portion of the old belt is fully loaded into one or more crate systems. The crate system can then be disposed of, reused, returned to the manufacturer with or without the old belt loaded, recycled, or taken out and crushed and sold.

  FIG. 9 is an end view of a drum hub 950 wound with a self-stacking spiral belt having a plurality of end plates as indicated by reference numeral 960. The drum hub 950 is attached to a rotating shaft 910 that is fitted in the hub hole of the drum hub 950. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a second drum hub (not shown) is also located on the rotating shaft 910, which is parallel to the drum hub 950 and separated by a distance approximately equal to the width of the self-stacking spiral belt. The second drum hub wraps around the opposing distal edge of a self-stacking spiral belt that includes a second plurality of endplates, and thus a belt as indicated at 610 in FIG. 6 or FIG. A roll is formed. However, in FIG. 9, only a single drum hub 950 on which a single distal edge of a self-stacking spiral belt is wound is shown and described.

  In this embodiment, a first end plate 970 having a thickness approximately equal to the length of the step is attached to the step of the drum hub 950 to fill the gap between the minimum and maximum radii of the drum hub 950. The belt is then loaded onto the drum hub 950 manually or automatically as described above. Thus, the second belt layer and subsequent belt layers and their corresponding side plates, such as side plate 960, are raised above the first belt layer to allow a smooth transition in loading and unloading. The belt is formed by forming a space between the radius of the drum hub and the thickness of the end plate 970 without lowering the first belt layer and / or raising the second belt layer through the steps of the drum hub 950. A substantial “protrusion” is formed on the roll. Accordingly, the stage of the drum hub 950 allows a smooth transition between subsequent belt layers and prevents damage to the belt itself and its side plates.

  In the self-stacking spiral conveyor belt shown in FIG. 9, each of the plurality of side plates has an edge, such as an edge 965 on the side plate 960. These edges include notches that engage the side plates of the preceding belt layer. For example, the edge 965 of the second belt layer side plate 960 may have a notch that engages the first belt layer side plate 970. Therefore, the plurality of side plates are connected to each other when wound, and a shift during loading and unloading is prevented. Further, the interconnection of the side plates fixes the position of the belt between the opposing drum hubs, minimizing movement within the crate system, and thus preventing belt damage.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled crate system 1000 for storing, transporting, and dispensing conveyor belts according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a pallet hole is formed in a groove between the thick plate of the upper pallet 1005a and the thick plate of the lower pallet 1005b and engages with the rotating shaft 1040. As shown, the lower pallet 1005b has internal planks 1010a to 1010f, external planks 1015a to 1015d, and lateral planks 130a to 130d, which have a rotating shaft 1040 perpendicular to the internal planks 1010a to 1010f. And extends from and extends to allow engagement with the transverse planks 1030b and 1030c. It is preferable that the rotating shaft 1040 does not protrude from the outer thick plates 1015a to 1015d so that the same outer surface is maintained on the lower pallet 1005b. The upper pallet 1005a may be configured similarly to the lower pallet 1005b, or alternatively may be configured as further described herein.

  A pallet hole is formed in the mutually overlapping groove between the internal thick plate 1010c and the internal thick plate 1010d so that the pallet hole can be engaged with the rotary shaft 1040. The diameter of the rotating shaft 1040 is preferably slightly smaller than the distance between the internal thick plate 1010c and the internal thick plate 1010d and the distance between the horizontal thick plate 1030c and the horizontal thick plate 1030d. Therefore, the rotating shaft 1040 can freely rotate in the pallet hole without being greatly displaced between the internal thick plate 1010c and the internal thick plate 1010d and between the horizontal thick plate 1030c and the horizontal thick plate 1030d. In one embodiment, lubricating oil or other local treatment may be applied to the surface of the rotating shaft 1040 and / or the inner surface of the pallet hole to further promote the free rotating motion of the rotating shaft 1040.

  As illustrated and described with respect to the previous embodiments, crate system 1000 includes edge supports 1060a-1060d and side beams 1065a, 1065c, and 1065d (a fourth side beam that may be present in this configuration is shown). Not). Further, a rotating shaft 1040 is attached to the drum hubs 1050a and 1050b between the upper pallet 1005a and the lower pallet 1005b. A conveyor belt (not shown) can be wrapped around the drum hubs 1050a and 1050b. The drum hubs 1050a and 1050b can have steps that allow the first belt layer to be wound as described above, allowing a smooth transition between subsequent belt layers.

  FIG. 11A is an internal view of an end pallet 1100 used in a crate system, for example as described in FIG. 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The end pallet 1100 is similar to a conventional shipping pallet as would be recognized by one skilled in the art, but can be a pallet of any configuration. The end pallet 1100 is typically made of wood, but may be made of heat-treated lumber of various sizes, for example. However, end pallet 1100 can also be made of any other suitable material, such as, for example, metal and / or plastic. The end pallet 1100 is preferably approved for domestic and international shipments.

  The end pallet 1100 includes internal planks 1110a-1110f that are located inside the crate system when fully assembled. Although shown approximately equally spaced, those skilled in the art will recognize that the spacing of the internal planks 1110a-1110f need not be equal to achieve the function of the end pallet 1100. However, none of the internal thick plates 1110a to 1110f are arranged in the center, and therefore it is preferable that a groove is formed between the internal thick plate 1110c and the internal thick plate 1110d. As discussed with respect to FIG. 10, the groove formed between the internal plank 1110c and the internal plank 1110d preferably has a width that is slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft.

  FIG. 11B is a side view of the end pallet 1100 that can be seen from the side parallel to the internal planks 1110a-1110f and the external planks 1115a-1115d, for example, which are themselves parallel to each other. External planks 1115a-1115d are located outside the crate system when fully assembled. Although shown approximately equally spaced, those skilled in the art will recognize that it is still not necessary to equalize the spacing of the outer planks 1115a-1115d to achieve the function of the end pallet 1100.

  Each of the internal planks 1110a to 1110f and the external planks 1115a to 1115d have substantially the same length. Furthermore, the combined width of the internal planks 1110a-1110f including the spacing between the planks is approximately equal to the combined width of the external planks 1115a-1115d including the respective spacings. The inner planks 1110a-1110f and the outer planks 1115a-1115d are attached at right angles over the entire width of the lateral planks 1130a-1130d so that there is little or no protrusion on any side of the end pallet 1100. In other words, the length of each of the lateral thick plates 1130a to 1130d is preferably equal to or less than one of the combined widths described above.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the lateral thick plate 1130b and the lateral thick plate 1130c are arranged at intervals so as to form a groove having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating shaft. Therefore, the rotation shaft may be inserted into the pallet hole 1120 formed by the overlap between the groove between the internal thick plate 1110c and the internal thick plate 1110d and the groove between the horizontal thick plate 1130b and the horizontal thick plate 1130c. Therefore, the rotating shaft inserted into the pallet hole 1120 is surrounded by the internal thick plates 1110c and 1110d and the lateral thick plates 1130b and 1130c.

  Although a specific number of internal planks 1110a-1110f, external planks 1115a-1115d, and lateral planks 1130a-1130d have been illustrated and described, the number of planks used at any of these positions may be varied. . Further, although the lengths are shown to be approximately equal so that a square configuration can be seen from the angle shown in FIG. 11A, alternatively, the internal planks 1110a-1110f and the external planks 1115a-1115d are lateral planks. It may have a length that is shorter or longer than the length of 1130a-1130d, so that a rectangular configuration is visible instead from the angle shown in FIG. 11A.

  FIG. 11C is a different side view of the end pallet 1100 from a viewpoint parallel to the lateral thick plates 1130a-1130d. As described above, the lateral thick plates 1130a to 1130d are positioned at right angles to the internal thick plates 1110a to 1110f and the external thick plates 1115a to 1115d between the internal thick plates 1110a to 1110f and the external thick plates 1115a to 1115d. ing. The lateral planks 1130a-1130d are preferably positioned so that the space between the planks can receive the fork portion of the forklift or other lift machine or device and / or the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the lateral thick plates 1130a to 1130d have such a length that there is little or no protruding portion on any side surface of the end pallet 1100 as described above.

  The end pallet 1100 as described above can be used for both the upper and lower pallets in the crate system of the present invention, and therefore the vertical positioning of the crate system is not critical. Alternatively, the end pallet 1100 may be used only for the lower pallet to facilitate handling with a forklift. In this embodiment, the upper pallet may be of a design configured to receive the outer planks 1115a-1115d in the grooves to allow the crate to be securely stacked.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a single hub 1200 of a hub assembly for storing and transporting rolled material according to an implementation of the present invention. Hub 1200 has a hub hole 1210. The hub hole 1210 has a radius that is greater than or equal to the radius of the rotation shaft in all hub assemblies, such as the rotation shaft 240 of FIG. 2, so that the rotation shaft can be slidably inserted into the hub hole 1210. Hub 1200 has a minimum and maximum outer radius as described herein with respect to FIG. 4B.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the hub 1200 is formed from an extruded material such as plastic or metal. However, it is contemplated that the hub 1200 may be formed from any suitable material and may be hollow or solid (as shown).

  FIG. 13 is an end perspective view of a single hub 1350 wound with a self-stacking spiral belt comprising a plurality of end plates as indicated by reference numeral 1360, according to an implementation of the present invention. The hub 1350 is attached to a rotating shaft 1310 fitted in the hub hole of the hub 1350. In this embodiment, the hub 1350 extends across the entire width of the conveyor belt, so a second hub is not necessary.

  In this embodiment, a first end plate 1370 having a thickness approximately equal to the length of the step is abutted against the step of the hub 1350 and fills the gap between the minimum radius and the maximum radius of the hub 1350. The belt is then loaded onto the hub 1350 manually or automatically as described above. Thus, the second belt layer and subsequent belt layers and their corresponding end plates, such as end plate 1360, are raised above the first belt layer to allow a smooth transition in loading and unloading.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the hub 1350 is formed from a solid material. However, it is contemplated that the hub 1350 may be formed from any suitable material and may be hollow or solid (as shown). For example, the hub 1350 is formed of an extruded material as shown and described with respect to FIG.

  The present invention has been described in terms of specific examples, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many different combinations of materials and components are suitable for practicing the present invention.

  Other implementations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Various aspects and / or components of the described embodiments may be used alone or in any combination. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

A hub assembly for storing and transporting roll material,
A rotation axis;
A first hub attached to the rotating shaft;
With
A hub assembly, wherein the outer periphery of the first hub comprises a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a step between the minimum radius and the maximum radius.   The hub assembly of claim 1, further comprising a roll of material wound on the first hub.   The hub assembly according to claim 2, wherein the width of the first hub is equal to the width of the roll-like material.   The hub assembly according to claim 2, wherein the step length is equal to the thickness of the roll material.   The hub assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second hub attached to the rotating shaft.   The hub assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a second hub attached to the rotating shaft.   The hub assembly according to claim 6, wherein the width of the first hub is narrower than the width of the roll-shaped material, and the width of the second hub is narrower than the width of the roll-shaped material.   The hub assembly of claim 6, wherein the outer periphery of the second hub comprises a minimum radius and a maximum radius, and a step between the minimum radius and the maximum radius. The first hub and the second hub are located on opposite edges of the roll-like material;
The hub assembly of claim 8, wherein the step of the first hub and the step of the second hub are aligned.   The hub assembly of claim 2, wherein the rolled material comprises a conveyor belt.   The hub assembly of claim 10, wherein the conveyor belt includes an end plate.   The hub assembly of claim 11, wherein the step length is equal to the thickness of the end plate. The outer periphery is defined by a spiral shape formed by gradually increasing the radius of the first drum hub through one revolution around a common central portion;
The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein the step length is equal to a difference between the maximum radius and the minimum radius. The outer periphery comprises a first smaller radius having a first center point and at least one continuously increasing radius having a center point different from the first center point;
Each successive radius touches the previous radius through one revolution, and the step is formed between the first smaller radius start and the last larger radius end. The described hub assembly. A method for storing and transporting rolled material, comprising:
Abutting the end of the rolled material against a step defined by the difference between the maximum radius and the minimum radius of the hub;
Winding the elongated roll-shaped material around the outer periphery of the hub;
Including
The hub is attached to a rotating shaft.   The method according to claim 15, further comprising arranging the rotating shaft in a horizontal direction when winding the elongated roll-shaped material around the outer periphery of the hub.   The method according to claim 15, further comprising constraining both ends of the rotating shaft inside the crate.   The method according to claim 17, further comprising freely rotating the rotating shaft.   The method according to claim 15, further comprising disposing the rolled material on a pallet with the rotation axis in a vertical direction.   The method of claim 15, wherein the rolled material comprises a conveyor belt.

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