JP3475570B2 - Belt conveyor - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a belt conveyor used in a coal storage and storage facility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A belt conveyor has pulleys attached to both ends of a horizontally or slanted conveyor frame, endless annular conveyor belts are wound around these pulleys, and the belts are continuously moved in one direction to move on the belt. It is to carry a load. Bulk materials such as coal, ore, gravel, and grains are mainly used for cargo.

Below the conveyor belt, a plurality of idler rollers, which come into contact with the lower surface of the belt and support the load of the conveyed article, are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. These idler rollers are rotatably supported by the conveyor frame via bearings.

[0004]

However, when the conveyor belt is thus supported by the idler rollers, the following problems occur.

.. The dust of the transported material (coal, etc.) may enter the bearing of the idler roller, and the roller may lock. Then, the locked roller slides on the conveyor belt to damage the conveyor belt.

[0006] Even when the bearing of the idler roller reaches the end of its life, the roller similarly locks, causing the above-mentioned problem.

[0007]. In order to avoid the above conditions (1) and (2), it is necessary to inspect all idler rollers every day, which increases labor costs.

[0008] In the cases (1) and (2), it is necessary to replace the locked idler roller, which causes a problem of increased labor cost.

An object of the present invention, which has been devised in consideration of the above circumstances, is to provide a belt conveyor which eliminates idler rollers causing various problems and is rollerless.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an air bearing unit below a conveyor belt for blowing air to the lower surface of the conveyor belt to support the conveyor belt in a floating state. A plurality of belts are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the belt , and the air bearing
Between the conveyor units and under the conveyor belt between them.
A sensor that contacts the surface and detects the load applied to the belt
Is installed on the both sides of the air valve based on the value detected by the sensor.
Adjusted the injection air pressure of the alling unit
It is a thing.

Further, according to the present invention, the lower surface of the return belt is provided.
Levitation for blowing the air to levitate the belt
Air bearing unit and the top of the return belt
Blow air to hold the levitated belt in the air.
A holding air bearing unit for
Good.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to the present invention , the conveyor belt is supported in a floating state by the aerodynamic force injected from each air bearing unit. Therefore, rollerless is achieved,
Various problems conventionally caused by idler rollers are avoided. Also, between each air bearing unit
In between, contact the bottom surface of the conveyor belt between them and
A sensor to detect the load applied to the
The air bearing units on both sides of the
By adjusting the air pressure, the conveyor belt is always
It is maintained in a proper floating state.

Further , air is blown to the lower surface of the return belt.
Floating air bear for attaching and lifting the belt
Blows air onto the ring unit and the top of the return belt.
Attached for holding the floated belt in the air
By further including an air bearing unit, the litter
The belt is the air bearing for levitation located below it.
When levitated by the air blown from the unit
Both are holding air bearing units located above
It is held in the air by the air blown from it. this
The return belt is not loaded with
Even, it is stably held in the air.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

【Example】

(1) First, an embodiment of the first invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the belt conveyor cut in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal direction, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the belt conveyor taken in the longitudinal direction.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor frame elongated in the front-back direction of the paper, and pulleys (not shown) are attached to both ends of the conveyor frame. These pulleys include
An endless annular conveyor belt 2 is wound around, an upper belt thereof is a carrier belt 2a for conveying a load (coal or other loose material), and a lower belt is a return belt 2b after discharging.

Below the carrier belt 2a, an air bearing unit 3 for blowing air to the lower surface of the belt to support the carrier belt 2a in a floating state is provided.
A plurality of carrier belts 2a are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. These air bearing units 3
Is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped plate curved in an arc shape so as to support the carrier belt 2a in a curved shape, and is fixed to the conveyor frame 1 via a stay 4.

On the upper surface of the air bearing unit 3, a plurality of air injection holes 5 are formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction and the axial direction of the carrier belt 2a. The injection directions of these air injection holes 5 all face the lower surface of the carrier belt 2a. The density of the air injection holes 5 may be made dense on the center side in the width direction of the belt and sparse on both width direction sides in consideration of the load distribution of the load 6 placed on the carrier belt 2a.

An air supply hole 7 is formed in the center of the lower surface of the air bearing unit 3. One end of an air supply pipe 9 having a flow control valve 8 is connected to the air supply hole 7. The other end of the air supply pipe 9 has a conveyor frame 1
Piping 11 arranged along the longitudinal direction on the side surface of the
It is connected to the. Compressed air sufficient for floating the carrier belt 2a is supplied to the air pipe 11 from a compressor (not shown).

According to this structure, the compressed air in the air pipe 11 is guided into the air bearing unit 3 through the air supply pipe 9 after the flow rate is adjusted by the flow control valve 8, and the air is jetted from the unit 3. It is ejected from the hole 5. The carrier belt 2a is floated in the air by the injected compressed air.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a sensor 12 is provided between the air bearing units 3 to detect the load applied to the lower surface of the carrier belt 2a in contact therewith. . The sensor 12 is composed of a roller 14 that is biased upward by a spring 13 and contacts the lower surface of the carrier belt 2a, and a load cell 15 that is interposed between the lower end of the spring 13 and the conveyor frame 1.

The sensor 12 adjusts the injection air pressure of the air bearing units 3 on both sides of the load cell 15 based on the detection value of the load cell 15. Specifically, when the load detected by the load cell 15 is larger than the preset load, the sensor 12 opens the flow control valve 8 to open the belt 2a.
When the load detected by the load cell 15 is smaller than the preset load, the flow control valve 8
To reduce the levitation force of the belt 2a.

Below the return belt 2b, an air bearing unit 3b similar to the carrier belt 2a side is provided.
Is provided. This air bearing unit 3b
Has the same configuration as that on the carrier belt 2a side, except that the degree of curvature is smaller than that on the carrier belt 2a side. Therefore, common parts have the same numbers and are assigned the letter b, and the description thereof is omitted.

The degree of bending of the air bearing unit 3b on the return belt 2b side is small because it is not necessary to consider the spill of the load because the load is not placed on the return belt 3b. However, if it is made to have a completely flat shape, the stability at the time of floating may be deteriorated and the return belt 2b may come off from the air bearing unit 3b and fall off. Therefore, it is slightly curved.

Flow control valve 8b on the side of the return belt 2b
Are narrower than those on the carrier belt 2a side. The return belt 2b is the carrier belt 2 as much as there is no load.
This is because it is lighter than a. In FIG. 2, the sensor 12 is not provided on the side of the return belt 2b, but this is because the return belt 2b having no load does not need to be controlled so severely. However, it goes without saying that the sensor 12 may be provided on the return belt 2b side.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.

According to the above construction, the carrier belt 2a
The return belt 2b is supported in a floating state by the aerodynamic force injected from the air injection holes 5 and 5b of the air bearing units 3 and 3b. Therefore, the rollerless structure is achieved, and the various problems conventionally caused by the idler roller are avoided. In addition, the air supply holes 7 and 7 for supplying compressed air to the air bearing units 3 and 3b.
Since b is provided in the central portion of the lower surface of the units 3 and 3b, the air pressures injected from the air injection holes 5 and 5b are substantially equal.

In addition, between the respective air bearing units 3 of the carrier belt 2a, the carrier belt 2 between them is provided.
Since the sensor 12 for detecting the load applied to the belt 2a by contacting the lower surface of a is provided and the air pressure of the air bearing units 3 on both sides of the sensor 12 is adjusted based on the detection value of the sensor 12, the carrier belt is adjusted. 2a is always maintained in an appropriate floating state.

Specifically, the sensor 12 is the load cell 1
When the load obtained by 5 is larger than a preset load, that is, when the carrier belt 2a is lowered, the flow control valve 8 is opened to increase the levitation force of the carrier belt 2a, so that the carrier belt 2a is lifted. lift.
As a result, the carrier belt 2a that has dropped due to a heavy load or the like is lifted.

On the contrary, when the load obtained by the load cell 15 is smaller than the preset load, that is, when the carrier belt 2a rises, the flow control valve 8 is throttled to reduce the levitation force of the carrier belt 2a, and the carrier belt 2a is lifted. The belt 2a is lowered by the action of gravity. As a result, the carrier belt 2a that has risen due to a light load or the like is lowered.

(2) Next, an embodiment of the second invention is shown in FIG.
A description will be given based on FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the belt conveyor cut in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal direction, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the belt conveyor taken in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a modified embodiment. .

As shown in the figure, the conveyor belt is composed of pulleys 21 and 2 provided at both ends of the conveyor frame 20.
2 is endlessly wound around the carrier belt 2a on the upper side and the return belt 2b on the lower side.
Around the conveyor belt, casings 23 and 24 for separately partitioning the carrier belt 2a and the return belt 2b are provided along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt.

Casing 23 for carrier belt 2a
Is a support plate 25 having a U-shaped cross section,
And a cover 26 that covers the upper part of the. The support plate 25 is formed to have a length from the head pulley 21 to the tail pulley 22 along the longitudinal direction of the carrier belt 2a, and both widthwise ends thereof are fixed to the conveyor frame 21 via brackets 27. . Support plate 25
Since it is necessary to support the load applied to the carrier belt 2a, is made of a metal plate having a predetermined strength.

One end of the cover 26 is attached to the support plate 25 via a hinge 28, and the cover 26 can be opened and closed at a predetermined length to maintain the inside.
Since the cover 26 does not receive a load, it is made of a lightweight material such as resin. If a transparent resin is used, the inside can be observed. The carrier belt 2a is provided with these support plates 2
It is housed in a tubular casing 23 that is partitioned by 5 and a cover 26.

Air bearing units 29 for blowing air to the lower surface of the carrier belt 2a to support the belt 2a in a floating state are provided on the support plate 25 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the carrier belt 2a. There are multiple. These air bearing units 29 are
It is made of a flexible material such as rubber, is deformed into a U shape along the shape of the support plate 25, and then is fixed to the support plate 25 via the fixing seat 30.

The air bearing unit 29 is made of a rubber rectangular parallelepiped having an air passage 31 formed therethrough in its longitudinal direction (width direction of the carrier belt 2a).
The plug member 32 is fitted into one end of the flow control valve 3
3 is connected to the air supply pipe 34. The air supply pipe 34 is connected to an air pipe 35 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor frame 21. Air piping 35
Is supplied with compressed air sufficient to float the carrier belt 2a from a compressor (not shown).

A plurality of air injection holes 36 are formed in the upper surface of the air bearing unit 29 at predetermined intervals in the width direction and the axial direction of the carrier belt 2a. The injection directions of these air injection holes 36 are all exposed to the lower surface of the carrier belt 2a. The air injection hole 3
In consideration of the load distribution of the load placed on the carrier belt 2a, the density of 6 may be made dense on the center side in the width direction of the carrier belt 2a and may be made sparse on both ends in the width direction.

According to this structure, the compressed air in the air pipe 35 is guided into the air bearing unit 29 through the air supply pipe 34 after the flow rate is adjusted by the flow control valve 33, and the air is ejected from the unit 29. It is ejected from the hole 36. The carrier belt 2a is floated in the air by the injected compressed air.

On the other hand, the casing 24 for the return belt 2b has a support plate 25 for the above-mentioned carrier belt 2a.
A support plate 37 for the return belt 2b, and a side cover 38 that closes the side surface between the support plates 25 and 37. The support plate 37 for the return belt 2b is
The carrier plate 2a is formed of a metal plate having a U-shaped cross section that is less curved than the support plate 25 for the carrier belt 2a, and both ends in the width direction thereof are attached to the conveyor frame 20 via brackets 39.

The supporting plate 37 for the return belt 2b is formed from the head pulley 21 to the turning pulley 40 along the longitudinal direction of the return belt 2b as shown in FIG. It is attached to the conveyor frame 21 via a bracket 39. The side cover 38 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the return belt 2b so as to close the side surface between the support plates 25 and 37, and is attached to the conveyor frame 20.

The return belt 2b is housed in a cylindrical casing 24 defined by a support plate 25 for the carrier belt 2a, a support plate 37 for the return belt 2b, and a side cover 38. One end of the support plate 37 for the return belt 2b is attached to the bracket 39 via a hinge 41, and the support plate 37 is openable and closable at a predetermined length to maintain the inside.

The support plate 37 for the return belt 2b is also provided with an air bearing unit 29b similar to that on the carrier belt 2a side. The degree of curvature of the air bearing unit 29b is different from that of the carrier belt 2a.
Carrier belt 2 except that it is smaller than the one on the side
It has the same configuration as the one on the a side. Therefore, the common part numbers are the same and the alphabetical character b is attached, and the description thereof is omitted.

At the end of each casing 23, 24, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the suction means 42 and 42b for sucking and removing the dust inside the casings 23 and 24 are connected, respectively. Suction port 43 of the suction means 42 on the carrier belt 2a side
Are located at the downstream end and the upstream end of the carrier belt 2a, and the carrier belt 2a and the support plate 25 respectively.
Between the two. The suction port 43b of the suction means 42b on the return belt 2b side is located at the downstream end of the return belt 2b and faces the return belt 2b and its supporting plate 37.

These suction means 42, 42b are suction tubes 44, 44b connected to the suction ports 43, 43b, and filters 45, 45 attached to the suction tubes 44, 44b.
b and suction pumps 46 and 46b.
The exhaust gas from the suction pumps 46 and 46b is compressed through a compressor (not shown) and then guided as compressed air to the air pipe 35 shown in FIG. That is, the air injected from the air bearing units 29, 29b is returned to the air pipe 35 through the suction means 42, 42b and the compressor, and circulates.
That is, there is no need to blow air and the noise is low.

As shown in FIG. 4, both longitudinal ends of the carrier belt 2a and the return belt 2b are covered with cover members 47 and 48, so that dust particles of a conveyed product (coal or the like) are exposed to the outside. It is designed not to leak. In FIG. 4, 49 is an input chute, 50 is an impact roller, and 51 is an opening / closing door. The impact roller 50 is provided because the aerodynamic force of the air bearing unit 29 cannot support the impact when a load is loaded from the loading chute 49. Further, by opening the opening / closing door 51, dust such as coal accumulated on the bottom of the cover member 48 can be removed.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.

According to the above construction, the casing 2 which separates the carrier belt 2a and the return belt 2b from each other.
Since 3, 24 are provided, the dust of the transported object (coal or the like) lifted up by the air ejected from the air bearing units 29, 29b in each casing 23, 24 is confined in each casing 23, 24. . Therefore, the surrounding environment does not deteriorate.

The dust trapped in the casings 23 and 24 is sucked and removed by the suction means 42 and 42b provided at the ends of the casings 23 and 24. Therefore, the fallen powder that has fallen below the belts 2a and 2b does not accumulate in the casings 23 and 24. The number of the suction means 42b on the side of the return belt 2b is one because the return belt 2b is in an empty state and there is little falling powder.

A modified embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, this modified example is provided with each air bearing unit 29, 29b.
The structure is the same as that of the previous embodiment except that the injection holes 52 are formed obliquely downward in the inclination direction of the belts 2a and 2b. According to this structure, the powder fallen from the carrier belt 2a and dropped on the support plate 25, and the powder fallen off the return belt 2b and dropped on the support plate 37 are respectively caused by the air bearing units 2a and 2b.
Air jetted from the jet holes 52 formed on the lower surfaces of the belts 9 and 29b is transferred downward in the inclination direction of the belts 2a and 2b.

The transferred fallen powder is not only sucked and removed by the suction means 42, 42b similar to the previous embodiment,
It is taken out of the cover member 48 shown in FIG. 4 from the outlets 53, 53b formed in the support plates 25, 37. According to this modification, falling powder is effectively taken out.

(3) Next, an embodiment of the third invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the belt conveyor taken in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal direction.

Since the structure of the carrier belt 2a side of this embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are used and the description thereof is omitted. The feature of this embodiment is the structure on the return belt 2b side described below.

As shown in the drawing, a trough-shaped support plate 60 having a U-shaped cross section is arranged below the return belt 2b so as to cover the lower surface of the return belt 2b along the longitudinal direction thereof. Both ends in the width direction of the support plate 60 are attached to the conveyor frame 21 via fixed seats 61. The supporting plate 60 is provided with a levitation air bearing unit 62 for blowing air onto the lower surface of the return belt 2b to levitate the belt 2b.
It is provided at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of b.

These air bearing units 62 are made of a flexible hollow material such as rubber (see FIG. 5) as in the previous embodiment, and are deformed into a U shape along the shape of the support plate 60. After that, it is fixed to the support plate 60 via the fixed seat 63. The air bearing unit 62 is connected to an air supply pipe 65 having a flow control valve 64 at one end thereof,
A plug member 66 is fitted on the other end, and an air injection hole 67 is provided on the upper surface.
Are formed. The air supply pipe 65 is connected to the air pipe 35 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor frame 21. Compressed air sufficient for floating the return belt 2b is supplied to the air pipe 35 from a compressor (not shown).

On the other hand, above the return belt 2b, there is arranged a holding air bearing unit 68 for blowing air onto the upper surface of the return belt 2b to hold the floating belt 2b in the air. In this embodiment, the holding air bearing unit 68 is composed of a center pipe 69 formed along the longitudinal direction of the return belt 2b. The center pipe 69 is provided with stays 7 attached at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.
It is supported by the support plate 60 via 0. An air injection hole 71 is formed in the lower surface of the center pipe 69, and the end portion in the longitudinal direction and the air pipe 35 are formed.
Compressed air is supplied through an air supply pipe (not shown) connected to the.

These air injection holes 71 are provided so as to face the floating air bearing unit 62 arranged below the return belt 2b. That is, these air injection holes 71 are aligned in the widthwise direction of the return belt 2b in conformity with the arrangement intervals of the levitation air bearing units 62 which are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the return belt 2b. It is provided at intervals.
As a result, the return belt 2b is changed by the air jetted from the upper and lower air bearing units 62 and 68.
It will be sandwiched from above and below.

An opening / closing door 73 is attached to the top of the center pipe 69 via a hinge 72. The opening / closing door 73 covers the upper surface of the return belt 2b, and is divided into predetermined lengths along the longitudinal direction so as to be openable / closable. According to this structure, the return belt 2b is partitioned by the opening / closing door 73 and the support plate 60. Therefore, even if dust of the load (coal) clinging to the lower surface of the return belt 2b is blown up by the air injected from the upper and lower air bearing units 62 and 68, it does not scatter around.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.

According to the above configuration, the return belt 2b
Is levitated by the air blown from the levitation air bearing unit 62 located below it, and the holding air bearing unit 68 located above it.
It is held in the air by the air blown from. As a result, even the light return belt 2b on which the transported object is not placed is stably held in the air. That is, the return belt 2b is completely prevented from being wound or contacted.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be exhibited.

(1) By floating the belt by aerodynamic force, it is possible to achieve a belt conveyor with no rollers.

[0068] (2) By the floating of the belt to the feedback control, it can maintain a conveyor belt always proper flying state.

(3) Attach the return belt to the upper and lower air bearings.
Between the air blown from the unit
More stable, light return belt with no cargo
Can be held at

[0070]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a belt conveyor showing an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the belt conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a belt conveyor showing an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the belt conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a belt conveyor showing an embodiment of the third invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2a carrier belt 2b return belt 3 Air bearing unit 3b Air bearing unit 12 sensors 23 casing 24 casing 29 Air bearing unit 29b Air bearing unit 42 suction means 42b suction means 62 Air bearing unit for levitation 68 Air bearing unit for holding

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 15/00-15/64 B65G 21/00 B65G 21/08 B65G 45/22

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Below 1. A conveyor belt, an air bearing unit for supporting the conveyor belt in a floating state by blowing air to the belt underside, a plurality at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, the Air bear
Between the ring units, the conveyor belt between them
A sensor that detects the load applied to the belt by touching the bottom surface.
Is installed, and the air on both sides of the
Adjust the injection air pressure of the bearing unit
A belt conveyor characterized by that. 2. Air is blown onto the lower surface of the return belt.
And a levitating air bearing for levitating the belt.
Air to the top of the unit and the return belt.
The holding air to hold the floating belt in the air.
The belt conveyor according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing unit .