JP4390783B2 - Conveyor belt with variable pitch support surface and method for changing pitch - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

  The present invention relates to a conveyor belt, preferably a chain type conveyor belt.

  More particularly, the present invention relates to a belt for transporting food, wherein the support surface for the food is formed by a series of small transverse bars, the transverse bars being parallel to each other at the free ends thereof. Parallel chains can be attached, for example, and slidably supported by respective longitudinal guides.

  Conveyors are commonly used in the food industry and are equipped with endless belts so that different stages of product processing can be carried out continuously. The product is in fact conveyed by a conveyor in a specific area, where, for example, cooking, raising or cooling steps can take place. Within this region, the product is conveyed in a predetermined time, which is defined by the length of the conveyor divided by the belt advance speed.

  The pitch of the belt support surface, that is, the distance between the two continuous horizontal axis rods, is selected based on the specific needs of the customer. For large products, it is advantageous to have a support surface with a larger pitch, for example to facilitate ventilation and subsequent heat removal. However, for smaller products it is necessary to have a support surface with a reduced pitch, so that there is no risk that a single part will be repositioned on the support surface due to the gap between the continuous bars.

  In view of these, it is clear how special the use of a given belt should be based on the size of the product being conveyed, even if it is already designed for a specific type of product. Customers' products vary, for example because they work on orders, or customers who want to reuse conveyors in other industrial lines, add belts with a pitch suitable for new uses Have to deal with the cost of.

  Various solutions of this type of chain conveyor belt are known in the prior art. In the most widely known type, both ends of the parallel horizontal axis rod are welded to a pair of anchor chains, and are suitable for forming a support surface by the rod, and a belt with an appropriate gear. Drives and allows the belt to slide along the longitudinal guide. In these belts, the pitch of the support surface, ie the reciprocal distance between the continuous bars, depends on the geometric parameters and characterizes the dimensions of the type of chain used.

  The applicant has developed a prototype of a chain conveyor belt with sliding elements with reduced friction and described in Italian patent application MI2004A002154, where the chain is formed by a suitably shaped plate and is A hole for inserting the shaft rod is provided. Again, the horizontal bar is welded onto the hole in the chain connection and the reciprocating distance between the continuous bars depends solely on the geometry of the chain connection.

  In known chain conveyors, the support surface is formed by a series of parallel transverse bars and is not very flexible in terms of product size. As mentioned above, the pitch of the bars depends on the chain used and cannot be changed later.

  With continued development, Applicants have designed belts that can overcome the inherent limitations of all known models.

  The actual object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor belt, preferably a chain type, with a support surface with a variable pitch, which can be used to transport products of both large and small sizes. .

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical belt with great flexibility to use, so that companies need products in industrial lines in a short time and at an additional cost. It is possible to change without any change.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for changing the pitch of the support surface of the belt, so that an operator can switch the belt quickly and very easily.

  These objects are achieved by the endless conveyor belt according to the invention, comprising a plurality of transverse bars, the free ends of which are attached to the opposing module elements and interconnected to form a set of longitudinally flexible Forming a sex unit and including at least one set of removable inserts, the insert being located between two continuous transverse bars adjacent to said opposing module element, Suitable for tightly supporting at least one intermediate bar with a continuous horizontal bar.

  Advantageously, the opposing removable insert is parallel to the other inserts.

  Preferably, each removable insert is provided with suitable housing means so that one end of the intermediate bar is held firmly and supported.

  Preferably, each removable insert is provided with suitable means so that the removable insert can be removably inserted between two continuous bars of the belt.

The method of reducing the pitch of the belt support surface includes the following operations.
-Both ends of at least one intermediate rod are inserted into said means to store a pair of opposing removable inserts;
Each removable insert of the at least one pair of opposed removable inserts supports at least one intermediate bar and is inserted between two continuous transverse bars of the belt.

  The method of enlarging the pitch of the support surface of the belt is the reverse of the method described above.

  These and other objects will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the examples being examples of the general principles claimed and not limiting.

  The description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a belt 1 of a chain conveyor used for a food according to the present invention, which is provided with a support surface having a variable pitch. The support surface for transporting the product is formed by a first set of horizontal bars 2 parallel to each other and a second set of intermediate bars 6 parallel to the horizontal bars 2. The free end portion of the horizontal shaft rod 2 is attached by a known method, for example, is attached to a chain connecting portion 3 of a pair of belts 1 which are opposite to each other by welding, and the connecting portion 3 is appropriately connected in the illustrated example. It is formed by a molded and curved metal plate. The free ends of the second set of intermediate rods 6 are instead held firmly and restrained by opposing and corresponding pairs of removable inserts 4 and 5, 4 ′ and 5 ′ installed on the belt 1. A support surface is formed, and the pitch is equally divided by polymerization formed by the horizontal bar 2 alone. The features of the removable inserts 4, 4 ′, 5, 5 ′ and how to install them on the belt 1 will be fully described below.

  2a and 2b show in detail the set of removable inserts 4, 4 'of FIG. The removable insert 4 of FIG. 2a has an elongated body and is substantially a parallelepiped. The insertion portion 4 includes a first through groove 7, the first through groove 7 has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the horizontal shaft rod 2 and a wider depth with respect to the width, and opens on a vertical plane and is horizontal. It has an axis of symmetry. The insertion portion 4 also includes a second through groove 8, which has a circular side surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the horizontal shaft rod 2 and a diameter of the side surface of the second through groove 8. The lower surface with a small width is provided with an opening and is defined by a parallel pair of hook-type edges 10. The removable insert 4 is finally provided with a spacer 9 on the vertical side, with a suitable circular slot 11 to hold the intermediate bar 6 tightly. This can be seen in more detail in FIG. FIG. 2b shows a removable insert 4 ′, the difference with respect to the removable insert 4 consists of the fact that the spacer 9 ′ is installed on the opposite vertical side, and the first and second through grooves 7 ′. And 8 'are reversed, while the slot 11' is installed on the same side. FIG. 3 shows the left side of the belt 1 of FIG. 1, and the side chain connecting portion 3 is omitted for simplicity. The removable inserts 5, 5 ′ are parallel to the removable inserts 4, 4 described above and have the same characteristics. The removable insertion part 5 ′ is inserted between two continuous horizontal shaft rods 2, first the rod 2 is inserted into the first through-groove 7 ′, and then second through the other horizontal shaft rod 2. Hook the groove 8 '. The edge 10 'expands telescopically under pressure as described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, fixing the rod 2 as soon as the rod 2 is fully engaged with the second through groove 8'. The insertion part 5 is installed in the same way. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the insertion portions 5 and 5 ′ are alternately arranged on the same side, and the second through grooves 8 and 8 ′ are hooked on the same rod 2 and come into contact with the side surfaces of the spacers 9 ′ and 9, respectively. To do. The slots 11, 11 ′ support and hold the row of intermediate bars 6 firmly and the distance or pitch between one continuous horizontal bar 2 and one continuous intermediate bar 6 is between the two continuous horizontal bars 2. Is substantially half the distance or pitch A.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the belt, and effectively shows a method for changing the pitch of the belt 1 according to the present invention. The free end of the intermediate bar 6 engages the slots 11 and 11 'of the opposing and corresponding pair of removable inserts 4 and 5, 4' and 5 '. Thereafter, the opposing pairs of removable rods 4 and 5, 4 'and 5' support the intermediate rod 6 and are inserted between the two continuous horizontal shaft rods 2 of the belt 1 in the manner described above. Removable insertion portions 4, 4 ′, 5, 5 ′ are adjacent to the corresponding connecting portion 3 of the side chain inside the support surface of the belt 1. This can be seen in FIG. By proceeding in this way, the intermediate bar 6 is added to each horizontal axis bar 2 which was initially present, doubling the number of bars and advantageously equally dividing their pitch.

  The specific type of belt shown, preferably and without limitation, is applicable to drum conveyor belts and chain conveyor belts where the chain is a simple anchor chain or otherwise shaped and curved plate material It is clear not to exclude. The material used in the removable insert 4 should be durable, light and flexible enough to be inserted into the second groove 8, 8 ′ on the horizontal shaft 2. Means can also be predicted. For this purpose, polymer resins and various metal alloys are particularly suitable. The same shape and size of the insertion portion 4 can be changed. Furthermore, possible implementations of the additional functions of the removable insert 4 are not excluded, but do not depart from the content of the claims.

1 shows a perspective view of a belt according to the present invention. The perspective view of the outer side of a set of removable insertion parts continuously installed on the same side as the belt is shown. The perspective view of the outer side of a set of removable insertion parts continuously installed on the same side as the belt is shown. It is a perspective view of the support surface of a belt, The pitch is equally divided by presence of a removable insertion part. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the belt according to the present invention, with the larger pitch supported by the removable insert and the belt with the intermediate bar shown in staggered planes.

Claims (3)

A plurality of horizontal axle (2), the free end portion a conveyor belt endless type which is adapted to form an interconnection to a pair of flexible units attached to the module element (3) ,
Includes a plurality of sets of variable撤挿join the club adjacent pairs toward modular elements (3) (4 and 5, 4 'and 5'),
The plurality of sets of removable inserts (4 and 5) are parallel to the other removable inserts (4 ′ and 5 ′),
The removable insert (4, 5, 4 ′, 5 ′) includes housing means (11, 11 ′) into which one end of the intermediate rod (6) can be inserted,
Each of the removable inserts (4, 5, 4 ′, 5 ′) includes a set of through grooves (7 and 8, 7 ′ and 8 ′), and the through grooves (7 and 8, 7 ′ and 8 ′) is suitable for inserting the removable inserts (4 and 5) between two continuous transverse bars (2) of the belt (1),
One of the through-grooves (7, 7 ′) has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the horizontal bar (2) and a depth greater than the width, and is open horizontally on a vertical plane. Having an axis of symmetry,
The other (8, 8 ′) of the through grooves has a circular side surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the horizontal shaft (2), and the diameter of the side surface of the through groove (8, 8 ′). Conveyor belt, characterized in that it has an opening with a smaller width and is defined by parallel pairs of hook-type edges (10) . Both free ends of each intermediate bar (6) are inserted into a pair of opposing removable inserts (4 and 5) or (4 'and 5') housing means (11, 11 '),
Each removable insert (4, 5, 4 ', 5') supporting the at least one intermediate rod (6) is inserted between two continuous transverse rods (2) of the belt (1). And this insertion is accomplished by placing a transverse bar (2) in the through groove (7, 7 ') and placing the continuous transverse bar in the through groove (8, 8'). A method for reducing the pitch of the support surface of the belt (1) according to claim 1. The removable inserts (4, 5, 4 ', 5') supporting the at least one intermediate bar (6) are disassembled from the continuous horizontal axis bar (2) of the belt (1). Is achieved by removing the horizontal bar (2) from the through groove (7, 7 'and 8, 8');
Both free ends of each intermediate bar (6) are removed from the housing means (11, 11 ') of a set of opposing removable inserts (4 and 5, 4' and 5 ') A method for enlarging the pitch of the support surface of the belt (1) according to claim 1.

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