JPS602505A - Belt driving type roller conveyor and module - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage type conveyor (accumulation conveyor), and particularly relates to a non-pressure storage type conveyor that preferably stores items without bringing the items into contact with each other with a large force. .

Conveyors of this type utilize pneumatic control devices to drive or operate the conveyor elements and are generally well known in the material handling industry. However, such conveyors, and their associated typical pneumatic circuits to control the hold-downs, are complex, unnecessarily congested, and typically not applicable to simple conveyor systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved push-down conveyor.

The material handling industry also uses belt-driven live roller conveyors, which are standard conveyor elements in which a drive belt with an upper run running in the machine direction or opposite the conveyor direction is placed below the load-carrying rollers. well known to use. When the moving upper run of the drive belt is tensioned against the load carrying rollers, the upper surfaces of these rollers rotate in the direction of the conveyor and convey the load downstream of the conveyor.

In such conveyors, at least one end of the shaft on which the belt tensioning rollers are mounted is mounted on a linkage so that the position of the rollers can be manually adjusted. The tension and friction forces applied to the load carrying roller from the drive belt can be varied by adjusting the distance closer to or farther from the load carrying roller. Such conveyors are generally used to convey loads continuously,
And it is usually not possible to hold the package without damaging the packaging. When storing a load, brakes are applied to certain load carrying rollers to counteract the driving force of the belt. However, this causes wear on the drive belt, and in ordinary conveyor systems, there is still some The load carrying roller continues to rotate under the load.

Standardization is also advantageous in conveyor technology, and it is desirable to provide standard conveyors or sections thereof that do not require special or custom parts or technology. In the past, typically, when baggage storage was required, various special conveyor sections had to be provided to perform such operations.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide an improved no-push, belt-driven live roller conveyor that selectively drives and de-drives the load carrying rollers in the holding area. This objective is achieved by making simple modular improvements to the typical non-stalled belt-driven live roller conveyor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a control and actuation module and apparatus that can be added to a typical belt-driven live o-la conveyor to provide the conveyor with no-hold-down capability. .

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved air control system for a no-holds-barred conveyor sump.

For these purposes, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a belt-driven live roller conveyor and a drive belt applied to the conveyor to drive the load carrying rollers in predetermined delivery and hold areas of the conveyor. A control and actuation module is provided for controlling the belt tensioning roller to selectively engage and disengage. Each detention module in each detention area includes a rack with mounting actuators, control valves, and shuttle valves for raising and lowering belt tensioning rollers in each area, and a rack connecting those elements together and A suitable fluid conduit is provided extending to and in operative connection with the area.

The actuators, valves, and conduits are mounted on a single bracket that can be easily mounted on a section of a belt-driven conveyor without major modifications to the conveyor, thereby A holding area is formed in the conveyor section.

The actuator in each zone is operatively coupled to a rack on the side of the conveyor that extends along that zone below the belt tensioning rollers, which raises and lowers the ends of the belt tensioning rollers to convey the load. The article or baggage is conveyed and stored by moving it closer to the roller and moving it away from the roller, thereby engaging the load carrying roller with the drive belt and separating it.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention further include an improved pneumatic control system for selectively operating the module to selectively provide sequential delivery and storage. In particular, each holding zone includes a control valve actuated by the load in that zone, where the control valve pressurizes the zone's actuator to drive the zone's load-carrying rollers, and where the control valve pressurizes the zone's actuator to drive the zone's load carrying rollers; These load carrying rollers are separated from the drive by venting. In this way, the cargo is stored or separated.

Each detention zone includes a shuttle valve located between that zone's control valve and the actuator and between that actuator and the next downstream zone's control valve. The delivery section of the conveyor differs slightly from the holding section; it does not have a shuttle valve as in the holding section, but is controlled by a master control valve as described below. However, the delivery area also has a retention function, as will be explained later.

In the separation mode, i.e. in the mode of operation in which continuous conveyance is carried out, the shuttle valve of one zone consists of a shuttle valve with a load in the next downstream zone of that zone, when there is no load in the next downstream zone of that zone. is present but there is no load in the area, it automatically pressurizes the actuator in the area and thus drives the load carrying roller in the area. In addition, the shuttle valve is
When there is a load in the next downstream zone and in that zone, the actuator is connected to vent into the control valve, thus venting the actuator.

The downstream delivery zone controller has a master control valve and a control valve, but no shuttle valve. In the continuous delivery position, the master control valve sends pressure fluid to the delivery zone actuator and simultaneously to the shuttle valve in the next upstream zone to energize the actuator in that zone.

Both zones are actuated simultaneously, and then subsequent zones with parked loads are energized in sequence as the previous zone empties.

In the hold mode position, the master control valve simply connects the control valve of the delivery section to the actuator of that section and the shuttle valve of the next upstream section. The operation of these two areas is then continued to the other areas in a similar manner. When a load operates a control valve in a delivery zone, the actuator in that zone is vented and disconnects the drive in that zone. When a subsequent load reaches the next zone, the control valve in that zone is operated to vent the actuator in that zone and disconnect the drive. Thereafter, the holding continues over the entire length of the holding conveyor, without mutual engagement of the loads at all times.

Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a typical belt-driven live roller conveyor to be easily converted to a no-pressure stationary conveyor. Only standard parts are required; there is no need to order or introduce special technology. Furthermore, the present invention
An improved pneumatic control system is provided that allows a conveyor to be easily adapted for baggage retention in one aspect and for baggage separation and sorting in yet another aspect.

The present invention provides a control device and a control and actuation module that supports the tensioning roller lifting element. This module easily bolts onto a typical belt-driven live roller conveyor, turning the conveyor into a no-holds-down conveyor. Thus, a simple belt-driven live roller conveyor is combined with a unique device that performs a no-pressure retention function that was previously impossible.

These and other objects and advantages will be further apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
be easily understood.

In those figures, a conveyor 10 according to the invention is shown in the first
As shown in the figure. The conveyor 10 constitutes a live roller conveyor driven by a power belt, which can park individual packages in various zones. FIG. 1 shows the luggage L1. L2 and L3
It shows. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor 10 includes as many zones 1, 2, 3, etc. as necessary to accomplish the required retention feature. Area 1 of the conveyor in Figure 1
may be called the sending area. The conveyor direction or machine direction is then in the direction of arrow A. Other areas may be referred to as holding areas.

Further conveyor structures may be installed downstream of zone 1. In this area, removal sections, delivery chutes, packaging stops, etc. can be installed.

Preferably, the conveyor 10 comprises conveyor rollers 11 and a drive belt 12 placed beneath the rollers to rotate them. The rotation of the conveyor rollers drives the load in the machine direction. Belt 12 has an upper drive run 12 a positioned to selectively engage roller 11 .

This drive run runs in a direction opposite to the machine direction and rotates the rollers 11 in a direction suitable for conveying the load downstream. The device for driving belt 12 may be of any known type, such as a motor-driven belt, drum, or zolly, which does not form part of this invention and is therefore not shown in FIG. Only the writing that instructs is done.

Rollers 11 are mounted between the side rails 13 of the conveyor by suitable shafts and bearings 14, as is well known in the art. (Figure 4). Each section includes a plurality of rollers 11 that can be selectively coupled to a drive belt 12 as described below. Except for the structure for selectively driving these rollers 11 and its pneumatic control device, which will be described later, the conveyor 10
constitutes a standard belt-driven live roller conveyor section, thus the side rails, rollers 11,
Bearings, shafts, etc. could be selected from stock conveyor elements.

In particular, each conveyor section differs from a conventional belt-driven live roller conveyor in that the conveyor has load-carrying rollers, a drive belt, and tension rollers for holding the drive belts against the load-carrying rollers. It's the same thing. Such continuous drive conveyors also employ a tensioning roller adjustment device, such as a slide plate mounted on a bracket and mounting the tensioning roll, to adjust the tensioning roller to continuously maintain it in a raised position.

However, the conveyor 10 according to the present invention has the ability to hold cargo without pressing, which conventional continuous drive non-holding type conveyors do not have.
In that it has the function of separating or sorting luggage,
This is a significant improvement over previous devices.

In particular, the improved conveyor of the present invention has a plurality of holding zones each having a load-carrying roller selectively coupled to and disconnected from the drive belt for the purpose of holding, sorting, and separating loads. Configure the conveyor.

A plurality of belt support tensioning rollers 20 are reciprocatably mounted below the drive run 12a of the belt 12 to selectively couple at least selected ones of the load carrying rollers 11 to the drive belt 12. Provided in each area. These rollers 20 are selectively lifted in each section to direct the drive run 12a of the belt 12 to the load carrying roller 1.
can be selectively operatively coupled to 1.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show the structural elements of the conveyor 10 and show the load carrying rows 211 in each zone with the drive belt 12.
FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the present invention for selectively coupling to the . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the load carrying roller 11, the conveyor side rails 13, and the belt support roller 20. The rollers 11 extend between the side rails 13 as shown in FIG. However, the drawing only shows the left rail. A belt-supported tensioning roller 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 for tensioning. At least one end of this shaft 21 is mounted on a slide plate 22 separated from the roller 20 by a spacer 21a.

The other end of the shaft 21 may be mounted to a similar slide plate at the other end of the roller 20 or to the rail 13 on the opposite side of the conveyor. In any case, it is important that at least one end of the roller 20 is mounted so that it can reciprocate.

In a preferred embodiment, each retention area has a lip 20.
is raised and lowered at one end, and the other end is mounted in such a position that the drive belt 12 is held very close to, but not normally in contact with, the rollers 11. be done.

When the movable end of the row 220 is lifted, the belt 12 is also lifted and engages the roller 11. In order to make the running of the drive run 12a of the belt 12 as straight as possible, according to the invention the movable ends of the rollers 20 are preferably set on opposite sides in different sections. Therefore, for example, if the right end of the roller 20 is mounted on the movable slide plate 22 in zone 1, the left end of the roller 20 is mounted on the movable slide plate 22 in zone 2, and so on. mounted alternately.

It should also be understood that preferably both ends of the rollers 20 in each section are mounted to the slide plate 22. Such a configuration allows adjustment of the relatively stationary end of the roller 20 and actuation of the slide plate mounting the other end of the row 220, as will be discussed below.

The slide plates 22 on both sides of the conveyor are brackets 2
It is mounted inside 3. As seen in FIG. 2, the bracket 23 has extended ears that are bolted to the inside of the framework rail 13 at each location as shown, so that the bracket 23 slides over the slide plate 22. Support freely. The brackets are fixed to the side rails 13 and have elongated slots 24 and 25 (FIG. 4).
These slots allow the slide plate 22 to
is slidably held.

The slide plate 22 further includes a threaded section 26 extending from the upper side of the slide plate to above the bracket 23, as shown in FIG. This threaded section is preferably an integral part of the slide plate 22 or a threaded section welded thereto. A nut 27, which stops the downward movement of the belt support roller 20, is threaded onto the threaded section 26 and is attached to the bracket 2.
It is screwed into the top of 3 until it roars. Threaded section 26 and nut 2γ thus constitute an adjustment device that defines the lowest position of belt support roller 20. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the slot 24 must be sufficiently large to accommodate the threaded portion 26 of the slide plate.

Each zone is formed in part by a control and actuation module. Each of the modules is carried by a module bracket, an actuator mounted thereon, a control device mounted thereon, a conduit mounted thereon, and a telescoping portion, such as a piston, of the actuator. Equipped with racks or bars. All of these will be discussed in detail below.

Each module is coupled to the rails 13 of the conveyor 10 and provides control and operation to cause the conveyor elements to park, sort and separate loads as described above. It will therefore be appreciated that these modules provide a means to improve a conventional belt-driven live roller conveyor into a no-hold-down type conveyor.

Returning to the description of the modules, they each include a movable slide plate 22 of the roller 20 in each zone.
It has a rack or bar 30 installed on the underside of the. Each of these ranks 30 may be possible. Preferably, however, the cylinders 31 and 32 in each section are single-acting, spring-return, nose-mounted air cylinders as are well known in the art. 1.12.7 for normal use
mtn (/2 inch) stroke length and approx.
It has been found that cylinders with a bore of mm, (1/16 inch) are suitable. The ranks 30 are mounted on the piston ends of the cylinders, and the cylinders are mounted on module brackets 33, 34 and 35, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The cylinders and racks will be similar throughout each section shown in Figure 1, but the length of the racks and the number of rollers 20 (and the number of rollers 11) may be varied as needed for each section. .

Furthermore, the drive belt 12 is connected to the load carrying roller 1 in each zone.
1, the length of the recess 30 is sufficient to extend under all belt support rollers 20, no matter how many there are in the area. It is understood that it is considered a thing. If multiple rollers 20 are used in each zone, it may be necessary to use multiple racks or even multiple actuators operating simultaneously within that zone to properly tension the belt.

FIG. 1 shows that each zone is provided with six or four belt support tensioning rollers 20.

The number of these rows 220 is arbitrarily determined depending on the frictional force required for the load carrying roller 11. If desired, the conveyor can be provided with a suitable number of belt support rollers 20 which press the belt 12 directly against the load carrying rollers 11. However, in the illustrated case, for example in zone 2, four load carrying rollers 11 are provided between each belt support roller 20. This is determined according to the capacity and drive tension of the conveyor certified by the engineer in accordance with the type of cargo to be transported by the conveyor.

Belt support roller 20 in FIG. 2 is in a lowered, non-driving condition, whereas row 220 in FIG. 6 is in a raised condition, bringing belt 12 into contact with two load-carrying rollers 11a and 11b. Under this condition, the belt 12 is also lifted and comes into contact not only with the load carriers 211a and 11b, but also, for example, with the load carrier rollers 11C and 11d, and drives all of these load carrier rollers. In the position of FIG. 6, piston rod 36 of cylinder 31 (and a similar piston rod of associated cylinder 32, not shown) is forced by that cylinder's controller to move rack 30 upwardly. the belt 12 on the row 220 is thereby brought into engagement with the load carrying roller 11.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that the module is mounted such that the rack 30 is set to contact and lift the slide plate 22 when the cylinders are actuated to extend their respective pistons. . When the cylinders are vented, their pistons are returned, preferably by springs, lowering the rack 30.

This also lowers the slide plate 22 and the row 220, pulling the belt 12 away from the rollers 11 and thus cutting off the drive in that area.

The conveyor 10 also includes a signal roller and switch device 45 as shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 6, and 5. As shown in FIG. 2, a signal roller 46 is mounted on an axle 47 extending between a bracket 48 that is pivoted on a shoulder screw 49 and the opposite conveyor side rail 13. .

FIG. 5 shows the left bracket 48 mounted on the screw 49.
, the screw 49 is fixed to the standard 50,
The lower end 51 of this standard is the bracket 34.
mounted on.

Also, a control valve device, such as an air valve 55, is provided on the bracket 48.
is secured to the standard 50 in operative relationship with the valve operating flat 56 of. Air valves 55 constitute control valves and are mounted on module bracket 34, one for each holding area of the conveyor. In FIG. 1a such air valves are shown as C70 in zone 1, av2 in zone 2, cv3 in zone 3, cv4 in zone 4, etc. These valves are actuated by actuator 31
and 32 by suitable air conduits located in the control unit.

An adjustment spring device 60, including a spring 61 and an adjustment port 62, is coupled between bracket 48 and module bracket 34 (FIGS. 2, 6, and 5) to lift signal roller 46 into the path of the load (see FIGS. 2, 6, and 5). For example, luggage L2 in Figure 2). Second
In the illustrated position, since the load L2 has engaged with the No. 1 roller 46, the spring 61 is stretched. In FIG. 6, there is no baggage in that conveyor section, so spring 61 is compressed and lifts row 246 into the baggage path P.

When a load engages the signal roller 46 as shown in FIG. 2, the signal roller is depressed causing the bracket 48 to pivot, thereby pulling the valve retaining portion 56 away from the valve. This causes the valve to open or vent as described below. In the position shown in Figure 6, the signal roller is normally in the raised position;
The valve engaging portion 56 of the zocket 48 then engages and closes the valve as described below.

The actuators or cylinders in each zone are selectively operated to raise the belt support rows 220 in their respective zones at the desired times to drive the load carrying rollers in that zone.

When the actuator is not pressurized, the rank 30 remains in the down position. At this time, the belt support rollers 20 still support the belt 12, but only at a position below the load carrying rows 211, and therefore the load carrying rollers 11 are not driven (FIG. 2). Selective actuation of each zone's actuator, as described below, raises the rack 30 and causes that zone to be actuated.

Preferably, control of the actuators 31 and 32 in each zone is performed using a pneumatic control device provided in each module. As already mentioned, hydraulic actuators and controls or electric solenoids and controls could be used as well.

In FIG. 1, zones 1 to 4 are each provided with actuators 31 and 32. In the figure, the reference numbers indicating each actuator are further supplemented with numbers indicating each area. Additional sections, actuators, and controls may be added to the conveyor 10 depending on its required parking length. The stationary conveyor control device includes a source In of compressed fluid, such as compressed air, and the compressed fluid source 70
has a main supply conduit 11 which provides fluid supply to the various valves and actuators.

Each zone is designated by C1 to cv4. A control valve corresponding to the air valve 55 described above is provided. The control valves 55, ie, control valves av1-ay4, each have an inlet, an outlet, and an outlet for venting the outlet side of the valve, and a control stem actuated by the bracket 48 as described above. , consisting of a normally closed six-way poppet valve. As shown in FIG. 1a, each control valve 550 inlet a
are connected to a supply conduit 71, and the outlet of each control valve 55 is connected to a respective conduit 72, 73, 74
．． 75. The exhaust port C of the answer 55 simply vents to the outside air. Valve 55 is normally closed by a spring device within it to connect ports a and b and pressurize conduits 72-75. However, when the control stem d of the valve is actuated by the bracket 48, the valve shuts off the spout from the spout a and leaves the conduit (72-75) vented through the vent C. do. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the stem or movable part d of the control valve can be actuated directly by the bracket 48. Further, the control valve may be operated using a ball actuator or other link mechanism.

A master control valve MOV is provided in zone 1.

This mask control valve MOV has an inlet 1 , an outlet 2 and a further inlet 3 . Inlet 1 is connected to conduit 72 from control valve cvl. Inlet 3 is connected to supply conduit 71 via conduit 76 . Outlet 2 is connected to conduit 77, and this conduit 71
As shown in figure a, it extends to the shuttle valve sv2 in zone 2 and via conduits 80.81a, 81b to the actuators 31 and 32. The master valve MOV consists of a solenoid-operated poppet valve that alternately connects inlet 1 to outlet 2 or inlet C13 to outlet 2. Although any suitable valve may be used to perform such a function, one specific example is the Mac Valves.
The in-line normally closed and normally open selector valves of the series A100 manufactured by the Company are known to be suitable. Such valves are connected to electrical or other suitable control devices to operate as described below.

Area 1 is m
3. Provide respective shuttle valves, such as shuttle valve sV4 in zone 4.

These shuttle valves each have ports A and B and an outlet C. Each inlet A is connected to a conduit (77, 78, 79) extending to the next downstream area. conduit 7
7 extends from the outlet 2 of the master control valve MOV. Conduit 78 extends from inlet B of valve Sv2 and is connected to conduit 13 from control valve OV2. Conduit 79 is inlet B of shuttle valve sv3
and a conduit 74 from control valve av3.

Each shuttle valve consists of a poppet type shuttle (double check) valve. A known suitable shuttle valve is the 01ipparc manufactured by 01ippard Valve (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA).
l “mini-Matic” shuttle valve, type M
There is a shuttle valve called JSV-1. As will be described later, depending on whether pressure is applied to port A or B in each shuttle valve, port A or port B is connected to outlet 01C.

To further explain the air circuit in FIG. 1a, actuators 31-1 and 31-2 are connected to common conduits 1-80,
It will be appreciated that it is connected to conduit 77 by a, 811:+. Also, in area 2, actuator 31-2
and 32-2 are connected to the outlet C of the shuttle valve SV2 by a common conduit 82, 83 &, 83b. In zone 3, actuators 31-3 and 32-3 are connected to common conduit 84.
．． 85a.

851) to the outlet C of the shuttle valve SV3. And in zone 4 actuators 31-4 and 32-4 are connected to outlet C of shuttle valve sv4 by a common conduit 86.87a + 87b.

Here again, regarding the characteristics of the module of the present invention,
each conduit, valve, cylinder, rack,
and module mounting brackets all constitute control and actuation modules for each area. The drive and control module for each detention zone reservoir is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The control and actuation module for the delivery area is shown only in plan view in FIG.

By using these modules, a standard element belt-driven roller conveyor can be easily converted into a no-pressure stationary conveyor according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the holding module as it is finally installed on the conveyor. As shown in the figure, the racks 30 are separate from the slide plates of each roller, and the slide trays simply rest on the ranks 30 with their lower ends.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the control valves of each detention module and zone, ie, valves CV2, CV3, CV4, are each mounted on brackets 34, 35, etc. by suitable devices. Similarly, shuttle valve B for each module and area
V 2 , SV 3 , and SV 4 are each
Each module is connected to Platan l-3 using a suitable device.
4, 35, etc., and mounted on each module. Attachment of the respective conduits and components may be facilitated by coupling the respective valves and cylinders using any suitable conduits and fittings as shown. The fitting is indicated schematically by a rectangle in the drawing. It will be appreciated that after each module is installed on the conveyor, conduits are connected between the modules, each having a different length as required.

Also from each cylinder 31.32 conduit s3
a, connection to s3b (Figure 7), and conduit) 81a
It will also be appreciated that the connections to +811) (FIG. 8) have been omitted to avoid complexity of the drawing, and that only the fittings of the cylinders are shown schematically by rectangles at the ends of the conduits.

The delivery zone module shown in FIG. 8 is somewhat different from the hold-up module. The delivery zone module is provided with a bracket 33 which can (but may not necessarily) be attached to the conveyor side rail 13, similar to brackets 34, 35, etc. This long bracket 33 is
The cylinders 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. The master control valve MOV is connected via conduits (71, 72, 77) to the module in the delivery area at any suitable point on the conveyor.

The use of more modules as described herein facilitates the construction of stationary conveyors and eliminates the need to specially design each conveyor. By using a control and actuation module such as that described above in conjunction with another standard conveyor section, the addition of a holding area is easily accomplished.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 1a, operation of the conveyor according to the invention will now be described.

First, the conveyor selectively operates in either a continuous conveying mode or a stationary mode. In continuous conveyance mode, the conveyor operates to separate or sort the loads. To explain in detail, master control valve M
the OV is operated by, for example, an electrical signal input from any suitable control device to actuate the solenoid of the valve;
This connects the inlet 3 of the valve to the outlet 2. There, the pressurized air from the pressure fluid source To is transferred to the conduit 77.8.
0.81 &, 811) to actuate the cylinders or actuators 31-1 and 32-1 in zone 1. This action pushes the pistons of those cylinders and racks 3 of zone 1
0a and thus the belt 12 into engagement with the load-carrying rollers 11 of zone 1. This drives the load, if present in area 1, to be delivered from the end of the delivery area 1. That is, the load L1 seen in FIG. 1 is thus delivered from area 1 in the direction of arrow A.

Furthermore, the connection of master control valve MOVO ports 3 and 2 connects a source of pressure fluid to inlet A of shuttle valve sv2 of zone 2. This causes the shuttle valve to operate to connect inlet A to outlet C, thus conduits 82, 83a, 8
3b is pressurized.

This activates cylinders 31-2 and 32-2 in zone 2;
This causes the belt tensioning or support roller 20 to be lifted, causing the belt 12 to engage the load-carrying roller 11 in zone 2. The belt 12 moving in this way
1, these rollers are rotated to carry a load, such as load L2 in FIG. 1, in the downstream direction indicated by arrow A.

Therefore, the operation of connecting inlet 3 and outlet 2 of master control valve MCv pressurizes the actuators of zone 2 as well as zone 1, driving both zones simultaneously. Zones 1 and 2 are thus driven substantially simultaneously to ensure loads L1 and L2.
C (Fig. 1) from those areas. Thereafter, each zone further upstream is operated according to the conditions of the control valves in each zone.

For example, zone 3 is placed inactive as a result of load L2 pushing down on the signal roller in zone 2, thus venting conduit 73 through the outlet of control valve av2. Furthermore, if there is a load such as load L3 in zone 3, this load will also push down the signal roller in zone 3, causing control valve OV3 to vent conduit 74. Actuators 31-3 and 32-3 in zone 3 will not operate unless pressure is delivered to either inlet A or B of shuttle valve sv3. Therefore, both control valves C■2 and a
Since v3 is in the vented state, there is no activation of the actuator in area 3. However, when the load L2 leaves the area 2, more specifically when it leaves the signal roller of that area 2, the signal roller operating element d of the control valve av2 is pressed and that valve operates to close the air release; This causes conduit 71 from the pressure fluid source to connect to conduit 73 and thus to conduit 73.
This fluid pressure connects the inlet A of this shuttle valve sv3 to the outlet O through the operation of the shuttle valve sv3, and thus the cylinder of zone 3 through the conduits 84°85a, 85b. 31, 3 and 32-3.

This is of course due to belt tension in that area 3 or support roller 2
0 and drives the load carrying row 11, thereby moving the load L3 in the downstream direction.

Similarly, area 4 and the baggage above it are defined as area 3.
until the load 'tib3 leaves the signal roller in that area 3. When the cargo L3 leaves the signal in area 3, the conduit 74 is opened by operating the control valve av3.
and 79, which actuates shuttle valve sv4 to connect zone 4 conduit 86187a,
Pressure fluid is sent to 87'b to drive that area. Needless to say, if there is no cargo in area 4, the control valve av
4 is not actuated and is bent into a position that permanently sends pressure fluid from conduit 71 through conduit 75 to shuttle valve S4. The pressure relief shuttle valve sv4 is operated to connect its ports B and C so that the conduits 86, 87 &, 87b are pressurized to actuate zone 4.

As can be seen from the above description, when the master control valve MOV is operated in a continuous delivery mode, zones 1 and 2 are operated substantially simultaneously, and zones 3, 4 and all other upstream zones are It is actuated only in response to the conditions of the control valves in a particular zone and the control valves in the zone immediately downstream thereof.

If a load is present in that zone and the zone immediately downstream of it, that zone will not be operated on until the load in that downstream zone leaves the downstream zone. If there is no load in that zone, this zone is driven regardless of the conditions of the next downstream zone and is ready to accept a load coming from the upstream portion of the conveyor.

As further understood, the master control valve MOV:
It is connected only to actuators 31-1 and 32-1 in zone 1 and inlet A of shuttle valve sv2 in zone 2, and has no direct connection to other actuators or valves in the conveyor. It will also be appreciated that due to the features of the invention as described above regarding the control of zone 1, there is no need for a shuttle valve in zone 1.

Also, when the conveyor is operated in this manner, the conveyor cannot be operated to separate or segregate the loads, since the manipulation of the flow of immediately adjacent loads through adjacent zones occurs sequentially as described above. be understood.

Next, a case in which the conveyor is operated in a stationary manner will be explained. In this case, by means of a suitable control device, the master control valve MOV is placed in such a position that its inlet 3 is isolated from the outlet 2 and the inlet 1 is connected to the outlet 2. This position of master control valve MCV therefore connects conduit 72 to conduit 77. Baggage L1 is area 1
When the signal roller in this area is pressed down, the control valve Cvl will be switched to conduits 72 and 77 (and therefore conduit 80).
．． 81a and 81b are operated to release air. This results in spring actuated cylinders 31-1 and 3
2-1 is de-energized, so that the belt tensioning or support roller 20 is maintained in a retracted position below the load-carrying roller 11.

Thus, zone 1 is not actuated as long as the master control valve is in the parked position and a load is present in zone 1.

It will be appreciated that if, in zone 2, the load of zone 1 then engages this zone 10 signal roller, no pressure will be sent from conduit 77 to port A of shuttle valve sv2 in zone 2 (conduit 77 is vented through the master control valve, conduit 72, and control valve cv1). So, if there is no cargo in zone 2, the control valve cv2 in this zone 2 is opened and the pressure from the supply conduit 71 is sent from the conduit 73 to the mouth B of the shuttle valve sv2 and thus to the conduit 82.83a.

831) is pressurized, the actuators 31-2 and 32-2 of zone 2 are actuated. The belt is then lifted into contact with the load-carrying rollers in that area 2 and drives them. However, as soon as load L2 enters zone 2, control valve av2 isolates the source of pressure fluid from shuttle valve sv2 and vents conduits 73, 82, 83a, 83b. In this condition, area 2 remains inactive as long as there is cargo remaining in areas 1 and 2. It will be appreciated that venting control valve cv2 also vents conduit 78 and thus no longer delivers pressure to port A of shuttle valve sv3 in zone 3. The operation of zones 3 and 4 and the following zones is carried out in the same manner as above. When a load appears in the next zone downstream, the port A of the shuttle valve in its mainstream zone is vented, where it is parked along the conveyor. However, these areas continue to be operated until a load enters the area and the control valve for this area is also vented. The vent vents the conduit through the shuttle valve port B of the zone to the actuator, thus rendering the zone inactive. Therefore, the luggage in that area will be
Loads in zones downstream of it will exit and be held within the zone until the zone is activated again.

If the conveyor is to be driven from a stopped, parked mode, the master control valve MOVO ports 3 and 2 are switched to connect them to areas 1', l! 11. Move luggage from 2. In this way, when the luggage disappears from areas 1 and 2,
Since pressure is sequentially sent to the ports A of the shuttle valves in upstream areas 3 and 4, these upstream areas 3
, 4 etc. are operated sequentially. In this way, when the package is sent out from delivery area 1 of the conveyor, the conveyor moves to area 3,
Operate to separate the baggage using the 4th class.

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present invention, each baggage can be stopped within its own area, so a conveyor can be created that allows baggage to be stored without being pressed. Spacing for each zone and its rollers - 1116. In particular, when a zone containing a load is deactivated by a control device such as that described herein, the load enters the next downstream zone. Never.

It will also be appreciated that by selectively driving the rollers in each zone using the structure and control system of the present invention, a belt-driven live roller conveyor can be easily adapted to a no-pressure parking operation. In addition, the modular features described above make it easy to convert the conveyor into a no-holds-down type conveyor and to easily convert the conveyor into a hold-down type conveyor of any suitable length by simply adding the module to each hold-up area. It will also be understood that this makes the conveyor easier to manufacture.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these and other advantages and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the scope of the claims that follow.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a schematic elevational view of a conveyor according to the invention; FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an air control circuit according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of a holding area of a conveyor according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 6. 6 is a side view of a control and actuation module according to the invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the module of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a view of a delivery zone module and its associated control device according to the invention. FIG. 10... Conveyor, 11... Baggage carrying roller, 12
... Roller drive belt, 13 ... Conveyor frame side rail, 20 ... Belt support tension roller, 22 ...
Slide plate, 23... Bracket, 30...
Rack, 31', 32... Air cylinder for rack operation, 33.34.35... Module bracket, 45
...Signal roller and switch device, 46...Signal,
48... Pivoting bracket, 50... Standard,
55 (CV)...Air cylinder, 60...Adjustment spring device, 61...Spring, 62...Adjustment screw, 70...
・Pressure fluid source, 71...main supply conduit), 72-8
7...Conduit), MOV...Master control valve, B
V...Shuttle valve.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) In a belt-driven active roller conveyor of a load non-pressure holding type, a plurality of load carrying rollers forming one downstream delivery area and a plurality of upstream holding areas; a device for selectively engaging and disengaging a drive belt from the roller to drive the roller, the device being mounted for independent reciprocating movement beneath the drive belt; a group of belt-supporting tensioning rollers, each mounted to operate said tensioning roller group and for lifting said drive belt to engage said belt with a load-carrying roller in each said section; a fluid-operated device for lifting the tensioning roller group upwardly in the area and lowering the tensioning roller group to disconnect the drive belt from the load-carrying roller in the area; a pressure fluid source; control valves in said zones, each said control valve comprising means for connecting said control valve to said source of pressurized fluid, each said control valve being operated by a load detector in each said zone, and each said control valve being connected to said source of pressurized fluid and a respective one of said control valves; at least indirectly connected between any shuttle valve in a zone and any shuttle valve in a next upstream zone, the outlet of each said shuttle valve being connected with said actuator in a respective zone; Either the control valve of one upstream section or the control valve of the next downstream section transmits the pressure fluid through the shuttle valve of the upstream section to the actuator of the nuclear upstream section. when in position, the actuator of the upstream section operates to lift the tensioning roller of the upstream section to drive that section, - the engagement and disengagement device also: a source of pressure fluid, and a connection between the actuating device and the control valve in the delivery section, and between the shuttle valve in an upstream section next to the delivery section and the source of pressure fluid; a selectively operable master valve device configured to direct the pressurized fluid between the control valve of the delivery zone and the actuation device of the zone in one position; or venting, and in the other location, directing the pressure fluid from the source of pressure fluid to the actuator in the delivery zone and the shuttle valve in the next upstream zone;
A belt-driven active roller conveyor configured to operate to actuate actuators in both the delivery section and the upstream section. (2) In a stationary conveyor, a plurality of load carrying rollers forming a conveying run, a drive belt extending under these rollers in the direction of the run, and a drive belt installed below and supporting this belt. , pushing the belt up into driving engagement with a selected one of the load carrying rollers to transport the load overflowing the conveyor; and applying a driving force from the selected load carrying roller. and lowering the belt from the rollers so as to separate the belt, the belt support tensioning roller being divided into a plurality of independent groups forming retention areas on the load carrying roller; These groups have pneumatically actuated devices for engaging and uncoupling the belts in one section of the baggage-carrying rollers; a pneumatic control device for controlling the zones and the actuating device, the pneumatic control device comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; a control valve connected between the device, a load detector located in each said area and operatively coupled to each said control valve in that area, provided in each area upstream of said delivery area; and a shuttle valve having an outlet connected to the actuator in each zone, a first port connected to the control valve in that zone, and a second port, the control valve in the delivery zone and the delivery zone. a selectively actuatable two-position master control 5 connected between the actuating device of the controller and still connected to the pressure fluid source.
a device, wherein the second population of shuttle valves is connected to the control valve of the previous section, except for that of the immediately adjacent upstream section to the delivery section; A second population of shuttle valves is connected to the master valve, and the control valve of each upstream zone directs pressurized fluid from the pressure fluid source to the shuttle valve of its respective zone when the detector is not activated. an actuator and the shuttle valve in the next upstream zone and the actuator and vents the shuttle valves when the detector is actuated; When the load detector is not activated, the fluid is passed directly through the master control valve device in position 0 to the actuator in the delivery area, and then the load detector in the delivery area is activated. venting the actuator in the delivery zone, the master control valve in its second position directing the source of pressurized fluid directly to the delivery zone, regardless of the condition of the control valve in the delivery zone. 5. A stationary conveyor configured to connect to the actuating device of a next upstream section and to the shuttle valve and the actuating device of a next upstream section. (3) In a belt-driven active roller conveyor device, a load carrying roller is installed between rails on both sides of the conveyor and forms a plurality of holding areas, a drive belt is installed in each area and the belt is a belt-supported tensioning roller held in engagement with the load-carrying roller, and a device provided in each said area for adjusting the tensioning row 2, the device comprising a roller shaft within the roller; a slide plate provided adjacent to at least one end of each support roller and mounting one end of the roller shaft; and a slide plate mounted on the conveyor rail. a locating bracket for the slide plate sump slidably mounted thereon, engaging the load carrying rollers with the belt to drive the load carrying rollers within a predetermined nucleation area of the conveyor; , a device for selectively activating the group of tensioning rollers in the predetermined retention area to selectively decouple the load carrying rollers from the belt to deactivate the load carrying rollers; The conveyor also has one delivery section, and the actuator includes an actuator bracket mounted on the conveyor rail in each section, an actuator bracket mounted on the conveyor rail in each section, and an actuator bracket mounted on the conveyor rail in each section; an elongate actuation rack device extending below the movable slide plate to engage the lower portion of the slide plate; and an elongated actuation rack device mounted on the actuator bracket in each said section and operatively coupled to each actuation rack device. selectively raising and lowering the racking device, the slide plate, and the nuclear tension roller, thereby bringing the drive belt into driving engagement with the load carrying roller in the nuclear deposit area. A belt-driven live roller conveyor apparatus configured to include a disconnectable actuator. (4) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a control valve device in each nuclear material storage area, a shuttle valve device in each nuclear material storage area, and the control valve device in each of the areas. and an i-shuttle valve device mounted on the actuator bracket of the zone, the valve device configured to selectively drive or stop the load carrying rollers in each zone. A device characterized in that it is coupled together to control an actuating device. (5) The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a load detection device operably mounted on the actuator bracket. (6) a plurality of load-carrying rollers, a drive belt disposed below the rollers, and a movable linkage disposed beneath the belt for urging the belt into driving engagement with the load-carrying rollers; A control and actuation module apparatus for converting a belt-driven live roller conveyor having a plurality of mounted tensioning rollers into a no-pressure stationary conveyor, the module apparatus forming a plurality of accumulation zones in the conveyor. , one modular device corresponds to each of the storage areas, each modular device including: a support bracket device mounted on the conveyor; at least one belt tensioning roller mounted on each bracket; a pneumatic actuating device; an elongated actuating rack device operatively coupled to the actuating device to raise and lower the tension support roller in the area toward and away from the load-carrying roller; and a conduit arrangement for connecting the valve arrangement to the actuating device of the section and at least one of the valve arrangements of an adjacent section; A modular device configured to include: a mechanical tensioning roller drive and lifting device; and a pneumatic control and connection device for the area and between the area and other areas. (7) In a module used for converting a belt-driven live roller conveyor to a non-pressure stationary type Peptide-driven live roller conveyor, a bracket, an actuating device mounted on this bracket, and a device mounted on this actuating device are provided. a rack apparatus for selectively retaining drive of the conveyor using the module; and a module comprising a valve apparatus mounted on the bracket and operatively coupled to the actuator to control the actuator. . (8) The module according to claim 7, further comprising a load detection device mounted on the bracket for detecting a load on a conveyor to which the module is operatively connected.