MXPA00011979A - Conveyor belt side curtains - Google Patents

Abstract

A skirt board and mounting plate for sealing the side edges of a conveyor belt to prevent spillage of material being transported. The skirt board comprises an elastomeric sheet having regularly spaced parallel ribs integrally formed on one major surface thereof and adapted for insertion within regularly spaced parallel slots formed in a metal mounting plate that is adapted for attachment to a frame disposed above or along side the conveyor belt.

Description

SIDE CURTAINS FOR TRANSPORTING BAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention: This invention relates, in a general way, to equipment for material handling, and more specifically, refers to the design of side curtains for use with conveyor belts, which in turn are used to transport bulk materials to inhibit the spillage of the granular material. II. Discussion of the Prior Art: Rubberized conveyor belts are commonly used to transport bulk materials, such as sand, gravel, iron ore, taconite, and similar materials. Likewise, conveyor belts are commonly used in the grain milling industry to transport granular materials. A problem often occurs at a position along the conveyor where bulk material of the type described is dispensed from a hopper or metering duct above the conveyor belt due to the tendency for the bulk material to spill over the edges side of the conveyor belt. This is true, especially if the flow quantity that comes from the hopper does not combine, properly, with the speed of the conveyor belt. To avoid the present disorder, and the need for frequent washing, an economical means must be provided to inhibit the spillage of the bulk material out of the side edges of the conveyor belt, upon which the bulk material is deposited. The prior art teaches a variety of side curtains for conveyor belt, also referred to, commonly, as aprons or skirt boards, and to this respect, reference is made to Stahura Patent 4,236,628, which was republished in the Patent of Reissue RE 31,249. It comprises a plurality of sections of table apron or skirt that are intertwined, and that are relatively narrow (15.24 cm wide) (6") and have grooves of dovetail that are formed in that place so that thus they are fitted with the corresponding protrusions, projecting outwards in the form of a dovetail, on a mounting plate.The members of the apron or skirting board have a lower edge which is adapted to cooperate with a conveyor belt which is moves when the mounting plate is properly suspended from the frame system The narrow rubber blocks comprise skirt members that fail to properly seal the blocks that tend to fall out of their mounts and leakage occurs in numerous boards Other patents that target the side curtains for conveyor belt include the Patents of deRooy 5,303,813, Mott 5,154,280, Swinderman 5,048,669 and 4,874,082, Gordon 4,231,471 and K Legg 3,499,523. Each of these patents describes side curtains or apron or skirt boards having a stationary mounting plate and describe a skirt capable of being moved, whose lower edge is brought into contact with a moving conveyor belt to inhibit spillage of material granulate off the sides of the conveyor. There is still a need, however, for a less expensive apron table design that provides ease of assembly relative to a conveyor system and that provides ease of adjustment of the apron or skirt table members, at periodic intervals, to accommodate the wear of the apron table and that provides a capacity to conform the curves in conveyor belts, as it is presented, in a common way, in transition areas where the band leaves a * ~ * - «- ^ g? ^^^ ÉÉ ^ pulley driven and crosses an adjacent side roller. The present invention provides such improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an apron or skirt board apparatus for a conveyor belt that includes a rectangular mounting plate., generally, of a predetermined thickness and having an upper edge, a lower edge and opposite side edges. The mounting plate is adapted to be suspended from a frame structure that is aligned parallel to the side edges of an endless conveyor belt. The mounting plate includes a plurality of parallel grooves, which are spaced, in a regular manner, of a predetermined width, which are formed inwardly from their lower edge and through their predetermined thickness so that they extend upwards, but near its upper edge. The mounting plate is inclined at an angle of about 90 ° along a line extending between its same opposite side edges, the line intersecting at least a part of each of the parallel grooves so that the top inclined mounting plate includes a ^^^ »^^^^^ 4 *. * A a-Ma-fc. plurality of openings, each of which is contiguous with a groove of the plurality of parallel grooves. The apparatus further comprises, in general, a rectangular elastomer skirt member having first and second major surfaces, a lower edge, an upper edge and having opposite side edges. The width of the skirt member comprises a plurality of grooves on the mounting plate. The first main surface is flat, generally, and the second main surface has a plurality of parallel projections, compressible, protruding outward, and integrally formed, of a predetermined thickness and width and having the same Regular separation than regular spacing between the parallel slots that form on the mounting plate. The predetermined thickness of the projections is less than a corresponding dimension of the opening in the mounting plate and the width of the projections is larger, slightly, than the width of the slots in the mounting plates, so that when the protrusions are inserted through the openings and get into the slots in the mounting plate with difficulties, the skirt member is suspended above the mounting plate with a *. . t., i a A by frictional force predetermined. By sawing the edges of the parallel slots in the mounting plates, upward displacement of the skirt members relative to the mounting plate is inhibited.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially if considered in conjunction with the drawings that they accompany it, in which the same numbers in the various views refer to the corresponding parts. Figure 1 is a partial perspective view showing the side curtains of the conveyor, of the present invention, fixed to the mouth of a dispenser through which the granular material is deposited on top of a moving conveyor belt; Figure 2 is a front plan view of the apron or skirt board assembly; Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of the left end of the apron or skirt board assembly; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a partial side elevation of a mounting plate of an apron or skirt board adapted to be used proximate to a transition zone on a conveyor belt.

Description of the Preferred Modality Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience, only by reference and will not be limiting. The words "upwards", "downwards", "to the right" and "to the left" are going to refer to directions in the drawings, to which reference is made. The words "inward" and "outward" are going to refer to directions towards and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and they will refer to their same associated parts. This terminology will include the words mentioned above, specifically, the same derivative words and words of similar importance. Referring first to Figure 1, a conveyor system for conveying granular material and incorporating apron or skirt boards constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by number 10. The conveyor assembly includes an endless belt 12 having an upper path 14 and a lower path 16. The belt is deployed around an end roller 18 and another end roller (not shown) with additional separate rollers 20 that support the belt. upper path 14 and with the rollers 22 supporting the lower path 16. Positioned above the upper path 14 of the conveyor belt 12, there is a hopper 24 terminating in a dispenser 26. The granular material flowing down the hopper and exiting the dispenser 26 is intended to discharge above the upper path 14 of the conveyor belt. The apron or skirt boards 28 are mounted relative to three sides of the dispenser 26 to prevent spillage of the granular material away from the trailing and lateral edges of the upper path 14 of the conveyor belt 12. Referring next to FIGS. 3, the apron or skirt board assembly 28, is seen to comprise a mounting plate 30 and a molded elastomeric skirt member 32. The mounting plate may be, generally, rectangular and may have an upper edge 34, a bottom edge 36 and may have opposite lateral edges 38 and 40. The mounting plate that is used in a straight section of the conveyor includes a plurality of parallel grooves 42, spaced apart, in a regular fashion, the grooves having a predetermined width that is formed towards in from the lower edge 36, through the thickness dimension of the plate and extend towards, although close to, the upper edge 34. As best seen in the F 4, the mounting plate 30 is inclined at an angle of about 90 °, as in point 44, along a line extending between the opposite lateral edges 38 and 40. As best seen in the Figures 2 and 3, the inclined or pleat line intersects at least a portion of each of the parallel grooves, so that the upper inclined portion 46 of the mounting plate 30 includes a plurality of openings, as in point 48 in FIG. Figure 3. Each of the openings is contiguous with a groove of the plurality of parallel grooves 42. The mounting plate 30 is preferably manufactured from sheet metal in a stamping operation. Stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 0.3175 cm (l / 8") is preferred After the stamping operation, the sheet is folded into a metal sheet folder As such, the mounting plate can be manufactured, very economically, the die used in the stamping process is constructed to provide a serrated edge to the metal defining the parallel grooves 42 along the entire length of those grooves, with continuous reference to FIGS. 3, the elastomeric skirt member 32 has an external major surface 50 and an internal major surface 52 and a lower edge 54 and an upper edge 56. The first major surface 50 is flat, generally, while the second major surface it has a plurality of parallel projections 58, compressible, projecting outwards, and integrally formed, of a predetermined thickness and width and with the same regular spacing between them as the separation The regular thickness between the parallel slots 42 formed in the mounting plate 30. The thickness dimension of the projections, that is to say the same extension of the projection beyond the second main surface 52, is designed to be smaller, light shape, that the corresponding dimension of the openings 48 formed in the mounting plate according to the width of the projections is larger, slightly, than the width of the slots 42. Therefore, when the projections are inserted through from the openings 48 and are guided towards the grooves, the projections exert pressure to thereby hold or support the skirt member 32 on the mounting plate with a predetermined frictional force. The serrations or cuts on the edges of the slots 42 are formed in order to inhibit the upward movement of the skirt member 32 relative to the mounting plate 40. It is apparent, however, that if a force is applied to the upper edge 56 of the skirt member 32 which is larger than the frictional forces between the shoulders 58 and the side edges of the grooves 42, the skirt member can be moved downwardly. The skirt member 32 can be manufactured from polyurethane or other suitable plastic, although a fiber or reinforced rubber cord may be preferred. Its width is such that it will include a plurality of parallel projections 58 and will comprise a corresponding plurality of slots on the mounting plate. With reference following to Figure 5, the mounting plate 30 is preferably attached to the external side wall of the dispenser 26 if these two are welded together along the upper edge 34 of the mounting plate and after this In this connection, the skirt members 32 can be applied to the mounting plate by guiding the projections 58 through the openings 48 and into the parallel serrated grooves 42 of the mounting plate. Then, the skirt member 32 is forced downward by striking at its same upper edge 56 until the lower edge 54 is made to clutch with the upper path 14 of the conveyor 12. The view of Figure 6 is intended to show the manner in which the elastic elastomeric projections 58 are compressed or tightened between the edges defining the slots 42. The beards in the serrations are directed so that the sheet 50 can be forced in the downward direction, but is prevented, so effective, that are pushed up due to possible irregularities in the conveyor belt. Periodically, during use, with the wear of the lower edge 54 of the apron or skirt board, it becomes necessary for an operator to strike the apron board to restore a desired degree of contact between the apron board and the upper path of the band. transporter Finally, the aprons or skirts that wear out can be removed and replaced with a minimum period of stoppage. The junction plate 30 secures the rectangular projections in a shape which prevents the apron or skirt table member 32 from a next separation in the case of a band deviation, or increase in debris, etc., although it can be removed, easy way, to replace or for maintenance if the separations are leveraged on one end and pulled, firmly in a downward direction and in an outward direction. In Figure 7 a modification of a mounting plate of a specially designed apron or skirt board is shown to be placed adjacent to a transition zone on a conveyor belt path 12 between a driven pulley 60 towards a first Side roller of a series of side rollers. As shown in points 64, 66 and 68, these grooves are not parallel with one another, but instead are further apart in the upper fold line 44 than in the lower edge 36, so that they slots 64, 66, 68 in the transition zone angle, lightly, one toward the other. In this way, the lower edge 36 of the mounting plate is effectively tilted to conform to the band 36 in the transition area mentioned above. A single elongated elastomeric skirt member of the type described above, and having parallel reassures, can be fixed to the mounting plate 30 'in Figure 7 although the slots 64, 66 and 68 are angled, lightly, due to to the flexibility of the apron or skirt material that allows it to be lengthened and compressed to fit the non-parallel grooves. This invention has been described here in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information necessary to apply the new principles and to construct and use such specialized components as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different equipment and devices, in a specific manner, and that various modifications, both for the equipment and for the operating procedures, can be achieved without departing from the scope of the invention. per se.

It is noted that in relation to this date The best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. fifteen twenty ^^^ 3 ^^ fcQgtg ^ gjff |] ^^^^^^^^^^^

Claims (13)

1. Claims The invention having been described as an antecedent, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An apparatus with a skirtboard for a conveyor belt, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a rectangular mounting plate, generally of a thickness The mounting plate is adapted to be suspended from a structure that is aligned parallel to the side edges of an endless conveyor belt, the mounting plate includes a top and a bottom edge and opposite side edges. a plurality of spaced apart grooves, of regular shape, of a predetermined width formed inward from a position proximate its same lower edge through its same predetermined thickness and extending towards, though near the upper edge, the tilting plate at a predetermined angle along a line extending between opposite lateral edges, the intercepted line at least a portion of each of the grooves so that the inclined portion of the mounting plate includes a plurality of openings each contiguous with a groove of the plurality of grooves; (b) a rectangular elastomer skirt member, generally having first and second major surfaces, a lower edge, an upper edge and opposite side edges, the first main surface is flat, generally, and the second surface The main one has a plurality of parallel projections, compressible, protruding outwards, integrally formed, of a predetermined thickness and width, and in general, the same regular spacing as the regular spacing that exists between the slots formed in the mounting plate, the predetermined thickness of the projections is less than a corresponding dimension of the openings and the width of the projections is larger, slightly, than the width of the slots, so that when the projections are inserted through of the openings and tighten in the slots in the mounting plate, the skirt member is suspended above the mounting plate with a frictional force pre determined. The apparatus with a skirtboard for a conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the edges on the mounting plate define the grooves that are sawn to resist the upward displacement of the skirt member with respect to the mounting plate. The apparatus with a skirtboard for a conveyor belt according to claim 2, characterized in that the skirt member is adjusted downwards on the application of a force on the upper edge of the skirt member that exceeds the predetermined frictional force for positioning. the lower edge of the skirt member against a conveyor belt. 4. The apparatus with skirt board for conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt member comprises a reinforced cord of rubber sheet. 5. The skirt assembly for conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting plate is made of stainless steel. 6. The skirt assembly for conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the regularly spaced slots are parallel over a predetermined width dimension of the mounting plate. 7. The skirt assembly for conveyor belt according to claim 6, characterized in that some grooves selected from the separate slots, of regular shape, are angled 5 inwards and outwards in a second dimension of predetermined width of the mounting plate. 8. The skirt assembly for conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined angle is 10 around 90 °. 9. Apparatus for suspending a baffle device in relation to a material transport device, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a rectangular mounting plate, generally of a predetermined thickness, the plate has an upper edge, a lower edge, and opposite side edges and with at least one groove of a predetermined width formed inward from a position proximate its same bottom edge through its same predetermined thickness and extending towards, although near, the upper edge, the plate is inclined at a predetermined angle along a line extending between the opposite lateral edges and also in perpendicular form, the line intersects at least one p ia tfjfrtrl | Bf ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ so that the inclined part of the mounting plate includes an opening contiguous with the slot and adapted to receive a part of the deflector device. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the rectangular mounting box includes a plurality of spaced apart parallel grooves, of regular shape, of a predetermined width. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the predetermined angle is about 90 °. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one groove includes serrated side edges. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the grooves of the plurality of grooves includes serrated side edges. & s