WO2005014443A1 - Element de maillon de chaine et courroie transporteuse presentant lesdits elements de maillons de chaine - Google Patents

Element de maillon de chaine et courroie transporteuse presentant lesdits elements de maillons de chaine Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005014443A1
WO2005014443A1 PCT/GB2004/003082 GB2004003082W WO2005014443A1 WO 2005014443 A1 WO2005014443 A1 WO 2005014443A1 GB 2004003082 W GB2004003082 W GB 2004003082W WO 2005014443 A1 WO2005014443 A1 WO 2005014443A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
link element
chain link
belt
product
chain
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2004/003082
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mike Hammock
Original Assignee
Molins Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molins Plc filed Critical Molins Plc
Publication of WO2005014443A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005014443A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/06—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
    • B65G17/08—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element
    • B65G17/086—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element specially adapted to follow a curved path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0226—Cigarettes

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a chain link element forming a product transportation conveyor belt and, more particularly, to the surface characteristics of such a chain link element.
  • Belts formed from such a plurality of chain link elements which offer considerable advantages over the previously used nylon woven belts by providing additional rigidity, are easily manufactured by simply adding or removing the appropriate number of link elements and also provide for ease of maintenance since any stretching during any operation of such belts can be compensated for by removal of sufficient link elements to retighten the belt.
  • conventional link elements are provided with a substantially flat upper product carrying surface to provide an appropriate platform onto the products which are supported when the belt extends around a substantially horizontal product carrying path.
  • belts carry mass product such as stacked elongate rods within the cigarette manufacturing industry
  • the transfer of such carpet of rods from a traditional nylon woven belt system is effected by passing the nylon belt around a vertically disposed idler wheel (rotating about a horizontal axis) with the belt conforming to the radius of such wheel and an external scraper then being disposed tangentially to the belt as it is passed over the idler wheel to deflect product off the now curved woven belt onto an appropriate product removal path or equipment.
  • a considerable force is required to be exerted by the deflector plates in order to push the whole carpet radially inwards so that they remain on the curved sections of the belts. This causes even more damage to the ends of the rods.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a chain link element that allows the belt to follow a curved path about axes that can be angled to each other.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a chain link element that assists in aligning rod like products to align themselves substantially radially when the belt on which they are carried follows a substantially horizontal curved path about a vertical axis.
  • a chain link element for a product transportation belt comprising a product carrying surface having a front end, an opposed rear end, two opposed side edges each extending between said front and rear ends and a connection means for allowing flexible connection of the element to an adjacent similar element such that the front end of the element is proximate to the rear end of the adjacent element, characterised in that said product carrying surface has a convex profile extending between said front end and said rear end and having at least one elongate projection on the product carrying surface that extends in a direction towards the side edges of the element.
  • a radius of curvature of said convex profile is predetermined such that in use, when the belt passes around a rotatable support means the radius of curvature of the product carrying surface of each link element is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the support means.
  • the convex curvature of such outer surface of adjacent link element form a uniform convex circular surface following the external circumference of such wheel presenting a substantially smooth curved external surface of such belt mimicking the smooth curved surface of traditional nylon woven belts and allowing product mounted on the belt to be readily removed by appropriate deflector plates in close tangential proximity to such uniform curved surface.
  • the height of the elongate projection relative to said product carrying surface decreases towards at least one of said side edges so as to provide a tapered projection.
  • such link elements will comprise at least two inclined elongate projections, a first elongate projection tapering towards a first side edge and a second elongate projection tapering towards a second side edge.
  • Such tapered or inclined projections serve as a deflecting means to deflect any rogue product on a conveyor belt in a non-desired position to roll off and fall off a conveyor belt formed of such link elements.
  • the elongate projections may also comprise two or more spaced portions extending along a common axis.
  • the front and rear ends are of complementary shape and together with the connection means are shaped and dimensioned so as to permit relative restricted movement between the front and rear ends of other adjacent elements. More specifically, the front and rear ends together with the connection means may be shaped and dimensioned to allow pivotal movement about an axis extending in a direction substantially between the side edges of an element. Alternatively, or in supplement, the front and rear ends together with the connection means are shaped and dimensioned to allow rotation of elements about an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane that contains a first axis extending in a direction between the front and rear ends and a second axis extending in a direction between the side edges of an element and thereby allow the elements to follow a curved path in said plane.
  • a plurality of chain link elements connected together with the front edge of each element connected to a rear edge of an adjoining element thereby to define an endless product transportation belt.
  • the belt is designed to pass around a rotatable support means and wherein the radius of curvature of each link element is predetermined so as to be co-axial with an axis of rotation of the support means when each link element passes around the support means during a change of direction of said belt.
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chain link element according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the chain link element of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the chain link element of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a product transportation belt comprising an array of chain link elements of Figure 1 in a partially curved configuration
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the transportation belt of Figure 4 in a substantially flat configuration
  • Figure 6 is a side view of a part section of a transportation belt of Figure 4 passing about a support wheel;
  • FIG 7 is a cross sectional view of a conventional chain support wheel.
  • Modern transportation belts usually formed as a continuous belt (or closed loop), are produced from a plurality of individual chain link elements (10) as shown in Figures 1 to 3.
  • Each link element comprises an upper support or product carrying surface (12) extending between a front end (14) and rear end (16) thereof.
  • This surface (12) is then provided with two opposed side edges (18) and (20) (here substantially parallel) extending between said front end (14) and rear end (16).
  • Extending from the underside (22) of such support surface (12) is a connection means (24) which permits similar link elements to be joined together so as to form an elongate chain (as shown in Figures 4 and 5).
  • the front end (14) of the surface (12) is provided with a substantially rectangular rebate (26) whereby the rear end (16) is provided with a substantially rectangular projection (28) of complementary shape.
  • similar link elements (10) and (10') are connected together so that the front end (14) of a first link element (10) is proximate to the rear end (16) of a similar adjacent link element (10'), whereby the rectangular projection (28') of said similar link element (10') is received within the corresponding rectangular rebate (26) of the first link element (10).
  • the link elements are connected together so that the front end of a first link element is maintained proximate to the rear end of the adjacent link element.
  • the front and rear ends are shaped and dimensioned to allow rotation of elements (10) about an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane that contains a first axis extending in a direction between the front and rear ends and a second axis extending in a direction between the side edges of an element and thereby allow the elements to follow a curved path in said plane.
  • connection means (24), as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, comprises a first connection member (30) associated with the front end (14) of the link element and a second connection member (32) associated with the rear end (16) of such link element.
  • the first connection member (30) comprises two substantially parallel sidewalls (34) extending downwardly from the underside (22) of the support surface (12) (these walls are shown in hashed lines in Figure 2 and lie immediately adjacent to the rectangular rebate (26) as shown).
  • the second connection member (32) also comprises two parallel sidewalls (36), again extending downwardly from the underside (22) of the support surface (12) and again shown in hashed lines in Figure 2 so as to lie immediately adjacent to the outer side edges of the rectangular projection (28).
  • the two parallel sidewalls (36) of the second connection member (32) are received in parallel between the two parallel sidewalls (34) of the first connection member of an adjacent link element (10).
  • each of the two parallel sidewalls (36) of the second connection member (32) have a first elongate aperture (38) extending therethrough whereby each of the two parallel sidewalls (34) of the first connection means are further provided with a substantially cylindrical hole (40) passing therethrough.
  • the cylindrical hole of wall (34) has a partially flattened side edge (42) for complementary frictional engagement with an appropriate elongate rod of similar cross sectional profile.
  • an appropriate elongate rod of complementary cross sectional profile (not shown) is inserted to extend between the two parallel apertures (40) of the parallel sidewalls
  • each link element (10) is further provided with a pair of substantially flat feet members (44) extending transversely from the parallel sidewalls (34) so as to extend parallel with the underside (22) of the support surface (12).
  • a link element (10) is of conventional design as is a chain formed from a plurality of connected link elements.
  • a chain (100) formed from a plurality of link elements is intended to carry product in a substantially horizontal plane to a position where it is to be divested from the conveyor to an appropriate workstation.
  • the chain (100) will then be fed around an appropriate vertically disposed wheel member that rotated about a substantially horizontal axis (either an idler wheel or a powered wheel) to return to a further input workstation where a new product is then picked up.
  • a conventional design of idler wheel (80) is illustrated in cross section in Figure 7 and comprises a substantially solid cylindrical central body portion (82) disposed about an axis A and having a pair of parallel and radially extending sidewalls (84) extending therefrom to provide a circumferential and radially extending channel (86) of substantially rectangular cross sectional profile as seen in Figure 7.
  • This channel (86) has an inner cylindrical surface (88).
  • the chain (100) will pass about such idler wheel as shown schematically in Figure 6 whereby the feet (44) of each link element (10) will effectively sit upon the inner cylindrical surface (88) of the radial channel (86) as the chain passes thereabouts (alternatively or in combination with support of such feet the underside (22) of the support surface (12) may be supported by the outer edges of the sidewalls (84)).
  • the wheel (80) is only shown schematically and in hashed lines in Figure 6 for clarity whereby the outer walls (84) are omitted for clarity.
  • the idler wheel (80) is designed so that the distance between the sidewalls (84) is sufficient to permit both feet member (44) of each link element to sit within the channel (86) whereby the distance between such parallel sidewalls (84) is no greater than the maximum width of each link element so that the underside (22) of the support surface (12) is then able to sit on the periphery of each wall member (84) as is conventional.
  • the idler wheel (80) serves as a guide mechanism for maintaining correct alignment of the belt as it passes thereabouts. If appropriate, such idler wheel could be replaced by a drive wheel having appropriate means for engaging with each link element to effect a motive force thereto to move such belt.
  • the belt (100) formed from the link elements (10) is primarily intended to carry rod like articles such as cigarettes or cigarette filters
  • Such product (102) will normally form a carpet of products several centimetres thick (up to 20cm) to be transported thereby, whereby such product carpet will be removed from the conveyor belt (100) as it passes about the idler wheel (80).
  • the present invention resides in the modification of such link elements (10) to provide an improved configuration of chain link element which provides for enhanced removal of the product (102) from a chain (100) formed therefrom.
  • the upper (or outermost) product carrying surface (12) is varied from conventional link element designs (which are traditionally flat) by being provided with a convex profile extending between the front end (14) and rear end (16) thereof.
  • the radius of curvature of this convex profile is predetermined so that the support surface (12) is substantially coaxial with the axis A of the idler wheel (80) about which it passes so that, as seen in Figure 6, the support surface of the chain (100) (provided by the plurality of link elements (10)) forms a substantially smooth curved surface about such idler wheel.
  • an appropriate product removal tool (110) ( Figures 4 and 6) can be employed for appropriate removal of the product (102) from such conveyor belt.
  • This product removal tool (110) is provided with a complementary lower curved surface (112) having a curvature complementary to the radius of curvature about axis A so as to closely overly the smooth curved surface of the conveyor belt
  • the link elements (10) of the present embodiment are also provided with a series of two cleats (120), whose function will be described below but which serve to provide a discontinuity on the smooth curved surface of the belt (100), necessitating that the product removal tool (110) be aligned with such cleats (120) so as to prevent catastrophic engagement with such cleats.
  • cleats (120) are optional whereby the product removal tool (110) could be placed in close proximity with a belt across the complete width of each link element if so required and where no cleats are employed.
  • the current product transportation belt (100) is designed for specific use within the cigarette manufacturing industry for transportation of rod like articles, whereby such rod like articles are stacked in a carpet of up to 20cm deep. If such carpet was formed on a purely flat surface then it would settle into a compact honeycombed mass restricting flexibility of the carpet should the belt be required to pass around a curved path whilst remaining in a horizontal plane.
  • the carpet can be disrupted by the provision of a series of cleats (120) or projections on the support surface (12) of each link element to disrupt alignment of the plurality of rod like articles within the carpet, making such carpet less compact and more susceptible to displacement and manoeuvrability as the belt itself passes around appropriate curved path in a horizontal plane.
  • the use of such cleats (120) is further enhanced in the present invention by the convex profile of each link element (10), which also provides a disruption to the alignment of the carpet by providing a series of troughs (130) and ridges (132) of the belt (100).
  • the current embodiment provides for an improved link element cleat (120).
  • link element cleat 120
  • the cleat (120) is divided into two equal portions (120) disposed about a central channel portion (122).
  • the central channel portion (122) permits the product removal tool (110) to be positioned in close proximity to the convex support surface (12) as it passes about the idler wheel (80).
  • the cleat design is modified over a conventional design by being provided with outer tapered portions (121).
  • each cleat (120) comprises an inner hemispherical projection (119) of uniform height above the support surface (12) and an outer tapered portion (121) which reduces in height above the support surface (12) towards the outer edges (18, 20) of each link element (10) ( Figure 1).
  • a conventional rod like article for example a cigarette
  • reference numeral (200) does not extend the complete width of the link element (10) and is disposed substantially equidistant from each of the side edges (18, 20) so as to maintain the carpet of product carried by conveyor (100) remote from the edges to prevent damage to individual articles within that carpet.
  • the purpose of the cleats, as previously described, is to maintain a less compact carpet to allow flexibility.
  • each link element may be only provided with one cleat member (120) which cleat member may be tapered along its entire length.
  • each link element may be provided with more than two cleat members (120) if appropriate.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Belt Conveyors (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un élément de maillon de chaîne (10) destiné à une courroie transporteuse (100) de produits comprenant une surface de support de produits supérieure, ladite surface de support présentant une extrémité avant (14) et une extrémité arrière (16) opposée ainsi que des moyens de raccordement appropriés permettant le raccordement souple d'un premier élément de maillon (10) à un second élément de maillon semblable de sorte que l'extrémité avant (14) d'un premier élément de maillon est proche de l'extrémité arrière (16) d'un second élément de maillon afin de constituer une chaîne appropriée, la surface supérieure de chaque élément de maillon présentant un profil convexe s'étendant entre son extrémité avant et son extrémité arrière de sorte que lorsque la chaîne formée par ledit élément de maillon passe autour d'une roue disposée verticalement, la surface extérieure convexe des éléments de maillon raccordés présente un profil incurvé sensiblement lisse de ladite chaîne.
PCT/GB2004/003082 2003-07-18 2004-07-16 Element de maillon de chaine et courroie transporteuse presentant lesdits elements de maillons de chaine WO2005014443A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0316919A GB0316919D0 (en) 2003-07-18 2003-07-18 Improved conveyor belt chain link
GB0316919.0 2003-07-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005014443A1 true WO2005014443A1 (fr) 2005-02-17

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PCT/GB2004/003082 WO2005014443A1 (fr) 2003-07-18 2004-07-16 Element de maillon de chaine et courroie transporteuse presentant lesdits elements de maillons de chaine

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GB (1) GB0316919D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005014443A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2723748A1 (es) * 2018-02-23 2019-08-30 Open Mind Ventures S L U Estructura reticular flexible

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108482944B (zh) * 2018-03-30 2024-01-02 浙江工业职业技术学院 一种双辊转弯输送机

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1224445A (en) * 1916-04-19 1917-05-01 Burpee & Letson Ltd Conveyer.
DE930440C (de) * 1952-11-04 1955-07-14 Quester Fa Wilh Gliederfoerderband aus Querstaeben
US4351429A (en) * 1978-11-02 1982-09-28 Garvey Corporation Conveyor with slip cleats
US5613597A (en) * 1993-08-26 1997-03-25 Kvp Systems, Inc. Transfer method for plastic conveyor belts

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1224445A (en) * 1916-04-19 1917-05-01 Burpee & Letson Ltd Conveyer.
DE930440C (de) * 1952-11-04 1955-07-14 Quester Fa Wilh Gliederfoerderband aus Querstaeben
US4351429A (en) * 1978-11-02 1982-09-28 Garvey Corporation Conveyor with slip cleats
US5613597A (en) * 1993-08-26 1997-03-25 Kvp Systems, Inc. Transfer method for plastic conveyor belts

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2723748A1 (es) * 2018-02-23 2019-08-30 Open Mind Ventures S L U Estructura reticular flexible
US10661996B2 (en) 2018-02-23 2020-05-26 Manufacturas Y Transformados Ab, S.L.U. Flexible reticular structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0316919D0 (en) 2003-08-27

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