WO2016095933A1

WO2016095933A1 - Modular belt link

Info

Publication number: WO2016095933A1
Application number: PCT/DK2015/050409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Westergaard
Original assignee: Ammeraal Beltech Modular A/S
Priority date: 2014-12-19
Filing date: 2015-12-21
Publication date: 2016-06-23

Abstract

x A modular belt link (1), having a leading and a trailing edge (11,10), where a top surface (2) and opposite a bottom surface is provided between said leading and trailing edge (11,10), where a plurality of eye parts (12) project from both the leading and trailing edges (11,10), where the eye parts (12) are spaced laterally, and off set such that eye parts (12) on a trailing edge (10) of one belt link may be inserted between eye parts (12) on the leading edge (11) of an adjacent belt link, and that means are provided for mutually and hingely connecting adjacent belt links, characterized in that on the top or bottom surface (2) orthogonal to the intended travelling direction is provided a groove (3), said groove (3) in a cross section in a plane parallel to the intended travelling direction has a slit (4) which is smaller than an interior width (5) of the groove (3), and where a separate modular member (20) has an insertion section (21) such that the insertion section (21) may be inserted laterally into the groove (3), where a portion of said separate modular member (20) projects up through or is flush with said slit (4).

Description

Modular belt link Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular belt link as well as a conveyor incorporating such a modular belt link. Background of the Invention

In the art it is well known to use modular belt links which were assembled in order to create typically conveyor belts made from injection moulded plastic modular belt links. The belt links are typically arranged in a brick laying pattern such that by arranging a number of modular belt links laterally with respect to the travelling direction a wide variety of belt widths may be assembled from standard size modular belt links.

The modular belt links may by modified in various manners in order to address various applications such that for example modular belt links may be provided with special shift characteristics, special add-ons to increase wear and tear capabilities as well as be manufactured from special plastics for example having electrically conductive characteristics.

In certain industries it is interesting to be able to transport various objects for example boxes and as not all boxes have the same size, the prior art provides conveyor belts where at certain intervals along the conveying path the conveyor belt is provided with product supports or other means which will push the object, for example a box along the conveying belt's surface. These means are especially useful if the conveying path includes an incline or a decline so that the objects do not slide down the conveyor which could cause an agglomeration of objects at the lowermost point instead of transporting the objects in a steady conveying stream along the conveying path. One drawback of prior art constructions is the fact that once the conveyor belt is assembled they have a fixed distance between the product supports which will push the objects up an incline and as such for applications where relatively small object are being transported a number of objects will be able to be carried between each separa- tion/product support member. If the objects are relatively long they may not be able to fit in between the product supports and will in this manner render the product supports useless.

Object of the Invention

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor belt which is adaptable such that the distance between the product supports may very easily be altered to fit specific purposes.

Description of the Invention

The invention addresses this by providing a modular belt link, having a leading and a trailing edge, where a top surface and opposite a bottom surface is provided between said leading and trailing edge, where a plurality of eye parts project from both the leading and trailing edges, where the eye parts are spaced laterally, and off set such that eye parts on a trailing edge of one belt link may be inserted between eye parts on the leading edge of an adjacent belt link, and that means are provided for mutually and hingely connecting adjacent belt links, characterized in that on the top or bottom sur- face orthogonal to the intended travelling direction is provided a groove, said groove in a cross section in a plane parallel to the intended travelling direction has a slit which is smaller than an interior width of the groove, and where a separate modular member has an insertion section such that the insertion section may be inserted laterally into the groove, where a portion of said separate modular member projects up through or is flush with said slit. With this construction it is possible when building a modular conveyor belt including modular belt links of this type to arrange the separate modular member at desired intervals along the conveyor belt's length simply by sliding the separate modular member's insertion section into the groove provided in the modular belt link. At distances where it is not desired to have the separate modular members these are simply left out making a longer distance between adjacent separate modular members thereby accommodating for larger objects.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention two or more substantially identical modular belt links are arranged laterally relative to the intended travelling direction of a conveyor belt, the grooves on adjacent belt links align, such that a separate modular belt link fin member's insertion section may be inserted through adjacent belt links grooves. With this embodiment it is possible to build any width of conveyor belt simply by arranging conveyor belt links adjacent to each other such that the grooves in adjacent conveyor belts are aligned making it possible to insert the fin element laterally into the groove at any lateral distance across the conveyor belt's width.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in further dependent claims.

The invention is also directed to a conveyor belt as such which conveyor belt is assembled from a plurality of rows of one or more laterally arranged modular belt links, wherein in at least some rows modular belt links according to any of claims 1 to 9 are used. By at least providing some rows of conveyor belt links according to the present invention it is possible to insert the separate modular members at desired positions along the conveyor belt surface thereby making provisions for adapting the conveyor belt to various uses and conditions. As a major difference from conveyor belts having a fixed distance between the separate modular members the present invention makes is possible to very easily and quickly adapt the conveyor belt to the particular application to which is to be used with only a very limited down time on the conveyor belt and where the adaptation may be carried out substantially without any tools etc. As furthermore the system foresees that many of the components are standard components with standard interface means (insertion members fitting in grooves), it is feasible to alter, construct, replace and repair, rebuild or alter any construction very quickly.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein

Fig. 1 illustrates a modular belt link as well as the separate modular belt link fin member,

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section through the separate modular belt link fin member,

Fig. 3 illustrates a short section of a conveyor belt assembled from ordinary belt links and belts according to the present invention wherein separate modular belt link fin members are inserted into the grooves,

Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate schematically cross-sections through modular belt links which are provided with grooves,

Fig. 6 illustrates a separate modular member provided with a resilient buffer body,

Fig. 7 illustrates a further separate modular member where upstanding from the insertion section are arranged a number of brushes,

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment where the insertion section is provided with friction reducing means,

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate embodiments where fin members are arranged upstanding from the insertion section,

Fig. 11 illustrates a separate modular member,

Fig. 12 illustrates a groove having a narrow slit opening and a tapered inte- rior,

Fig. 13 illustrates a groove where the slit is in connection with a square or rectangular interior section,

Fig. 14 illustrates the interior space with a circular cross section connecting to the slit,

Fig. 15 illustrates separate modular member where in the top surface of the insertion section is provided a plurality of rollers, Fig. 16 and 17 illustrate the groove arranged on a bottom side of a modular belt link,

Fig. 18 illustrates a plane view of two conveyor belts arranged parallel to each other.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In fig. 1 is illustrated a modular belt link as well as the separate modular belt link fin member 20. The modular belt link 1 has a trailing edge 10 and a leading edge 1 1 where eye parts 12 are arranged spaced laterally along the respective edges and off set such that eye parts on a trailing edge 10 on one element may be inserted between eye parts 12 on the leading edge 11 on an adjacent belt link. By further inserting a connecting rod through lateral apertures provided in the eye parts 12, it is possible to hingely connect adjacent modular belt links 1 and in this manner create a conveyor belt. On the top surface 2 of the modular belt link 1 is provided a groove 3. The groove has a cross section in a plane parallel to the intended travelling direction indicated by the arrow A such that in the upper part of the groove 3 a slit 4 is provided where the opening of the slit 4 is smaller than the opening or cross section of an interior width 5 of the groove.

The separate modular belt link fin member 20 has an insertion section 21 from which a fin section extends upwards.

By turning to fig. 2 a cross section through the separate modular belt link fin member is illustrated where the insertion section 21 is clearly distinguished from the fin section 22. In this embodiment the insertion section has a bulky lower portion 23 which is designed in a shape such that when inserted into the groove 3 the bulky section 23 will substantially fill the opening in the groove. A section connecting the bulky section 23 with a fin section 22 is dimensioned such that it will only fit inside the slit of the groove with very little play. Thereby this section 24 with its relative dimension rela- tive to the slit 4 will help stabilize the separate modular belt link fin member inserted in the groove 3. In this embodiment the fin member 22 is further provided with wings 25. These wings 25 serve both to further stabilize the fin member 22 but also to avoid debris being collected in the groove which could make it difficult to replace or pull out the separate modular belt link fin member from the inserted position in the groove 3. In figure 3 is illustrated a section of a conveyor belt 30 where this section has a length corresponding to three separate modular belt links 31, 32, 33. The belt links 31, 33 are of the type manufactured according to the present invention whereas the belt links 32 are regular type belt links having a flat and smooth top surface. As is evident the modular belt links 31, 32, 33 are assembled by arranging the eye parts in an inter- leaved manner and inserting connection pins 34, 35 such that adjacent belt links are hingely connected. On the modular belt links 31, 33 are provided grooves 3 into which separate modular belt link fin members 20 inserted as explained above with reference to fig. 1 and 2. As is evident the groove 3 does not extend all across the modular belt links 31, 33 arranged adjacent the side 36 of the conveyor belt. The area not having a groove could also be arranged in an intermediate part of the conveyor belt's width or could for example be such that only half the width of the conveyor belt is provided with fin members 20.

As should by clear by simply removing the inserted fin members 20 from the grooves 3, a substantially flat conveyor belt will be provided. This is even more so in an embodiment of the invention where the groove is worked into the surface of the conveyor belt module 31, 33 and not as illustrated with reference to the figures is provided by arranging two parallel and inverted L-shaped walls 40, 41 see figure 1 for a lower section of each wall is integrated with the top surface 2 of the belt module and where the free ends of the L-shaped walls point towards each other only separated by the width of the slit 4. In embodiments where the groove is worked into the modular belt link, only the slit 4 will be visible in the top surface of the modular belt link (not illustrat- ed).

In figure 4 and 5 is schematically illustrated cross-sections through modular belt links which are provided with grooves 3. In figure 4 the groove is relatively narrow and arranged substantially in a central part of the modular belt link 1. This cross-section more or less corresponds to the modular belt link illustrated in figure 1. In figure 5, however, the groove is substantially wider such that the corresponding insertion section 21 of the separate modular members regardless of what type they are may be wider, but still are accommodated in the groove.

Examples of various separate modular members are illustrated in figures 6-11 and in figure 15. In figure 6 is illustrated a separate modular member 20' provided with a resilient buffer body 42. The resilient buffer body in this embodiment has a substantially circular shape and is attached to the insertion section 21. The resilient buffer body is provided with a hollow interior 43 such that when resilient buffer bodies are mounted in a conveyor structure these will be able to in a gentle manner to receive any objects trans- ferred, for example from another conveyor onto the conveyor comprising the resilient buffer bodies in such a manner that these objects are handled very carefully due to the resiliency of the buffer body. Typical objects may be fragile mechanical constructions, glass, food stuffs such as fruits vegetables and the like.

In figure 7 is illustrated a further separate modular member 20" where upstanding from the insertion section 21 are arranged a number of brushes 44. Brushes are typically used to transport also fragile objects but also powders and the like. In figure 8 is illustrated an embodiment where the insertion section 21 is provided with friction reducing means which in the present schematic embodiment is in the shape of protruding half domes made from a relatively hard material such that items placed on the assembled conveyor belt may easily be maneuvered on top of the conveying surface.

In figures 9 and 10 are illustrated embodiments where fin members 46, 46' are arranged upstanding from the insertion section 21. These fin members may typically be made from steel plate or spring steel and may be pre-shaped to have a curvature as illustrated in figure 10 with reference to the fin member 46' .

The separate modular member 20"' illustrated in figure 11 is provided with friction increasing means 47 arranged on top of the insertion section such that a conveyor assembled from modular belt links as for example illustrated in figure 5 with very wide insertion sections 21 as illustrated in figure 11 will be providing a substantially high friction surface for conveyance of objects.

Turning shortly to figure 15 a further separate modular member 20" " where in the top surface of the insertion section 21 is provided a plurality of rollers 48. The rollers may also be balls. Conveyor belts having rollers or balls arranged in the top surface are well known in the art.

By being able to replace the separate modular member 20-20" " providing various features on top of the conveyor belt it is possible to easily adapt an already installed conveyor for a plurality of purposes depending on the products which it is desirable to transport on the particular conveyor. It is also foreseen that a conveyor belt made out of more or less standard belt links as illustrated with reference to figures 1, 3, 4 or 5 may be the basis for a standard program of modular belt links which are suitable to build substantially any type of conveyor where it is desirable to have special features in or on the conveying surface.

The invention also foresees that the groove 3 may be arranged on a bottom side 2' of a modular belt link 1 as illustrated in figures 16 and 17. As illustrated in figure 16 the groove 3 may be arranged substantially centrally on the bottom surface 2' of the mod- ular belt link or as illustrated with reference to figure 17 may be arranged offset from the central section. Typically other separate modular members will be used on the bottom side 2' as those used on the top side 2 and described above with reference to figures 6-15 in that other issues have to be addressed on the bottom side of a conveyor belt. These issues may for example be noise where friction, heat building etc., and consequently the separate modular members suitable to be arranged in the grooves 3 and the bottom surface 2' of modular belt links may be wear tabs, friction reducing members, rollers for reducing the friction and noise as well as hold down tabs for holding down the conveyor belt if or when the conveyor belts are arranged in a conveying path which goes through a curve which is known to create varying tensions in the conveyor belt in a lateral direction such that one or the other side of the belt may tend to elevate relative to the conveying structure.

It is well-known in the art to use these hold-down tabs in order to maintain the conveyor belt in a plane conveying configuration.

With respect to the illustrations of figures 12-14 various cross-sectional shapes of the groove are illustrated. In figure 12 a groove 3' having a narrow slit opening and a tapered interior 50 is illustrated. In this manner it is achieved that the slit 4 is smaller than an interior width 5 of the groove. Naturally, the insertion sections 21 on the vari- ous embodiments of the separate modular members will be provided with a cross- sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the groove 50 in order to be able to be fitted into the belt surface. Likewise, in figure 13 is illustrated a groove 3" where the slit 4 is in connection with a square or rectangular interior section 50' . Likewise, with reference to figure 14 the interior space 50" has a circular cross section connecting to the slit 4. In figure 18 is illustrated a plane view of two conveyor belts 100, 101 arranged parallel to each other and such that they are travelling in the same direction indicated by the arrow 102.

On the conveyor belt 100 are arranged separate modular members 20 and on the con- veyor belt 101 are arranged separate modular belt members 20' . In this connection it should be noted that any type of modular members suitable for use within the present invention may be arranged in the manner indicated in figure 18.

The separate modular members 20, 20' extend beyond a side limitation 102, 103 of the conveyor belt on which they are mounted. In this manner they extend at least partly across the neighboring conveyor belt 101, 100 but will be propelled in the direction 102 at the speed with which the conveyor belt on which they are mounted is moved respectively. In this manner the separate modular members 20 arranged on the conveyor belt 100 may be moved at the speed of the conveyor belt 100 whereas the separate modular members 20' mounted on the conveyor 101 may be moved at a speed different from the conveyor speed of the other conveyor 100. By adjusting the speed of the conveyor (one or the other or both) it is possible to correct the distance between objects trans- ported in each section 105 between said pairs 20, 20' of separate modular members.

This may be interesting when objects of various size are transported on the conveyors, but where a processing station next to the conveyor belt must detect or interact with the object being transported in a certain position. By adjusting the speed of the con- veyor 100, 101 independently it is possible to slow down or push an object being transported such that the means next to the conveyor (not illustrated) may interact with the object at a given position. The interaction means may for example be a printer, a labelling machine or the like.

Claims

1. Modular belt link (1), having a leading and a trailing edge (11, 10), where a top surface (2) and opposite a bottom surface is provided between said leading and trailing edge (11, 10), where a plurality of eye parts (12) project from both the leading and trailing edges (11, 10), where the eye parts (12) are spaced laterally, and off set such that eye parts (12) on a trailing edge (10) of one belt link may be inserted between eye parts (12) on the leading edge (11) of an adjacent belt link, and that means are provided for mutually and hingely connecting adjacent belt links, characterized in that on the top or bottom surface (2) orthogonal to the intended travelling direction is provided a groove (3), said groove (3) in a cross section in a plane parallel to the intended travelling direction has a slit (4) which is smaller than an interior width (5) of the groove (3), and where a separate modular member (20) has an insertion section (21) such that the insertion section (21) may be inserted laterally into the groove (3), where a portion of said separate modular member (20) projects up through or is flush with said slit (4).

2. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein when two or more substantially identical modular belt links (1) are arranged laterally relative to the intended travelling direction of a conveyor belt, the grooves (3) on adjacent belt links align, such that a separate modular belt link fin member's insertion section (21) may be inserted through adjacent belt links grooves (3).

3. Modular belt link according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the groove (3) is formed by two parallel and inverted L-shaped walls, where a lower section of each wall is integral with the belt links surface (2), and where the free ends of the L-shaped walls point towards each other separated by the slit (4).

4. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein the separate modular member (20) is a fin, which fin in use is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the belt link, and where the fin is made from any of the following materials or a combination of the following materials: rubber, modified rubber, molded or cast plastics, steel, stainless steel, ceramics.

5. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein the separate modular member (20) comprises a resilient buffer body or brushes or friction reducing means or friction increasing means or rollers or balls.

6. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein the separate modular member (20) has a length parallel to the lateral extend of the modular belt link, which is a multiple of said length.

7. Modular belt link according to claim 2 or 6 wherein the separate modular member (20) extends laterally beyond a side limitation or both side limitations of the modular belt link.

8. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein said groove (3) is only provided in one or a plurality of discrete sections laterally across the surface (2).

9. Modular belt link according to claim 1 wherein when the groove is arranged in the bottom surface the separate modular member (20) is selected among modular members comprising: hold down taps and/or friction reducing members and/or antistatic means and/or rollers, and or wear pads and/or noise reducing pads.

10. Conveyor belt (30) assembled from a plurality of rows of one or more laterally arranged modular belt links (1, 31,32,33), wherein in at least some rows modular belt links according to any of claims 1 to 9 are used, and where at least one separate modular member is arranged in a groove.