WO2018062992A1

WO2018062992A1 - Filling element and complementary link for a conveyor chain, conveyor chain and method of assembly thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2018062992A1
Application number: PCT/NL2017/050646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthonius Gerhardus OUDE ROELINK
Original assignee: Jonge Poerink Conveyors B.V.
Priority date: 2016-09-30
Filing date: 2017-09-27
Publication date: 2018-04-05

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element for a conveyor chain, wherein the filling element comprises a support surface extending substantially perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the filling element comprises couplings seen in the transport direction on both sides at its leading and trailing ends, being configured to be rotatably and moveably coupled with a second set of couplings of links. The invention further relates to a link for a conveyor chain, wherein the link comprises a first set of couplings configured to be coupled to a leading link and a trailing link, seen in the transport direction; wherein the link comprises a support surface extending substantially in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the link comprises a second set of couplings, which second set of couplings being configured to be coupled to a filling element as described herein above, being placed in between the support surfaces of a preceding link and its adjacent trailing link. The invention further relates to a conveyor chain built from the above links and filling elements, a chain conveyor comprising such chain and a method of assembly thereof.

Description

Filling element and complementary link for a conveyor chain, conveyor chain and method of assembly thereof

The invention relates to a filling element and a complementary link for a conveyor chain, a conveyor chain being equipped with such element and a method of assembly of a conveyor chain comprising such filling elements and complementary links.

More specifically, the invention relates to filling elements and links for a conveyor chains for the transport of goods in e.g. production, packaging and filling industry, where the conveyor chain may be moved along a track comprising bends, helical paths up and/or down for vertical transport and combinations of bends and helical paths. In the art, conveyors are frequently used for transportation of bottles, cans, various kinds of good, such as edible products, potable products and or other goods. When the tracks or chains of these conveyors is moved through a bend, the individual links tend to move further apart at the outer circumference of the bend and tend to move further towards each other at the inner circumference of the bend. When the conveyor chain is relatively broad, the individual links at the outer circumference can become spaced apart to a distance, that may cause products to fall through or partially sink in the gaps. After the bend, when the individual links move closer, partially sunken in products mad be trapped in the closing gaps, may become damaged, packages may rupture and the conveyor may get blocked and/or contaminated with the product.

Several solutions to the problem of the opening gaps at the outer circumference of a bend have been proposed and put in practise. A first solution is to use two separate conveyors next to each other, each with its own transport velocity. Thus a conveying track is split along its entire length in two or more individual conveyors, each having its own track, drive and controls. This solution is however overly complex, and more difficult to perform maintenance. Another solution is equipping the links with a set of wings or slats that are connected to a central linking core extending outwardly and overlapping the wings or slats of the adjacent links. A problem with this solution is that products and product parts still easily get trapped in between the wings or slats leading again to malfunctioning and unwanted product contamination of the conveyor. Another problem with these kind of conveyor chains is that a feed in of products from a side is problematic. This is because the product is guided in the direction of the diminishing opening in between the wings or slats, thus possibly being trapped and consequently most likely damaging the product in between the slats. Especially in mass flow systems where individual, relative small items such as cans, bottles or sachets are transported, these slats are unsuited. Furthermore, the support surfaces of the slats of consecutive links move partially one on top of the other, such that the support surface of the entire conveyor chain using such slats is uneven. Smaller products may therefore, besides the danger of becoming trapped in between the slats, tip over, endangering a smooth transport. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to mitigate or solve the above described and/or other problems of conveyors chains in the art, while maintaining and/or improving the advantages thereof.

More specifically the object of the invention can be seen in providing a conveyor chain that is more practical in use, where mostly use is made of standard components, wherein the conveyor is flexibly extendable, can guide goods to various locations, where the support area remains supportive even for relative small individual products and even at the outermost bent area of the conveyor and is relative simple and straight forward in its use and/or its maintenance.

These and/or other objects are reached by a filling element for a conveyor chain, wherein the filling element comprises a support surface extending substantially perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the filling element comprises couplings seen in the transport direction on both sides at its leading and trailing ends, being configured to be rotatably and moveably coupled with a second set of couplings of links as described herein below.

This filling element literally fills in the gaps in the support surface of the conveyor chain and can thus reduce the chances of products getting entangled in between the individual links. Since the filling elements are coupled both rotatably and moveably, the chain can follow a track with bends and/or helical paths, wherein the filling elements do not hinder the motion in the bend, because motion of the support surface of the individual links remains allowed by the moveability of the couplings between the links and the filling elements. The filling element may comprise fingers extending in the transport direction, which fingers are configured to engage between fingers of the support surfaces of the links as described herein below in further detail and the finger of the filling elements to be configured to couple with these links. The fingers of the filling elements and the links mutually engage and in bends, the complementary fingers of the filling elements and the fingers of the support surface of the links allow for the chain to flex and stretch in outer bends as well as contract in inner bends, where the mutually complementary fingers can move in an engaging motion away from each other or towards each other respectively, while remaining a relative closed support surface with reduced openings.

The link comprises a first set of couplings configured to be coupled to an adjacent leading link and to an adjacent trailing link, seen in the transport direction; wherein the link comprises a support surface extending substantially in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the link comprises a second set of couplings, which second set of couplings being configured to be coupled to a filling element as described herein above, being placed in between the support surfaces of a preceding link and its adjacent trailing link.

The first set of couplings can be positioned near the centreline and can be configured to be able to transfer the traction force occurring within the conveyor chain. Since these couplings need to transfer the traction forces during use, these couplings are relative sturdy, and can be reinforced by metal reinforcement elements. These couplings can be connected to each other by for example metal rods or shafts.

The second set of couplings can be connected to the support surfaces on one lateral side or on both lateral sides of the centreline of the conveyor chain, seen in the transport direction. These set of couplings can be arranged on the leading and on the trailing side of the support surfaces, such that the filling element can be installed on the left hand side of the conveyor chain only, on the right hand side of the conveyor chain only or on both the left and the right hand side of the conveyor chain.

The second set of couplings is configured to be able to couple the support surfaces of the links rotatably and moveably with the filling elements.

The support surfaces of the links can be provided with fingers extending in the transport direction and which fingers are configured to engage in between complementary fingers of the filling elements.

The invention further relates to a conveyor chain comprising an assembly of links and filling elements as described herein above. This chain comprises less large gaps in the support surface, such that it can transport individual products such as cans, bottles, sachets or other personal consumption sized items.

The couplings of the filling elements and the second sets of couplings of the links can be configured such, that by means of a clicking system, the filling elements can be coupled in a rotatable and moveable way in between the links, such that the support surface of the conveyor chain is being formed by the individual support surfaces of the links and the individual support surfaces of the filling elements, and such that the conveyor chain can make turns in varying bend radii.

The clicking system renders the ease of assembly and disassembly higher, while remaining the reduction of the gaps or openings in the support surface of the conveyor chain.

The conveyor chain can comprise filling elements on both sides of the chain with respect to the centreline of the chain wherein the filling elements on both sides are being symmetrical. This version is especially suited for chains moving in both right hand side directed bends (clockwise) and left hand side directed bends (counter clockwise) with respect to the transport direction.

The filling elements can also be configured asymmetrically such that the conveyor chain is able to be guided through bends in one direction only, wherein in the support surfaces of the filling elements at the outer bend side comprise a wider support surface that the support surfaces of the filling elements at the inner bend side. With for example spiral tower systems, the conveyor chain moves in one bend direction only, being either a lift side bend or a right side bend. Here, the outer bend is thus always at the same side of the chain.

The couplings between the filling elements and the links can comprise a set pawls and slits wherein the pawls and/or the slits are configured such that during the insertion of the filling elements in between the links, the pawls and/or the slits deform elastically until the pawls click in to the slits and wherein the couplings allow among the links and the filling elements a rotation around the pawls and a translation within the slits. Since the filling elements can rotate in relation to the links, the filling elements can be guided over a traction wheel, where minimum or no additional irregular motion is induced. Irregular motion of the chain may impart unwanted wear of the chain and it is thus advantageous to keep irregular motions low.

The pawls can be provided on the fingers of the filling elements and the slits can be provided within the fingers of the links. Alternatively, the pawls can be provided on the fingers of the links and the slits can be provided in the fingers of the filling elements.

The invention is also directed to a chain conveyor comprising a conveyor chain as previously described. The invention further relates to a method for the assembly of a conveyor chain according to any of the claims 8-14, comprising the following steps to be executed in any suitable order: - providing a number of links as described herein above; coupling the first set of couplings of the links to build a conveyor chain; - providing a number of filling elements as described herein above; - inserting of the filling elements in between the support surfaces and the clicking of the individual filling elements in between the support surfaces of adjacent links such that a conveyor chain is built.

Thus a conveyor chain can be obtained that can move around traction pinion wheels and can move smoothly through a traction path with bends and/or helical paths while the supporting surface of the conveyor chain is relative close, with limited openings or gaps, such that relative small articles can be present on the support surface with reduced changes of getting trapped within the conveyor belts supporting components, even If the articles are guided on or off the conveyor in a sideward directed fashion.

In order to further elucidate the invention, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In the figures:

Figure 1 depicts a first schematic perspective view of a portion of a conveyor chain with links and filling elements according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 depicts a schematic perspective view of a conveyor chain with a series of elements as depicted in figure 1 ;

Figure 3A depicts a schematic perspective view of a filling element according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3B depicts a schematic top view of a filling element according to figure 3A; Figure 4A depicts a schematic perspective view of a filling element according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4B depicts a schematic top view of a filling element according to figure 4A;

Figure 5A depicts a schematic perspective view of a link according to an

embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5B depicts a schematic top view of a link according to figure 5A;

Figure 6A depicts a schematic perspective view of an assembly of a filling element and a link according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6B depicts a schematic top view of an assembly of a filling element and a link according to figure 6A; and

Figure 7 depicts a schematic perspective view of an assembly of a filling element and a link according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

The figures represent specific exemplary embodiments of the inventions and should not be considered limiting the invention in any way or form. Throughout the description and the figures the same or corresponding reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding elements.

Figure 1 depicts a portion of a conveyor chain 1 where filling elements 2 and 3 are placed in between links 4. The links 4 have a support surface 5, stretching from the left side of the link 4 in relation to the transporting direction T to the right side of the link. The conveyor chain 1 can be driven by e.g. a drive pulling it on a leading end 7, where the force is transferred from link to link down to the trailing end 8. In most applications the conveyor chain 1 is installed as an endless loop, e.g. in a helical path or spiral in order to transport goods in a vertical direction up or down. A portion of such helical path is presented in figure 2.

The support surface 5 comprises actually a built grid of upright walls of material, of which the upper edges are predominantly arranged in a flat surface, building the support surface 5. More details of a link 4 is described herein below with reference to figure 5A and 5B.

The filling elements 2 and 3 are placed in between the links 4, where in the embodiment of figure 1 , the filling elements 2 are wider, positioned on the left hand side of the centreline CL, with respect to the transport direction T than the filling elements 3 on the left hand side of the centreline CL, with respect to the transport direction T. Since the elements 2 are wider, the chain 1 comprises less flexibility to bend to the left hand side, since the filling elements 2 allow for little compression of the links 4 in that direction. Contrary thereto, the filling elements 3, on the right hand side with respect to the transport direction T, are less broad, and thus allow for more compression of the links 4 on the right hand side than on the left hand side. Thus the short piece of conveyor chain 1 depicted in figure 1 is specially adapted for a right hand side (clockwise) bend.

The links in figure 1 (and in more detail shown in figures 5A and 5B) are actually comprising in the embodiment shown a separate deck with the support surface 5 that itself can be snapped on or otherwise be attached to a core chain 16, comprising core links 17A-17D connected to each other by couplings 6, in this embodiment by means of pins 18A-18D. In this particular embodiment, the pins 18A-18D are pivotably connected in solid bearings 19A-19D respectively. Thus the individual core links 17A-17D can rotate in relation to each other around the pins 18A-18D respectively and pivot in relation to each other around the solid bearings 19A-D respectively. In other words, the couplings 6 allow for a flexible connection between de individual consecutively adjacent links 17A-D. In figure 2 a larger piece of a conveyor chain 1 is depicted, in correspondence with the conveyor chain part depicted in figure 1 . In figure 2, the chain 1 is clockwise spiralling upward, with respect to the transporting direction T. Here on the outside of the bend, the space between the support surfaces 5 of the individual links is wider than the space between the support surfaces 5 of the links on the inside bend. Since the filling elements 2 are wider than the filling elements 3, the support surface of the entire chain remains relative closed, both in the bend, where the filling elements 2 fill the widened gaps located on the outside and in the straight portions where both the filling elements 2 and 3 fill the gaps at both lateral sides of the chain.

In figures 3A and 3B, the filling element 3 is depicted in more detail. The filling element 3 in this embodiment comprises a spine 20, being an upright wall, extending in a direction substantially extending in a direction transverse to the transport direction T. The spine 20 is connected to a number of walls 21 A-R and 22A-R extending substantially in a direction parallel to the transport direction T and forming in pairwise sets a series of fingers 10A-J and 1 1 A-J substantially extending in the transport direction. The upper abutting ends of the walls 21 A-R and 22A-R and the upper abutting ends of the spine 20 form a support surface 14A.

Each of the walls 21 A-R and 22A-R is equipped with a pawl 23A-R and 24A-R respectively, the pawls 23A-R and 24A-R being a first part of coupling 9. The filling element 3 is designed such, that for chains of various width the filling element can be broken in a smaller piece or during manufacturing a portion of a manufacturing mould can be closed off, such that only a smaller part, with less width with respect to the transport direction can be produced. This way, with one mould various filling elements can be constructed in a relative flexible way, without having to adapt the mould or have different mould being manufactured for filling elements of varying widths.

The pawls shown in figures 3A and 3B can snap into slits of the links as is described herein below with reference to figures 5A and 5B. In figures 4A and 4B, a more detailed representation of the filling element 2 is shown. Here the filling element has a spine 25 comprising two upright walls 26 and 27 skewing together towards the central side C of the chain. The two walls 26 and 27 are interconnected by short walls 28A to 28G, mainly for providing rigidity to filling element 2.

On the leading side F and trailing side B, are walls 29A-R and 30A-R placed respectively, extending substantially in the transport direction T. The upper abutting ends of the walls 26, 27, 28A-G, 29A-R and 30A-R form support surface 14B. On the walls 29A-R and 30A-R again pawls 31 A-R and 32A-R are placed respectively. The walls 29A-R and 30A-R for in pairwise sets a series of fingers 12A-I and 13A-I respectively, substantially extending in the transport direction. The connecting walls 28A-G in between the two walls 26 and 27 of the spine, can be used as demarcation for either making the filling element shorter for a less width chain or can be used to place stoppers in a manufacturing mould, in order to be able to produce with the very same mould filling elements of a reduced width, without having to exchange or manufacture multiple moulds for various widths of filling elements. Thus a very flexible system for various widths can be readily manufactured and applied.

Figure 5A and 5B depict a part of a link 4, having a support surface 5, comprising the upper sides of walls 33, 34, 35 and 36, which forms pairwise, i.e. walls 33 and 34 as a first pair and 35 and 36 as a second pair, two spines 39 and 40 respectively extending substantially transverse to the transport direction T. Onto the spine 39 a series of respective similar fingers 41 A-J and 42A-J extending in substantially the transport direction are arranged. In a similar fashion on the spines 40 a series of respective similar fingers 43A-J and 44A-J extending in substantially the transport direction are arranged. In each of the fingers 41 A-J, 42A-j, 43A-j and 44A-J slits 45A-J and 46A-J are arranged. The slits 44A-J and 45A-J form the second part of the coupling 9. The second part of the coupling 9, being the slits 45A-J are arranged to engage with the first part of the coupling 9, being the pawls 23A-R and 24 A-R of the filling element 3, as is depicted in figures 6A and 6B or alternatively with the first part of the coupling 9, being the pawls 31 A-R and 32A-R of the filling elements 2 as is depicted in figure 7. The link 4 as depicted in figures 5A and 5B is a snap on type structure, where the plate 37 covers the core links 17A-D of the core chain 16, and where the structure can be snapped on the core links 17A-17D by means of a snap type connector 38. In figure 6A and 6B, the fingers 42A-J of the support surface 5 of the link 4 engage with the fingers 10A-I of the filling element 3 and the fingers 44A-J of the link 4 engage with the fingers 12A-I of the filling element 2. The fingers 41A-J of link 5 can engage with fingers 10A-I of another filling element 3, which is not shown. Similarly the fingers 43A-J of link 4 can engage with fingers 13A-I of another filling element 2, which is not shown. In figure 7, the fingers 42A-J of the support surface 5 of the link 4 engage with the fingers 12I-A of the filling element 2 and the fingers 44A-J of the link 4 engage with the fingers 10l-A of the filling element 3. The fingers 41 A-J of link 4 can engage with fingers 131-A of another filling element 2, which is not shown. Similarly the fingers 43A-J of link 4 can engage with fingers 1 1 l-A of another filling element 3, which is not shown.

The support surface of the conveyor belt 1 thus is an intricately interwoven mesh of the support surface 5 of the individual links 4 and the support surfaces 14A of the filling elements 2 and 14B of the filling element 3. In this way a conveyor chain 1 can be build, that is either suitable for a clockwise bend and/or helical path or for a counter clockwise bend and/or helical path. These one specific direction only conveyor chains find application in spiral towers for transporting mass flow goods or (tray) packed goods in a vertical direction up or down in relative confined space. The invention is to be understood not to be limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described in the specification. For instance the links in the figures are of a snap on type, where the core links 17A-D and the support structure 14 are separate components. These components may similarly be entirely integrated, i.e. being manufactured from less or alternatively from more

components. The links 4 in the embodiments are provided with slits 45A-J and 46A-J, while the filling elements 2,3 are provided with the pawls 23A-R,24A-R,31 A-R and 32A-R. It is possible to have the slits arranged in the filling elements and the pawls in the links instead. Alternative couplings may similarly be possible between the links 4 and the filling elements 2,3, such as a pin type construction, where a pin is e.g. axially inserted through openings in both the links and the filling elements. In that case, both the filling elements and the links may be provided with slits.

These and other modifications are considered to be variations that are part of the framework, the spirit and the scope of the invention outlined in the claims.

List of reference signs

1. Conveyor chain

2. Filling element

3. Filling element

4. Link

5. Support surface

6. Coupling

7. Leading end

8. Trailing end

9. Coupling

10A-I. . Fingers

1 1 A-I. . Fingers

12A-I . Fingers

13A-I . Fingers

14A-B. Support surface

15A-D. First set of couplings

16. Core chain

17A-D.core links

18A-D. Pins

19A-D. Solid bearings

20. Spine

21 A-R.Walls

22A-R.Walls

23A-R. Pawls

24 A- R. Pawls

25. Spine 26. Wall

27. Wall

28 A-G. Walls

29A-G.Walls

30A-G .Walls

31 A-G. Pawls

32A-G. Pawls

33. Wall

34. Wall

35. Wall

36. Wall

37. Central plate

38. Snap on connector

39. Spine

40. Spine

41 A-J. Fingers

42A-J. Fingers

43A-J. Fingers

44A-J. Fingers

45 A- J. . Slits

46 A- J, . Slits

CL. Centre line

F. Leading side

B. Trailing side

C. Centre side

T. Transport direction

Claims

1. A filling element for a conveyor chain, wherein the filling element comprises a support surface extending substantially perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the filling element comprises couplings seen in the transport direction on both sides at its leading and trailing ends, being configured to be rotatably and moveably coupled with a second set of couplings of links according to any one of claim 3 to 8.

2. A filling element for a conveyor chain according to claim 1 , wherein the filling element comprises fingers extending in the transport direction, which fingers are configured to engage between fingers of the support surfaces of the links according to claim 7 and to be configured to couple herewith.

3. A link for a conveyor chain, wherein the link comprises a first set of couplings configured to be coupled to a leading link and a trailing link, seen in the transport direction; wherein the link comprises a support surface extending substantially in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction and wherein the link comprises a second set of couplings, which second set of couplings being configured to be coupled to a filling element according to claim 1 or 2, being placed in between the support surfaces of a preceding link and its adjacent trailing link.

4. A link for a conveyor chain according to claim 3, wherein the first set of couplings is positioned near the centerline and are configured to be able to transfer the traction force occurring within the conveyor chain.

5. A link for a conveyor chain according to one of the claims 3 or 4, wherein the second set of couplings is connected to the support surfaces on one lateral side or on both lateral sides of the centerline of the conveyor chain, seen in the transport direction.

6. A Link for a conveyor chain according to any of the claims 3-5, wherein the second set of couplings is configured to be able to couple the support surfaces of the links rotatably and moveably with the filling element according to claim 1 or 2.

7. A link for a conveyor chain according to any one of the claims 3-6, wherein the support surfaces are provided with fingers extending in the transport direction and which fingers are configured to engage in between complementary fingers of the filling elements according to claim 2.

8. A conveyor chain, wherein the conveyor chain comprises an assembly of links according to any of the claims 3-7 and filling elements according to claim 1 -2.

9. A conveyor chain according to claim 8, wherein the couplings of the filling elements and the second sets of couplings of the links are configured such, that by means of a clicking system, the filling elements can be coupled in a rotatable and moveable way in between the links, such that the support surface of the conveyor chain is being formed by the individual support surfaces of the links and the individual support surfaces of the filling elements, and such that the conveyor chain can make turns in varying bend radii.

10. A conveyor chain according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the conveyor chain comprises filling elements on both sides of the chain with respect to the centreline of the chain are being symmetrical.

1 1. A conveyor chain according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the filling elements are configured asymmetrically such that the conveyor chain is able to be guided through bends in one direction only, wherein in the support surfaces of the filling elements at the outer bend side comprise a wider support surface that the support surfaces of the filling elements at the inner bend side.

12. A conveyor chain according to any one of the claims 8-1 1 , wherein the couplings between the filling elements and the links comprise a set pawls and slits wherein the pawls and/or the slits are configured such that during the insertion of the filling elements in between the links, the pawls and/or the slits deform elastically until the pawls click in to the slits and wherein the couplings allow among the links and the filling elements a rotation around the pawls and a translation within the slits.

13. A conveyor chain according to claim 12, wherein the pawls are provided on the fingers of the filling elements and the slits are provided within the fingers of the links.

14. A conveyor chain according to claim 12, wherein the pawls are provided on the fingers of the links and the slits are provided in the fingers of the filling elements.

15. A chain conveyor comprising a conveyor chain according to any one of the claims 8-14.

16. A method for the assembly of a conveyor chain according to any of the claims 8-14, comprising the following steps to be executed in any suitable order:

- providing a number of links according to claim 1 -5;

- coupling the first set of couplings of the links to build a conveyor chain;

- providing a number of filling elements according to any of the claims 1 or 2,

- inserting of the filling elements in between the support surfaces and the clicking of the individual filling elements in between the support surfaces of adjacent links such that a conveyor chain is built.