GB2057999A

GB2057999A - Conveyor belt curve arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2057999A
Application number: GB8027073A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BUEHRER TRANSVER AG; Transver AG
Current assignee: BUEHRER TRANSVER AG; Transver AG
Priority date: 1979-09-05
Filing date: 1980-08-20
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: GB2057999B; DE3026895A1

Abstract

The conveyor belt curve arrangement comprises an endless conveyor belt (1) which circulates around two rows of rollers which together form an angle of 90 DEG , for example. The conveyor belt (1) is driven by an endless chain (16), which runs in recesses (15) in curved guide rails (13, 14). Secured to the chain (16) are dogs (17) which carry support rollers (19) which roll over the guide surfaces (23). Secured to the dogs (17) are heads (20) in which are suspended tension rings (22), the ends of which are suspended from heads (27) of the conveyor belt (1). The tension rings (22) are located at the lower face of the upper run (1a) of the conveyor belt (1). The outer end (4) of the run (1a) lies on a support surface (11). Bulky articles, which project beyond the outer edge (4) of the conveyor belt, can be conveyed by means of this conveyor belt curve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveyor belt curve arrangement The invention relates to a conveyor belt curve arrangement. Conveyor curves are known from German OS No. 28 1 7 958, for example. In this known construction, attachment means are secured at the upper surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt, and guide rails for the upper run of the drive chain are likewise disposed at a higher level .han the upper surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt. For this reason, the outer edge of the conveyor belt is provided with a covering of fixed location which overlies the said parts.

This arrangement has given good service where only relatively small articles have to be conveyed over the conveyor belt curve.

However, when it is required to convey articles of large area, e.g. the panels of doors, window frames and the like, their ends project on the outside beyond the edge of the conveyor belt curve. This results in the danger that the articles, when sliding over the fixed covering, might become scratched or otherwise damaged, or that they might be halted and not conveyed in an orderly fashion.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction allowing conveyor belt curves whereby bulky articles of large area, which project beyond the outer edge of the belt curve, can also be conveyed without damage, this being done by avoiding their having to slide over fixed surfaces.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the construction in accordance with the characterising part of claim 1. In this construction, the fixed covering can be arranged below the conveyor belt and is not touched by the parts of the articles that project beyond the outer edge of the conveyor belt.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a conveyor belt curve with connecting belts for the conveyance of bulky panels; Figure 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of a 90 -conveyor belt curve arrangement in accordance with the invention, part of the conveyor belt being shown as broken off; Figure 3 is a section along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the conveyor belt having an elastomeric resilient tension ring forming the traction means, and Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of traction means.

Fig. 1 illustrates a conveyor belt curve 1 which is disposed between two straight conveyor belts 2 and 3. The conveying direction is indicated by arrows. The conveyor belts convey rectangular bulky panels P. It will be seen that while negotiating the conveyor curve 1, these panels project beyond the outer edge of the curve belt. To avoid damage to the panels P, the conveyor belt curve should not therefore incorporate any outer covering that projects upwardly beyond the belt.

Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate a 90 -conveyor belt curve arrangement in accordance with the invention. The endless conveyor belt 1, the upper run of which is designated by the numeral 1 a, has curved lateral edges 4 and 5.

In the developed view, this conveyor belt is of semicircular shape. The conveyor belt 1 passes around two rows of rollers which are disposed at right angles to each other and are made up of cylindrical rollers 6 and 7. The rollers 6 and 7 are mounted to revolve freely on spindles 9 and 10. The outer edge of the upper run 1 a of the belt 1, which is delimited by the lateral edge 4, lies on a planar support surface 11 and slides thereon when the conveyor is in operation. The supporting face 11 is part of an arcuate member 1 2 which extends over 90 . The arcuate member 1 2 also comprises two guide rails 1 3 and 14 which are bolted on to it.The two guide rails 1 3 and 14 comprise recesses 1 5 for the two runs of an endless drive chain 1 6 for the conveyor belt 1. The chain 1 6 is driven by an electric motor, not shown. Secured to the chain 1 6 are equispaced angled stirrups 1 7 to each of which is rigidly attached a pivot pin 1 8 for a roller 1 9. The pivot pin 1 8 also carries a head 20 with a circumferential groove 21. Suspended in the groove 21 is the end loop of an elastomeric traction means 22. The traction means 22 preferably takes the form of elas tomeric rings 22 or flat straps 22", made of rubber for example and provided with suspension holes 28.

During rotation, the rollers 1 9 bear by their cylindrical faces on a guide surface 23 of the guide rails 1 3 and 14.

Straps 26 are secured in the outer edge zone ol; the conveyor belt 1 by means of two rivets 24 and 25 for each strap. Furthermore, the outer rivet 24 has an extended neck with a flange 27, around which neck the other end of the elastomeric ring 22' is fitted. When the chain 1 6 moves, the conveyor belt 1 is thus driven through the elastomeric rings 22'.

The construction of the above-described drive for the conveyor belt 1 is disclosed in principle in German OS. No. 28 1 7 958. A new feature, however, is that the traction means 22 are arranged at the lower side of the upper run 1 a of the conveyor belt.

The provision of straps 26, each secured to the conveyor belt by means of two rivets, prevent tilting of the rivet 24 under the effect of the tensile force of the elastomeric ring 22' secured thereto. At least at the outside of the conveyor belt, the heads of the rivets 24 and 25 are very flat and have no sharp edges, so that damage to the articles being conveyed is avoided It is obvious that the rows of rollers 6 and 7 and the supporting face for the upper run la of the conveyor belt 1 must have gaps in the zone of the rivets 24 and 25.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt curve arrangement having two rows of rollers, an endless conveyor belt passing around the rollers and forming a curve between the rollers; a drive chain for the conveyor belt; dog members secured to the chain; guide rails for guiding the upper and iower chain runs, spaced links on the chain on each of which is mounted a roller, the cylindrical face of which bears against a guide rail, the dog members also being secured to the spindle of each roller; traction means for suspending the dog members, the traction means having one end attached to a dog member and the other end connected to the conveyor belt, wherein the traction means is arranged in the region of the upper run of the conveyor belt and on the lower side thereof.

2. A conveyor belt curve arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the exterior of the curve of the upper run of the conveyor belt lies on a fixed support surface, which is above the dog members these members being secured to the spindles of the rollers.

3. A conveyor belt curve arrangement according to claim 2 wherein straps extend radially of the curve and are each secured to the conveyor belt by means of two rivets, the head of one rivet having an extended neck and a flange, around which neck one end of the traction means is fitted and held.

4. A conveyor belt curve arrangement according to claim 3 as appendant to claim 2 wherein the support surface for the upper run of the conveyor belt has a gap in the region of the straps and the rivets.

5. A conveyor belt curve arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the traction means is a strap made of resilient material and having suspension holes.

6. A conveyor belt curve arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and 4 of Figs. 1 to 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.