MXPA97005745A - Extruded dented wheel for use with a modu band conveyor - Google Patents
Extruded dented wheel for use with a modu band conveyorInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA97005745A MXPA97005745A MXPA/A/1997/005745A MX9705745A MXPA97005745A MX PA97005745 A MXPA97005745 A MX PA97005745A MX 9705745 A MX9705745 A MX 9705745A MX PA97005745 A MXPA97005745 A MX PA97005745A
- Authority
- MX
- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- sprocket
- conveyor
- conveyor chain
- drive
- chain
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 239000004699 Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000785 ultra high molecular weight polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004698 Polyethylene (PE) Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 238000011068 load Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 6
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000000845 anti-microbial Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001808 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 240000005428 Pistacia lentiscus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000789 fastener Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
Abstract
The present invention relates to a conveyor for transporting articles, the conveyor comprising a frame, a driving wheel for a sprocket supported by the frame, a conveyor chain including a plurality of modular chain links, a sprocket supported by the driving shaft of cogwheel to drive the conveyor chain, including the cogwheel conveyor chain drive surfaces configured to engage the conveyor chain to drive the conveyor chain, and the cogwheel being a single body extruded
Description
EXTREMELY PENTED WHEEL PflRfl USED WITH A MODULAR BAND CONVEYOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to drive mechanisms for conveyors and more particularly to sprocket drives for modular belts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention presents a significant metric about the conventional drive sprockets used to drive a conveyor belt or modular belt in food processing and related industries. In the past, roller wheel drives have commonly comprised a number of wheels denoted separately apart along the length of a driving shaft. See, for example, the paten + e of E.U.A. No. 4,571,224 to Opnaga. The conveyor belt or modular belt of a conveyor is commonly supported by a conveyor frame, and sprockets are commonly used to drive the chains and products supported on the chain. The prior art cogwheel assemblies consisting of multiple cores have multiple surfaces for bacteria growth and contamination entrapment. This is a problem in the food service industry and in the beverage industry where ease of cleaning is a desired quality in any component of a conveyor system. The present invention is designed to operate cooperatively with either modular belts or conveyor chains. The modular bands can be configured as in the US patent. No. 5,096,053 to Hodlewsky or in the US patent. No. 5,125,504 to Corlett et al. The prior art sprockets also provide a limited interaction area with the drive surfaces of the modular chain or belt, and conventional sprockets do not provide a pulse surface that extends across the width of the conveyor chain . In the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,571,224 to Ari aga, a plurality of sprockets are spaced along the length of an arrow to drive a chain. A disadvantage of this system is that with a plurality of sprockets there are multiple opportunities for contamination within the conveyor drive assembly. Additionally, during the assembly of the Arinaga impulse system, the sprockets must be aligned individually to ensure alignment of each of the sprockets with the driven chain and the other sprockets. During assembly and maintenance and in the case of a power interruption, the realignment and adjustment may be time consuming. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,170,883 to Ledet et al. Discloses a toothed rudder arrangement for driving a conveyor belt where a melted sprocket with a modular plastic run is used. The sprocket drive assembly in Ledet et al. Is formed by aligning a multiplicity of sprocket elements across the width of the belt. Moreover, the use of a multiplicity of sprockets may present a problem of different coefficients of expansion when the conveyor system is used in extreme cold or extreme heat or is moved in an indoor / outdoor system. This could require additional adjustment to the sprockets in the structure of the Ledet type and others, and a potential dead time for adjustment in situations of temporary changes in operating conditions such as in the ambient temperatures outside substantially of certain operations ba or ceiling. Additionally, the structure of Ledet and others again presents a multiplicity of opportunities for pollution and difficult cleaning in operations, particularly for the food service and meat packing industries. Another disadvantage of some prior art systems that employ last sprockets spaced across the width of the conveyor is that there may be unequal loading of the multiple sprockets and the sprockets may provide an uneven driving force to the modular web. Uneven loading leads to pin wear in the modular band due to uneven support faces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A conveyor belt system is described which includes a conveyor system having a plurality of cooperatively coupled modular links and an extendable sprocket having drive surfaces configured for coupling matching drive surfaces of the conveyor chain. The spur gear is manufactured as a single integral unit. The extruded sprocket of the invention can be easily installed and avoids the tedious alignment of multiple sprockets with a conveyor chain. The present invention provides for the simple alignment of the teeth of the gear in relation to the chain. The sprocket that incorporates the invention is formed by extruding a polyrnomeric material through a die having a transverse configuration of the desired sprocket. The extruded material can then be cut to the desired length. The invention provides the ease of manufacture of the sprockets and allows the formation of sprockets that can be cut to any desired length. The materials that are used to form the extruded cogwheel can also be made resistant to chemical attack, or they can be made from polymer or plastic materials that are resistant to the adhesion of bacteria or other contaminants, or polymer materials having anti-microbial properties. The sprocket incorporating the invention is easier to clean than the prior art sprockets. The extruded sprocket provides less opportunity for particles and food debris to accumulate in the hole of the sprocket or along the edges of the surfaces of the sprocket. The extruded sprocket further provides a uniform drive surface that extends across the width of the conveyor. The length of the sprocket of this invention can be approximately the same as the width of the chain and conveyor to maximize the useful life of the conveyor belt or conveyor chain, as well as the useful life of the sprocket. In one embodiment of the invention, the extruded sprocket can be rotated or machined to remove the teeth of the sprocket from the separate portions of the sprocket along the length of the sprocket. The machined gear will then include a plurality of driving sprockets integrally joined to one another by a common base or cylindrical body. The sprocket incorporating the invention may also be provided with end caps configured to prevent lateral movement of the conveyor chain with respect to the sprocket and to seal the interface between the driving shaft and the ends of the sprocket. These end caps can prevent the accumulation of debris in the extreme areas of the sprocket and add to the ease of cleaning the conveyor. In a conveyor system arranged with multiple sprockets such as that described in Ledet et al. Or Apnga supra, each individual sprocket provides a concentrated loading area. The extruded sprocket incorporating the invention provides a larger load area by distributing the load across the length of the drive surface of the sprocket. The cogwheel of the invention thus provides an equal load of the driving force from the sprocket to the chain through the width of the modular chain or band. One in! It is the object of the present invention that the elongated sprocket provides ease of assembly and maintenance and can be * more cost effective than prior sprocket configurations. In addition, multiple materials are available for use in the manufacture of the sprocket in accordance with this invention. This provides the conveyor system design with the option of a cogwheel made of materials that have coefficients of expansion and reactivity similar to the conveyor belt or conveyor chain. The materials available for the extruded sprocket formation include, but are not limited to, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polyester, aluminum or other extrudable material or other suitable plastic. The material requirements for the extruded sprocket include the ability of the material to be extruded and the durability of the material when incorporated into a conveyor drive system. The cogwheel of this invention when formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene also provides for the uniform expansion and contraction of the cogwheel in response to temperature changes, such as those found in conveyor systems where the temperature environment can change. When the sprocket is formed of a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that used in the conveyor chain, precise engagement of the drive surfaces of the sprocket and the impulse surfaces of the conveyor chain is maintained despite the temperature changes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a conveyor assembly incorporating the invention and portions of the conveyor open for clarity. Figure 2 is an elongated end view of the extruded sprocket shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 2 and shows an extruded sprocket comprising an alternative embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, and shows another alternative embodiment of an extruded sprocket incorporating the invention. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 and shows an assembled gear and arrow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a conveyor having an extruded driving sprocket 10 for use in cooperation with a conveyor belt or modular conveyor belt 20. The modular conveyor belt 20 shown in Figure 1 is of the type commonly used in a variety of industries, including the packaging of meat and other food industries, as well as in the beverage industry where the ease of cleaning the conveyor system is important. As an alternative, the gear assembly may comprise separate segments cut to a selected length and separated apart along a drive shaft of a conveyor.
In a preferred embodiment, the sprocket 10 can be continuous and extend along the length of the driving shaft. Clamping means also provide the fixing of the gear on the driving shaft. For example, the sprocket can be fixed to the driving shaft by means of a positioning key or slot, a securing collar, a group of screws or another fastening rnadio. In the case where a round arrow is used, the sprocket can be slidably mounted on the arrow and a wrench can be snapped into a slot extending longitudinally on the surface of the arrow so that the key drives the arrow. cogwheel. An alternative embodiment provides the use of end caps 40 or other end closures, which seal additionally to the arrow and toothed wheel to avoid contamination. In other alternative arrangements, 0-shaped rings, collars, caulking or sealing mastic can be used to provide a seal between the ends of the extruded sprocket and the arrow supporting the sprocket. Figures 1-3 are presented to illustrate a preferred embodiment. They should not be construed as limiting in any way, since modifications and adjustments to the invention can be made without departing from that described herein and as stated in the claims.
In Figure 1 is shown a perspective view of the extruded sprocket 10 driving a conveyor chain or modular conveyor belt 20. The extruded sprocket 10 includes a plurality of elongated sprocket teeth 12 that extend along its length. ud and coupling opposing thrust surfaces 22 of the conveyor chain 20. The sprocket 10 can be manufactured by an extrusion process in which a selected suitable polymer is extruded through a die having a configuration to produce a transverse configuration or the one shown in Figure 2. The extruded length of the material can be subsequently cut to the desired length of the sprocket 10. The polymer material used to form the sprocket can be any material that can be extruded and which will have the desired characteristics of the sprockets formed. Suitable materials can be ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polyester, aluminum or other extrudable material. The extruded material can be selected based on its properties, including resistance to chemical attacks, elasticity, resistance to wear, thermal expansion, ease of cleaning and anti-microbial properties. The elongated sprocket teeth 12 engage the driven chain surfaces 22 across the width of the conveyor and therefore provide the distribution of the impulse load across the width of the modular conveyor belt 20. This avoids the concentration of forces and is an improvement over conventional cogwheel arrangements. The load distribution allows the full length of the sprocket 10 to function as a pulse surface and can reduce the wear that commonly occurs if there is a non-uniform force concentration in a given area that results from improper alignment of the surfaces of the sprocket. impulse of the gear wheel in relation to the impulse surfaces of the conveyor chain. In the illustrated arrangement end caps 40 are also provided to seal the ends 42 of the sprocket 10. Each end cap 40 further includes a hole 35 designed to cooperatively fit over the driving shaft that supports the shaft. The end caps 40 can be fixed to the end of the sprocket 10 by means of screws or other fasteners 44 which extend through the holes 46. The end caps 40 can function to prevent contaminants from entering the area between the wheel toggle 10 and the arrow and also maintain the lateral position of the modular band 20 on the sprocket. In the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, the extruded sprocket 10 includes a square hole 30 and the extruded sprocket is designed to be supported on a drive shaft (not shown) having a complementary transverse configuration. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an extruded sprocket 50 of the invention and including a circular hole 52 provided with a positioning slot 54. During operation, the hole 52 is configured to allow a firm and cooperative fit with a driving shaft cylindrical A key is inserted into the positioning slot 54 to provide a mechanical pulse connection between the drive shaft and the extruded sprocket 50. Figure 4 transversely illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention and includes a sprocket 60 supported on an arrow 62 so that the gear wheel is driven by the arrow. The sprocket 60 includes a pair of spaced apart areas of sprocket teeth 64 spaced apart by machined areas 66 where the sprocket teeth have been removed in a machining operation. The gearwheel teeth cooperate with pulse cavities formed below the driven modular belt to drive the modular belt. Although in the illustrated arrangement the sprocket 60 includes two areas of teeth 64 of sprocket, in other arrangements the sprocket extended can be of any length and have a large number of areas of sprocket teeth depending on the width of the conveyor and the modular band 68, as well as the number of impulse surfaces or pulse cavities 70 in the modular band. In the illustrated arrangement of Figure 4, a positioning collar 72 is fixed to the arrow by means of a positioning screw 76 and positioned against the end 78 of the driving gear wheel 60 to secure the gear wheel of pulse in position copper arrow 62. The interfaces between the opposite ends of the pulse gear 78 and arrow 62 are sealed by means of 0-shaped rings 80 housed in recesses formed in the ends of the extruded sprocket and pressed against the arrow 62. Figure 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of an extruded sprocket according to the invention, in which tension relief cavities 84 are formed in the corners of the square hole 86 provided in the sprocket. Figure 6 shows a similar embodiment to Figure 1 on which sealant-or caulking 88-is used to form a seal between the end caps and the driving shaft.
Claims (5)
1. - A transporter to transport items; the conveyor comprising a frame; a driving arrow for a gear wheel supported by the frame; a conveyor chain including a plurality of modular chain links; a sprocket supported by the sprocket drive shaft to drive the conveyor chain, the sprocket including driven chain drive surfaces configured to engage the conveyor chain to drive the conveyor chain, and the sprocket being a single extruded body.
2. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor chain has a width and the sprocket has a length that is substantially the same as the width of the conveyor chain.
3. A conveyor-in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wheel is extruded from a material selected from group 3 of: ultra high molecular polyethylene, polyethylene, polyester and aluminum. 4.- A transporter to transport articles; the conveyor comprising a frame; a driving arrow for a gear wheel supported by the frame; a conveyor chain including a plurality of modular chain links; a single sprocket supported by the sprocket drive shaft for driving the conveyor chain, the sprocket including driven chain drive surfaces configured to engage the conveyor chain to drive the conveyor chain, and the sprocket being a single extruded body that it has a width that is the same substantially as the width of the conveyor chain. 5. A conveyor according to claim 4, wherein the gear wheel is extruded from a material selected from group 3 of: ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyethylene, polyester and aluminum. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A cogwheel formed by extrusion is described to have a pulse surface that extends along the entire length of a conveyor drive; the sprocket is configured to be used in a single unit in which the sprocket is made from a selected extrudable material such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; the sprocket is further configured to have optional end caps used to provide stop means to prevent lateral movement of a conveyor chain through the sprocket; The drive surface of the sprocket may be configured to adapt to the measurement of a selected conveyor chain and the configuration remains substantially unchanged throughout the life of the sprocket; the extruded sprocket thus obviates the need for adjustment or readaptation of the sprocket to the conveyor chain during use; The extrusion die determines the configuration of the surface or driving teeth of the gear. 3N P97--120 ANNEXE SHEET < FIELD 57) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sprocket formed by extrusion is described to have a pulse surface that extends along the entire length of a conveyor drive; the gear wheel is configured to be used in a single unit in which the gear wheel is made from a selected extrudable material such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; the sprocket is further configured to have optional end caps used to provide stop means to prevent lateral movement of a conveyor chain through the sprocket; The drive surface of the gear wheel can be configured to adapt to the measurement of a selected conveyor chain and the configuration remains unchanged substantially throughout the life of the gear wheel; the extruded sprocket thus obviates the need for adjustment or readaptation of the sprocket to the conveyor chain during use; The extrusion die determines the confi guration of the surface or driving teeth of the gear wheel. P97-120
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US688503 | 1985-01-02 | ||
US68850396A | 1996-07-30 | 1996-07-30 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
MXPA97005745A true MXPA97005745A (en) | 1998-02-01 |
MX9705745A MX9705745A (en) | 1998-02-28 |
Family
ID=24764684
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
MX9705745A MX9705745A (en) | 1996-07-30 | 1997-07-29 | Extruded sprocket for use with modular belt conveyor. |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0823390A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH1077112A (en) |
KR (1) | KR980009064A (en) |
AU (1) | AU1482497A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2196026A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX9705745A (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0823390A1 (en) * | 1996-07-30 | 1998-02-11 | Rexnord Corporation | Extruded sprocket for use with modular belt conveyor |
DE19827598C1 (en) * | 1998-06-20 | 1999-09-16 | Braunschweigische Masch Bau | Drive shaft assembly for chain conveyor carrying bagasse horizontally through sugar cane diffuser plant |
DE19827600C2 (en) * | 1998-06-20 | 2003-04-17 | Braunschweigische Maschb Ansta | Drive shaft for a chain conveyor of a sugar cane diffuser and manufacturing process therefor |
US6428436B1 (en) | 1999-04-27 | 2002-08-06 | Rexnord Corporation | Drive sprocket with relief areas |
JP5709650B2 (en) * | 2011-06-03 | 2015-04-30 | 東洋農機株式会社 | Drive roller device for discharging earth and sand, rod conveyor using the same, and root crop harvesting machine equipped with the same |
WO2017145315A1 (en) * | 2016-02-25 | 2017-08-31 | 株式会社アルス | Transport conveyor |
BR112019024395A2 (en) | 2017-06-08 | 2020-06-09 | Laitram Llc | mounting on a conveyor and sealing system for a pinion |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4213527A (en) * | 1977-01-17 | 1980-07-22 | The Laitram Corporation | Chain link conveyors |
USRE34688E (en) * | 1977-05-31 | 1994-08-09 | The Laitram Corporation | Link chain belt |
JPS5845215U (en) * | 1981-09-21 | 1983-03-26 | 旭産業株式会社 | Chain conveyor equipped with drive gear and mesh gear |
US4449958A (en) * | 1981-09-24 | 1984-05-22 | Conrad Rene A | Positive tracking pulley and belt construction |
US4925016A (en) * | 1987-10-06 | 1990-05-15 | The Laitram Corporation | Heavy duty modular conveyor belt and sprocket with unique tracking |
JPH02147509A (en) * | 1988-11-30 | 1990-06-06 | Ihara Kogyo:Kk | Conveyor belt and chip conveyor device |
US5217099A (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-06-08 | Marcus Ralph G | Corrosion-resistant heavy duty conveyor roller |
DE9311036U1 (en) * | 1993-07-23 | 1993-11-11 | Apv Ortmann + Herbst Gmbh, 22307 Hamburg | Gear wheel for the drive of container conveyor belts |
EP0823390A1 (en) * | 1996-07-30 | 1998-02-11 | Rexnord Corporation | Extruded sprocket for use with modular belt conveyor |
-
1997
- 1997-01-24 EP EP97300466A patent/EP0823390A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-01-27 CA CA002196026A patent/CA2196026A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-02-21 AU AU14824/97A patent/AU1482497A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-03-27 KR KR1019970010673A patent/KR980009064A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-07-28 JP JP20130597A patent/JPH1077112A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-07-29 MX MX9705745A patent/MX9705745A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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