WO2001033938B1

WO2001033938B1 - Conveyor system

Info

Publication number: WO2001033938B1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/004204
Authority: WO
Inventors: David John Mountain
Original assignee: Harpley Engineering Ltd; David John Mountain
Priority date: 1999-11-06
Filing date: 2000-11-03
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AU1157201A; WO2001033938A1; GB2371464B; GB0210036D0; GB9926245D0; GB2371464A

Abstract

A conveyor system has at least a pair of elongate rolls (13) having circumferential outer surfaces (15) and a respective helical conveying blade (16) projecting from each such surface. The rolls (13) are mounted with their axes substantially parallels, with a pre-defined gap between their outer surfaces (15). Power drive means (17) is arranged to effect simultaneous rotation of both rolls (13) whereby an article to be conveyed and resting on both rolls is advances along the length thereof by the action of the helical blades (16). There is a mounting arrangement (20, 30) for the entire outer surface, or possibly at least an axial section of the outer surface (Fig. 5), of at least one of the rolls which permits the entire surface, or just said section, resiliently to move away from the other roll.

Claims

. _AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 14 May 2001 (14.05.01); original claims 1 -18 replaced by amended claims 1-1 1 (2 pages)]

1. A conveyor system comprising a plurality of elongate rolls having circumferential outer surfaces and mounted with their axes substantially parallel with a pre-defined gap between the circumferential surfaces, a respective helical conveying blade projecting from the circumferential surface of each of the rolls, and power drive means to effect simultaneous rotation of all of the rolls whereby an article to be conveyed and resting on two rolls is advanced along the length thereof by the action of the helical blades, in which system each roll is provided with a mounting arrangement which permits that roll resiliently to move away from an adjacent roll.

2. A conveying system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting arrangement for each roll permits the associated roll to move differentially away from the adjacent roll.

3. A conveying system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each end of each roll is supported on a respective swing arm, biasing means being provided to urge the swing arms to a rest position where the axis of the associated roll is substantially parallel to the axis of the or each other roll, with a pre-defined gap between the circumferential surfaces of the adjacent rolls.

4. A conveying system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein spring means is provided to urge the circumferential surface of one roll towards the circumferential surface of the adjacent roll.

5. A conveying system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring means comprises one of a block of an elastomeric material or a mechanical spring.

6. A conveying system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring means comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator acting on the mounting for the roll.

7. A conveying system as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein at least one of the spring force and the spring rate of the spring means is adjustable.

8. A conveying system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein there are at least two rolls mounted with their axes substantially parallel.

9. A conveying system as claimed in claim 8, wherein spring means is arranged between adjacent rolls to act thereon, so that the forces resiliently biasing the rolls are balanced across the rolls thereby maintaining the rolls in a rest position but away from which any one or more rolls may move in a resilient manner.

10. A conveying system as claimed in claim 9, wherein there are three or more rolls arranged with their axes substantially parallel, the mounting arrangement supporting all of the rolls for movement towards and away from the others.

11. A root-crop harvester whenever provided with a conveying system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.