Chain conveyor curve

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport conveyor curve including a multitude of parallel curved tracks, wherein the separate parallel tracks are driven by a conical drive, wherein the contact angle of each of the individual tracks with the conical drive is substantially equal in comparison to the contact angle of the other individual tracks.

Claims

1. A transport conveyor curve comprising a multitude of separate parallel curved tracks; wherein each separate parallel track of the multitude of parallel curved tracks are driven by a conical drive, wherein a contact angle of each of the separate parallel curved tracks with the conical drive is substantially equal in comparison to the contact angle of the other separate parallel curved tracks, wherein the separate parallel curved tracks comprise wedge-shaped links, wherein an angle of the wedge of the wedge-shaped links is smaller of an outer track of the multitude of parallel curved tracks when compared with an angle of a wedge of the wedge-shaped link of a more inner track of the multitude of parallel curved tracks.

2. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 1, wherein a conical drive is arranged in a return part of the conveyor track.

3. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 2, wherein the conical drive is a conical drum or comprise a series of drive gears or sprockets with an ascending diameter towards a direction of an outside of the conveyor curve.

4. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 3, wherein the drive gears or sprockets have an increasing number of teeth and/or an increasing diameter towards the outside of the conveyor curve.

5. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 1, wherein returns of the conveyor comprise a series of idlers or guiders, wherein each parallel track comprises its own idlers or guiders.

6. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 5, wherein the idlers of the individual conveyor tracks are configured to run independently from the idlers of the other conveyor tracks.

7. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 1, wherein the individual wedge-shaped links of the chain comprise two sets of hinging pin engaging elements, one set being configured for engaging a leading side hinging pin and one set being configured for engaging a trailing side hinging pin, wherein the two sets of hinging pin engaging elements are connected to a support structure, and wherein the support structure extends on a transport surface side relative to the hinging pin engaging elements and the support structure does not extend beyond the hinging pin engaging elements on a second side.

8. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 7, wherein the hinging pin engaging elements comprise a series of ring structures, arranged slanted relative to the transport surface, wherein the ring structures comprise two series of aligned, slanted rings, each configured to engage a hinging pin.

9. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 7, wherein consecutive links in the chain have hinging pin stoppers on alternating lateral sides of the chain, such that a hinging pin is facing at its first abutting side a first stopper from a first link and at its second abutting side a second stopper from a second link.

10. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor links of each conveyor track are guided by a set of guiders, configured to allow the hinging pins of the conveyor chain to slide along.

11. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 10, wherein the guiders comprise two rounded edges, configured to guide the chains of the individual tracks around, wherein the distances between the rounded edges increases towards the curve outside of the transport conveyor.

12. The transport conveyor curve according to claim 11, wherein the radius of the rounded edges of set the guiders of the individual chains of each parallel track increases towards the curve outside of the conveyor track and the average radius of the rounded edges of the sets of guiders of all parallel tracks is substantially equal.

13. The transport conveyor according to claim 10, wherein the conveyor chain is substantially borne by the hinging pins, moving over the guiders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a first schematic perspective view of a conveyor curve as background information;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a schematic perspective view of a curved conveyor according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts another schematic perspective view of the curved conveyor according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts yet another schematic perspective view of the curved conveyor according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a schematic perspective view of detail of the curved conveyor according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a schematic perspective view of the return rollers of the curved conveyor according to a further embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a schematic perspective view of a set of two links according to a further embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 depicts a schematic topside view of a set of two links according to the embodiment of the invention represented in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 depicts a schematic front side view of a set of two links according to the embodiment of the invention represented in FIG. 7; and

(11) FIG. 10 depicts a schematic perspective view of a conveyor belt curve according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) 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.

(13) The term ring-shaped is to be considered as, yet not to be seen as limited to an open through-going space surrounded by material, irrespective of the shape. Thus the material may be in the shape of a ring around the through going space, in the shape of an oval, a square, a long hole and/or any specific form suited for the purpose.

(14) FIG. 1 depicts a schematic perspective view of a conventional curved path conveyor 1 for small radius turns. The conveyor 1 comprises a frame 2 having two guiding edges 3 and 4. Guiding edge 3 is located on the curve outside 14 and guiding edge 4 is located on the curve inside 15. In between the guiding edges 3 and 4 is located a support surface 5, comprising a set of curved supports 6A-D. On the curved supports 6A-D a transport chain 7 can slide, being kept in position in horizontal sense by the guiding edges 3 and 4. The conveyor chain 7 comprises a series of wedge shaped hinging links 8. The pitch 13 of the individual links is larger on the curve outside 14 than on the curve inside 15.

(15) The conveyor chain 7 is an endless loop, which for instructive purposes is partially removed. The loop runs between two turns around an idler 9B at a first side and a drive 9A at the other side. The drive comprises a series of sprocket wheels 11A-11E of increasing diameter towards the curve outside 14. The Teeth of the sprocket wheels 11A-11E engage with the hinging pins of the links 8. Since the links get wider towards the curve outside 14, the distance between the dents, accommodating the hinging pins, in the sprocket wheels get correspondingly larger as well towards the curve outside 14. Here typically the number of teeth per sprocket wheel of all the wheels is the same.

(16) Since the shape of the conveyor track 7 is defined by wedge shaped links 8, the conveyor track 7 defines a segment of an annular shaped track, which comprises a return part below a transport part. The outer circumference of the conically shaped drive 9A and a line directed towards an imaginary centre point P defines a wedge-shaped gap 12, of which the diameter is increasing towards the curve inside 15. The larger the width 16 of the track and/or the tighter the curve, the larger the gap 12 will be at the curve inside 15.

(17) The size of this gap at the curve inside 15 can limit the width and the tightness of the curve of the conveyor 1. If the size gets to large, products to be transported on the conveyor 1 may fall through the gap or get stuck in the gap. This can lead to unintentionally product loss and downtime of the conveyor.

(18) The FIGS. 2-5 depicts a schematic perspective view of a set of parallel conveyor tracks 7A, 7B and 7C of a conveyor 1. The tracks 7A, 7B and 7C comprise respectively wedge shaped links 8A, 8B and 8C. The tracks are driven by a set of sprocket wheels 24A-24F having an ascending diameter towards the curve outside 14. The pitch of the links 8A-C in the consecutive corresponding chain tracks 7A-C are substantially corresponding. The pitch of the links of the individual tracks in relation to each other would lie within approximately a margin of 50%. This provides the advantage that the idlers 17A-C, 18A-C, 21A-C and 22A-C where the chain tracks 7A-C turn, can be each of a limited diameter. Thus, the gap 12B, shown in FIG. 4, between the lines L1 and the outer circumference of the idlers 18A-C can be reduced, when compared with the gap 12 between line L1 and the outer circumference of idler 9B and the line L1, shown in FIG. 1.

(19) The idlers 18A-C, 19A-C, 20A-C, 21A-C, 22A-C are each individually and separately from the other idles rotatable. Typically, the idlers 18C-22C on the curve outside 14 will rotate faster than the idlers 18A-22A on the curve inside 15.

(20) The chain tracks 7A-7C are driven by a series of shaft mounted sprocket wheels 24A-24F. The sprocket wheels 24A-24F comprise an increasing diameter towards the curve outside 14, as is depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5. The sprocket wheels 24A-B, 24C-D, 24E-F are pairwise coupled to the individual conveyor chain tracks 7A, 7B and 7C respectively. The sprocket wheels 24A-B, 24C-D, 24E-F are pairwise comprising an increasing number of teeth 25A-B, 25C-D, 25E-F to accommodate the hinging pins of the links 8A, 8B and 8C respectively of the individual conveyor chain tracks 7A, 7B and 7C respectively. The contact angle between each of the individual conveyor chain tracks 7A-C and the sprocket wheels is substantially the same, in order to have the conveyor chain tracks 7A-7C each move with substantially the same angular speed through the curve of the conveyor 1.

(21) In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 a set of two links is depicted in various views. The view of FIG. 9 is a front side view, indicated by arrow A in FIGS. 7 and 8. In these figures a set of two links 26 and 27 is depicted. The link 26 comprises two sets 28A-F and 29A-F of hinging pin engaging elements, connected to support structure 30. Each set comprises a set of aligned rings, such that a hinging pin e.g. 33 or 34 can be inserted. The rings of the hinging pin engaging elements comprise surfaces that are slanted relative to the transport surface 39 as is indicated in FIG. 9. Here the line N is the axis perpendicular to the transport surface 39. O is an axis parallel to the slanted surface of the hinging pin engaging elements 28D. The angle □ is chosen such, that the rings have no undercut portions seen in the direction of the line N.

(22) The hinging pins 33 find a stopper 35 of link 26 at a first lateral side of the chain, i.e. the curve outside 14 and a second stopper 36 of link 27 at a second lateral side of the chain, i.e. the curve inside 15. Thus, a link can be snapped in its operating position, if two consecutive links 26 and 27 are provided and linked together. In order to do so, the stoppers 36 or 35 need to be elastically deformed, such to allow the pin 33 to be inserted in the set of hinging pin engaging elements 29A-29H and 31A-31H of links 26 and 27 respectively. Once the end of the pin 33 is passed the stoppers 36 or 35, the stopper in question is allowed to snap back to its original un-deformed state, therewith enclosing the pin 33 and avoiding the pin to escape.

(23) In FIG. 9 a front side view of the set of two links 26 and 27 is depicted. The support structure 30 of link 26, to which the hinging pin engaging elements 28A-H and 29A-H are attached extends beyond the hinging pin engaging elements 28A-H and 29A-H at a first side I, i.e. the side to which support surface 39 is facing.

(24) The support structure 30 does not extend beyond the hinging pin engaging elements 28A-H and 29A-H at a second side II. Thus, the support structure does not extend beyond the hinging pin 33. This allows the hinging 33 and 34 to rest on guiders 37 and 38 of the frame of the conveyor bend. Since the hinging pin engaging elements of the consecutive links are aligned in a transport direction A, all the links 26, 27 can be born on the hinging pins 33 and 34. Thus a smooth transport of the entire belt can be arranged, while the hinging pins are sliding over guiders.

(25) In FIG. 10 is depicted a conveyor belt curve in which the set of return idlers 17A-C, 18A-C, 21A-C and 22A-C as depicted in the FIGS. 2-4 can be replaced by a set of guiding shoes 40A-H.

(26) Since the links 26 and 27 can be born by the hinging pins 33 and 34, the guiding shoes 40A-H can allow a return of the individual conveyor tracks while the contact between the links 26 and 27 and the frame 2 predominantly is born by the hinging pins 33 and 34.

(27) Similar to the idlers, the return curves of the inner and the outer tracks are relatively similar. Each of the guiding shoes 40A-H comprise two rounded edges, configured to guide the tracks around. The distance between the rounded edges increases towards the curve outside of the transport conveyor, such that a smooth transport of the chain over the guiders can be obtained. By this increasing distance, the outer belt track is allowed to travel a longer distance between the upper and lower rounded edges, such to compensate for its longer traveling path.

(28) 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 in the description drives are described as a set of sprocket wheels, alternatively, the drive may be a drum, where again the contact angle between the conveyor belt tracks and the drum are substantially equal for all the individual tracks. The links in the various embodiments are depicted as alternating links 26 and 27. Alternatively, also a single-type-link belt for each track may be chosen, where the link engaging elements of the trailing side are sufficiently laterally offset from those hinging pin engaging elements of the leading side of the link, such that they fit in between each other and allow a hinging pin in. Here again at a first lateral side a first stopper and at a second lateral side a second stopper can be arranged such that the pins can only snap in when two links are connected by the pin.

(29) 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

(30) 1. Conveyor curve 2. frame 3. Guiding edge 4. Guiding Edge 5. Support surface 6A-D. Curved supports 7. Transport chain track 7A-C. Transport chain track 8. Link 9A. Drive 9B. Idler 10. Axis 11A-F. Sprocket wheels 12. Wedge shaped Gap 13. Pitch 14. Curve outside 15. Curve inside 16. Width 17A-C. Idler 18A-C. Idler 19A-C. Idler 20A-C. Idler 21A-C. Idler 22A-C. Idler 23. Drive central axis 24A-F. Sprocket wheel 25A-F. Tooth 26. Link 27. Link 28A-H. Hinging pin engaging elements 29A-H. Hinging pin engaging elements 30. Support structure 31A-H. Hinging pin engaging elements 32A-H. Hinging pin engaging elements 33. Hinging pin 34. Hinging pin 35. Stopper 36. Stopper 37. Guider 38. Guider 39. Transport surface 40A-H. Guiding shoes □. Angle N. Axis P. Centre point L1. Line L2. Line I. First side II. Second side