ATTACHMENT UNIT FOR CONVEYOR BELT MODULE

Abstract

There is presented an attachment unit (60) comprising a flight part (66) and an attachment part comprising first and second sets of protrusions where each of the protrusions is extending away from the flight part (66) in the first transverse direction, and where each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions comprises one or more protrusions, which each has one or more protuberances and/or cavities each extending in a longitudinal direction and/or a second transverse direction, and wherein the first set of protrusions is off-set (80) along the second transverse direction (64).

Claims

1. An attachment unit, such as attachment unit for attachment to an assembled modular conveyor belt, such as for attachment to a conveyor belt module, the attachment unit defining: a longitudinal direction, a first transverse direction being perpendicular to each of the longitudinal direction, a second transverse direction being perpendicular to each of the longitudinal direction and the first transverse direction, the attachment unit comprising: a flight part for slowing down or blocking an element; and an attachment part comprising: a first set of protrusions comprising one or more protrusions; and a second set of protrusions comprising one or more protrusions; wherein each of the protrusions is extending away from the flight part in the first transverse direction, wherein each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions comprises one or more protrusions, which each has one or more protuberances and/or cavities each extending in a longitudinal direction and/or a second transverse direction, such as a hook for engaging with a recess of the modular conveyor belt, such as of a conveyor belt module, and wherein the first set of protrusions is off-set along the second transverse direction.

2. The attachment unit according to claim 1, wherein: the first set of protrusions consists of a first row of protrusions comprising a plurality of protrusions, the first row being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, at least one protrusion within the first row of protrusions comprises one or more protuberances and/or cavities each extending in a longitudinal direction and/or a second transverse direction, such as a hook for engaging with a recess and/or an extension of a modular conveyor belt, such as of a conveyor belt module; the second set of protrusions consists of a second row of one or more protrusions (74) comprising a plurality of protrusions, the second row being substantially parallel, such as parallel, to the longitudinal direction, such as wherein at least one protrusion within the second row of protrusions comprises one or more protuberances and/or cavities each extending in a longitudinal direction and/or a second transverse direction, such as a hook for engaging with a recess and/or an extension of a modular conveyor belt, such as of a modular convey-or belt part, wherein the first row of protrusions and the second row of protrusions are off-set along the transverse direction.

3. The attachment unit according to claim 1, wherein a pair of protrusions comprises a protrusion from each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions, wherein the protrusions within said pair of protrusions are separated in a longitudinal direction, and optionally being nearest neighbors in a longitudinal direction, and wherein each protrusion within said pair of protrusions comprise a protuberance extending in a longitudinal direction towards the other protrusion within said pair and/or a cavity extending in a longitudinal direction away from the other protrusion within said pair.

4. The attachment unit according to claim 1, wherein the flight part is means for exerting a force on an element, and the flight part comprises: a plate or flange extending from the attachment unit in a direction being substantially opposite, such as opposite to a direction of extension of the one or more protrusions in the first set of protrusions and the one or more protrusions in the second set of protrusions; and/or a high friction surface, such as a surface enabling having a larger friction coefficient between the high friction surface and an element than a friction coefficient between a surface of the attachment unit and the element.

5. A conveyor belt module for a modular conveyor belt, comprising: one or more recesses and/or extensions for engaging with the one or more protuberances and/or cavities of the attachment unit according to claim 1.

6. The conveyor belt module according to claim 5, further comprising: a central beam; a first set of eye parts extending from beam and defining a first axis; and a second set of eye parts extending from the beam and defining a second axis.

7. The conveyor belt module according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of recesses and/or extensions comprises at least one recess and/or extensions on each side of a plane through a center of mass of the central beam, and being orthogonal to an axis being orthogonal to the first axis and/or the second axis, and intersecting each of the first axis and the second axis.

8. A conveyor belt module system comprising a kit of parts, comprising: one or more conveyor belt modules according to claim 5.

9. The conveyor belt module system according to claim 8, wherein one or more protuberances and/or cavities of the one or more attachment units are engaging with one or more recesses and/or extensions of the one or more conveyor belt modules.

10. The conveyor belt module system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more protuberances and/or cavities of the one or more attachment units are engaging with one or more recesses and/or extensions of the one or more conveyor belt modules on each side of a plane through the central beam, such as through a center of mass of the central beam, and being orthogonal to an axis being: orthogonal to the first axis and/or the second axis, and intersecting each of the first axis and the second axis.

11. A modular conveyor belt comprising a plurality of conveyor belt modules according to claim 5.

12. (canceled)

13. A conveyor belt system comprising: the conveyor belt module system according to claim 8, a modular conveyor belt comprising a plurality of conveyor belt modules; one or more path defining structures, such as rails or guides, for defining and/or controlling a path of the modular conveyor belt; and an actuator arranged for driving the modular conveyor belt.

14. A method for conveying one or more elements, said method comprising: placing the one or more elements on or at the modular conveyor belt according to claim 11; and conveying the one or more elements with the modular conveyor belt.

15. The attachment unit according to claim 1, wherein the attachment unit is used for exerting a force in a conveying direction on an element being conveyed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0154] The attachment unit, the conveyor belt module, the conveyor belt module system, the modular conveyor belt, the modular conveyor belt system, the method for conveying one or more elements and the use of the attachment unit according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0155] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrates an attachment unit for attachment to a conveyor belt module;

[0156] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates an attachment unit and a conveyor belt module viewed from the load-carrying side and the underside;

[0157] FIG. 3A illustrates another view of an attachment unit and a conveyor belt module viewed from the underside;

[0158] FIG. 3B illustrates another view of an attachment unit; and

[0159] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrates a modular conveyor belt with two attachment units having a flange.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0160] FIG. 1 illustrates an attachment unit 60 for attachment to a conveyor belt module 10 (cf., e.g., FIG. 2). The attachment unit 60 is in this embodiment elongated. The attachment unit 60 defines a longitudinal direction 62 and a transverse direction 64 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 62.

[0161] The attachment unit 60 comprises a flight part 66. Here the flight part is a flange and thus the attachment unit 60 is a flight.

[0162] The attachment unit 60 comprises a first row 70 of protrusions 74 extending from the attachment unit 60 in the first transverse direction 63. The first row is parallel to the longitudinal direction 62 and at least one protrusion of the protrusions in the first row has a protuberance 76, here in the form of a hook, for connecting to a recess 26, 36 of a conveyor belt module 10. Advantageously the recess is in or at (such as recessed into) the underside of the modular belt part.

[0163] The attachment unit 60 comprises a second row 72 of protrusions 74 extending from the attachment unit 60. The second row 72 is parallel to the longitudinal direction 62 and at least one protrusion of the protrusions in the second row has a (hook) protuberance 76, here in the form of a hook, for connecting to a recess 26,36 of a conveyor belt module.

[0164] The first and second rows 70,72 are off-set 80 in the second transverse direction 64 such that the rows 70,72 can be positioned on both sides of a beam 12 of a conveyor belt module, such as the conveyor belt module 10 shown in FIG. 2.

[0165] Subfigures A and C in FIG. 1 discloses that the attachment unit 60 comprises two pairs of paired protuberances (here hooks) 781, 7811, where protuberances 76 of two nearest and opposite protrusions substantially extend towards each other.

[0166] Subfigure A in FIG. 1 shows paired protuberances in each end of the attachment unit 60. This will increase the strength of a connection to a conveyor belt module.

[0167] FIG. 2 illustrates an attachment unit 60 and a conveyor belt module 10 viewed from the load-carrying side 14 in subfigure A of FIG. 2 and underside 16 in subfigures B-C of FIG. 2.

[0168] The conveyor belt module 10 may be assembled into a conveyor belt 100, which belt comprises a plurality of conveyor belt modules 10 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0169] The conveyor belt module 10 comprises a load-carrying side 14 and an opposite underside 16.

[0170] The conveyor belt module 10 comprises a central beam 12, wherein a first set of eye parts extend from said beam 12. The first set of eye parts 20 having along a first axis, such as a first rod axis 22, first apertures 24 for receiving a rod when the conveyor belt module 10 is to be assembled into a modular conveyor belt 100.

[0171] The conveyor belt module 10 comprises a second set of eye parts 30, which eye parts extends from the beam 12 in an opposite direction to the first set of eye parts 20 and being transversely off-set relative to the first set of eye parts 20. The second set of eye parts 30 having along a second axis, such as a second rod axis 32, second apertures 34 for receiving a rod when the conveyor belt module 10 is to be assembled into a modular conveyor belt 100.

[0172] The conveyor belt module 10 comprises at least two recesses 26, 36, the recesses are configured for engaging with a protuberance 76, such as a hook, of an attachment unit 60.

[0173] As shown in subfigures B-C of FIG. 2, a first recess 26 of the at least two recesses 26, 36 is positioned between two neighboring eye parts 501, 5011 of the first set of eye parts 20 on the underside 16 of the conveyor belt module 10. The first recess 26 is configured for engaging a protuberance 76, such as a hook, of an attachment unit 60.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 2C, a second recess 36 of the at least two recesses 26,36 is positioned between two neighboring eye parts 501, 5011 of the second set of eye parts 30 on the underside 16 of the conveyor belt module 10. The second recess 28 is configured for engaging with a protuberance 76, such as a hook, of an attachment unit 60.

[0175] The two protuberances 76, such as hooks, are paired 781, 7811 as this increases the strength of the connection.

[0176] FIG. 3A illustrates another view of an attachment unit 60 and a conveyor belt module 10 viewed from the underside 16. The view shown in FIG. 3A is another view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0177] Here attachment unit 60 comprises two protrusions 74 without a protuberance. However, the protrusions 74 will still increase the connection strength as the protrusions are positioned in different rows 70, 72.

[0178] FIG. 36 shows an attachment unit 60 with protrusions 74 without any protuberances.

[0179] Protrusions 74 alternating between rows 70,72 can be used to further stabilize the attachment unit 60 without increasing the necessary force needed to insert or remove the attachment unit 60.

[0180] FIG. 4 illustrates modular conveyor belt 100 with two attachment units 60 each having a flight part 66, which is here a flange.

[0181] The attachment units 60 are similar to the attachment unit in FIG. 1 but with a shorter flange (along an axis in the first transverse direction 63).

[0182] Subfigure A in FIG. 4 discloses the load-carrying side 14 of the modular conveyor belt 100 and subfigure B in FIG. 4 discloses the underside 14 of the modular conveyor belt 100.

[0183] The protrusions 74 (only two protrusions 741-II are marked but more are visible) do not extend beyond the underside 14 of the modular conveyor belt 100 such that collisions and other unwanted effects are prevented.

[0184] To sum up, there is presented an attachment unit 60 comprising a flight part 66 and an attachment part comprising first and second sets of protrusions where each of the protrusions is extending away from the flight part 66 in the first transverse direction, and where each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions comprises one or more protrusions, which each has one or more protuberances and/or cavities each extending in a longitudinal direction and/or a second transverse direction, and wherein the first set of protrusions is off-set 80 along the second transverse direction 64.

[0185] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms “comprising” or “comprises” do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as “a” or “an” etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.