MODULE FOR A MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT AND CONVEYOR BELT COMPRISING SAID MODULES

Abstract

A module for a modular conveyor belt includes interconnected modules with front and rear projecting elements having an outermost convex surface and forming at least one circular arc-shaped portion, with the centres at the same vertical distance from the lower surface and at the same horizontal distance from the outermost portion, and a plurality of raised elements departing from a first upper surface of a base element or from the upper portions of coupling elements and a plurality of recesses which separate the raised elements, each having an upper bearing surface for transporting the products, a difference between the vertical distance the centres of the circular arc-shaped portions of the outermost convex surfaces of the rear and front projecting elements, and the vertical distance of the centres of the holes in the rear and front projecting elements, is greater than or equal to 1 mm.

Claims

1. A module for a modular conveyor belt, said module comprising: a base element (1) which comprises: a first upper surface (1A), a lower flat sliding surface (1B) for cooperation with a flat conveyor path (2), a front edge (10) and a rear edge (1D) parallel to each other and lateral edges (1E, 1F) parallel to each other, and, seen in a transport direction (D), a plurality of front (3A-F) and rear (4A-E) coupling elements for coupling the modules together, separated from each other by front (5A-D) and rear (5F-I) spaces; wherein said lower flat sliding surface (1B) extends from one to the other of said lateral edges (1E, 1F), wherein said front and rear coupling elements (3A-F; 4A-E) are distributed along the entire width (L1) of said front (10) and rear (1D) edges, wherein said front and rear coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E) comprise: an upper portion (6A-J), (7A-E) and an additional lower flat sliding surface (8) for cooperation with said flat transport path (2), and through holes (16), wherein said additional lower flat sliding surface (8) of said front and rear coupling elements (3A-F; 4A-4E) joins and is coplanar with the lower flat sliding surface (1B) of the base element (1) to form a single flat sliding surface which extends from one to the other of said lateral edges (1E, 1F), for cooperation with said flat transport path (2), wherein said coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E) are shaped and arranged in such a way that the front coupling elements (3A-F) of a module (M1) fit into the rear spaces (5F-I) provided between the rear coupling elements (4A-4E) of an immediately adjacent module (M2), and in such a way that a connecting pin (10) extending transversely to the transport direction (D) can be inserted in said through holes (16) of the coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E) of the two modules, hinging them together, and allowing the adjacent modules to at least partially rotate; wherein the through holes (16) have a centre (C1), (C2) provided at a first vertical distance (E1) from the lower sliding surface (8) of the coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E); wherein the outermost convex surfaces of the rear (3A-F) and front (4A-4E) coupling elements have a circular arc shape, with the centres (F1), (F2) of these circular arcs which are at the same vertical distance (E5) from the lower surface (8) of said rear (3A-F) and front (4A-4E) projecting elements and at the same horizontal distance (E7) from the outermost portion (S3) of said rear (3A-F) and front (4A-4E) projecting elements; and a plurality of raised elements (11A-J), at least one part of which departing from the first upper surface (1A) of the base element (1) or from the upper portions (6A-J), (7A-E) of the coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E), and a plurality of recesses (12A-I) (FIG. 1) which separate said raised elements (11A-J); wherein said raised elements (11A-J) each have an upper bearing surface (13A-J), which forms a surface for transporting the products; wherein said upper bearing surfaces (13A-J) of the raised elements are provided, at least at the coupling elements, at a second maximum vertical distance (E2) from said second lower sliding surface (8) of the coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E); wherein said upper bearing surfaces (13A-J) of the raised elements (11A-J) are provided, at least at the coupling elements (3A-F) and (4A-4E), at a third maximum vertical distance (E3) from said upper portion (6A-J) and (7A-E) of the coupling elements; wherein the difference between the vertical distance (E5) of the centres (F1) and (F2) of the circular arc-shaped outermost convex surfaces of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F) (4A- 4E), and the vertical distance (E1) of the centres of the holes (16) for the pins (10) of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F), (4A-4E), is greater than or equal to 1 mm, that is to say (E5-E1)>=1 mm.

2. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the difference between half the second maximum vertical distance (E2) of the raised elements (11A-J) and the first vertical distance (E1) of the through holes (16) is greater than 1 mm, that is to say (E2/2-E1)>=1 mm.

3. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the difference between the vertical distances (E5) of the centres (F1) and (F2) of the outermost surfaces (S1), (S2) of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F), (4A-4E), and the vertical distance (E1) of the centres of the holes (16) for the pins (10) of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F), (4A-4E), is between 30% and 70% of the maximum vertical distance (E3) of the upper bearing surfaces (13A-J) of the raised elements (11A-J), that is to say 30% E3 <=(E5-E1) <=70% E3.

4. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 3, wherein the difference between the vertical distances (E5) of the centres (F1) and (F2) of the outermost surfaces of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F), (4A-4E) and the vertical distance (El) of the centres of the holes (16) for the pins (10) of the rear and front projecting elements (3A-F), (4A-4E) is between 45% and 55% of the maximum vertical distance (E3) of the upper bearing surfaces (13A-J) of the raised elements (11A-J), that is to say 45% E3 <=(E5-E1) <=55% E3.

5. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 2, characterized in that the difference between half said second vertical distance (E2) of the raised elements and the first vertical distance (E1) of the through holes is between half said is third maximum vertical distance (E3) of the raised elements increased or decreased by 20%, that is to say (E3/2-20% E3/2) <=(E2/2-E1) <=(E3/2+20% E3/2).

6. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 5, wherein the difference between half said second vertical distance (E2) of the raised elements zo and the first vertical distance (E1) of the through holes is between half said third maximum vertical distance (E3) of the raised elements increased or decreased by 5%, that is to say (E3/2-5% E3/2) <=(E2/2-E1) <=(E3/2+5% E3/2).

7. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the centre (C1), (C2) of the through holes (16) is equidistant with respect to the lower surface (8) and the upper portions (6A-6J) and (7A-E) of the coupling elements (3A-F; 4A-4E).

8. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness (E4) of the base element (1) is greater than the maximum vertical distance (E3) of the raised elements (1A-J) from the upper surface (1A) of said base element.

9. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 8, wherein the maximum vertical distance (E3) is between 30% and 70% of the thickness (E4), and even more preferably it is between 40% and 50% of the thickness (E4).

10. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the raised elements (11A-J) have portions (P) which also extend above the rear and front (3A-F; 4A-4E) projecting elements, and which have outermost convex surfaces which in turn comprise at least one circular arc-shaped portion (S4, S5), with the centres (F1, F2) of these circular arcs coinciding with the centres (F1, F2) of the circular arc-shaped portions (S1, S2), of the projecting elements from which said raised elements depart, so as to form a circular arc-shaped common and continuous outermost convex surface between said at least some projecting elements and the corresponding raised elements.

11. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the raised elements (11A-J) have parts (K) which have outermost concave surfaces which in turn comprise at least one circular arc-shaped portion, and with the centres (F1, F2) of these circular arcs coinciding with the centres (F1, F2) of the circular arc-shaped portions (S1, S2) of the projecting elements, so as to form an outermost concave surface for rotation of the corresponding convex surfaces of the projecting elements of the adjacent modules.

12. The module for a modular conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that the centres (F1, F2) of the circular arc-shaped portions (S1, S2) of the rear (3A-F) and front (4A-4E) projecting elements, and the centres (F1, F2) of the circular arc-shaped portions of the parts (K) which have outermost concave surfaces of the raised elements (11A-J), all lie in an intermediate plane of the module, that is to say in a plane that divides the module into two parts having the same height (H5) and (H6).

13. A modular conveyor belt comprising a plurality of identical modules according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINCIS

[0036] For a better understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are attached purely by way of not-limiting example, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic top perspective view of the module for a modular conveyor belt according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view thereof,

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view (with respect to FIG. 1) thereof,

[0040] FIG. 4 is a right side view (with respect to FIG. 1) thereof,

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective top view of a portion of a conveyor belt built up from the modules of FIGS. 1-4,

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective top view of a portion of the conveyor belt of FIG. 5 in which one part thereof is bent in the “back flex” position;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective bottom view of a portion of a conveyor belt built up from the modules of FIGS. 1-4,

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the module of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] With reference to the mentioned figures, they show a module for a modular conveyor belt, comprising: a base element 1 (FIGS. 1, 2) which comprises: a first upper surface 1A (FIG. 2), a lower flat sliding surface 1B (FIGS. 7, 8) for cooperation with a flat transport path 2, a front edge 10 and a rear edge 1D parallel to each other (spaced apart by a portion L2 (FIG. 2) which also delimits the length of the module) and lateral edges 1E, 1F parallel to each other and spaced apart by a portion L1 which also delimits the width of the module), [0046] and, seen in a transport direction D (FIG. 1), a plurality of front 3A-F and rear 4A-E coupling elements for coupling the modules together, separated from each other by front 5A-D and rear 5F-I spaces (FIG. 2).

[0047] The lower flat sliding surface 1B extends from one to the other of said lateral edges 1E, 1F.

[0048] The front and rear coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-E are distributed along the entire width L1 (FIG. 2) oriented perpendicularly to the transport direction D of said front 1C and rear 1D edges.

[0049] The front and rear coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-E comprise: an upper portion 6A-J, 7A-E, and an additional lower flat sliding surface 8 (FIGS. 7 and 8) for cooperation with said flat transport path 2, and through holes 16.

[0050] The additional lower flat sliding surface 8 of the front and rear coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-E joins and is coplanar with the lower flat sliding surface 1B of the base element 1 to form a single flat sliding surface which extends from one to the other of said lateral edges 1E, 1F, for cooperation with said flat transport path 2.

[0051] The coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E are shaped and arranged in such a way that the front coupling elements 3A-F of a module M1 (FIG. 5) fit into the rear spaces 5F-I provided between the rear coupling elements 4A-4E of an immediately adjacent module M2, and in such a way that a connecting pin 10 (FIG. 3) which extends transversely to the transport direction D can be fit into said through holes 16 of the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E of the two modules, hinging them together, and allowing the adjacent modules to at least partially rotate. The through holes 16 have a centre C1, C2 (FIG. 4) provided at a first vertical distance El from the lower sliding surface 8 of the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E.

[0052] The coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E also comprise outermost convex surfaces (FIG. 4) which in turn comprise, when seen from the side (FIG. 4), at least one circular arc-shaped portion S1, S2, with the centres F1, F2 of these circular arcs which are at the same vertical distance E5 from the lower surface 8 of said rear 3A-F and front 4A-4E projecting elements and at the same horizontal distance E7 from the outermost portion S3 of said rear 3A-F and front 4A-4E projecting elements.

[0053] The module also comprises a plurality of raised elements 11A-J, at least one part of which departing from the first upper surface 1A of the base element 1 and/or from the upper portions 6A-J, 7A- E of the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E, and a plurality of recesses 12A-I (FIG. 1) which separate said raised elements 11A-J.

[0054] The raised elements 11A-J each have an upper bearing surface 13A-J, which define a surface for transporting the products; these upper bearing surfaces 13A-J of the raised elements are provided, at least at the coupling elements, at a second maximum vertical distance E2 (FIG. 4) from said second lower sliding surface 8 of the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E.

[0055] The upper bearing surface 13A-J of the raised elements 11A-J are provided, at least at the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E, at a third maximum vertical distance E3 from said upper portion 6A-J, 7A-E of the coupling elements.

[0056] According to the invention, the difference between: the vertical distance E5 of the centres F1 and F2 of the circular arc-shaped portions of the outermost convex surfaces of the rear and front projecting elements 3A-F, 4A- 4E, and the vertical distance E1 of the centres of the holes 16 for the pins 10 of the rear and front projecting elements 3A-F, 4A-4E, is greater than or equal to 1 mm, that is to say: (E5-E1)>=1 mm.

[0057] Thanks to this particular positioning of the through holes, a module can be built up which has excellent stress resistance characteristics, in particular in its most stressed area, that is to say in the area where the pin 16 is provided, and at the same time enhances the rotation of the modules when they are associated to each other to form a belt (FIG. 5), and in particular enhances the flexion of the “back flex” type belt.

[0058] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least some of the raised elements 11A-J have portions P (FIG. 2) which also extend above the rear and front 3A-F, 4A-4E projecting elements and have outermost convex surfaces (FIG. 4) which in turn comprise, when seen from the side (FIG. 4), at least one circular arc-shaped portion S4, S5, with the centres F1, F2 of these circular arcs coinciding with the centres F1, F2 of the circular arc-shaped portions S1, S2, of the projecting elements from which said raised elements depart, so as to form a circular arc-shaped common and continuous outermost convex surface between said at least some projecting elements and the corresponding raised elements.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the difference between half of the second vertical distance E2 of the raised elements 11A-J and the first vertical distance E1 of the through holes 16 is greater than 1 mm, that is to say:

[0060] (E2/2-E1)>=1 mm.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the difference between half of said second vertical distance E2 of the raised elements and the first vertical distance El of the through holes is between half of said third vertical distance E3 of the raised elements increased or decreased by 20%, that is to say:

[0062] (E3/2-20% E3/2)<=(E2/2-E1) <=(E3/2+20% E3/2),

[0063] more preferably the difference between half of said second vertical distance E2 of the raised elements and the first vertical distance E1 of the through holes is between half of said third vertical distance E3 of the raised elements increased or decreased by 5%, that is to say:

[0064] (E3/2-5% E3/2) <=(E2/2-E1) <=(E3/2+5% E3/2).

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, the difference between the vertical distance E5 of the centres F1 and F2 of the outermost surfaces of the rear and front projecting elements 3A-F, 4A- 4E, and the vertical distance E1 of the centres of the holes 16 for the pins 10 of the rear and front projecting elements 3A-F, 4A-4E, is between 30% and 80% of the maximum vertical distance E3 of the upper bearing surface 13A-J of the raised elements 11A-J, that is to say: 30% E3<=(E5-E1)<=70% E3 and even more preferably (E5-E1) is approximately equal to half of E3 (where “approximately” means a difference of +/−5%).

[0066] It should be noted that, as usual for modules of the type described so far, the spaces 5A-I between one projecting element and the other of a first side of the module have concave surfaces having a shape and conformation complementary to that of the external convex surfaces of the projecting elements (in particular the radius of curvature is substantially equal or slightly greater, for example greater than a value between 1% and 5%) provided on the other side of the module, so that the concave external surfaces of a module, when the belt is flexed, can rotate at least partially in contact with and/or can rotate slightly spaced from the corresponding concave surfaces of the spaces 5A-I, provided in the immediately adjacent modules.

[0067] Advantageously, at least some of the raised elements 11A-J have parts K (FIGS. 1 and 2) which have outermost concave surfaces (FIG. 4) which in turn comprise, when seen from the side (FIG. 4), at least one circular arc-shaped portion and with the centres F1, F2 of these circular arcs coinciding with the centres F1, F2 of the circular arc-shaped portions S1, S2 of the projecting elements, so as to form an outermost concave surface for rotation of the corresponding convex surfaces of the projecting elements of the adjacent modules.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the centres F1, F2 of the circular arc-shaped portions S1, S2 of the rear 3A-F and front 4A-4E projecting elements, and the centres F1, F2 of the circular arc-shaped portions of the parts K (FIG. 4) which have outermost concave surfaces of the raised elements 11A-J, all lie in an intermediate plane of the module, that is to say in a plane that divides the module into two parts having the same height H5 (FIGS. 4) and H6.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, the centre C1, C2 of the through holes 16 is equidistant with respect to the lower surface 8 and the upper portions 6A-6J and 7A-7E of the coupling elements 3A-F and 4A-4E, that is to say, with reference to FIG. 4: E1=E9.

[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, the thickness E4 of the base element is greater than the maximum vertical distance E3 of the raised elements 11A-J from the upper surface 1A of said base element, more preferably the maximum vertical distance E3 is between 30% and 70% of the thickness E4, more preferably is between 40% and 50% of the thickness E4.

[0071] The raised elements have the shape and orientation usual for the person skilled in the art, for example they are rectilinear and oriented parallel to the belt movement direction D (FIG. 1) (as shown in FIGS. 1-5) or they can have an extension wholly or partly inclined to this direction D.

[0072] The module is made of one or more plastic materials usual for the person skilled in the art.

[0073] The pins 10 are of the usual type for the person skilled in the art and have for example a diameter between 3 mm and 5 mm, preferably equal to 4 mm.

[0074] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a plurality of modules of the type described so far joined together by pins 10 so as to form a belt conveyor. It should be noted that thanks to the particular positioning of the centres C1, C2 of the holes 16 for the pins 10 and of the centres F1, F2 of the outermost surfaces of the projecting elements 3A-F, 4A-4E, it is possible to built up a belt:

[0075] a) wherein the raised elements 11A-J can form upper bearing surfaces 13A-J for the products to be transported, which are substantially continuous, that is with slits G between a bearing surface and the immediately following one of extremely small dimensions, for example between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, more preferably equal to approximately 1 mm, so as to form substantially continuous surfaces (as shown in FIG. 5);

[0076] b) and the belt modules can be rotated so that the belt can flex in the “back flex” position (as shown in FIG. 6).

[0077] It should be reiterated, ultimately, that the embodiments illustrated so far have been provided by way of example and that numerous variants are possible falling within the same inventive concept, so for example the shape and/or orientation of the raised elements 11A-J could be different from the one illustrated so far. The same also applies to the shape of the projecting elements 3A-F, 4A-4E and the spaces 5A-I for housing said projecting elements. It should be noted that the modules described so far and the belt built up from said modules can be moved in both the direction D, indicated so far and represented in the figures, and in the opposite direction since these belts and modules can be moved in both directions.