MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT LINK

Abstract

Provided is a conveyor belt link, of the type used in endless conveyor belts assembled from a plurality of such modular conveyor belt links, where the modular conveyor belt link has a main body extending in the modular belt link's width direction, and where a plurality of eye parts extend forwards and rearwards from the main body, the eye parts being spaced in the width direction of the modular belt link, where forwards extending eye parts are offset relative to rearwards extending eye parts, such that when two modular conveyor belt links are pushed together the eye parts on one link will inter-fit between eye parts on the other modular belt link, wherein the modular belt link laterally is limited by two sides, and that the outermost eye parts on either side are provided with a cutout, such that the width of the modular conveyor belt link is smaller in the cutout than outside the cutout.

Claims

1. A modular conveyor belt link, of the type used in endless conveyor belts assembled from a plurality of such modular conveyor belt links, where the endless conveyor belt has a load carrying surface and an underside opposites the load carrying surface, where the modular conveyor belt link has a main body extending in the modular conveyor belt link's width direction, and where a plurality of eye parts extend forwards and rearwards from the main body, the eye parts being spaced in the width direction of the modular conveyor or belt link, where forwards extending eye parts are offset relative to rearwards extending eye parts, such that when two modular conveyor belt links are pushed together the eye parts on one link will inter-fit between eye parts on the other modular conveyor belt link, wherein the modular conveyor belt link laterally is limited by two sides, and the outermost eye parts on either side are provided with a cutout, the cut-out spanning the entire thickness of the modular conveyor belt link from the load carrying surface to the underside, such that the width of the modular conveyor belt link is smaller in the cutout than outside the cutout.

2. The modular conveyor belt link according to claim 1, wherein the modular conveyor belt link has an upper carrying surface, and where the eye parts are provided with apertures parallel to the upper carrying surface, such that apertures in one eye part may be overlapped with apertures in eye parts from adjacent modular conveyor belt links, and a connection pin may be inserted through the overlapping apertures thereby creating a hinge-like connection between adjacent modular conveyor belt links.

3. The modular conveyor belt link according to claim 2, wherein the apertures at least in eye parts on one side of the main body are oblong with the long axis of the aperture oriented in the intended transport direction for the endless conveyor belt into which the modular conveyor belt link is to be assembled.

4. The modular conveyor belt link according to claim 2, wherein the outermost eye part orthogonal to the carrying surface and a section facing away from a side has a material thickness of 20% to 70% of the entire modular conveyor belt link in the same direction, and where an adjacent eye part on opposite side of the main body on a section facing towards the side has a material thickness of 70% to 20% of the material thickness in that direction, such that the sections on either eye part on adjacent modular conveyor belt links may overlap.

5. An endless conveyor belt assembled from a plurality of modular conveyor belt links according to claim 3.

6. A spiral conveyor structure comprising: a drive tower having a bottom and a top and engagement means extending between the bottom and top, where the drive tower rotates around a vertical axis; wherein the engagement means extends a distance from the vertical rotation axis, where the distance varies at least for a part of the distance between the bottom and the top; a spiral pathway arranged outside the drive tower; and an endless modular conveyor belt assembled from a plurality of modular conveyor belt links according to claim 3 arranged on the pathway, wherein an outer end of the engagement means engages the cutout provided in the innermost side of a modular belt link, such that as the drive tower rotates, the modular conveyor belt link and thereby the endless conveyor belt is pushed along the spiral pathway.

7. The spiral conveyor structure according to claim 6, wherein the engagement means on the drive tower comprises a rib which positively engages a cut out in the sides of the modular conveyor belt links making up the endless conveyor belt in order to positively transfer propulsion force from the drive tower to the endless conveyor belt.

8. The spiral conveyor structure according to claim 6, wherein the engagement means on the drive tower may comprise a rib or an engagement surface, which rib or engagement surface frictionally engages the outer side surfaces of the conveyor belt in the shape of outside side surfaces of the modular conveyor or belt links making up the endless conveyor belt in order to frictionally transfer propulsion force from the drive tower to the endless conveyor belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0021] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a typical spiral conveyor construction;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows schematic modular conveyor belt links according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows schematic modular conveyor belt links according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention where adjacent modular conveyor belt links are assembled to a conveyor belt; and

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a plane view of an endless conveyor belt assembled from a plurality of modular conveyor belt links.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In FIG. 1 is illustrated a typical spiral conveyor construction comprising a frame structure 2 suitable to be placed on a floor of a manufacturing facility. Inside the frame structure 2 is provided a drive tower 3 which drive tower has a top and a bottom and where the drive tower 3 is arranged for rotation around a substantially vertical axis 4.

[0028] On the outside of the drive tower 3 is provided a conveying path 5. When an object is placed on the conveyor belt, at the entrance 6 to the spiral conveyor working in the direction as indicated by the arrow 7a, the object will be transported on a conveyor 10 through the spiral conveyor along the spiral/helical conveying path 5 and finally be arriving at the outlet 8 where the object transported by the spiral conveyor 1 will be ready for further processing by leaving the spiral conveyor 1 as indicated by the arrow 7b.

[0029] As may be seen by the illustration the conveyor belt 10 is relatively long in that the spirals of the spiral path 5 circumvents the drive tower a number of times enlarging the effective conveying area compared to the area which the structure 1 takes up in a production facility. Furthermore, the drive tower 3 needs to engage the side of the conveyor belt 10 in order to propel the conveyor belt and the objects through the spiral part 1a of the conveying structure 1.

[0030] In FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrated schematic embodiments of modular conveyor belt links according to embodiments of the invention.

[0031] In FIG. 2 the modular belt link 20 has a main body 21 which in this embodiment is illustrated as a solid slab. In other embodiments the main body may be perforated such that any water may drain from the surface or the main body may be very thin just being a beam going across the width of the modular conveyor belt link.

[0032] Eye parts 22 are extending forwardly from the body 21 and similarly rearwards facing eye parts 23 are extending in a rearward direction. The eye parts 22, 23 are offset such that eye parts facing forwards 22 may be inter-fitted between adjacent eye parts 23 facing rearwards. In this manner it is possible to create a large conveyor belt by inter-fitting substantially identical conveyor belt links in this manner.

[0033] The eye parts 22, 23 are also provided with a lateral aperture 24 (illustrated by dashed lines) such that by inserting the eye parts 22, 23 in the openings between the rearwards extending eye parts 23 it is possible to make the lateral apertures 24 overlap and insert a connection pin (not illustrated).

[0034] In this embodiment the outermost eye part 23 is provided with a cut-out 25 such that the width of the modular conveyor belt link D1 is smaller in the cut-out than the entire width D2 of the belt link. As the modular conveyor belt link 20 is assembled into an endless conveyor belt as described above with reference to FIG. 2 engagement means on the drive tower will be able to engage the cut-out 25 on the modular conveyor belt links and in this manner positively engage and drive the endless conveyor belt along the drive tower.

[0035] In FIG. 3 is illustrated a further embodiment, however, in this embodiment the apertures 24′ (still illustrated by dashed lines) are oblong such that the longitudinal direction of the aperture is oriented in the intended travelling direction of the conveyor belt. It will therefore be possible when adjacent belt links are assembled as described above with reference to inserting a connecting pin through overlapping apertures for the connecting pin to move in the travelling direction inside the oblong aperture 24′ provided in the forward-facing eye parts 22′. In this manner a side-flexing conveyor belt is constructed.

[0036] In FIG. 4 is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention where adjacent modular conveyor belt links 20′, 20″ are illustrated in an assembled manner. The modular belt links are identical and in this embodiment the outermost eye part 23′ is provided with a cut-out which allows the engagement member 50 on the drive tower (not illustrated) to engage the cut-out and positively drive the conveyor belt.

[0037] In this embodiment the cut-out is not a slit as it was in the embodiments illustrated above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, but is a cut-out where part of the material in the outermost eye part has been removed such that the outermost eye part 23′ of an adjacent outer eye part of a further modular belt link may overlap the first outer eye part 23′.

[0038] As may be further seen from FIG. 4 the belt links are dimensioned such that the forwards extending eye parts 22 engage the bottom/main body 21 of the adjacent modular belt link and in this manner ensures that the cut-out 23′ is free for the engagement member 50 to engage and drive the conveyor belt. In this embodiment the forward-facing eye parts 22 are provided with oblong apertures 24′ whereas the rearward facing eye parts are provided with circular apertures 24.

[0039] Furthermore, the outer side surface 43 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3) of the conveyor belt in the shape of outside side surfaces 43 of the modular belt links, may also be used to transfer propulsion force from a drive tower to the endless belt. In the art of spiral conveyors there are generally two concepts of transferring power from the drive tower to an endless belt: positive drive and friction drive. In FIG. 4 for example is illustrated positive drive. By this concept shall be understood that the endless conveyor is provided with means, typically notches, ribs or the like which are provided and suitable to engage means on the drive tower, such that there are determined engagement positions between the endless conveyor belt and the drive tower. In the other type—friction—an outer surface on the drive tower will frictionally engage a side face of the conveyor belt. Due to the tension in the belt surrounding (causing a slight squeezing) the drive tower and the friction against the drive tower, the frictional engagement will transfer propulsion force to the endless conveyor belt.

[0040] In FIG. 5 is illustrated a plane view of an endless conveyor belt 40 assembled from a plurality of modular conveyor belt links 20 according to embodiments of the invention. Each modular conveyor belt link 20 has a main body 21 from which main body 21 eye parts 22, 23 extend in forwards and rearwards directions.

[0041] The outermost eye parts 23 in both sides of the conveyor belt are provided with cut-outs 25 such that engagement means (not illustrated) on the drive tower 3 may engage and propel the conveyor belt 10 along the conveying path 5 (see FIG. 1). The depth 41 of the cut-out illustrated by the arrow is sufficient for the engagement member 50, see FIG. 4, to be inserted in the cut-out 25 sufficiently to attain a firm contact with the conveyor belt and as such be able to drive the conveyor belt in the desired direction.

[0042] As is evident from FIG. 5 the side of the conveyor belt closer to the drive tower 3 is collapsed such that the distance between adjacent eye parts along the inner side is substantially smaller than the same distance along the outer side of the conveyor belt. This is due to the provision of the elongated eye parts 24′ as explained with reference to FIG. 3.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.