BELT CONVEYOR DEVICE WITH DEFLECTING ROLLER

Abstract

A belt conveyor device for conveying food products includes a frame, a conveyor belt and a drive device configured to drive the conveyor belt. The drive device includes a drive roller configured to drive the conveyor belt, a first deflecting roller configured to guide the conveyor belt, a second deflecting roller configured to guide the conveyor belt, and a first locking device configured to secure the first deflecting roller in an operating position, and a first engagement guard configured to cover a first gap between the first deflecting roller and the conveyor belt when the first locking device secures the first deflecting roller in the operating position.

Claims

1. A belt conveyor device for conveying food products comprising: a frame; a conveyor belt; and a drive device configured to drive the conveyor belt, wherein the drive device comprises: a drive roller configured to drive the conveyor belt; a first deflecting roller configured to guide the conveyor belt; a second deflecting roller configured to guide the conveyor belt; a first locking device configured to secure the first deflecting roller in an operating position; and a first engagement guard configured to cover a first gap between the first deflecting roller and the conveyor belt when the first locking device secures the first deflecting roller in the operating position.

2. The belt conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second deflecting roller are/is pivotably arranged on the frame.

3. The belt conveyor device according to claim 1, further comprising a second locking device configured to secure the second deflecting roller in an operating position, and a second engagement guard configured to cover a second gap between the second deflecting roller and the conveyor belt when the second locking device secures the second deflecting roller in the operating position.

4. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein the first locking device is pivotally connected to the first deflecting roller and/or the second locking device is pivotally connected to the second deflecting roller.

5. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein the first locking device is releasable and/or lockable by pivoting relative to the first deflecting roller, and/or the second locking device is releasable and/or lockable by pivoting relative to the second deflecting roller.

6. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein a scraper is arranged on the first locking device or the second locking device, and the scraper is configured to engage with the first deflecting roller or the second deflecting roller.

7. The belt conveyor device according to claim 6, wherein the scraper is configured to be engaged with the first deflecting roller or the second deflecting roller by pivoting the first locking device or the second locking device.

8. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein a first scraper is arranged on the first locking device and is configured to engage with the first deflecting roller, and a second scraper is arranged on the second locking device and is configured to engage with the second deflecting roller.

9. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein the first or the second locking device comprises a locking member, wherein the first or the second locking device is pivotable to a locking position, in which the locking member is configured to engage with a retaining element provided on the frame.

10. The belt conveyor device according to claim 9, wherein the locking member comprises a locking bar and the retaining element comprises a locking bar retainer.

11. The belt conveyor device according to claim 9, wherein the first or the second locking device is positionable into an unlocking position by pivoting, in which the locking member is configured to be guided past and/or through the retaining element.

12. The belt conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein the first locking device comprises a first locking member, the second locking device comprises a second locking member, the first locking device is pivotable to a locking position in which the first locking member is configured to engage with a first retaining element provided on the frame, and the second locking device is pivotable to a locking position in which the second locking member is configured to engage with a second retaining element provided on the frame.

13. The belt conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second deflecting rollers are configured to tension the conveyor belt such that it wraps around the drive roller with a wrapping angle that is greater than 180°.

14. The belt conveyor device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder configured to hold the first deflecting roller in a storage position.

15. The belt conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the first locking device comprises a locking bar, the frame comprises a locking bar retainer, a scraper is arranged on the first locking device, the first locking device is pivotable to a locking position in which the locking bar is configured to engage with the locking bar retainer, and the scraper is oriented for engagement with the first deflecting roller by engagement of the locking bar with the locking bar retainer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The disclosure relates to a belt conveyor device of the type described above. In the following, an advantageous embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a belt conveyor device;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a drive device of the belt conveyor device, wherein two deflecting rollers are arranged in an operating position and two corresponding locking devices are locked;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows the view from FIG. 2, with the two locking devices being unlocked;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the view from FIGS. 2 and 3, with the deflecting rollers being arranged in a storage position; and

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a schematic, perspective detail view of the belt conveyor device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In FIG. 1, a belt conveyor device 1 is shown in a schematic, perspective view. The belt conveyor device 1 may include a frame 2. Furthermore, the belt conveyor device 1 may include a conveyor belt 3. The conveyor belt 3 may be configured to convey a food product 4, in this embodiment dough, in a conveying direction F. In doing so, the conveyor belt 3 may be guidable by various guide elements 5. The guide elements 5 may be arranged on the frame 2. The conveyor belt 3 may be moved in a belt running direction B (see FIG. 2). The belt running direction B may be oriented parallel, in particular identically, to the conveying direction F, at least in sections.

[0027] The belt conveyor device 1 may include a drive device 6. The drive device 6 may be configured to drive the conveyor belt 3. The drive device 6 may include a drive unit 7, which may for example include a motor and/or a gearbox. The drive device 6 may further include a drive roller 8. The drive unit 7 may be configured to drive the drive roller 8. The drive roller 8 may be configured to drive the conveyor belt 3. The drive device 6 may include a first deflecting roller 9. The first deflecting roller 9 may be configured to guide the conveyor belt 3. The drive device 6 may further include a second deflecting roller 10. Similarly to the first deflecting roller, the second deflecting roller 10 may be configured to guide the conveyor belt 3.

[0028] In FIG. 2, the drive device 6 is shown in a schematic sectional view. The first deflecting roller 9 and the second deflecting roller 10 are each shown in an operating position S. In FIG. 2, it is shown that the drive device 6 may have a first locking device 11. Furthermore, the drive device 6 may include a first engagement guard 12. The first engagement guard 12 may be configured to cover a first gap 13 between the conveyor belt 3 and the first deflecting roller 9. The engagement guard 12 may be arranged, in particular fixed, to the first locking device 11. The first locking device 11 may be configured to secure the first deflecting roller 9 in an operating position S, and to hold the first engagement guard 12 such that it covers the first gap 13 between the first deflecting roller 9 and the conveyor belt 3 when the first locking device 11 secures the first deflecting roller 9 in the operating position S.

[0029] The first deflecting roller 9 may be pivotally arranged on the frame 2, in particular pivotally attached to the frame 2. For this purpose, the drive device 6 may include a first pivot arm 14. The first pivot arm 14 may be pivotably connected to the frame 2. The first deflecting roller 9 may be rotatably supported on the pivot arm 14. The first locking device 11 may be pivotally connected to the first deflecting roller 9. In particular, the first locking device 11 may be pivotally disposed on the first pivot arm 14.

[0030] The first locking device 11 may include a first locking bar 15. The first locking bar 15 may be configured to engage with a first locking bar retainer 16. The first locking bar retainer 16 may be provided on the frame 2. In FIG. 2, the first locking device 11 is shown in a locking position V. In the locking position V, the first locking bar 15 may engage with the first locking bar retainer 16 such that the locking device 11 is retained in the locking position V. In the locking position V, the first locking device 11 may secure the first deflecting roller 9 in the operating position S. By pivoting the locking device 11 out of the locking position V, the engagement between the first locking bar 15 and the first locking bar retainer 16 may be released, whereby the first locking device 11 may also be released from the locking position V.

[0031] Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the drive device 6 may include a first scraper 17. The first scraper 17 may be arranged on the first locking device 11. The first scraper 17 may be configured to engage with the first deflecting roller 9. A person skilled in the art will recognize from the drawings that the first scraper 17 may be configured to be brought into engagement with the first deflecting roller 9 by pivoting the first locking device 11. It can further be seen that the first locking device 11 may be configured such that by engagement of the first locking bar 15 with the first locking bar retainer 16, the first scraper 17 is oriented for engagement with the first deflecting roller 9.

[0032] In FIG. 2, it may also be seen that the drive device 6 may include a second locking device 11′ in addition to the first locking device 11. Furthermore, the drive device 6 may include a second engagement guard 12′. The second engagement guard 12′ may be arranged to cover a second gap 13′ between the conveyor belt 3 and the second deflecting roller 10. The engagement guard 12′ may be arranged, in particular fastened, to the second locking device 11′. The second locking device 11′ may be configured to secure the second deflecting roller 10 in an operating position S, and to hold the second engagement guard 12′ such that it covers the second gap 13′ between the second deflecting roller 10 and the conveyor belt 3 when the second locking device 11′ secures the second deflecting roller 10 in the operating position S.

[0033] Similarly to the first deflecting roller 9, the second deflecting roller 10 may be pivotally arranged on the frame 2, in particular pivotally attached to the frame 2. For this purpose, the drive device 6 may include a second pivot arm 14′. The second pivot arm 14′ may be pivotably connected to the frame 2. The second deflecting roller 10 may be rotatably supported on the pivot arm 14′. The second locking device 11′ may be pivotally connected to the second deflecting roller 10. In particular, the second locking device 11′ may be pivotally disposed on the second pivot arm 14′.

[0034] The second locking device 11′ may include a second locking bar 15′. The second locking bar 15′ may be configured to engage with a second locking bar retainer 16′. The second locking bar retainer 16′ may be provided on the frame 2. In FIG. 2, the second locking device 11′ is shown in a locking position V. In the locking position V, the second locking bar 15′ may engage with the second locking bar retainer 16′ such that the locking device 11′ is retained in the locking position V. In the locking position V, the second locking device 11′ may secure the second deflecting roller 10 in the operating position S. By pivoting the locking device 11′ out of the locking position V, the engagement between the second locking bar 15′ and the second locking bar retainer 16′ may be released, thereby also releasing the second locking device 11′ from the locking position V.

[0035] Furthermore, it may be seen in FIG. 2 that the drive device 6 may include a second scraper 17′. The second scraper 17′ may be arranged on the second locking device 11′. The second scraper 17′ may be configured to engage with the second deflecting roller 10. A person skilled in the art will recognize from the drawings that the second scraper 17′ may be configured to be brought into engagement with the second deflecting roller 10 by pivoting the second locking device 11′. It can further be seen that the second locking device 11′ may be configured such that by engagement of the second locking bar 15′ with the second locking bar retainer 16′, the second scraper 17′ is oriented for engagement with the second deflecting roller 10.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 2 that the first deflecting roller 9 and the second deflecting roller 10 are configured to tension the conveyor belt 3 such that it wraps around the drive roller 8 at a predetermined wrapping angle 18. As shown here in the embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 2, the wrapping angle 18 may be greater than 180°.

[0037] In FIG. 3, a sectional view of the drive device 6 is shown from the same perspective as in FIG. 2. The first locking device 11 and the second locking device 11′ are each shown in an unlocking position E. In the unlocking position E shown, the first locking bar 15 and/or the second locking bar 15′ may be configured to pass by and/or through the first locking bar retainer 16 and the second locking bar retainer 16′. This may enable the first deflecting roller 9 and/or the second deflecting roller 10 to be pivoted out of the operating position S, in which both deflecting rollers are still shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] After the first deflecting roller 9 and the second deflecting roller 10 have been pivoted out of the respective operating position S, both of them or only one of them may each be stored in a storage position A. Holders 19 may be arranged on the frame 2. The holders 19 may be configured to hold the first deflecting roller 9 and/or the second deflecting roller 10 in the storage position A.