Contact protection apparatus for covering a pinching gap adjacent to a roller

Abstract

A contact protection structure can be positioned on a belt body to prevent a pinching gap, where the belt body presents a conveyor belt deflected by a roller, and where a roller holder supporting the roller and attachable to the belt body also supports the contact protection structure.

Claims

1. A contact protection apparatus for covering a pinching gap formed adjacent to a conveyor belt of a belt conveyor, the conveyor belt extend along a conveying direction and a transverse direction running orthogonally to the conveying direction and with a vertical direction running orthogonally to both the conveying direction and the transverse direction, the conveyor belt being deflected by a roller which is supported by a belt body of the belt conveyor and which rotates around a roller axis running in the transverse direction, the contact protection apparatus including: (a) a roller holder adapted to be placed in a roller holder operating position on the belt body to fix the roller to the belt body; (b) a contact protection structure formed in one piece with the roller holder, the contact protection structure covering the pinching gap when the roller holder is placed in the roller holder operating position on the belt body; and (c) connection means for fixing the roller holder to the belt body in any one of multiple different locations along the conveying direction to facilitate adjustment of the tension of the conveyor belt.

2. The contact protection apparatus of claim 1 further including a retaining section on which the connection means is located, the retaining section extending laterally next to the roller in conveying direction when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position.

3. The contact protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact protection structure includes a protective element which, when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position, extends in the transverse direction to form a radial residual gap of predefinable size with the conveyor belt rotating around the roller.

4. The contact protection apparatus of claim 3 wherein a section of the protective element facing the conveyor belt extends along a circular arc around the roller axis when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position.

5. The contact protection apparatus of claim 3 wherein the protective element includes a supporting surface extending in the conveying direction and in the transverse direction when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position so as to form a continuation of a conveying plane formed by the conveyor belt.

6. The contact protection apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one protective element extension module operable to connect to the protective element so as to extend in the transverse direction when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position.

7. The contact protection apparatus of claim 1: (a) further including a retaining section on which the connection means is located, the retaining section extending laterally next to the roller in conveying direction when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position; and (b) wherein the contact protection structure includes a protective element which, when the roller holder is in the roller holder operating position, extends in the transverse direction to form a residual gap of predefinable size with the conveyor belt rotating around the roller; and (c) wherein the protective element, starting from the retaining section, projects freely over the roller to form the residual gap so that the conveyor belt is removable from the belt conveyor on the side of the roller opposite the retaining section.

8. The contact protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact protection structure is symmetrical to a symmetry plane oriented in the conveying direction and transverse direction and containing the roller axis.

9. An apparatus including: (a) a belt body; (b) a roller holder connected in a roller holder operating position on the belt body; (c) a contact protection structure formed in one piece with the roller holder, the contact protection structure covering a pinching gap associated with a roller supported on the belt body by the roller holder; and (d) connection means for fixing the roller holder to the belt body in any one of multiple different locations along a conveying direction of the belt body to facilitate adjustment of the tension of a conveyor belt mounted on the belt body.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the roller holder supports the roller on one side.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the roller has a roller axis extending in a transverse direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the belt body and the roller holder includes a first positioning surface extending in the transverse direction and engages a second positioning surface of the belt body which also extends in the transverse direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second positioning surface comprises a recess running in the conveying direction of the belt body.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the contact protection structure and roller holder are detachable from the belt body in one piece without tools.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of four belt bodies in a conveyor belt system.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a contact protection structure according to the invention in a first design.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a contact protection structure according to the invention in a second design.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the contact protection structure variant according to FIG. 2 mounted to a belt body.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the contact protection structure variant according to FIG. 3 mounted to a belt body.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a belt conveyor with one-piece and two-piece contact protection structures.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(7) The belt conveyor K shown in FIG. 1 comprises four belt bodies in total B.sub.1-B.sub.4, which extend in a conveying direction X and are arranged on top of each other in vertical direction Z and next to each other in transverse direction Y, in order to clamp products between the belt bodies placed on top of one another B.sub.1, B.sub.3 and B.sub.2, B.sub.4 and convey them in conveying direction X, indicated by an arrow. Each belt body is essentially formed by a frame M, which is specified in more detail in FIG. 1 only for belt body B.sub.1. Each belt body also includes a conveyor belt F, which is deflected by a roller R at a (in relation to the conveying direction X) rear end of the belt body B (a roller arranged at the front end of each belt body with the same function and preferably also with contact protection is not shown, to enable a better overview). Each roller R can be rotated around a roller axis A running in transverse direction Y.

(8) The conveyor belts F of the upper two belt bodies B.sub.1, B.sub.2 rotate in the opposite direction to the opposing lower two belt bodies B.sub.3, B.sub.4 in vertical direction Z, so that a product coming in conveying direction X (from bottom left in FIG. 1) is drawn in between the belt bodies B and can be conveyed onward by them in conveying direction X.

(9) Each belt body B carries a contact protection structure H at its rear end. Each contact protection structure comprises one or two protective elements E.sub.1, E.sub.2 (also see FIGS. 2 and 3), which extend in transverse direction Y at a short distance from the conveyor belt F deflected by the roller R. As a result, they form a (shown in FIG. 3 in particular) residual gap G, which is designed to be smaller than human limbs, particularly fingers, in compliance with standard requirements. The contact protection structure H prevents a finger, for example, from entering the pinching gap, which is formed in the area of a roller R between the conveyor belt F and a product drawn in by conveyor belt K. The contact protection structure H protrudes with its protective element E.sub.1, E.sub.2 into this potential pinching gap and fills it out.

(10) The contact protection structure H of the upper belt body B.sub.1 comprises a shell-shaped protective element E.sub.2, which is moulded in one piece to a retaining section D. The retaining section D extends laterally past the roller R in conveying direction X and is fixed to an end facing away from protective element E.sub.2 on the frame M of the belt body B.sub.1. The roller R (difficult to see on the first belt body) is supported by retaining section D, also serving as roller holder T, and positioned relative to the frame M of the belt body B.sub.1. The contact protection structure H, formed in one piece with the roller holder T, can thus be removed from the frame M in the (negative) transverse direction Y, so to the bottom right in FIG. 1, or inserted in the reverse direction. (The arrangement of the contact protection structure H on the second belt body B.sub.2 opposite the first belt body B.sub.1 in the transverse direction is designed so that it is mirror-symmetrical to the first belt body, and the above statements in relation to the first belt body B.sub.1 apply equally). The two lower belt bodies B.sub.3, B.sub.4, which are again formed mirror-symmetrically to each other in relation to their respective contact protection, also support a contact protection structure H at their rear end. Each contact protection structure presents two flange-like protective elements E.sub.1 spaced apart from one another in vertical direction Z, and freely projecting in transverse direction Y. Their properties will be explained in more detail below. Furthermore, the contact protection structure H of the lower belt bodies B.sub.3, B.sub.4 is designed to be similar to that of the upper belt bodies B.sub.1, B.sub.2. The protective elements E.sub.1 of each contact protection H are accordingly fixed to the frame of the respective belt body B.sub.3, B.sub.4 via a retaining section simultaneously serving as roller holder T (and not specified in more detail here).

(11) FIG. 2 shows a simplified perspective representation of a one-piece contact protection structure H according to the invention, as it is provided in FIG. 1 on the two upper belt bodies B.sub.1, B.sub.2. A shell-shaped protective element E.sub.2 extends along a circular arc around the roller axis A of a roller R still to be accommodated by the protective element. This protrudes freely in transverse direction Y, starting from a retaining section D extending in the X-direction. The width of the protective element E.sub.2 is designed so as to completely cover the roller R, still to be inserted, and the belt F in transverse direction Y. The retaining section D is simultaneously roller holder T and presents a recess roughly corresponding to the roller diameter in the area of roller axis A, for accommodating the roller. At its end facing away from the protective element, the retaining section D is equipped with connection means V, with which it can be fixed to the frame M of a belt body B.

(12) In the area of the connection means V the retaining section D is equipped with two guide surfaces (first positioning surfaces) J parallel to each other. A recess provided in the frame of a respective belt body presents two stop surfaces (second positioning surfaces) W (FIG. 4) arranged complementarily to the two guide surfaces J, and opposite one another in vertical direction Z. These precisely guide the retaining section D in inserted condition relative to the frame M in conveying direction X and at the same time enable the adjustment of an X-position of the retaining section D relative to the frame. The roller R to be accommodated by the retaining section D can thus be moved along frame M into an X-position suitable for the necessary belt tension and be fixed using the connection means V. The protective element E.sub.2 formed in one piece on the retaining section D also executes this movement, so that the distance of the protective element E.sub.2 from the belt F supported by the roller R and from the roller axis A remains unchanged.

(13) FIG. 3 shows the contact protection structure H, also one-piece, arranged on the lower belt bodies B.sub.3, B.sub.4 in accordance with FIG. 1. While the statements about the design and function of the retaining section D should be understood similarly to those relating to FIG. 2, the contact protection structure differs in respect of the design of its protective elements. Two protective elements E.sub.1 extend, spaced apart from one another in vertical direction Z, parallel to each other and freely projecting from the retaining section D, in transverse direction Y. Here too the Y-width of the protective elements is selected according to the Y-width of the roller R to be accommodated by the retaining section D and of the conveyor belt F supported by it. The space between the upper and lower protective element E.sub.1 remains free, so that the roller R or at least the conveyor belt F deflected by it can project into or through this space. The residual gap G previously described is formed between the conveyor belt F not shown in FIG. 3 and deflected by the roller R and the surface of the protective element E.sub.1 facing the roller axis A.

(14) Each protective element E.sub.1 presents a surface serving as supporting surface S, which extends in an X-Y-plane. The position of the supporting surfaces S relative to the roller axis A is selected so that a contact protection structure H arranged on the belt body creates, with the supporting surface S of the upper protective element E.sub.1, an extension of the conveying plane, which is defined by the surface of the conveyor belt F along the belt body B. The distance from the supporting surfaces S to the roller axis in vertical direction Z, defined as belt radius N, results from the sum of roller radius and Z-thickness of the conveyor belt F (also see FIGS. 4 and 5).

(15) However, it is also possible to omit the function of the supporting surfaces, as products could possibly jam with a protective element reaching up to the height of the conveying plane. In this case the position of the surface S in the Z-direction is deliberately designed to be slightly lower than that of the conveying plane, so that the products can largely move contact-free across the protective element and this acts purely as a contact protection.

(16) The contact protection according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is formed symmetrically to an X-Y-plane containing the roller axis A. As FIG. 1 shows, such a contact protection is advantageously designed to be inserted into the frame M of a belt body, either from one or (then turned by 180°) from the other side and in or opposite to transverse direction Y, wherein the freely projecting protective element then extends in or opposite to transverse direction Y.

(17) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a simplified side view (facing in transverse direction Y) of the arrangement, already shown in FIG. 1, of the different contact protections or protective elements E.sub.1 and E.sub.2. It can be seen that the shell-shaped protective elements E.sub.2 extend in the X-direction beyond the rear belt end Q and the roller R also rotates at the height of the roller axis A. As a result, in addition to a contact protection, a particularly good protection of the roller R against damage or soiling is also achieved.

(18) A contact protection structure H, which is equipped with protective elements of type E.sub.1 instead, enables the arrangement of a further belt body connecting to the belt body in the X-direction (with a roller R′, a conveyor belt F′ and a belt end Q′) in such a way that the then adjacent belt ends Q, Q′ of both belt bodies are positioned as close to each other as possible, in order to keep a transfer gap as small as possible. The conveyor belt F with its belt end Q projects into or through the space formed between the protective elements E.sub.1 in the X-direction.

(19) The bottom section of FIG. 6 shows a partial view of two belt bodies B.sub.3, B.sub.4, whose contact protection structure H′ is formed in two pieces and is thus different to that of FIG. 1 (the two upper belt bodies B.sub.1, B.sub.2 on the other hand are identical to FIG. 1 in this respect). In the bottom section of FIG. 6 a first retaining section D.sub.1, which can be fixed to the frame M, extends on a first side of the roller R towards the rear end of the belt body. However, on this first side of the frame and the roller R this retaining section D.sub.1 serves simply as roller holder for the roller R and does not extend beyond the belt end in the X-direction. It forms a first part of the two-piece contact protection structure H′. On the opposite side of the roller R a second retaining section D.sub.2, connectable to the first retaining section D.sub.1, extends as the second part of the two-piece contact protection structure H′ so far beyond the belt radius, that the previously mentioned protective elements E.sub.1 can project across the conveyor belt deflected by the roller R, to form the gap G in transverse direction Y. A gap remains between the first retaining section D.sub.1 and both protective elements E.sub.1 (again see FIG. 5), through which the conveyor belt F could be removed from the roller R in transverse direction Y if necessary.

(20) In this embodiment the second retaining section D.sub.2 with the protective elements E.sub.1 forming the actual contact protection can be detached from the first retaining section D.sub.1 and replaced if necessary. By detaching the first retaining section D.sub.1 from the frame M, in addition to the roller R the second retaining section D.sub.2 and with it the protective elements E.sub.1 forming the actual contact protection can be detached from the belt body together, in order to change the conveyor belt or perform other maintenance tasks, for example. Recommissioning of the belt body is only possible after refitting the roller holder (and the simultaneous arrangement of the contact protection on the belt body).

(21) As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, it should be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.

(22) Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

(23) In the above descriptions and the following claims, terms such as top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, and the like with reference to a given feature are made with reference to the orientation of the structures shown in the drawings and are not intended to exclude other orientations of the structures.

(24) The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.

(25) The above-described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(26) A Roller axis B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3, B.sub.4 Belt body D.sub.1, D.sub.2 Retaining section E.sub.1, E.sub.2 Protective element F Conveyor belt G Residual gap H Contact protection J Guide surfaces K Belt conveyor L Slot M Frame N Belt radius P Shaft Q Belt end R Roller S Supporting surface T Roller holder V Connecting means X Conveying direction W Stop surface Y Transverse direction Z Vertical direction