CONVEYOR DEVICE

Abstract

Conveyor device (1) including an endless conveyor belt (4), a first drive (3) for driving the endless conveyor belt (4), a main frame (2) and an auxiliary frame (19) supported in the main frame (2), a second drive (15) for moving the auxiliary frame (19) back and forth relative to the main frame (2) in the manner of a shuttle-conveyor, such that a supply track (4a) of endless conveyor belt (4) supported by the auxiliary frame (19) can feed products (P) on a discharge track (4b) of endless conveyor belt (4) supported by the main frame (2).

Claims

1-33. (canceled)

34. A conveyor device including a main frame, an endless conveyor belt supported by the main frame, a number of circulation rollers defining the path of circulation of the conveyor belt, wherein the circulation rollers comprise a first circulation roller forming an upstream, first end roller and comprise a second circulation roller forming a downstream, second end roller, a first drive for driving the conveyor belt around the circulation rollers, for conveying products in a first direction, wherein the opposite direction is a second direction, wherein the conveyor device has a discharge track ending at the location of the second end roller, wherein the conveyor device furthermore comprises: an auxiliary frame supported in the main frame on which auxiliary frame the second end roller and a third circulation roller are arranged, a second drive for moving the auxiliary frame back and forth relative to the main frame in the first and second directions, in the manner of a shuttle conveyor, the shuttle conveyor being retractable at a relatively high speed for releasing the products on the discharge track from the conveyor belt due to inertia and letting the products drop down, wherein the conveyor belt forms an open loop in the auxiliary frame, the shape of which loop is at least also defined by the second end roller and the third circulation roller, as well as by fourth and fifth circulation rollers arranged in the main frame above the line connecting the bottom sides of the second end roller and the third circulation roller to one another, and situated stationary relative to the auxiliary frame, for circulation of the inbound part and the outbound part, respectively, of the open loop.

35. The conveyor device according to claim 34, wherein the fourth and the fifth circulation rollers are situated above the profile of the displacement path of the second end roller and the third circulation roller (when considered in a vertical plane of projection transverse to the displacement path of the auxiliary frame).

36. The conveyor device according to claim 34, wherein the first drive comprises a circulation roller configured as drive roller for the conveyor belt, wherein the entire circumference of the drive roller is situated above an infinite horizontal line connecting the top sides of the second end roller and the third circulation roller to one another, in particular straight above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, when considered in side view.

37. The conveyor device according to claim 34, wherein all circulation rollers, with the exception of the circulation rollers arranged on the auxiliary frame, with their entire circumferences are situated above an infinite horizontal line connecting the top sides of the second end roller and the third circulation roller to one another, are situated in particular straight above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, when considered in side view.

38. The conveyor device according to claim 34, provided with a sixth circulation roller which, when considered in the first direction is located in front of the fourth circulation roller and supported in the main frame, and which forms a third end roller around which the conveyor belt circulates prior to reaching the fourth circulation roller via a track in the second direction, wherein the third end roller is situated at a level above the displacement path of the second end roller, in particular straight above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, when considered in side view, wherein the third end roller forms the end of a supply track of the conveyor belt from which the products can be discharged to the conveyor belt where it forms the discharge track, wherein the third end roller is situated just above the belt in the discharge track, wherein the third end roller with its bottom side, in particular with its center line, is situated at a level below the top side of the fourth circulation roller, in particular below the center line of the fourth circulation roller.

39. The conveyor device according to claim 38, wherein the third end roller is arranged on a holder that can be swung between a position in which the third end roller is in the operative position, and a maintenance position swung towards the upstream side, wherein the holder can be swung for that purpose about a horizontal center line that is transverse to the conveyance direction and is situated at the upstream side of the circumference of the third end roller.

40. The conveyor device according to claim 39, wherein said swing center line is situated at a distance from the second end roller of the conveyor device which distance exceeds the distance for the circumference of the fourth and/or fifth circulating roller to the second end roller.

41. The conveyor device according to claim 34, provided with a control for controlling the first and the second drives such that the belt speed corresponds with the speed of the displacement of the auxiliary frame in the downstream (first) direction.

42. A conveyor device including a main frame, a supply device supported by the main frame and including a supply track having a supply belt conveyor for conveying products from an inlet at which location a first end roller for the belt conveyor is situated, a discharge device supported by the main frame including a discharge track having a discharge belt conveyor for discharging products at the discharge end, at which location a second end roller for the discharge belt conveyor is situated, wherein the discharge device comprises an auxiliary frame, which in a displacement path can be moved back and forth relative to the main frame in the manner of a shuttle conveyor for in its relatively high speed returning motion discharging the products in downward direction, such as to a further conveyor device situated below the displacement path, wherein the supply belt conveyor and the discharge belt conveyor are configured with the same endless conveyor belt circulating around a number of circulation rollers, and moving through the supply track and the discharge track, wherein the conveyor device furthermore comprises a first drive for driving the endless conveyor belt in a circulating manner, and a second drive for moving the auxiliary frame back and forth, wherein the supply track ends at the location of a circulation roller forming a third end roller, which third end roller is situated above the discharge track, wherein the conveyor belt forms two loops, which at the location of transitions connect to each other, merge into each other, with an open loop on the auxiliary frame that can be moved back and forth and an open loop in the relatively stationary main frame, wherein the third end roller when considered in conveyance direction extends over the locations of transition and can be moved to a maintenance position in which those locations of transition are accessible.

43. The conveyor device according to claim 42, wherein the conveyor belt forms an open loop, in particular a flat, open loop, in the auxiliary frame, the shape of which loop is at least also defined by the second end roller and the third circulation roller, as well as by fourth and fifth circulation rollers arranged in the main frame above the profile of the displacement path of the second end roller and third circulation roller (when considered in a vertical plane of projection transverse to the displacement direction of the auxiliary frame), and situated stationary relative to the auxiliary frame, for circulation of the inbound part and the outbound part, respectively, of the loop, wherein the fourth and fifth circulation rollers are situated at a horizontal distance from the second end roller which distance exceeds the distance from the third end roller to the second end roller.

44. The conveyor device according to claim 42, wherein the first drive comprises a circulation roller configured as drive roller for the conveyor belt, wherein the entire circumference of the drive roller is situated at a level higher than the profile of the displacement path of the second end roller and the third circulation roller (when considered in a vertical plane of projection transverse to the displacement direction of the auxiliary frame), in particular straight above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, when considered in side view.

45. The conveyor device according to claim 42, wherein all circulation rollers, with the exception of the circulation rollers arranged on the auxiliary frame, with their entire circumferences, are situated above an infinite horizontal line connecting the top sides of the second end roller and the third circulation roller to one another, in particular straight above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, when considered in side view.

46. The conveyor device according to claim 42, wherein the third end roller is arranged on a holder that can be swung between a position in which the third end roller is in the operative position, and a maintenance position swung towards an upstream side, wherein the holder can be swung for that purpose about a horizontal center line that is transverse to the conveyance direction and is situated at the upstream side of the third end roller.

47. The conveyor device according to claim 42, wherein the locations of transition are defined by fourth and fifth circulation rollers that are arranged stationary in the main frame and guide the inbound part and the outbound part, respectively, of the open loop on the auxiliary frame.

48. The conveyor device according to claim 47, wherein the fourth and fifth circulation rollers are mounted by pins or shafts in accommodation spaces in the main frame, without fasteners, in particular are supported on bottoms of the vertical grooves in/on the main frame, which grooves are open at the top end.

49. The conveyor device according to claim 47, wherein from the first end roller the conveyor belt runs in the first direction, via the fourth circulation roller, towards the second end roller, runs from the second end roller in the second direction, underneath, towards the third circulation roller and from there runs overhead in the first direction towards the fifth circulation roller and at that location runs in upward direction around the fifth circulation roller to proceed in the second direction and finally ends up at the first end roller.

50. An assembly of a conveyor device according to claim 34 and a supply device of product holders, wherein the supply device forms a transportation surface for the product holders and is positioned for, below the discharge track of the conveyor device, making the product holders available to products supplied down the discharge track by the conveyor device, within the vertical space bounded by both end positions of the second end roller of the conveyor device in the back-and-forth motion.

51. The assembly according to claim 50, wherein the supply device extends underneath the conveyor belt, for supplying the product holders parallel to the back-and-forth motion of the auxiliary frame, in particular in the first direction.

52. A method for having an assembly according to claim 50 operational, wherein the products are supplied down the conveyor belt into the discharge track, the product holders are supplied by the supply device into a position below the discharge track in the ultimate extended position of the auxiliary frame, and the auxiliary frame is subsequently retracted at a relatively high speed while dropping the products into the product holders.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the downstream end roller of the conveyor device is situated at a vertical distance from the transportation surface of the supply device, which distance is between approximately 0.5 to approximately twice the height of the product holders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

[0058] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a side view and a top view, respectively, of a conveyor device according to the invention, in a condition in which the shuttle conveyor is in its ultimate extended position;

[0059] FIG. 1C shows a detail of the side view of FIG. 1A; FIGS. 2A and 2B show a side view and a top view, respectively, of the conveyor device of FIGS. 1A and 1B, however, this time in a condition in which the shuttle conveyor is in its ultimate retracted position; and

[0060] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an illustration of removing the conveyor belt in an example of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1A schematically shows an example of a conveyor device 1 according to the invention, having a main frame 2 supported on a floor, in which main frame a conveyor belt 4 is supported which is driven so as to circulate by a first drive, motor 3 with drive roller 3a. The conveyor belt 4 circulates in directions A1 (above), A2 (below), around circulation rollers 5,6,7,8,9, drive roller 3a, circulation rollers 11,12 and 13. The circulation rollers 5-9 and 12 are turning rollers at which location the course of the belt turns over at least almost 180 degrees. All circulation rollers, except drive roller 3a are idle.

[0062] The circulation roller 12 forms a first end roller, arranged on a belt tensioning unit 20, at the inlet end. The circulation roller 7 forms a second end roller, at the discharge end. The relatively thin circulation rollers 7 and 8 (third circulation roller) are arranged on an auxiliary frame or carriage 19 (FIG. 1C), which can be moved back and forth in the first and second directions B1,B2 by a second drive, motor 15 (FIG. 1B) arranged in the main frame. The carriage 19 is guided on either side by each time two sliding pieces 22 on slide rods 23. Via connections 18, the carriage 19 is connected on both sides to geared belts 17 situated on either side, which geared belts circulate about transverse shafts 16a,16b, wherein the transverse shaft 16a is driven by the reversible motor 15. The motor 15 can be controlled for applying a high speed to the carriage 19 in the second direction B2, as is known for shuttle conveyors.

[0063] The motors 3 and 15 are controlled by a programmable control unit 30 including processor, in which data regarding the positions of the products and holders are processed as well.

[0064] The (sixth) circulation roller 5 is also slim and arranged at the end of a holder 14 that is arranged in the main frame so as to be swung in the directions C1, C2, enabled to be swung about a horizontal center line 21, between an operational position and a maintenance position shown with dashed lines, in which the belt is relaxed, limp and the stationary (fourth and fifth) circulation rollers 6 and 9 can be accessed by the mechanic from above. In a manner so as to be freely rotatable, the circulation rollers 6 and 9 are supported on the bottoms of vertical grooves (not shown) that are open at their upper ends (see FIG. 3B, grooves 31, 32 and bottoms 31a, 32a), so that they can be removed easily. In the maintenance position the holder 14 can rest against a stop.

[0065] In the circulation of the belt 4 the following can be distinguished consecutively: [0066] a supply track 4a extending between the first end roller 12 and the circulation roller 5, in that case forming a third end roller; [0067] a short intermediate track between the end roller 5 and the (fourth) circulation roller 6; [0068] a discharge track 4b between the circulation roller 6 and the second end roller 7; [0069] a first return track 4c between the second end roller 7 and the (fifth) circulation roller 9, via the (third) circulation roller 8; and [0070] a second return track 4d between the circulation roller 9 and the first end roller 12, wherein the belt runs around/along the drive roller 3a in order to be driven by it. The supply track, the short intermediate track and the second return track are stationary relative to the main frame (apart from the moving belt). The discharge track and the first return track move along with the carriage 19.

[0071] That way the belt between the circulation rollers 6 and 9, with tracks 4b and 4c, forms an open loop (due to the circulation rollers 6 and 9 not coinciding). The belt 4 forms an inbound part at the circulation roller 6 and forms an outbound part of the loop at the circulation roller 9. As the inbound and outbound parts of said open loop are situated at the top side of the open loop, the first return track between the rollers 7 and 8 is able to form a lowest point of the circulation of the belt 4, The supply track 4a, the intermediate track and the second return track 4d also form an open loop of which the opening is situated at its bottom side.

[0072] The circulation rollers 6 and 9 are situated horizontally adjacent to each other, at an as short as possible distance. The circulation roller 9, considered in downstream direction, is situated slightly ahead of the circulation roller 8 in the ultimate extended position of the carriage 19 (FIG. 1A). The circulation roller 6 can be situated close to the third end roller 5, but to keep the distance between the end roller 5 and the belt track 4b as small as possible, the circulation roller 6 is situated slightly receded (in the upstream direction) so that the holder 14 with end roller 5 is capable of extending downwardly inclined over the circulation roller 6, in the downstream direction,

[0073] In the side views of FIGS. 1A and 2A it can be seen that all circulation rollers, with the exception of the circulation rollers 7 and 8 arranged on the auxiliary frame, but including the drive roller 3a, are situated at a level that is higher than that of the displacement path of the rollers 7 and 8 and of the carriage 19. In this example said circulation rollers are situated above the vertical profile of the displacement path of the second end roller 7 and the third circulation roller 8 (when considered in a vertical plane of projection transverse to the directions B1, B2), in particular above an infinite horizontal line connecting the top sides (of the circumference in engagement with the belt) of the rollers 7 and 8. They are also situated above the displacement path of the auxiliary frame, considered in side view of the FIGS. 1A and 2A, when combined. As a result, the length of the conveyor device 1 is kept within limits, as not much more than the distance between the circulation roller 7 in the extended position (FIG. 1A) and the circulation roller 8 in the retracted position (FIG. 2A) of the carriage 19. Further, a lot of vertical space H (FIG. 1A) is available below the belt circulation, as the return track 4c defines the lowest level of the belt circulation.

[0074] As a consequence thereof, it is possible to place a supply conveyor 101, forming an assembly 100 with the conveyor device 1, below the belt 4, for supplying holders 103 with supply belt 102 in a direction D, parallel to the first direction B1. In the vertical sense, the supply belt 102 can then be taken very close to the bottom side of the belt 4c, as a result of which the dropping height of the products in the transfer from the belt in the discharge track 4b to the bottom of the holders 103 can be as small as possible. This is advantageous in creating the wanted position of the products in the holders 103. The holders 103 may come from a forming device, such as a vacuum forming device, situated upstream from the supply belt 102,

[0075] In operation, products P, such as slices of cold meats or hamburgers, supplied in the direction E and down the supply track 4a, in the first direction B1, are conveyed to the third end roller 5 at speed V1. The products P run off from it and end up on the belt 4 on the discharge track 4b. The carriage 19 is operated to move from the retracted position in FIG. 2A,B to the extended position of FIG. 1A, B. As the carriage 19 is then moved in the direction B1 by the second motor 15 at the same speed V1, the products P can as it were nestle themselves on the belt 4 during the transfer.

[0076] Meanwhile tray-shaped holders 103 are supplied on the supply conveyor 102, up to a position below the discharge track 4b in the ultimate extended position of FIG. 1A and kept there. When the carriage 19 has finally arrived in the ultimate position of FIG. 1A, the second motor 15 is operated to retract the carriage 19 at high speed V2 in direction B2. As is known per se for shuttle conveyors, the products P are then left behind and due to the absence of a support they will fall into the holders 102 that are kept at the ready. As the dropping height can be small, the products hardly have any chance to change their shape and/or orientation under the influence of gravity and the friction with the belt 4 pulling away. The filled holders 103 are conveyed onward in the direction G.

[0077] During the fast retracting motion of the carriage 19 it is ensured that no products pass over the third end roller 5.

[0078] The belt 4 can be continuously driven by the motor 3 and the drive roller 3a at speed V1.

[0079] If the belt 4 needs to be cleaned or replaced, the manner of operation as indicated in FIGS. 3A and 3B can be followed. They schematically show that the main frame carries a long casing 60, wherein it must be understood that in the given side view, this casing is actually situated in front of the belt circulation. However, for reasons of illustration the belt 4 is depicted as an interrupted line. Considered in the first direction F1 the casing 60 is then situated on the left-hand side of the device 1. A superstructure 61 on the main frame is then situated on right-hand side. On that side the motors 3 and 15 are also situated. At the downstream end, the casing 60 is detachably coupled to a part of the main frame 2 by means of a locking pin 51. Said locking pin can be detached by slide 51.

[0080] In the extended position, the auxiliary frame 19 can be stopped by motor 3, as can the belt circulation. The support 14 is then swung in the direction C1 upwards and rearwards, as described above, and then the situation of FIG. 3A is achieved. The fourth circulation roller 6 can be grabbed and, in the direction IA be lifted with the end pins from the groove 31. After temporarily bending a belt portion sideways this can also be done for the fifth circulation roller 9, direction N. Upstream the circulation roller 10 is removed (direction K), after which the belt 4 can hang downwards, in the track between the first end roller 12 and end roller 5 standing elevated and in the connecting track between the end roller 5 and the second end roller 7. After that, the slide 50 can be retracted and as a consequence the locking pin, direction L.

[0081] Subsequently the belt 4 can be brought into a wide shape 4 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3B), among other see direction Q, which makes it possible to remove the belt in the transverse direction R from the device 1, past the downstream end and past the upstream end.

[0082] The invention is/inventions are not at all limited to the embodiments discussed in the description and shown in the drawings. The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert. Variations of the parts described in the description and shown in the drawings are possible. They can be used individually in other embodiments of the invention(s). Parts of the various examples given can be combined together.