SUPPLY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SUPPLY DEVICE

Abstract

A supply device for feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device has at least one conveyor belt (9) that extends around two deflection pulleys (4) of the supply device. The at least one conveyor belt (9) has, on its inner side (21), a guide strip (23) arranged approximately along a feed direction (13), and has a bed (11) for guiding the at least one conveyor belt (9) between the two deflection pulleys (4) by a guide groove (19) for the guide strip (23). The bed (11) has a base table (22) and at least one guiding device (20) attached to the base table (22). The guide groove (19) is formed at least partially by the at least one guiding device (20).

Claims

1. A supply device for feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device, having at least one conveyor belt (9) that extends around two deflection pulleys (4) of the supply device, the at least one conveyor belt (9) has an inner side (21) with a guide strip (23) approximately arranged along a feed direction (13), and a bed (11) having a guide groove (19) receiving the guide strip (23) for guiding the at least one conveyor belt (9) between the two deflection pulleys (4), wherein the bed (11) comprises a base table (22) and at least one guiding device (20) attached to the base table (22), and wherein the guide groove (19) is formed at least partially by the at least one guiding device (20).

2. The supply device of claim 1, wherein the at least one guiding device (20) is attached to the base table (22) in such a way that the guide groove (19) is oriented approximately along the feed direction (13).

3. The supply device of claim 2, wherein at least two guiding devices (20) are arranged approximately parallel next to one another on the base table (22), and are spaced from one another in such a way that the guide groove (19) is formed by a spacing, oriented approximately perpendicular to the feed direction (13), between the guiding devices (20).

4. The supply device of claim 1, wherein the base table (22) is substantially plate-shaped and comprises at least one receptable (65) for receiving at least one attachment device (57) formed on the guiding device (20).

5. The supply device of claim 1, wherein the guiding device (20) is attached to the base table (22) in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.

6. The supply device claim 1, wherein the at least one guiding device (20) is an essentially U-shaped profile element (51).

7. The supply device of claim 6, wherein the guide groove (19) is formed on a central web (53) of the essentially U-shaped profile element (51), or is at least partially formed on a flange (55) of the essentially U-shaped profile element (51).

8. The supply device claim 4, wherein the at least one receptacle (65) is substantially formed as a slot (67) in the base table (22), and the at least one attachment device (57) is formed as a foot member (59) projecting downward from the guiding device (20) through the slot (67), and wherein the at least one slot (67) is oriented approximately along the feed direction (13) and the foot member (59) protrudes from a flange (55) of the essentially U-shaped profile element (51) at the face side.

9. The supply device of claim 8, wherein the attachment device 57 is formed with a centering device 85.

10. The supply device of claim 8, wherein the at least one foot member (59) comprises a fixing section (63) that is connected to the respective flange (55) by means of a web (61) of the foot member (59), and wherein a length of the web (61) is dimensioned in such a way that the fixing section (63) adjoining the web (61) projects out of the respective slot (67) when the respective foot member (59) is inserted through the respective slot (67), and wherein the web (61) is, at least in sections, formed narrower than the fixing section (63).

11. The supply device of claim 10, wherein the fixing section (63) that projects out of the respective slot (67) is rotatable, for attaching the guiding device (20), in such a way that at least one abutment section (69, 73) of the fixing section (63) abuts on an underside (31) of the base table (22) facing away from the guiding device (20) for clamping the fixing section (63) against the base table (22) in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.

12. The supply device of claim 1, wherein the guiding device (20) is formed from a cold-rolled and/or cold-formed steel.

13. The supply device of claim 8, wherein a widening (83) is formed approximately centrally on the slot (67).

14. A method for providing a supply device for feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device, comprising the steps of: providing at least one conveyor belt (9) having, on its inner side, a guide strip (23) arranged approximately along a feed direction (13), in such a way that the conveyor belt (9) extends around two deflection pulleys (4) of the supply device, and providing a bed (11) for guiding the at least one conveyor belt (9) between the two deflection pulleys (4) by means of a guide groove (19) for the guide strip (23), wherein the bed (11) comprises a base table (22) and at least one guiding device (20) attached to the base table (22), and wherein the guide groove (19) is at least partially formed by the at least one guiding device (20).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one foot member (59) of the guiding device (20) is inserted through a substantially slot-shaped receptacle (65) in the base table (22), and the foot member (59) which has been inserted through the receptacle (65) is rotated in such a manner that the guiding device (20) is attached to the base table (22) in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 is a spatial plan view of a supply device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0074] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view, enlarged with respect to FIG. 1, of a front view of the supply device with viewing direction towards the end pulleys, with a guiding device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0075] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view, enlarged with respect to FIG. 1, of a front view of the supply device with viewing direction towards the end pulleys, with a guiding device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[0076] FIG. 4 is a cut lateral view of the front view shown in FIG. 3, with an attachment device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0077] FIG. 5 is a lower view of the base table with a receptacle.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a spatial plan view of a detail of a supply device according to FIG. 1.

[0079] FIG. 7 is a front view of the supply device shown in FIG. 6.

[0080] FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional lateral views of the front view show in FIG. 3, with an attachment device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a supply device 1 with a frame 3 and deflection pulleys 4, which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, are configured as a drive pulley 5 on the one side, and as a plurality of end pulleys 7, in this case 16, on the other side. The supply device 1 comprises a base table 22 with two lateral end sections 15, 17. The axis of the drive pulley 5 is arranged substantially perpendicularly to these end sections 15, 17. The multiple end pulleys 7 are respectively associated with one conveyor belt 9thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the supply device 1 comprises sixteen conveyor belts 9. A bed 11 is arranged between the drive pulley 5 and the end pulleys 7. Cover metal plates are arranged on the end pulleys 7, as a finger protection, attached to the frame 3. The supply device 1 for in particular lateral feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device can alternatively be used as a discharge device for discharging or guiding goods to be transported away from a conveyor device.

[0082] The conveyor belts 9 are arranged approximately along a feed direction 13 indicated by an arrow, and approximately parallel next to one another. In the case that the supply device 1 is used as a discharge device, the feed direction 13 corresponds to a discharge direction, in particular oriented in the opposite direction. The feed direction 13 faces away from the drive pulley 5 towards the end pulleys 7. In this representation, some of the conveyor belts 9 are omitted for a better illustration of the structure of the supply device 1, and the bed 11 is likewise not entirely shown. A belt length of the respective conveyor belts 9 increases from a first lateral end section 15 of the supply device 1 to a second lateral end section 17 of the supply device 1 transversally to the feed direction 13.

[0083] Respectively one guide groove 19 associated with each of the conveyor belts 9 is formed on the drive pulley 5, the bed 11 and the end pulleys 7, which groove serves for the lateral guiding of the respective conveyor belt 9. The bed 11 comprises a guiding device 20, on which the respective guide groove 19 is at least partially formed. As hereinafter indicated with reference to FIG. 2, a guide strip 23 respectively formed approximately centrally at an inner side 21 of the conveyor belt engages into the guide groove 19 that corresponds in position to the guide strip 23. The guide strip 23 is formed approximately along the feed direction 13. A guiding device 20 is attached to a base table 22 of the bed 11. The base table 22 can be formed essentially plate-shaped. In this exemplary embodiment, the base table 22 can be formed from steel.

[0084] The supply device 1 provides a feed conveyor surface for goods to be transported, on which the goods to be transported can be conveyed on the conveyor belts 9 in the feed direction 13. The feed conveyor surface is provided by the upper outer sides 43 of the conveyor belts 9. The supply device 1 can be formed as a table, for example, wherein the feed conveyor surface is formed as a table surface.

[0085] In the partial cross-section shown in FIG. 2, which is enlarged with respect to FIG. 1, of a front view of the supply device 1 in the viewing direction towards the end pulleys 7, the guide strips 23 mentioned above in FIG. 1 can be discerned, which are formed on each of the conveyor belts 9 approximately centrally on the inner side 21 thereof approximately along the feed direction 13. The guide strips 23 are formed as tapered strips here.

[0086] At least one reinforcement member 33 formed as a C-profile is provided at an underside 31 of the base table 22 facing away from the guiding device 20, for the stiffening of the base table 22.

[0087] For the lateral guiding of the respective conveyor belt 9, the guide strip 23 thereof engages into a guide groove 19 associated with the respective conveyor belt 9. The guide groove 19 can be formed in multiple parts and comprise multiple sections. The guide groove 19 can, in sections, be formed in the drive pulley 5, the bed 11 and/or the end pulley 7 associated with the respective conveyor belt 9. The arrangement of the guide groove 19 can substantially correspond to the arrangement of the associated guide strip 23, in particular with respect to a direction approximately transversally to the feed direction 13. The respective guide groove 19 can be formed as a tapered groove and have a cross-section (in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction 13), which is formed substantially complementary to the guide strip 23 formed as the tapered strip.

[0088] A lateral clearance 42 between the respective guide strip 23 and the associated guide groove 19 in the drive pulley 5 can be smaller than in the bed 11, for example, enabling a lateral guiding of the respective conveyor belt 9 to be provided by means of the associated guide groove 19 in the drive pulley 5. The lateral clearance 42 is configured approximately parallel to a plane of the respective conveyor belt 9, e.g. a plane of an upper outer side 43 of the respective conveyor belt 9, and substantially perpendicular to the feed direction 13. The lateral guiding of the respective conveyor belt 9 can thus effectively be provided on a shorter engagement path between the respective guide strip 23 and the associated guide groove 19 than would be the case e.g. with the lateral guiding of the respective conveyor belt 9 in the bed 11. Purely as a result of the reduced engagement path, this can entail reduced friction and thus reduced wear on the respective guide strip 23 and/or the associated guide groove 19.

[0089] The respective upper outer sides 43 of the conveyor belts 9 lie in one common plane here, by which the feed conveyor surface can be provided.

[0090] The guiding device 20 is formed as an essentially U-shaped profile element 51, wherein, in a first exemplary embodiment shown here, each conveyor belt 9 is guided in two guiding devices 20. The essentially U-shaped profile element 51 can be made from steel, in particular cold rolled steel. Cold-rolled steel has a particularly smooth and strengthened surface, which, on the one hand, can ensure particularly low friction between the conveyor belt 9 and the guiding device 20 and, on the other hand, low wear on the conveyor belt 9 and/or the guiding device 20.

[0091] In this case, the guide groove is formed by the flanges of two adjacently arranged, essentially U-shaped profile elements. Viewed in the feed direction 13, which faces into the sheet plane, a lateral surface of the guide groove 19 can be formed by one of the two essentially U-shaped profile elements 51. Another lateral surface of the guide groove 19 can be formed by the other one of two essentially U-shaped profile elements 51, which can be arranged opposite the first essentially U-shaped profile element 51 viewed approximately transversally to the feed direction 13. The two flanges 55 of an essentially U-shaped profile element 51 delimit two different parallelly-formed guide grooves 19 spaced from one another via the essentially U-shaped profile element 51.

[0092] Similar to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view, enlarged with respect to FIG. 1, of a front view of the supply device 1 in viewing direction of the end pulleys. By contrast with FIG. 2, a guiding device 20 according to a second exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0093] Each conveyor belt 9 is associated with exactly one guiding device 20 on which the guide groove 19 is entirely formed. Similar to FIG. 2, the guiding device 20 is formed as an essentially U-shaped profile element 51. The guide groove 19 is formed on a central web 53 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51.

[0094] At least one flange 55 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 can be oriented approximately perpendicularly with respect to the base table 22, as illustrated. Alternatively, or additionally, the at least one flange 55 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 can be oriented with respect to the base table 22 at an angle different from approximately 90, similar to the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 according to the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0095] The guiding device 20 shown in FIG. 2 can comprise at least one flange 55 which can be oriented approximately perpendicularly to the base table 22, similar to the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 according to the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, as an alternative to the flange 55 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51, which is shown there and which can be oriented with respect to the base table 22 at an angle different from approximately 90. As a result, guide grooves 19 having substantially vertical lateral surfaces or lateral walls can be provided.

[0096] The conveyor belt 9 is shown in FIG. 3 to be bearing on the guiding device 20, in particular on the essentially U-shaped profile element 51, but can be spaced from it, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0097] Alternatively, or additionally, the conveyor belt 9 shown in FIG. 2 can bear on the guiding device 20, in particular on the essentially U-shaped profile element 51.

[0098] An attachment device 57 is formed on the guiding device 20 of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The attachment device 57 is formed, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, as a foot member 59, which comprises a web 61 and a fixing section 63. The foot member 59 is connected to the guiding device 20, in particular to the flange 55 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51, by means of the web 61.

[0099] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the attachment device 57 is not shown to be rotated for the attachment of the guiding device 20 to the base table 22 and will be explained in detail in the following figures, in particular in FIG. 4.

[0100] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of the guiding device 20 with the attachment device 57. The side view is, for example, viewed in the direction of the arrow 64 shown in FIG. 3.

[0101] The attachment device 57 can be formed integrally with the guiding device 20, the foot member 59 can, in particular, be integrally connected with the flange 55, as shown in the exemplary embodiments.

[0102] As can clearly be discerned in the side view, the web 61, by means of which the foot member 59 is connected to the flange 55, is narrower than the fixing section 63 when viewed approximately in the feed direction 13.

[0103] A receptacle 65 is provided in the base table 22, which is formed as a slot 67 in the feed direction 13. When applying the guiding device 20 on to the base table 22, the attachment device 57 reaches through the receptacle 65, that is the foot member 59 in particular reaches through the slot 67. The web 61 is arranged in the slot 67 here, and the fixing section 63 projects through the slot 67 and protrudes from an underside 31 of the base table 22 facing away from the guiding device 20.

[0104] The abutment sections 69, 73 of the fixing section 63 are formed at a skew angle with respect to an end edge 71 of the respective flange 55 of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 in such a way, that a distance 75 from a distal section 77, located further away from the web 61, of the abutment sections 69, 73 to the end edge 71 of the respective flange 55 is larger than a distance 79 from a proximal section 81 of the respective abutment section 69, 73 located closer to the web 61. The two abutment sections 69, 73 are thus formed as two approximately mirror-symmetric sections, in particular surfaces, of the fixing section 63 that face the flange 55.

[0105] In a lower view of the base table 22, on its underside 31 in FIG. 5, the receptacle 65 formed as a slot 67 is shown, through which a foot member 59, in particular a fixing section 63, projects.

[0106] For the form-fit and/or force-fit attachment of the guiding device 20, in particular of the essentially U-shaped profile element 51, to the base table 22, the fixing section 63 is rotated in such a way that the abutment sections 69, 73 at least partially but against the underside 31. The fixing section is rotated by approximately 45 here.

[0107] In the vicinity of the web 61, the slot 67 can comprise a widening 83. In this case, the widening 83 is formed substantially centrally on the slot 67. When rotating the fixing section 63, the web 61 can therefore co-rotate in a manner not disturbed by the slot 67, whereby a risk of tearing of the web 61 can be reduced.

[0108] FIG. 6 shows a spatial plan view of a detail of a supply device 1 in accordance with FIG. 1. The guide grooves 19 formed by the guiding devices 20 shown here are illustrated as being widened at their end sections. In order to widen the respective guide groove 19, the respective lateral surface or the respective lateral wall of the guide groove 19 is inclined, in particular towards the side facing away from the guide strip 23 (not shown), which, for a better understanding, is also shown in the front view of FIG. 7.

[0109] In this respect, the essentially U-shaped profile element 51 which provides the guiding device 20 can e.g. be bent away from the respective guide groove 19 at least one end (viewed in the feed direction 1) in such a way that the cross-section of the guide groove 19 is formed to be wider at this end. At this widened point, the cross-section of the guide groove 19 can be formed to be wider by at least approximately 5%, preferably by at least approximately 10%, particularly preferably by at least approximately 20%. The widening of the ends of the essentially U-shaped profile elements 51 can be achieved by means of cold forming, in particular by means of deep drawing, for example.

[0110] As a result, wear on the respective guide strip 23 and/or to the guiding devices 20 forming the respective guide groove 19 can be reduced, in particular when the guide strip 23 enters the guide groove 19 and/or when the guide strip 23 exits the guide groove 19. A contact of a ridge present e.g. on the end section, with the guide strip can be prevented thereby.

[0111] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a connection of the lateral surfaces or of the lateral walls can be chamfered, in particular towards a side facing away from the conveyor belt 9. In the essentially U-shaped profile element, the connection of the lateral surfaces or of the lateral walls corresponds to the central web of the essentially U-shaped profile element.

[0112] According to a second exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, as an alternative or in addition to the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the attachment device 57 can be formed with a centering device 85.

[0113] The features described above in relation to the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 generally likewise apply to the second exemplary embodiment of the attachment device 57 shown here. Hereinafter, the differences between the second exemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment of the attachment device 57 are mainly described.

[0114] The centering device 85 advantageously is formed approximately centrally around the web 61 of the foot member 59. The centering device 85 is formed as a guide trunnion here, for example.

[0115] The centering device 85 in particular can be formed as a widening of the web 61. In other words, the centering device 85 can at least partially widen the web 61 from the end edge 71 of the flange 55 in the direction of the underside 31 of the base table 22.

[0116] Advantageously, an outer extension of the centering device 85 is slightly smaller, i.e. e.g. by approximately 5% to 40%, preferably approximately 5% to approximately 20%, than an inner extension of the receptacle 65. In particular, an approximately uniform distance 87 between the receptacle 65 and the centering device 85 is formed in an approximately central position of the centering device 85 in the receptacle 65.

[0117] Thus, an effective reduction of a clearance between the guiding device 20 and the base table 22, in particular between the attachment device 57 and the receptacle 65, can be achieved in a simple manner when mounting the guiding device 20 on the base table 22.

[0118] In this way, the clearance between the guiding device 20 and the base table 22 can be reduced approximately in and/or counter to the feed direction 13. Alternatively, or additionally, the clearance between the guiding device 20 and the base table 22 approximately perpendicular to the feed direction 13 can be reduced approximately in one plane of the base table 22.

[0119] Furthermore, the guiding device 20 can thus be mounted on the base table 22 in a more precise manner, a predetermined position of the guiding device 20 with respect to the base table 22, in particular approximately in and/or counter to the feed direction 13 can be observed in a more precise manner.

[0120] Thus, a tolerance in a predetermined position of the deflection pulleys 4 with respect to the base table 22, in particular approximately in and/or against the feed direction 13, can advantageously be designed with greater tolerances.

[0121] To sum up, the web 61 which is widened by means of the centering device 85 can not only lead to a stabilization of the foot member 59, but also to a reduction of inaccuracy in the mounting of the guiding device 20 on the base table 22 and/or in the position of the guiding device 20 with respect to the base table 22.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0122] 1 supply device

[0123] 3 frame

[0124] 4 deflection pulley

[0125] 5 drive pulley

[0126] 7 end pulley

[0127] 9 conveyer belt

[0128] 11 bed

[0129] 13 feed direction

[0130] 15 first lateral end section of supply device

[0131] 17 second lateral end section of the supply device

[0132] 19 guide groove

[0133] 20 guiding device

[0134] 21 inner side of conveyor belt

[0135] 22 base table

[0136] 23 guide strip

[0137] 31 underside

[0138] 33 reinforcement member

[0139] 42 lateral clearance of the guide strip of the guide groove

[0140] 43 upper outer side of conveyor belt

[0141] 51 essentially U-shaped profile element

[0142] 53 central web of essentially U-shaped profile element

[0143] 55 flange of essentially U-shaped profile element

[0144] 57 attachment device

[0145] 59 foot member

[0146] 61 web of the foot member

[0147] 63 fixing section of the foot member

[0148] 65 receptacle

[0149] 67 slot

[0150] 69 first abutment section of fixing section

[0151] 71 end edge of flange

[0152] 73 second abutment section of fixing section

[0153] 75 distance from web to end edge on distal section

[0154] 77 distal section of second abutment section

[0155] 79 distance from web to end edge on proximal section

[0156] 81 proximal section of second abutment section

[0157] 83 widening

[0158] 85 centering device

[0159] 87 distance