VARIABLE CONVEYOR/ELEVATOR

Abstract

A conveyor/elevator for raising ovate objects includes a lower support with a contact surface having a minimum radius equal or greater than the radius of the ovate object to be moved. A side support with opposed concave surfaces which have a minimum radius equal or greater than the ovate object, wherein each surface has at least one support point for the ovate object. The concave surfaces have a last possible support point, in the direction towards the outside of the conveyor/elevator, at the intersection of a line parallel with the line of centre of gravity of the ovate object, with a distance relative to the line of a centre of gravity of the ovate object between the minimum of 2 mm and the maximum equal to the radius of the ovate object and a line perpendicular to the line of centre of gravity of the ovate object.

Claims

1. A variable conveyor for raising ovate objects having a radius from a lower level to a higher level and unloading the ovate objects, the variable conveyor comprising: a lower support configured to form a contact surface in which the contact surface of the lower support has a minimum radius equal to or greater than the radius of the ovate object to be moved, wherein the lower support provides at least one support point for the ovate object, said support point forming an area of contact with the ovate object; and a side support with opposed concave surfaces which have a minimum radius equal to or greater than the radius of the ovate object to be moved, wherein each concave surface has at least one support point for the ovate object, forming an area of contact with the ovate object, wherein the opposed concave surfaces have a last possible support point in a direction towards the outside of the conveyor, situated at an intersection of two lines, the first of said two intersecting lines running parallel with the centre of gravity of the ovate object, at a distance from said centre of gravity between a minimum of 2 mm and a maximum equal to the radius of the ovate object, and the second of said two intersecting lines running perpendicular to said centre of gravity in the direction of the opposed concave surfaces, at a distance from said centre of gravity between a minimum value equal to the radius of the largest ovate object minus one mm and a maximum value equal to 1 mm.

2. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, further comprising a movement track formed by mounting on a roller chain, wherein at least one lower support and one side support is mounted on the movement track.

3. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by mounting on a plurality of side bow type roller chains, at least one lower support and one side support to the right of the at least one lower support and one side support to the left of the at least one lower support.

4. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the side support has empty space between an adjacent sequence of side support, lower support and side support.

5. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by the consecutive and intercalated mounting on a side bow type roller chain of a lower support and a side support so as to form an uninterrupted movement track.

6. (canceled)

7. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, wherein both a first and second side supports have some empty space between the next sequence of first side support, lower support and second side support.

8. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by mounting on at least one to a plurality of link-chains made of plastic, composites or steel, at least one lower support and one side support to the right of the lower support and one side support to the left of the lower support.

9. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by mounting on at least one to a plurality of link-chains made of plastic, composites or steel, at least one lower support and one side support to the right of the lower support and one side support to the left of the lower support, both supports having some empty space between the next sequence of side support, lower support and side support.

10. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by the consecutive and intercalated mounting on at least one to a plurality of link-chains made of plastic, composites or steel of lower supports and side supports so as to form an uninterrupted movement track of a specified length.

11. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by anchoring in at least one to a plurality of cables or malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic, at least one lower support and one side support to the right of the lower support and one side support to the left of the lower support.

12. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by anchoring in at least one to a plurality of cables, malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic, at least one lower support and one side support to the right of the lower support and one side support to the left of the lower support, having some empty space between the next sequence of side support, lower support and side support.

13. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by the consecutive and intercalated anchoring in at least one to a plurality of cables, malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic, of one lower support and one side support so as to form an uninterrupted movement track of a specified length.

14. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by the consecutive and intercalated mounting of a lower support preceded and anteceded by a side support, the lower support and the side support having at least one to a plurality of connection elements integrated into the structure of said supports which cannot be dissociated from said supports, so as to be interconnected, forming the movement track without the use of other connection elements such as link-chains, roller chains, side bow type roller chains or cables, and malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic, so that the connection element or elements integrated into the structure of the lower support and side support can be used for driving forming the movement track.

15. The variable conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a movement track formed by the consecutive and intercalated mounting of a lower support preceded and anteceded by a side support, the lower support and the side support having at least one to a plurality of connection elements integrated into the structure of said supports which cannot be dissociated from said supports, so as to be interconnected with the use of a pin made of steel, plastic or composite, forming the movement track without the use of other connection elements such as link-chains, roller chains, side bow type roller chains or cables or malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic so that the connection element or elements integrated into the structure of the lower support and side support can be used for forming the movement track.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a view of the side support (6) and of the lower support (1) of the elevator/conveyor in the horizontal position when idle;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a view showing the area of contact (7) and (8) of the side support (6) with the product being moved (in this case, an egg) (4);

[0025] FIG. 3 is a front view of the side support (6) on the side bow type of roller chain (20);

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the side support (6) and lower support (1) mounted sequentially in an uninterrupted manner on the roller chain (20) so as to form a movement track as long as specifically required for each installation;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the side support (6) and lower support (1) mounted sequentially in an uninterrupted manner on the roller chain (20) so as to form a movement track as long as specifically required for each installation;

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of the movement track mounted on the supporting sections;

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a perspective section of the movement track mounted on the supporting section structure;

[0030] FIG. 8 shows in cutaway view an example of a conveyor with the movement track chain engaged on the sprockets of the front and intermediate drive units and return end drive unit on the right;

[0031] FIG. 9 shows in perspective an example of a conveyor with the front, intermediate and end drive units;

[0032] FIG. 10 shows a top view of a section in a horizontal plane of the movement track mounted on the supporting section structure, having four flat bends with angles of ninety degrees;

[0033] FIG. 11 shows the section in FIG. 10 in perspective;

[0034] FIG. 12 is a sectional drawing of a front view of the movement track mounted on the supporting section structure, showing four ninety-degree bends, two of them being ascending bends and two of them being descending bends, forming between the bends two movement sections perpendicular to the horizontal plane of movement. It also shows the details of displacement of the egg during the movement from a point A in the horizontal, going through points C and F in the vertical to point G;

[0035] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the movement track mounted on the supporting sections, showing four ninety-degree bends, two of them being ascending bends and two of them being descending bends;

[0036] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an application of an example of a conveyor coupled to an automatic nest (32) with loading of the movement track at right angles to the direction of movement;

[0037] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of another possible configuration of the conveyor in a helical form, making lifting possible from a lower level to a higher level and vice versa;

[0038] FIG. 16 shows a cutaway front view of another possible configuration of the conveyor coupled to a battery of laying cages, the eggs being loaded perpendicularly to the direction of movement, from the lowest portion to the highest portion;

[0039] FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of FIG. 16 without the battery of laying cages;

[0040] FIG. 18 shows another possible configuration of the conveyor, the movement track being formed by the mounting of the side support (6) and lower support (1) on a welded-link chain;

[0041] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of FIG. 18; and

[0042] FIG. 20 shows a front view of an extreme configuration of the side support 6 and lower support 1 but which still allows the formation of ascending or descending bends to the right and to the left, where the last possible support point tends to equate to the radius of the largest possible product to be moved.

[0043] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] This invention will be described below in greater detail based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. To this end, although the illustrations show the elevator moving eggs, it must be understood that the said conveyor can be applied to any movement of ovate products.

[0045] Turning now to the Figures, a variable conveyor/elevator (100) for movement of eggs and other generally ovate objects is configured to move and lift the eggs having geometry formed by the rotation of a surface and more specifically to move from a loading point A to an unloading point B, having or not having intermediate loading points between A and B, the conveyor being capable of being loaded in the direction of movement, perpendicularly or even transversely (laterally) to the direction of movement, adapting to the most varied installation conditions such as: distance between A and B, differences in level between A and B, having or not having ascending or descending sections forming or not forming right angles, acute or obtuse angles relative to a horizontal plane and/or forming right angles, acute or obtuse angles with another plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane, impositions of civil engineering such as the need for bends to both the right and the left with different angles, combinations of bends of unequal height, it being possible to form a spiral with either an ascending or a descending direction of movement, any misalignments and even the customer's specific requirements.

[0046] Basically, the conveyor/elevator (100) is formed by two supports: a lower support and a side support, fastened sequentially on to a roller chain, preferably of the side bow type, with which it is possible to form ascending and descending bends and also bends to both the right and the left, the sequence of supports forming an endless uninterrupted movement track. The movement track is mounted on a structure formed by sections and these sections can be made of plastics, composites or metals. The section structure provides support for the movement track.

[0047] Movement in both of the directions of the movement track is provided by at least one drive unit installed at one end of the conveyor, point B for example (but not limited to this), the drive unit preferably being formed by an electric motor and a reducer or motor and transmission system which manages torque, the drive unit being connected to a shaft which, in turn, has a sprocket fastened to it so as to engage with the roller chain and transmit turning movement to the roller chain, causing the linear displacement of the movement track. At the other end, point A, there is another sprocket connected to a bearing-mounted shaft allowing free rotation or, depending on the length of the movement track, there can also be another end drive unit at point A so as to divide the effort necessary for driving the movement track, it also being possible for there to be intermediate auxiliary units which can be installed at any distance between points A and B and if there is only one auxiliary unit, this is preferably at the central point between A and B.

[0048] For control of the drive unit or drive units, it is preferable to use an electrical panel provided with a frequency inverter connected to each motor, making it possible to vary the frequency of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor, thereby making it possible to adjust the speed of the movement track according to the operator's requirements or the requirements of any machine fed by the conveyor. Other means of varying the movement track speed can be used such as, for example, a mechanical variable speed unit connected between the reducer and motor or even the use of direct current motors with electronic variable speed unit.

[0049] The variable conveyor/elevator (100) according to FIG. 1 in the idle horizontal position is formed by a lower support (1) in which the contact surface (2) of the lower support (1) has a minimum radius (3) equal to or preferably greater than the radius of the largest product (4) moved, providing at least one support point (5) for the product (4), preferably forming an area of contact with the product (4), a side support (6) with opposed concave surfaces (7) and (8) which have a minimum radius (9) equal to or greater than the radius of the largest product (4) moved, providing on each surface (7) and (8) at least one support point (10) for the product (4), preferably forming an area of contact with the product (4), according to FIG. 2, the concave surfaces (7) and (8) having a last possible support point (11), out in the direction (12) towards the outside of the conveyor, situated at the intersection of a line (13) parallel with the line of centre of gravity (14) of the product (4), with the distance (15) relative to the line of centre of gravity (14) of the product (4) between the minimum of 2 mm and the maximum equal to the radius of the largest product (4) moved and a line (16) perpendicular to the line of centre of gravity (14) of the product (4) with the distance (17) from the centre of gravity (18) of the product (4) in the direction of the concave surfaces (7) and (8) between the minimum value equal to the difference of the subtraction of 1 mm from the value of the radius of the largest product (4) and maximum value equal to 1 mm.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows the side support (6) being inclined at an angle of 90 from a horizontal straight line. However, the inclination of the support (6) cannot be limited to 90; the last possible support point (11) is always located above the line (19) at a tangent to the concave surfaces (7) and (8) and perpendicular to the line of centre of gravity (14) of the product (4) and with outlying position parallel with the line of centre of gravity (14) of the product (4) in the direction (12) towards the outside of the conveyor. Thus the greater the distance (15)this tending to equate to the radius of the largest product (4) movedand the smaller the distance (17), the safer the movement of the product (4) on ascending and descending routes even at angles beyond 90. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will recognise that this invention can be configured in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or purpose defined in the attached claims.

[0051] The variable conveyor/elevator (100) has a movement track formed by the consecutive side bow type roller chain (20) and mounts the lower support (1) and the side support (6) so as to form an uninterrupted movement track. Desirably, the movement track is formed by mounting the at least one lower support (1) with one side support (6) to the right of the lower support (1) and one side support (6) to the left. The roller chain (20) desirably is formed of link-chains made of plastic, composites or steel. Alternately, the roller chain (20) is formed by anchoring in one or a plurality of cables or malleable strips of steel, composites or plastic, to the at least one lower support (1) and one side support (6).

[0052] In one embodiment, the movement track chain (20) engages on sprockets of a front and intermediate drive units and return end drive unit. As shown in FIG. 7, the movement track is desirably mounted on a supporting section structure. FIG. 10 shows a top view of one embodiment of the movement track mounted on the supporting section structure, having four flat bends with angles of ninety degrees. FIG. 12 shows the movement track mounted on the supporting section structure, showing four ninety-degree bends, two of them being ascending bends and two of them being descending bends, forming between the bends two movement sections perpendicular to the horizontal plane of movement. It also shows the details of displacement of the egg during the movement from a point A in the horizontal, going through points C and F in the vertical to point G. FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an application of an example of a conveyor coupled to an automatic nest (32) with loading of the movement track at right angles to the direction of movement. FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of another possible configuration of the conveyor in a helical form, making lifting possible from a lower level to a higher level and vice versa. FIG. 16 shows another possible configuration of the conveyor coupled to a battery of laying cages, the eggs (4) being loaded perpendicularly to the direction of movement, from the lowest portion to the highest portion. FIG. 18 shows another possible configuration of the conveyor, the movement track being formed by the mounting of the side support (6) and lower support (1) on a welded-link chain. FIG. 20 shows a front view of an extreme configuration of the side support 6 and lower support 1 but which still allows the formation of ascending or descending bends to the right and to the left, where the last possible support point tends to equate to the radius of the largest possible product to be moved.

[0053] The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.