AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES

Abstract

AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES, the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales (100) is incorporated to a mounted-type integrating conveyor belt scale, mounted to bulk material conveyors, featuring a structure that supports racks with rolled cylinders, which, when assembled, are able to support the conveyor belt; the automatic calibration device (100) with the movement mechanism, comprised in this implementation, by a pair of parallelograms comprised of the beams (1) and (2) connected by rotating joints (7), (8), (9), (10) to the minor arms, (22), (23), (24), (25) which, in turn, are connected to the parallel shafts (3) and (4), with the distances between centers being equal to the distance between rotating joints of the beams; an actuator (14) is used to move standard weights (11) and (12), initially supported onto cavities (16), (17), (18) and (19) provided on the beams (1) and (2) of the parallelograms, until reaching the berths (30), (31), (32) and (33) connected to the weigh bridge (41) of the scale.

Claims

1. AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES, wherein the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales (100), comprising a weigh bridge, actuator, standard weights, is incorporated to an integrating conveyor belt scale (150), wherein a transfer mechanism moves standard weights (11) and (12) from rest berths (16), (17), (18) and (19) provided on beams (1), (2) to berths (30), (31), (32), (33) of the weigh bridge (41) of the integrating scale (100) upon an expansion movement of the actuator (14) connected by joints to the lever arms (5) and (6), respectively connected to the shafts (4) and (3) in complementary and opposite angles; the action of the cylinder plunger (14) causes movement of the lever arm (5) connected to the shaft (4), with the exercised force reaction being transmitted through the cylinder body to the symmetric and opposite lever (6), connected to the shaft (3); the movement of the lever causes rotation of the shafts (3) and (4) in opposite directions; shafts (3) and (4) are cooperatively connected by the arms (22), (23) and (24), (25) bound by the joints (7), (8), (9), (10), respectively, to the beams (1) and (2); bearings (26), (27), (28), (29), respectively at the ends of the shafts (3) and (4), connect the assembly to the housing (13) of the integrating conveyor belt scale (150) which, in turn, is fixed by the connection parts (15), (38), (39) and (40) to the conveyor structure connected to the ground; standard weights (11) and (12), respectively, include rods (34), (35), (36), (37), which are initially supported onto the resting berths (16), (17) and (18), (19) connected to the beams (1) and (2), when not in calibration.

2. AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES, according to claim 1, wherein joints (7), (8) are aligned coaxially to the respective joints (10) and (9); distances between rotation centers of the joints and shafts: (7) and (3), (8) and (4), (9) and (4), (10) and (3) are the same; distance between shafts (3) and (4) is equal to the distance between rotation centers of the joints (7) and (8) and, also, equal to the distance between rotation centers of joints (9) and (10); shafts (3), (4) and rotation centers of the joints (7), (8), (9), (10) are orthogonal to beams (1) and (2).

3. AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES, according to claim 1, wherein two identical mobile parallelograms are defined in the automatic device (100), connected by shafts (3) and (4) formed by: 1) beam (1), joint (8), arm (23) connected to the shaft (4), shaft (4), bearing (27), housing (13), bearing (29), shaft (3), arm (22) connected to the shaft (3), joint (7); 2) beam (2), joint (9), arm (25) connected to the shaft, shaft (4), bearing (26), housing (13), bearing (28), shaft (3), arm (24) connected to the shaft (3), joint (10).

4. AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING SCALES, according to claim 1, wherein said device features a calibration cycle that consists in moving the standard weights (11) and (12) from its rest positions and placing them onto the weigh bridge, awaiting acquisition of calibration data and removing them back to their respective rest positions; movement of the standard weights (11) and (12) takes place upon driving the actuator (14), where the plunger (14A) causes opposite movement of the arms (5) and (6), driving the shafts (3) and (4) to rotate in opposite directions; rotation of the shafts (3) and (4) moves the arms (22), (23) and (24), (25) jointed to the beams (1) and (2) of the parallelograms, which move the standard weights (11), (12) and place them onto the berths (30), (31), (32), (33) of the weigh bridge (41) of the integrating scale; the actuator (14) remains activated for the entire calibration phase.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] The device featured herein shall be described in detail, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, with the actuator in a retreated position and standard weights in a rest position.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, with the actuator in a retreated position and standard weights in a rest position.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, which includes the actuator in an advanced position and standard weights in the calibration position.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, which includes the actuator in an advanced position and standard weights in the calibration position.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, with the actuator in a retreated position and standard weights in a rest position; the present view illustrates the presence of support structures of the conveyor belt rollers.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a bottom perspective view of the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, with standard weights in a calibration position; the present view illustrates the presence of support structures of the conveyor belt rollers.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the integrating conveyor belt scale of the state of the art upon which illustrations of the present device are based, pictured in the filed patent application n PI018080048339 of Jul. 31, 2008, requested by the same author of this application, although it applies to several other types, setups and models.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In accordance to the figures hereinabove, the automatic calibration device for integrating conveyor belt scales, an object of this invention patent application is indicated, in general, by reference number 100 and is arranged in a integrating conveyor belt scale model indicated as 150, which is the model shown in application PI018080048339, filed Jul. 31, 2008 and applied by the same author of this document, although it applies to several other types, setups and models.

[0033] The transfer mechanism of this invention transports standard weights 11 and 12 (FIG. 1) from the resting berths 16, 17, 18 and 19 (FIG. 5) on beams 1, 2 (FIG. 1), to berths 30, 31, 32, 33 (FIG. 5) of the weigh bridge 41 (FIG. 5) of the integrating scale, after an expansion movement of the actuator 14 (FIG. 2), comprised herein of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric device, connected by joints to lever arms 5 and 6 (FIG. 1), cooperating, respectively, with shafts 4 and 3 (FIG. 2) and in complementary and opposing angles (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0034] The action of the cylinder plunger displaces the lever arm 5 (FIG. 1) which cooperates with shaft 4 (FIG. 1). The exercised force reaction is transmitted by the cylinder body to the symmetric and opposite lever 6 (FIG. 1), which cooperates with shaft 3 (FIG. 1).

[0035] The movement of the levers leads to rotation of shafts 3 and 4 in opposite directions.

[0036] Shafts 3 and 4 (FIG. 1) are cooperatively connected through arms 22, 23 (FIG. 1) and 24, 25 (FIG. 2), bound by joints 7, 8, 9, 10 (FIG. 4) respectively to the beams 1 and 2 (FIG. 1).

[0037] By arrangement:

[0038] Joints 7, 8 (FIG. 1) are aligned in a coaxial model to respective joints 10, 9 (FIG. 2); distances between the joint and shaft rotation centers: 7 and 3, 8 and 4 (FIG. 1), 9 and 4, 10 and 3 (FIG. 2) are equal; distance between shafts 3 and 4 (FIG. 1) is equal to: the distance between the rotation centers of the joints 7 and 8 (FIG. 1) and also equal to the distance between rotation centers of the joints 9 and 10 (FIG. 2); shafts 3, 4 and rotation centers of joints 7, 8 (FIG. 1), 9, 10 (FIG. 2) are orthogonal to beams 1 and 2 (FIG. 1).

[0039] Bearings 26, 27, 28, 29 (FIG. 2), respectively on the ends of shafts 3 and 4 (FIG. 1), connect the set to the housing 13 (FIG. 1) of the integrating conveyor belt scale 150, which is fixed by the connection parts 15, 38, 39 and 40 (FIG. 2) to the conveyor structure connected to the ground.

[0040] The aforementioned assembly conditions comprise two mobile identical parallelograms, connected by shafts 3 and 4 (FIG. 1) formed by: 1) beam 1, joint 8, arm 23 connected to shaft 4, shaft 4, bearing 27, housing 13, bearing 29, shaft 3, arm 22 connected to shaft 3, joint 7; 2) beam 2, joint 9, arm connected to shaft 4, shaft 4, bearing 26, housing 13, bearing 28, shaft 3, arm 24 connected to shaft 3, and joint 10.

[0041] Standard weights 11 and 12 (FIG. 1) include rods respectively (34, 35 and 36, 37 FIG. 1) which are initially supported on the resting berths 16, 17 and 18, 19 (FIG. 5), connected to beams 1 and 2 (FIG. 1) when not in calibration.

[0042] The calibration cycle consists in moving the standard weights from its rest positions until they are placed onto the weigh bridge, awaiting acquisition of calibration data and removing them back to the respective rest positions.

[0043] Due to the geometrical properties of the parallelogram, standard weights move simultaneously and in parallel to the scale housing.

[0044] There is no possibility of movement discrepancy between the right and left parallelograms, due to both being bound to each other by shafts 3, welded to arms 22 and 24 and by shaft 4, welded to arms 23 and 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0045] The connection of the beams 1 and 2 through welded arms 22, 23, 24, 25 prevents that one of the shafts (3 or 4) remains in place while the other moves.

[0046] Movement, in response to the electric command, takes place through driving the actuator 14 (FIG. 2), upon which the plunger 14A or shaft causes displacement of the arms 5 and 6 in opposite directions (FIG. 1), driving shafts 3 and 4 (FIG. 1) into rotating in different directions.

[0047] Rotation of shafts 3 and 4 moves arms 22, 23 (FIG. 1) and 24, 25 (FIG. 2) jointed to beams 1 and 2 (FIG. 1) of the parallelograms, which, in turn, moves standard weights 11, 12 (FIG. 1), placing them onto the berths 30, 31, 32, 33 (FIG. 5) of the weigh bridge 41 of the integrating scale. Actuator 14 remains activated for the entire calibration phase.

[0048] By arrangement, end of movement for the actuator corresponds to an end of movement for the parallelogram.

[0049] The movement route is done sufficiently beyond what is needed for transferring weights, causing resting berths to reach lower positions than the weigh bridge berths, so that calibration is not affected.

[0050] FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 show actuator 14 in a retreated position with standard weights 11 and 12 in a rest position, supported onto berths 16, 17, 18, 19 provided on beams 1 and 2.

[0051] On FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the actuator 14 is seen in an advanced position, with standard weights 11 and 12 in a calibration position, supported onto berths 34, 35, 36, 37 of the weigh bridge, without touching the berths 16, 17, 18, 19, whose formats expect them to be positioned around the rods 34, 35, 36, 37 of standard weights 11 and 12, but without touching them, when the assembly is in the calibration position with the actuator in an advanced position.

[0052] At the end of the calibration, removal of standard weights 11 and 12 from the weigh bridge 41 takes place by inverting the movement of the actuator 14, from compression to traction.

[0053] The parallelogram rulers move reversely, removing standard weights 11 and 12 from the weigh bridge berths. Upon reaching the end of the retraction course, the standard weights 11 and 12 remain at rest, with rods 34, 35, 36, 37 (FIG. 6) in berths 16, 17, 18, 19 (FIG. 6).

[0054] In the drawings that illustrate the present application, support structures of the conveyor belt rollers are referenced as 20 and 21, and their respective rollers are identified as 20A and 21A.