CONVEYOR SYSTEM, USE OF A SPRING DAMPER ASSEMBLY IN AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, AND USE OF A CONVEYOR SYSTEM IN CROP CULTIVATION

Abstract

A conveyor belt system includes a frame, a plurality of rollers supported by the frame, an endless conveyor belt, and at least one tensioning assembly, where the conveyor belt is tensioned in the frame while passing over the rollers, and where the at least one tensioning assembly is configured to tension the conveyor belt. The tensioning assembly includes a spring/absorber assembly with a shock absorber and at least one spring. The shock absorber and at least one spring extend between a first end part and a second end part with the at least one spring being set in parallel to the shock absorber. Use of the spring/absorber assembly in a tensioning assembly for an endless conveyor belt reduces slip-stick. The conveyor belt system is useful when growing plants.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt system comprising a frame, a plurality of rollers supported by the frame, an endless conveyor belt, and at least one tensioning assembly, wherein the conveyor belt is tensioned in the frame while passing over the rollers, and wherein the at least one tensioning assembly is configured to tension the conveyor belt, wherein the tensioning assembly comprises a spring/absorber assembly with a shock absorber and at least one spring, and wherein the shock absorber and at least one spring extend between a first end part and a second end part with the at least one spring being set in parallel to the shock absorber.

2. Use of a spring/absorber assembly in a tensioning assembly for an endless conveyor belt, wherein the spring/absorber assembly comprises a shock absorber and at least one spring, wherein the shock absorber and at least one spring extend between a first end part and a second end part with the at least one spring being set in parallel to the shock absorber.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conveying portion of the endless conveyor belt is supported on a support surface which is stationary with respect to the around moving conveyor belt and which extends along at least 80% of the length of the conveying portion.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spring/absorber assembly comprises two said springs, and wherein the shock absorber is provided between these two springs.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber and at least one spring are attached to the first end part so as to be pivotable about mutually parallel rotation shafts.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber and the at least one spring are attached to the second end part so as to be pivotable about mutually parallel rotation shafts.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first end part engages the conveyor belt.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first end part engages the conveyor belt via a tension roller.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the tension roller is fitted in a carriage which is fitted in the frame so as to be slidable at right angles to the rotation axis of the tension roller and parallel to the conveying part of the conveyor belt.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second end part engages the conveyor belt.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second end part engages the conveyor belt via a tension roller.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the tension roller is fitted in a carriage which is fitted in the frame so as to be slidable at right angles to the rotation axis of the tension roller and parallel to the conveying part of the conveyor belt.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second end part engages the frame.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber is a telescopic shock absorber.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber comprises a cylinder, a piston rod, and a cylinder provided on the piston rod, with the piston fitting in the cylinder in a form-fitting manner and being movable to and fro in the cylinder.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorber is a hydraulic shock absorber.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a helical spring.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt has an upper conveying portion which extends essentially straight from a first return roller up to a second return roller, and has a lower return part, and wherein the spring/absorber assembly is provided under the conveying portion and engages the return part.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the length of the conveying portion for each drive mechanism for the endless conveyor belt is at least 80 m, such as at least 90 m or at least 100 m or more.

20. The system according to claim 18, furthermore comprising a channel with a bottom and longitudinal side walls rising from the bottom, wherein the conveying portion extends over the bottom of the channel.

21. Use of a conveyor belt system according to claim 1, when growing plants, wherein a plurality of root containers provided with plants are placed on the conveyor belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will be explained in more detail by means of the diagrammatic examples of embodiments illustrated in the following figures, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view, partly with the parts separated, of a tensioning system according to the invention comprising a spring/absorber assembly according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a highly diagrammatic representation of a first embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention; and

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a highly diagrammatic representation of a second embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a tensioning assembly according to the invention provided with a spring/absorber assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0035] The spring/absorber assembly 1 comprises a shock absorber 2 and at least one spring 3, 4, in this example two springs 3 and 4. The shock absorber 2 is arranged between the springs 3 and 4 and has an active direction—- regarding the damping action - which coincides with the direction in which the longitudinal axis 22 of the shock absorber extends. Disregarding the thickness of shock absorber 2 and springs 3, 4, the shock absorber 2 and the springs 3, 4 are situated in one flat plane in this example.

[0036] The shock absorber 2 and at least one spring 3, 4 extend between a first end part 5 and a second end part 9. With regard to operation, the at least one spring 3, 4 is placed in parallel to the absorber 2. This may be achieved by providing, as is shown in the example from FIG. 1, one or more springs—- in this example two springs - next and parallel to the absorber, but this may also be achieved in a different way, for example by accommodating a spring in the absorber 2 or by using a helical spring and accommodating the absorber in the helical spring.

[0037] In this example, the shock absorber 2 is attached to the first end part 5 so as to be pivotable about rotation axis 7. Additionally, the at least one spring 3, 4 may also be attached to the first end part 5 so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis 6, 8, but this is not obligatory. If the at least one spring 3, 4 is attached to the first end part 5 so as to be pivotable about the rotation axis 6,8, then the rotation axis 6, 8 of the at least one spring 3,4 is, in particular, parallel with the rotation axis 7 of the shock absorber 2.

[0038] In this example, the shock absorber 2 is attached to the second end part 9 so as to be pivotable about rotation axis 11. Additionally, the at least one spring 3, 4 may also be attached to the second end part 9 so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis 10, 12, but this is not obligatory. If the at least one spring 3, 4 is attached to the second end part 9 so as to be pivotable about the rotation axis 10, 12, then the rotation axis 10, 12 of the at least one spring 3, 4 is, in particular, parallel with the rotation axis 11 of the shock absorber 2.

[0039] It should be noted that the fastening of the shock absorber 2 and the at least one spring 3, 4 to the first end part 5 and/or to the second end part 9 may also differ from that described above.

[0040] The first end part 5 engages the conveyor belt 51 which is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 by means of a dashed line. In the example from FIG. 1, this engagement occurs by means of a tension roller which is diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1 by the longitudinal axis 14 of the tension roller, about which the tension roller can also rotate.

[0041] In the example from FIG. 1, the tension roller 14 is accommodated in a carriage 13 belonging to the tensioning assembly which has two sliding parts 15 and 16. These sliding parts cooperate with rails 17, 18 which form part of the frame of a conveyor belt system. The sliding parts 15 and 16 are displaceable along these rails 17 and 18 in a direction which is approximately parallel to that of the longitudinal axis 22. The first end part 5 is attached to the carriage 13 at reference numeral 19. This fastening may be a rigid fastening, but may also be achieved by means of rotation about an axis parallel with or at right angles to the rotation axis 7 of the pivot fastening with which the shock absorber 2 is attached to the first end part.

[0042] The second end part 9 may engage the conveyor belt in a way similar to the first end part 5 via a tension roller (not shown). This tension roller may be attached to a carriage which is slidable over rails in a way similar to that described above with respect to the first end part 5 (not shown).

[0043] However, the second end part 9 may also be attached to frame of a conveyor belt assembly (not shown in FIG. 1) by means of its fastening point 20. This may be a direct fastening (fastening point 20 attached directly to the frame) or an indirect fastening, for example via the pivotable bracket 23 shown in FIG. 1 or via a tension cable 21 indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 or via the bracket 23 in combination with the tension cable 21 or in yet another way.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a highly diagrammatic side view of an example of a first embodiment of a conveyor belt system 30 according to the invention. This conveyor belt system comprises a frame 50 which is diagrammatically indicated by a rectangle using a dotted line, a plurality of rollers 53, 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59 which are supported by the frame 50, an endless conveyor belt 51 which is tensioned in the frame while passing over the rollers 53, 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59, and at least one tensioning system comprising a spring/absorber assembly 1 according to the invention, for example a spring/absorber assembly as illustrated in FIG. 1 with a carriage 13 at both ends which is slidable along rails 17, 18 which are provided on the frame 50.

[0045] The rollers 53 and 54 are return rollers between which the—- in this example upper - conveying portion 52 of the endless conveyor belt 51 extends. One of these return rollers may be driven in order to rotate the endless conveyor belt 51. However, it is also conceivable for both return rollers 53, 54 to be driven in order to rotate the endless conveyor belt. However, it is also conceivable for none of these return rollers 53, 54 to be driven. In this case, a different drive mechanism will be provided, for example via the roller 58 and/or the roller 59. The conveying portion 52 runs essentially straight, although this does not exclude a dip or curve at the start of an upward or downward slope and this does not exclude the conveying portion locally being provided with a gap where the conveyor belt is directed downwards in order to be passed over a driven roller or tension roller for the purpose of driving or tensioning the endless conveyor belt.

[0046] In the example from FIG. 2, the conveying portion 52 is supported by a stationary support surface 70. This support surface 70 may be subjected to a vibration, but is otherwise essentially stationary with respect to the continuous conveying movement of the conveyor belt. This support surface 70 may be formed by the bottom of a channel, a portion of one of the upright side walls 71 of which is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2.

[0047] The rollers 57 and 56 are both tension rollers between which the tensioning assembly comprising spring/absorber assembly 1 according to the invention is provided and which are movable with respect to the frame 50 in the, in the example from FIG. 2, horizontal direction. In this case, the springs 3 and 4 are pretensioned in order to pull the return rollers 56 and 57 towards each other and thus keep the conveyor belt under tension. The rollers 58 and 59 are in this case fixedly fitted with respect to the frame and have a guiding function and one or both thereof may optionally be driven.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a highly diagrammatic side view of an example of a second embodiment of a conveyor belt system 40 according to the invention. This conveyor belt system 40 differs from the conveyor belt system 30 from FIG. 2 mainly in that i) the rollers 57 and 59 are absent, and ii) the second end part 9 of the spring/absorber assembly 1 engages the frame 50 at reference numeral 60 instead of with the conveyor belt. Referring to FIG. 1, the second end part 9 will then be attached to the frame 50 at fastening point 20 directly or via a bracket 23 and/or tension cable 21 or otherwise. For the rest, the exemplary embodiments from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 essentially correspond and therefore the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 have been used in FIG. 3 for corresponding parts.

[0049] As is indicated diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyor belt system according to the invention is readily usable for growing plants 62 which are situated on the conveyor belt in a root container 61, such as a plant pot or substrate.

[0050] As is clear from the highly diagrammatic illustration of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 3, many variants of the conveyor belt system are possible which fall within the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

[0051] Also, many variants for the spring/absorber assembly are conceivable which fall within the scope of the use according to the invention defined by the claims.