Conveyor device for transporting goods

Abstract

A conveyor device (10) for the transport of goods, comprising individual modules (12) which form in their entirety a conveyor line (14) and each have a belt (20) circulating between a start section (16) of the module (12) and an end section (18) of the module (12), is configured and modified in regard to a reliable conveyance, including that of small objects in particular, such that the modules (12) are coupled together and able to swivel against each other so that the conveyor line (14) is adjustable in length by swiveling of the modules (12).

Claims

1. Conveyor device (10) for the transport of goods, comprising individual modules (12) which form in their entirety a conveyor line (14) and each have a circulating belt (20) circulating between a start section (16) of a respective module (12) and an end section (18) of the respective module (12), characterized in that the individual modules (12) are coupled together and able to swivel against each other so that the conveyor line (14) is adjustable in length by swiveling of the individual modules (12), wherein the circulating belt (20) runs around a deflection (22) in the start section (16) and a deflection (24) in the end section (18), and each individual module (12) is covered by the circulating belt (20) in the lengthwise direction so that each individual module (12) individually forms a belt conveyor, and wherein several of the individual modules (12) are arranged alongside each other transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor line (14) and staggered in the lengthwise direction of the conveyor line (14).

2. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that every end section of a respective module (12) is coupled in a pivoting manner to a start section of a neighboring module (12).

3. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the modules (12) can swivel out from a plane of the conveyor line (14).

4. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the circulating belt (20) runs around a deflection (22) in the start section (16) and a deflection (24) in the end section (18).

5. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the modules (12) are pivoted together by means of scissor elements (26, 28).

6. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the modules (12) are enclosed at the side by side cheeks (32).

7. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that several modules (12) are arranged alongside each other transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor line (14).

8. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the modules (12) have at least on one side of one end a bush-shaped receptacle (38) and have at the other end a barrel-shaped receptacle with an insert element (40) corresponding to the receptacle (38).

9. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (12) can swivel out from a plane of the conveyor line (14).

10. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (12) are pivoted together by means of scissor elements (26, 28).

11. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (12) are enclosed at the side by side cheeks (32).

12. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (12) have at least one side of one end a bush-shaped receptacle (38) and have at the other end a barrel-shaped insert element (40) corresponding to the bush-shaped receptacle (38).

13. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (12) have two deflecting rollers (42) each time, around which the circulating belt (20) is led.

14. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the two deflecting rollers (42) each have a passageway (46) through which a shaft (48) is inserted, engaging the passageway (46) in a form fitting manner.

15. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that some of the individual modules (12) can be configured as active modules (13) for the driving of downstream modules (12, 13) in the conveyor line (14).

16. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the circulating belt (20) of active modules (13) is configured as a toothed belt (21) and the two deflecting rollers (42) of the active modules (13) have teeth (50) for engaging with the toothed belt (21).

17. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a drive motor (52) is provided, which is coupled to one row of individual modules (12) having shafts (48) coupling the individual modules (12), including where the drive motor (52) is coupled to one of the shafts (48).

18. Conveyor device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor line (14) can be mounted at a first end (54) and/or at a second end (56) by means of movable bearing blocks on a bracket or a frame (58), including by means of a further shaft (60) passing through the individual modules (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention shall now be described in relation to a drawing having FIGS. 1-4, including the following:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the conveyor device according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 includes FIGS. 2A and 2B, where FIG. 2A shows the conveyor device from FIG. 1 in a partly extended position; and where FIG. 2B shows the conveyor device from FIG. 1 in a partly retracted position;

(4) FIG. 3 includes FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D having several views, each showing a module of the conveyor device from FIG. 1, including where FIG. 3A shows a top perspective view of a module of the conveyor device from FIG. 1, where FIG. 3B shows a top view of the module shown in FIG. 3A, where FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of the module shown in FIG. 3B along lines B-B, and where FIG. 3D shows a side view of the module shown in FIG. 3B in relation to lines B-B; and

(5) FIG. 4 includes FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C having in several views, each showing an active module of the conveyor device from FIG. 1, including where FIG. 4A shows a top view of the active module shown in FIG. 1, where FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the module shown in FIG. 4A along lines A-A, and where FIG. 4C shows a side view of the module shown in FIG. 4A in relation to lines A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a conveyor device 10 for the transport of goods. The conveyor device comprises individual modules 12, which in their totality form a conveyor line 14. The modules 12 each have a belt 20 circulating between a start section 16 of the module 12 and an end section 18 of the module 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The modules 12 are coupled together and can swivel against each other such that the conveyor line 14 can be adjusted in length by swiveling of the modules 12.

(7) Within the conveyor line 14, several modules 12 are coupled together in chain fashion along the conveyor line 14. In the chainlike arrangement, each time one end section 18 of a module 12 is pivotally coupled to a start section 16 of another neighboring module 12.

(8) The modules 12 can swivel out from a plane of the conveyor line 14, namely, a plane formed by the conveyor line 14. Thus, modules 12 neighboring or directly coupled to each other can be bent relative to each other, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

(9) As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the circulating belt 21 runs around a deflection 22 in the start section 16 and a deflection 24 in the end section 18.

(10) The modules 12 are swiveled together by means of scissor elements 26, 28. Scissor elements 26, 28 form in their totality a scissor beam 30. In the sample embodiment represented, the scissor beam 30 is arranged on the outer side of the conveyor line 14. In embodiments not shown, the scissor beam can also be arranged inside the conveyor line 14.

(11) The modules 12 are enclosed at the sides by side cheeks 32 (see FIG. 3). The side cheeks 32 furthermore prevent loose materials from wrapping around the belts 20 and in the worst case resulting in a disruption. The side cheeks 32 are spaced apart and secured for example by means of screw connections. The spacing of the side cheeks 32 is chosen such that an air gap 36 remains each time between belt 20 and side cheek 32. The side cheeks 32 are spaced apart from each other by means of sleeves 34.

(12) Transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor line 14 several modules 12 are ranged alongside each other. The modules are staggered in consecutive rows of modules arranged along the conveyor line 14.

(13) As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the modules 12 have a bush-shaped receptacle 38 on at least one side of an end and at the other end a barrel-shaped insert element 40 corresponding to the receptacle 38. If several modules are arranged against each other, the bush-shaped receptacle 38 and the barrel-shaped insert element 40 form a swivel axis.

(14) The modules 12 each have two deflecting rollers 42, around which the belt 20 is led. Furthermore, each module 12 has a tension roller 44, with which the belt 20 of each module 12 can be individually tightened.

(15) The deflecting rollers 42 have a passageway 46 each time, through which a shaft 48 is inserted (see FIG. 2), engaging by form fitting with the passageway 46. In this way, the deflecting rollers 42 of modules 12 arranged in a row are coupled together, so that the deflecting rollers 42 and thus for the most part also the belts 20 of the modules 12 arranged in this row turn in synchronization.

(16) Some of the modules 12 are configured as active modules 13 for the driving of downstream modules 12 in the conveyor line (see FIG. 2). The active modules 13 transmit a drive movement or drive power from one row of modules to the next row. In addition, there are passive modules 15 which are driven by shafts 48 introduced into the deflecting rollers.

(17) As shown in FIG. 4, the belt 20 of the active modules 13 is configured as a toothed belt 21 and the deflecting rollers 42 of the active modules 13 have teeth 50 for engagement with the toothed belt 21.

(18) A drive motor 52 is provided for the drive propulsion, being coupled to a module 12, especially to one of the shafts 48 coupling the modules 12 (see FIG. 1). The coupling between motor and shaft is done by a drive belt (not shown).

(19) The conveyor line 14 is mounted on a bracket 58 at the first end 54. At the second end 56, the conveyor line is mounted by means of a preferably movable bearing block (not shown) on the bracket or on the frame 58. The mounting can be done each time by means of a further shaft 60 or bearing shaft 60 passing through the modules. By moving the bearing block at the second end 56, the length of the conveyor line 14 can be adjusted.

The Scope of the Invention

(20) It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawings herein are not drawn to scale.

(21) Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.