Unknown

Abstract

A modular deflection unit includes a supporting part extending in a transverse direction, at least one module support positioned along the supporting part and at least two roller modules. Roller axles of the roller modules are received and supported by the at least one module support such that the deflection unit as a whole can be modularly exchanged.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A modular deflection unit for a belt-type conveyor, the modular deflection unit including: (a) a supporting part extending in a deflection unit longitudinal direction, the supporting part adapted to be connected to a belt body in an operating position in which the deflection unit longitudinal direction extends in a transverse direction of the belt body, the transverse direction of the belt body lying orthogonal to a conveying direction associated with the belt body; (b) a first roller group that includes a series of at least two roller modules, each roller module including a respective roller axle and a roller shell rotatably mounted on the respective roller axle, wherein each roller axle is oriented end-to-end with the roller axle of an adjacent roller module in the series of at least two roller modules so as to extend along the deflection unit longitudinal direction; and (c) for each respective pair of two adjacent roller modules in the series of at least two roller modules, at least one module support detachably connected to the supporting part and arranged between the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules, each module support defining an axle receptacle that is adapted to receive and support an end of at least one roller axle of the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules.

15. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the axle receptacle of a respective module support comprises a borehole extending at least partially through the respective module support in the deflection unit longitudinal direction.

16. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the axle receptacle of a respective module support is adapted to receive and jointly secure a respective end of two of the roller axles.

17. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the axle receptacle of a respective module support includes a clamping element adapted to be loaded by a tensioning element to clamp the end of at least one of the roller axles in a rotationally fixed manner in the respective module support.

18. The modular deflection unit of claim 17 wherein the clamping element comprises a reversibly deformable wall section of the axle receptacle of the respective module support and the tensioning element comprises a screw located in the respective module support with an inner end of the screw adjacent to the wall section.

19. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the supporting part defines at least one abutment surface for each module support, the at least one abutment surface arranged to position the respective module support relative to the supporting part in at least one direction.

20. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the series of at least two roller modules include at least one middle roller module, a first end roller module at a first end of the series of roller modules, and a second end roller module at a second end of the series of roller modules and wherein when the supporting part is connected to the belt body in the operating position the at least one middle roller module is positioned further in the conveying direction than the first end roller module and the second end roller module, thereby forming a crowning along the series of roller modules.

21. The modular deflection unit of claim 20 wherein the crowning is formed by at least one of: (a) two adjacent roller axles are secured with respect to one another at an angle which is not equal to 0°, (b) the at least one module support arranged between the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules supports each roller axle of the two adjacent roller modules at different spacings from the supporting part, and (c) one of the roller modules is supported at a first roller axle end in a first axle receptacle and is supported at a second roller axle end in a second axle receptacle, wherein a spacing between the first axle receptacle and the supporting part is different from a spacing between the second axle receptacle and the supporting part.

22. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 wherein the at least one module support further defines at least one additional axle receptacle that is arranged to receive an additional roller axle of at least one additional roller module of an additional roller group that, when the supporting part is in the operating position on the belt body, is arranged below the first roller group in a vertical direction that is orthogonal to the transverse direction and the conveying direction.

23. The modular deflection unit of claim 14 further including a connector adapted to detachably fasten the modular deflection unit to a chassis of the belt body.

24. The modular deflection unit of claim 23 further including an adjustment mechanism adapted for, when the supporting part is connected to the belt body in the operating position, adjusting a spacing of the modular deflection unit from the chassis of the belt body in the conveying direction.

25. The modular deflection unit of claim 24 wherein at least one module support includes a bearing section extending toward the supporting part, the bearing section defining an upper side that aligns, in a height direction of the modular deflection unit, with an upper side of the roller shell of a roller module that is supported by the at least one module support.

26. A conveyor for transporting goods, the conveyor including: (a) a belt body having a belt body chassis; and (b) a modular deflection unit mounted on the belt body chassis, the modular deflection unit including, (i) a supporting part extending in a deflection unit longitudinal direction, the supporting part being connected to the belt body chassis in an operating position in which the deflection unit longitudinal direction extends in a transverse direction of the belt body, the transverse direction of the belt body lying orthogonal to a conveying direction of the belt body; (ii) a first roller group that includes a series of at least two roller modules, each roller module including a respective roller axle and a roller shell rotatably mounted on the respective roller axle, wherein each roller axle is oriented end-to-end with the roller axle of an adjacent roller module in the series of at least two roller modules so as to extend along the deflection unit longitudinal direction; and (iii) for each respective pair of two adjacent roller modules in the series of at least two roller modules, at least one module support detachably connected to the supporting part and arranged between the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules, each module support defining an axle receptacle that is adapted to receive and support an end of at least one roller axle of the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules.

27. A scale including a modular deflection unit, the modular deflection unit including: (a) a supporting part extending in a deflection unit longitudinal direction, the supporting part being connected to a belt body of the scale in an operating position in which the deflection unit longitudinal direction extends in a transverse direction of the belt body, the transverse direction of the belt body lying orthogonal to a conveying direction associated with the belt body; (b) a first roller group that includes a series of at least two roller modules, each roller module including a respective roller axle and a roller shell rotatably mounted on the respective roller axle, wherein each roller axle is oriented end-to-end with the roller axle of an adjacent roller module in the series of at least two roller modules so as to extend along the deflection unit longitudinal direction; and (c) for each respective pair of two adjacent roller modules in the series of at least two roller modules, at least one module support detachably connected to the supporting part and arranged between the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules, each module support defining an axle receptacle that is adapted to receive and support an end of at least one roller axle of the respective pair of two adjacent roller modules.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a belt body with a deflection unit.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view from FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a roller module in cross section.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows two roller modules supported on one side by a module support.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional representation of two roller modules supported by a module support.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional representation of the deflection unit.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional representation of the deflection unit, partially dismantled.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the supporting part.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows the supporting part according to FIG. 8 with inserted module supports.

[0039] FIG. 10 shows the supporting part according to FIG. 9 with associated roller modules.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The belt body H according to FIG. 1 extends in a transverse direction Y over a conveyor width Y.sub.k. Orthogonally, with respect to the transverse direction Y, the conveying direction X extends horizontally. On a conveyor belt (not represented in FIG. 1), which runs around the belt body H, the products can be conveyed in conveying direction X by the driven conveyor belt. The vertical direction Z extends orthogonally to the transverse direction Y and the conveying direction X.

[0041] The belt body H, on its front end when viewed in conveying direction X (alternatively or additionally also on the rear end), supports an example deflection unit K fastened to a chassis of the belt body H in an operating position. The deflection unit K contains a plurality of roller modules arranged next to one another in transverse direction Y, which jointly form a first roller group R. The first roller group R is used to deflect the conveyor belt, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1, and to form, together with an adjoining transport unit, the smallest possible transfer gap.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the deflection unit K arranged on the chassis of the belt body H in an enlarged partial perspective view. Deflection unit K includes a supporting part T extending in a deflection unit longitudinal direction which corresponds to the transverse direction Y when supporting part T is connected in the illustrated operating position. At regular spacings on supporting part T, individual module supports S are arranged, supporting in each case an upper roller module E and a lower roller module E′. In this example embodiment, the lower roller module E′ is in each case slightly set back relative to the upper roller module E in the conveying direction X and situated lower in the vertical direction Z. The upper roller modules E jointly form a first roller group R (see FIG. 1); the lower roller modules E′ jointly form a second roller group R′ (where only some of the roller modules, which overall are part of the respective roller groups R and R′, can be seen in FIG. 2).

[0043] The supporting part T with the module supports S fastened thereon and with the roller modules E and E′, which are in each case held on both sides or supported by the module supports S, is fastened by means of an angle plate via the two outermost (slightly broader) module supports on the chassis of the belt body H. By means of an adjustment means L, designed as an adjustment screw in the illustrated embodiment and works together with an abutment pin V formed on the deflection unit K, the spacing of the deflection unit K from the chassis of the belt body H in the conveying direction X can be adjusted so that a conveyor belt supported by the belt body H and deflected by the deflection unit K can be pretensioned.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of roller module E. Here, a cylindrical roller shell M.sub.E is supported by a central roller axle A.sub.E by means of two roller bearings. The ends of the roller axle A.sub.E laterally protrude slightly beyond the roller shell and are provided to be inserted in suitable axle receptacles on the module supports S. When connected in series as shown in FIG. 2 to form the roller group R shown best in FIG. 1, the roller axles A.sub.E of adjacent roller modules E in the series are arranged end-to-end, that is, facing each other, and extend along the deflection unit longitudinal direction corresponding to the illustrated belt body transverse direction Y.

[0045] In FIG. 4, in a perspective representation, it can be seen that two roller modules E and E′ are supported on one side by a module support S. An additional module support S of identical design, which supports the two roller modules E and E′ on its other end in the same way, is not shown here for the sake of simplicity.

[0046] The module support S defines an upper first axle receptacle F which passes through the module support as a continuous cylindrical borehole in transverse direction Y. An end of the roller axle A.sub.E of the upper roller module E extends (as shown in FIG. 4) into the axle receptacle F. The axle receptacle F is designed so that an additional roller module adjacent to the illustrated upper roller module E can also be inserted into this axle receptacle F (in FIG. 4 on the front side) with an end of its roller axle A.sub.E. This is shown in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 5. For the simultaneous reception of the lower roller module E′, the module support S also includes, for roller axles A.sub.E of module E′, an identical axle receptacle F′ (shown in FIG. 4).

[0047] The represented module support S furthermore includes a bearing section B that extends opposite the conveying direction X. The surface of bearing section B lies in vertical direction Z at approximately the same height as the upper side of the roller shell M.sub.E of the upper roller module E that is supported by the module support S. Bearing section B supports the conveyor belt deflected by the first roller group R in the region between the individual roller modules E and E′, in the vertical direction, in order to reduce noise and vibrations.

[0048] The bearing section B can support, on its upper side, a strip of material with abrasion-resistant surface. This strip of material may, for example, be connected in place with a suitable adhesive. This abrasion-resistant surface enables the production of the module support from a softer and light material such as, for example, aluminum.

[0049] With a clamping element G described in greater detail in reference to FIG. 6, the two roller axles jointly protruding into the axle receptacle F can be simultaneously jointly clamped in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the module support S and with only one clamping element G.

[0050] The two cross-sectional representations in FIGS. 6 and 7 show a module support S and a supporting part T in the interconnected state (FIG. 6) and in the separate state (FIG. 7). The supporting part T formed by the angle plate parts is provided with abutment surfaces D, which interact with abutment surfaces D of the module support S when the two components are connected to one another, for example, by being screwed together. For this purpose, the module support S can be moved opposite the conveying direction X in the direction of the supporting part T and up to abutment with said supporting part T. Here, the abutment surfaces D position the two components relative to one another. By means of the shims positioned between interacting abutment surfaces D, the relative position of the module support S relative to the supporting part S can be determined in a changed manner, for example, with respect to the conveying direction X. Thereby, the crowning described above can be provided. Alternatively, the abutment surfaces D (preferably those on the supporting part T) can be machined (for example, milled) correspondingly at different depths in order to maintain the desired different relative positions.

[0051] By means of a material recess in the proximity of the axle receptacle F or F′, a clamping element G designed as thin section is formed, in the form of a thin, slightly flexible wall. The wall can be loaded with a force on a side facing away from the axle receptacle F or F′ by means of a tensioning means, for example, a headless screw. Thereby, the wall or thin section is deformed in the direction of the roller axles introduced into the axle receptacle F or F′, so that the roller axles are clamped in a rotationally fixed manner in the receptacle. Advantageously, a single tensioning means is sufficient here for simultaneous securing two roller axles adjacent to each other in direction Y.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows an end section of the supporting part T according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, at regular spacings in transverse direction Y, insertion positions with appropriate abutment surfaces D for receiving in each case a module support S are provided. FIG. 9 shows the supporting part T according to FIG. 8 with module supports S already inserted. In FIG. 10, the roller modules E inserted between the roller supports can also be seen.

[0053] The mounting of the deflection unit K, according to an implementation of the invention, advantageously occurs so that the roller modules E and E′ are arranged between the associated module supports S. This joint arrangement is then moved, using the convention of FIGS. 6 and 7, opposite the conveying direction X and onto the supporting part T and connected by screwing the individual module supports S to the common supporting part T. The deflection unit K thus formed is then fastened as a whole on the chassis of a belt body H. After a conveyor belt, which runs around the belt body H and the deflection unit K, has been pulled, the position of the deflection unit K, in the conveying direction X relative to the chassis, can be adjusted in order to generate the correct belt tension.

[0054] As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to.

[0055] Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

[0056] The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.

[0057] The above-described representative embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these representative embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals A.sub.E Roller axle B Bearing section D Abutment surface E, E′ Roller module F, F′ Axle receptacle G Clamping element H Belt body K Modular deflection unit Y.sub.k Conveyor width L Connection means as adjustment means M.sub.E Roller shell R, R′ Roller group S Module support T Supporting part V Connection means as abutment pin X Conveying direction Y Transverse direction Z Vertical direction