U.S. patent application number 09/751923 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-30 for conveyor system for conveying and accumulating objects.
Invention is credited to Boele, Hendrik, Geus, Jacob Frank de, Paardekooper, Jacobus Gertrudus M..
Application Number | 20010017254 09/751923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26642779 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010017254 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Geus, Jacob Frank de ; et
al. |
August 30, 2001 |
Conveyor system for conveying and accumulating objects
Abstract
Disclosed is a conveyor system for conveying objects along a
conveyor path. The system permits conveyance of objects along an
inclined path and accumulation of objects. The system comprises a
modular, plastic, endless conveyor belt comprising plastic modules
linked by means of a connecting pin, accumulation elements for
accumulating objects provided in at least some of the modules, and
with drive means for driving the belt. Accumulation elements are
driver members positionable beneath the conveyor belt's carrying
section surface (accumulation position) or above the conveyor
belt's carrying section surface (driving position), and a guidance
system disposed beneath the driver member path for position driver
members in driving position.
Inventors: |
Geus, Jacob Frank de; (Sint
Pancras, NL) ; Paardekooper, Jacobus Gertrudus M.;
(Wassenaar, NL) ; Boele, Hendrik; (Heerhugowaard,
NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
P.O. Box 1806
Madison
WI
53701-1806
US
|
Family ID: |
26642779 |
Appl. No.: |
09/751923 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09751923 |
Dec 29, 2000 |
|
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PCT/NL99/00142 |
Mar 16, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
198/853 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 17/08 20130101;
B65G 2201/02 20130101; B65G 17/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/853 |
International
Class: |
B65G 017/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 1998 |
NL |
1008654 |
Feb 10, 1999 |
NL |
1011264 |
Claims
1. Conveyor system for conveying objects along a conveying path,
which is suitable in particular for conveying the objects along an
inclined conveyor path and for accumulating the objects, comprising
a modular, plastic, endless conveyor belt, which conveyor belt
comprises plastic modules which are linked to one another and have
a carrying section for carrying the objects, each module being
provided with a number of projections which are spaced apart from
one another and extend in the conveying direction, as well as with
a number of projections which are spaced apart from one another and
extend in the opposite direction, each projection being provided
with a transverse opening for accommodating a connecting pin,
connecting pins which extend through the transverse openings of
adjacent projections of linked-together modules, accumulation
elements for allowing conveyed objects to accumulate, which
accumulation elements are provided in at least some of the modules,
as well as drive means for driving the conveyor belt, characterized
in that the accumulation elements are driver members (13; 42) which
can be lowered beneath the surface of the carrying section of the
conveyor belt (1; 41) and have a support surface (16) for retaining
the objects, which driver members (13; 42) can be displaced between
a driving position, which lies above the surface of the carrying
section of the conveyor belt (1; 41), and an accumulation position,
which lies beneath the surface of the carrying section of the
conveyor belt (1; 41), and the conveyor system furthermore
comprises a guidance system (49), which is disposed beneath the
path of the driver members (13; 42), for positioning the driver
members (13; 42) in the driving position.
2. Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that a
driver member (13) can be lowered vertically.
3. Conveyor system according to claim 2, characterized in that the
driver member (13) comprises a body (14) with a vertical, slot-like
transverse opening (15), through which a connecting pin (8)
projects.
4. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the driver member (13) is a block shape with
a slot-like transverse opening.
5. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the driver member is a U-shaped body, the
limbs of which lie in the transverse direction of the conveyor
belt, at a distance from one another, and vertical, slot-like
transverse openings, through which a connecting pin projects, are
provided in both limbs.
6. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the support surface (16) of a driver member
(13) is bevelled upwards in order to retain an object.
7. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the support surface (16) of a driver member
(13) is rounded downwards.
8. Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that a
driver member (42) can be pivoted about a connecting pin (46) in
order to link modules (43-45).
9. Conveyor system according to claim 8, characterized in that a
driver member (42) comprises a body with a first transverse opening
for pivotable attachment to a first connecting pin (46a), and a
slot-like transverse opening (48) which is in the form of an arc of
a circle, for displaceably accommodating a following connecting pin
(46b) therein.
10. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the guidance system (49) comprises plastic
guides along which the driver members (13; 42) slide in the driving
position.
11. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the modules (2, 3; 43-45) are made from
acetal and the plastic guides (49) are made from high-density
polyethylene.
12. Modular, plastic, endless conveyor belt for use in the conveyor
system for conveying objects along a conveying path according to
one of the preceding claims, in which the conveyor belt comprises
plastic modules which are linked to one another and have a carrying
section for carrying the objects, each module being provided with a
number of projections which are spaced apart from one another and
extend in the conveying direction, as well as with a number of
projections which are spaced apart from one another and extend in
the opposite direction, each projection being provided with a
transverse opening for accommodating a connecting pin, connecting
pins which extend through the transverse openings of adjacent
projections of linked-together modules, accumulation elements for
allowing conveyed objects to accumulate, which accumulation
elements are provided in at least some of the modules,
characterized in that the accumulation elements are driver members
(13; 42) which can be lowered beneath the surface of the carrying
section of the conveyor belt (1; 41) and have a support surface
(16) for retaining the objects, which driver members (13; 42) can
be displaced between a driving position, which lies above the
surface of the carrying section of the conveyor belt, and an
accumulating position, which lies beneath the surface of the
carrying section of the conveyor belt.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor system for
conveying objects along a conveyor path according to the preamble
of claim 1. The present invention relates in particular to a
conveyor system which is suitable for conveying objects along an
inclined conveyor path and for accumulating the objects, such as
optionally packaged food products and foodstuffs, in which case the
products may, if desired, be subjected to a treatment, for example
a temperature treatment or a treatment involving liquid, during the
conveyance.
[0002] A conveyor system with modular conveyor belt, also known as
chain-link belt, of this nature is known in the prior art. An
example of such a system is described in WO 94/03383. This known
belt, which is intended only for accumulation purposes, comprises
chain-link modules which comprise a main body which runs
transversely to the longitudinal axis of the belt and is provided
with first and second side limbs, which extend in opposite
directions transversely to the main body, i.e. projections which
extend forwards and backwards as seen in the direction of movement
of the belt. The first and second side limbs are provided with
continuous openings through which a pivot pin or connecting pin is
inserted in order to link together two adjacent modules, the second
side limbs of a first module and the first side limbs of a
following module being rotatably attached to the common pivot pin
or connecting pin, which may comprise a plurality of parts.
According to the invention described in WO 94/03383, the first or
second side limbs are omitted or removed at a number of positions.
At those positions, rolls are arranged rotatably on the pin, so
that the belt can be used as an accumulating belt, since the
products conveyed are subject to less counterpressure at the
location of the rolls. In this way, the belt can be used to reduce
the distance between products which are placed in succession on the
belt. Objects are accumulated, for example, when packing a number
of articles, which are fed onto a conveyor belt in succession and
at a distance from one another, into a box. Accumulation can be
carried out, for example, by retaining an object which arrives by
means of a suitable retaining means, such as an arm which can move
up and down, and after a certain number of objects have been
retained in this way, these objects are then allowed through by
removing the retaining means from the path of the objects, after
which the accumulation cycle begins again. According to a
particular embodiment of the known conveyor belt, the openings for
the axis in either the first or the second side limbs of a module
are in the form of a slot which extends in the longitudinal
direction of the belt, so that the belt is also suitable for
conveyor paths which are not straight. A drawback of an
accumulating belt of this nature is that it is not suitable as an
elevating belt with which the objects are conveyed along an
inclined path, either downwards or upwards, such as for example
along a helical path.
[0003] Conveyor belts which are provided with fixed or flexible
driver members are also known in the prior art. Conveyor belts of
this nature are suitable as elevating belts, with which objects are
conveyed from a certain level to a higher level or vice versa. A
drawback of these known belts with fixed or flexible driver members
is that these driver members make it difficult to transfer objects
which are situated on the belt onto another belt or the like by
means of a fixed or movable sweeper arm, or even make such an
operation entirely impossible. These known elevating belts also
cannot be used as accumulating belts.
[0004] Conveyor belts for conveying objects along an inclined
linear path are also known, which conveyor belts are provided with
driver members which can move with respect to the carrying surface
of the conveyor belt but which driver members are always in a
driving position, i.e. project above the carrying surface, under
the influence of a counterweight or suitable spring action, unless
an object to be conveyed is pressing upon the driver member.
Examples of conveyor systems of this nature are known from
DE-B-1,024,428, in which the driver members in the inactive
position form the carrying surface, and from U.S. Pat. No.
3,694,999, in which the driver members are used as spacer means for
accurately adapting the position of boxes and lids which are to be
placed on these boxes to one another.
[0005] Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,708 discloses a conveyor
system which is intended to convey baggage conveyor cars next to an
escalator or travolator. This system comprises linked-together,
movable carriers, so-called "pallet cars", which act as the carrier
for the baggage conveyor cars. This system is driven via a chain
which is connected to the main drive of the escalator. Arc-shaped
drivers, which are rotatably attached to an axle of the pallet
cars, are provided on the underside of the cars, one end of the
arc-shaped drivers being able to move through a slot-like opening
in the bottom of the cars. For this purpose, the other end is
provided with a rotatable roll which can be supported by a guide in
order to allow the other end of the driver to engage behind a hook
of a baggage conveyor car which is to be conveyed. A system of this
nature is not intended to be and is not suitable as an accumulating
belt. This structure comprises a relatively great number of large
components, such as the reversing drums, making the system complex
and such that it requires a large amount of space. A further
drawback is that the noise levels will be high owing to the large
number of rotating components and the materials employed.
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a conveyor system
with a modular conveyor belt which can be used as an elevating belt
and an accumulating belt, it being possible for the conveyed
products, if desired, to be pushed off the conveyor belt
sideways.
[0007] A further object is to provide a system of this nature which
has a relatively simple design.
[0008] Yet another object is to provide a system of this nature
which produces relatively little noise during use.
[0009] The conveyor system of the type according to the invention
described above is characterized in that the accumulating elements
are driver members which can be lowered beneath the surface of the
carrying section of the conveyor belt and have a support surface
for retaining the objects, which driver members can be displaced
between a driving position, which lies above the surface of the
carrying section of the conveyor belt, and an accumulation
position, which lies beneath the surface of the carrying section of
the conveyor belt, and the conveyor system furthermore comprises a
guidance system, which is disposed beneath the path of the driver
members, for positioning the driver members in the driving
position.
[0010] In the conveyor system according to the invention, the
driver members, of which there are usually a plurality arranged in
a line transversely to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor
belt, so that an object is supported at a number of positions by
the support surfaces of the driver members, which arrangement of
the driver members is repeated at regular intervals over the length
of the belt, can be moved upwards out of the belt surface into a
driving position in order to support products and to prevent them
from slipping downwards when they are conveyed upwards or downwards
along an inclined conveyor path. If the belt according to the
invention is used as an accumulation belt, the driver members
according to the invention can be lowered beneath the carrying
section of the modules into an accumulating position, so that the
products are no longer retained at the location of the driver
members and in that area are subject to less counterpressure, so
that accumulation (buffering) can take place. If the driver members
have been lowered into the belt surface, the objects situated on
the belt can also easily be removed therefrom using an optionally
movable sweeper arm or comparable tool. The driver members can be
moved upwards or lowered in a simple manner by the presence or
absence of the guidance system which is disposed beneath the path
of a driver member, for example a guide strip, with which the
underside of a driver member is preferably in sliding contact in
the driving position.
[0011] The chain-link belt used in the invention may be of the open
type described in WO 94/03383, but is in no way limited to such a
design. Conveyor belts of this nature are advantageous for wet
applications in which the objects are treated with a liquid
treatment medium during conveyance, since no liquid remains behind
on the belt and the objects conveyed are readily accessible to the
treatment medium. A modular conveyor belt with a closed carrying
surface, as is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,934,
can in a similar way be made suitable for use in the conveyor
system according to the invention.
[0012] The modular conveyor belt according to the invention is
advantageously resistant to chemicals and can be used within a wide
temperature range from (-40 to 150.degree. C.). The belt is
preferably made from plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyester, nylon, acetal, etc. The guides of the guidance system
are preferably made from high-density polyethylene. A plastic
conveyor system according to the invention produced in this way, in
which the driver members slide along a guide in the driving
position, produces scarcely any sound and thus does not cause any
noise pollution.
[0013] Advantageously, the driver member used according to the
invention can be lowered vertically.
[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the conveyor belt
according to the invention, a driver member which can be lowered
vertically comprises a plastic body with a vertical, slot-like
transverse passage opening for attachment to a connecting pin or
pivot pin. The dimensions of the body are adapted to the dimensions
of the modules in question, and in particular the length is adapted
to the length of the side limbs, the width is adapted to the
distance between two side limbs which lie next to one another as
seen in the transverse direction of the belt, either the distance
between a first and a second side limb of two successive modules,
if the conveyor belt has side limbs which engage alternately in one
another, or the distance between two side limbs of the same type of
a module, if the conveyor belt has side limbs which engage in one
another in groups. The height of the body of the lowerable driver
member will generally be adapted to the specific application of the
conveyor belt. The height of the vertical, slot-like passage
opening will be adapted to the total height of the driver member in
order to ensure that when objects are being driven and elevated the
driver members project sufficiently far upwards from the belt
surface and can also be lowered sufficiently far into the surface
to carry out accumulation. In this embodiment of the driver member,
the latter moves only in the vertical direction.
[0015] Other forms of the slot-like transverse passage opening or
openings, such as diagonal or curved, are also possible, in which
case the shape of the body will be adapted to the movement path of
the body with respect to the modules over the connecting pin or
pivot pin, in order to prevent any obstacle to said movement from
the main bodies of the modules.
[0016] With regard to the strength of the driver member and the
attachment to a connecting pin, a preferred embodiment of a driver
member comprises an injection-moulded block-shaped body. A further
embodiment relates to a U-shaped body, the limbs of which are at a
distance from one another in the transverse direction of the
conveyor belt, and vertical, slot-like transverse openings are
provided in both limbs.
[0017] In order to ensure that a product which bears against a
driver member does not interfere with or prevent the free movement
of the driver member, the support surface of the body is
advantageously curved or bevelled upwards. In order to prevent the
driver member from being blocked against a main body of a module,
the front face is preferably also curved or bevelled downwards.
[0018] If the conveyor path for which the conveyor belt according
to the invention is employed comprises curves or bends, the
openings for the axis in one type of side limbs advantageously take
the form of horizontal slots, as described in WO 94/03383, so that
the separate modules can rotate slightly with respect to one
another.
[0019] In order to provide further assistance with the function as
accumulating belt, the conveyor belt may advantageously also be
provided with rolls which are disposed so that they can rotate
about a pin, in accordance with the abovementioned PCT application
WO 94/03383.
[0020] In the case of modular conveyor belts with a closed carrying
surface, such as for example those which are known from U.S. Pat.
No. 5,706,934, which are intended for conveying along straight
paths, it is advantageously possible to use a driver which can
pivot about a connecting pin. Preferably, a driver of this nature
comprises a body with a first transverse opening for pivotable
attachment to a first connecting pin and a slot-like transverse
opening for accommodating a following connecting pin in a
displaceable manner, providing a strong and robust structure.
[0021] In the modules which are used in the system according to the
invention, the distance between successive connecting pins is
usually 2.54, 3.81 or 5.08 cm (1, 1.5 and 2 inches,
respectively).
[0022] The invention also relates to a modular, plastic, endless
conveyor belt for use in the conveyor system according to the
invention, as defined in claim 11.
[0023] The invention is explained below with reference to the
appended drawing, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of an embodiment of a
modular conveyor belt according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a module of the conveyor belt in
accordance with FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of a driver member
which is used in the conveyor belt according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic plan view of another embodiment
of a modular conveyor belt according to the invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic side view of the conveyor belt
in accordance with FIG. 4, with the driver in the lowered position,
and
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic side view of the conveyor belt
in accordance with FIG. 5 with the driver in the raised
position.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a modular conveyor belt which is denoted
overall by reference numeral 1. The conveyor belt 1 comprises
interlinked modules, two of which, namely 2 and 3, are illustrated
in FIG. 1. Each module comprises an elongate main body 4 with first
side limbs 5, which extend in the direction of movement--indicated
by arrow A--of the belt 1, and second side limbs 6, which extend in
the opposite direction. Since in a bend of the conveyor path, the
greatest tensile and compressive forces are exerted on the
outermost side limbs 5' and 6', these side limbs are designed to be
thicker and therefore stronger than the other side limbs.
Transverse openings 7 (cf. FIG. 2), in which a pivot pin 8 is
mounted, are arranged in the first side limbs 5. The second side
limbs 6 are provided with horizontal slots 9, so that the modules 2
and 3 which are linked together with the aid of pin 8 are able to
rotate slightly in the longitudinal plane with respect to one
another, as illustrated. Openings 10 in the modules are intended,
if necessary, to accommodate side plates (not shown) which prevent
objects which are being conveyed from being able to fall off the
belt.
[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, module 3 has a
different form from module 2. Two first side limbs 5 are omitted
during manufacture of module 3 or are subsequently removed by
sawing or some similar action. Driver members 13 which can be
lowered are attached to the pin 8 in the spaces 12 formed. The belt
can be driven by means of toothed wheels (not shown), the teeth of
which project into the spaces 12. If these driver members are
supported by a guide (not shown in FIG. 1), they are pressed
upwards until they are above the carrying surface of the belt 1
(cf. FIG. 2), so that the belt 1 can be used as an elevating belt
in which the upwardly projecting driver members 13 drive the
objects. If the driver members 13 are not supported, their own
weight will cause them to sink back down, so that the top side of
the driver members is situated below the carrying surface of the
belt.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a driver member 13. A
driver member 13 of this nature comprises a body 14 in the form of
a block, in which a vertical, slot-like transverse opening 15 is
arranged, through which a pin 8 can project. From the centre, the
support surface 16 of the body 14 is bevelled upwards and rounded
downwards. This further increases the freedom of movement of the
driver member 13.
[0033] FIGS. 4-6 show another embodiment of a conveyor belt 41 with
pivotable drivers 42 according to the invention. Three modules
43-45 of the conveyor belt 41, which has a closed surface and is
thus only suitable for conveying along straight paths, are shown,
which modules are linked to one another in a known manner by means
of connecting pins 46. The module 44 comprises two parts, 44a and
44b, respectively, which are attached at a distance from one
another to the appropriate connecting pins 46, only one of which is
shown in FIG. 4 by means of a dashed line. A driver 42 is pivotably
attached to connecting pin 46a in the space between module parts
44a and 44b. A driver 42 of this nature comprises a body which is
substantially in the form of an isosceles triangle, the vertex of
which is provided with a continuous opening through the body for
pivotable attachment to the connecting pin 46a and the rounded base
47 of which describes part of an arc of a circle (with the
connecting pin 46a as the centre of the circle). A slot-like
transverse opening 48 is arranged in the body, parallel to the base
47, in which opening the connecting pin 46b is pivotably
accommodated. FIG. 5 shows the driver 42 in an accumulation
position in which it is lowered into the carrying surface of the
conveyor belt 41, while in FIG. 6 the driver 42 projects into a
driving position above the carrying surface. This latter position
is reached with the aid of a guide 49 which is situated beneath the
path which is to be covered by the driver 42 along that section
where the driver 42 is to be in the raised position, for example
while objects are being guided upwards. In order to prevent a guide
from blocking a downwardly directed driver member, the first end of
the guide is bent downwards, so that a driver member is gradually
moved from the accumulation position into the driving position.
* * * * *