Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
Utility Patent
1998-08-26
2001-01-02
Hess, Douglas (Department: 3652)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
C198S721000, C198S732000
Utility Patent
active
06168011
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of conveying articles and specifically to an accumulation conveyor system of the type used for transporting piece goods, such as palettes, along a predetermined path.
PRIOR ART
When conveying piece goods, i.e. goods having a substantial length and width, such as palettes, along a predetermined path, e.g. in the course of handling, processing, charging or discharging the palettes, it may happen that a palette at the upstream end of a conveying path is arrested for some reasons so as to cause accumulation of the palettes downstream of the stoppage. Consequently, the conveying system must smoothen the accumulation without damage to the transported goods and the conveying system.
A system suitable for this type of operation has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,718 and comprises a pair of endless belts, each carrying a number of so called axle mounts secured to the conveyor belts, a roller mount rotatably secured to each of the elastic rubber axle mounts and generally extending rearwards from the mounts, each roller mount having spaced apart generally parallel side walls, support rollers rotatably secured to the roller mount on the outside of the side wall thereof, and a retaining roller also rotatably secured to the roller mount but between the side wall thereof, the retaining roller supportingly engaging article for transport along a path of travel and rotating freely underneath stalled accumulated articles. The width of the conveyor belts is small in relation to the width of the goods to be transported.
A characteristic property of this prior art system is the fact that each of the two conveyor belts requires at least one drive or, in other words, both belts are actively transporting elements.
Objects of the Invention and Brief Summary
Accordingly, it is a first main object of the invention to provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and conveyor system which is operable with only one active, i.e. motordriven, belt which supports only a portion of the base surface of the palettes or other piece goods.
Another object is to reduce energy consumption, maintenance, operating cost, and wear of the conveying system.
Further objects will become apparent as this specification proceeds.
Now, the above objects will be achieved according to a first general embodiment of the invention by means of an accumulation conveyor suitable for use as an actively transporting (i.e. actuated by a drive) element comprising an endless conveyor belt for circulation around at least two guide rolls and forming an upper train for motion in a first direction and a lower train for motion in a second direction opposite to said first direction, at least one of said guide rolls being connected with a drive; a plurality of mutually distanced trolleys connected to said endless conveyor belt; rail means for supporting said trolleys at least in the area of said upper train; wherein each of said trolleys comprises two pairs of support rollers for interaction with said rail means; a pair of bracket means for interconnecting said two pairs of support rollers; and a buffer roller supported by said bracket means in a freely rotatable manner between said two pairs of support rollers and distanced from said conveyor belt; said rail means comprising an essentially horizontal element for vertically supporting said trolleys, and an essentially vertical element for laterally guiding said trolleys.
According to a second general embodiment, the invention provides for an accumulation conveyor system for transporting piece goods along a predetermined path, said goods having a base surface defined by a length and a width extending between two sides of said goods; said system comprising in an essentially parallel arrangement and in a mutually spaced relation at least one passively transporting element and at least one actively transporting element substantially as defined above.
According to a third embodiment, the invention provides for a method of conveying piece goods of the type mentioned above by means of an accumulation conveyor system according to the above defined first and second embodiment.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invenetion and Definitions
According to a preferred embodiment the inventive accumulation conveyor comprises at least one of said pairs of support rollers of each of said trolleys is provided with lateral slide means for contact with said essentially vertical element of said rail means.
Also, each of the trolleys comprises two rods or bars interconnecting said bracket means and having two ends extending through said bracket means, said support rollers being rotatably mounted on said ends, and said ends of said interconnecting rods or bars further carrying said lateral slide means.
Preferably, the lateral slide means are made of a synthetic polymer composition capable of self-lubrication when in contact with said vertical element of said rail means.
Further, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the buffer roller consists essentially of a cylindrical body made of a synthetic polymer material, such as a polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyfluoro alkane or the like, optionally containing a lubricating filler such as graphite or molybdenum disulfide, for rotation around an axle made of a structural metal, such as typically steel, said polymer material being capable of self-lubrication when in contact with said axle.
In a typical preferred embodiment the cylindrical body of the buffer roller has an outer diameter and a central bore for holding the axle in a self-lubricating manner while the central bore has a diameter which is at least one third of said outer diameter.
Generally, the endless conveyor belt has a width in the range of typically from about 1.5 to 15 inches (30-300 mm), e.g. 1.5-5 inches (30-00 mm) and is formed of a fiber-reinforced elastomeric material, such as synthetic or natural rubber with conventional additives and elongated fibrous reinforcements extending in longitudinal direction of the belt; typical fibers are continuous filaments made of polyamide including aramides (such as Keflars®), polyalkanes (such as Dyneemae®), polyesters, carbon, glass fibers and metal (e.g. steel) filaments.
The connection between each of the trolleys and the endless conveyor belt is conveniently and preferably formed by a bridge of an elastomeric material; each bridge has two ends one of which will be the leading end while the other is the trailing end. Each end is connected to the belt by adhesive or crosslinking means, optionally reinforced by mechanical connectors and/or metal inserts for receiving a rod or bar to allow for a limited pivoting motion of each trolley relative to the belt.
Preferably, each trolley is provided with an abutting means connected with said brackets and limiting said pivoting motion to an angle of not more than about 30°.
The first direction of motion of the endless conveyor belt defines a leading end and a trailing end of each trolleys and—according to an embodiment preferred for various purposes—the connection between each trolley and the endless conveyor belt is provided near the trailing end of each trolley.
In another typical preferred embodiment the rail means comprise a further essentially horizontal element to form U-shaped channels that open toward the endless conveyor belt.
The invention further provides for an accumulation conveyor system for transporting piece goods, e.g. palettes, crates, boxes and the like, along a predetermined path, the goods having a base surface defined by a length and a width extending between two sides of the goods. According to the invention, the system comprises in an essentially parallel arrangement and in a mutually spaced relation at least one passively transporting element; further, at least one actively transporting element is provided; the at least one passively transporting element consists essentially of a series of idle rollers arranged substantially in parallel with each other and at a distance between any two adjacent ro
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
Hess Douglas
SWS Scharf-Westfalia Industrial Systems GmbH
LandOfFree
Accumulation conveyor system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Accumulation conveyor system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Accumulation conveyor system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520474