Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Spiral
Patent
1998-11-18
2000-02-29
Ellis, Christopher P.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Spiral
198852, 198802, B65G 1302
Patent
active
060297972
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to conveyor belts, more specifically to endless conveyor belts comprising a plurality of link members, which are interconnected in such manner that the conveyor belt is movable along a curved path essentially in the plane of the conveyor belt and is also movable about a guide roller.
Such conveyor belts are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,651, 4,603,776 and 4,941,567. What the conveyor belts according to these publications have in common is that they consist of link members with side links, which permit the conveyor belt to follow a helical path, in which a superjacent conveyor belt part is directly supported by a subjacent conveyor belt part.
Other examples of conveyor belts of the type mentioned by way of introduction are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,225,893, 3,261,451 and 4,875,343. Also these conveyor belts can follow a helical path but are there at least on one side supported by separate supporting rails.
Regarding the above-mentioned conveyor belts, it is a general rule that the transition between a straight path and a curved path forces an extension of the conveyor belt on its one side and/or a shortening of the conveyor belt on its other side. This causes a relative motion between at least parts of the upper side of the conveyor belt and products carried by this upper side. Owing to this condition, certain products, such as pieces of dough, are difficult to transport by means of such a belt conveyor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a conveyor belt of the type mentioned by way of introduction, which despite the capacity of being movable alternatingly along straight and curved paths should be usable for transport of such products as do not withstand any movement relative to the supporting base of the conveyor belt.
By arranging, according to the invention, a plurality of such product carriers, very fragile products can be moved by a conveyor belt along straight as well as curved paths and, in transitions between these, without any relative motion arising between the products and the supporting surfaces of the conveyor belt. To this end, the invention thus uses product carriers which in turn are supported successively by the link members, are essentially rigid in the plane of the conveyor belt, but moveable together with the conveyor belt about the guide roller, and each have a greater length in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt than each link member.
In its preferred embodiment, each product carrier has a length in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt which is at least as great as the length of two links members. Moreover, at its front part in the travelling direction of the conveyor belt, each product carrier is connected to its link member. The front part of the product carrier has essentially the same width as the link members, and the product carrier tapers backwards so as not to protrude beyond the link members along the curved path.
In one embodiment, the movability of the product carriers about a guide roller can be achieved by each product carrier being formed of a plurality of elements, which are articulated to each other transversely of the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. Each such element can have a length in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt which essentially corresponds with the length of a link member. The length of the element can also be smaller than the length of the link member, but not essentially greater than this.
In a further embodiment, each product carrier consists of a single element, for instance a fabric-like material, such as a cloth or a net, which is essentially rigid in its own plans, such that when pressing together or extending the link members in the plane of the conveyor belt, it moves merely relative to these link members. Consequently, no relative motion occurs between the fabric-like material of the product carriers and the products supported thereby.
The invention will now be described in
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Dillon, Jr. Joe
Ellis Christopher P.
Frigoscandia Equipment AB
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