Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor having impinging fluid to feed – shift or discharge... – Having cleaning means
Patent
1996-04-17
1998-06-02
Bidwell, James R.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor having impinging fluid to feed, shift or discharge...
Having cleaning means
198500, B65G 4722
Patent
active
057587612
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an installation for lubricating and, optionally, cleaning or disinfecting conveyors, more particularly belt or chain conveyors, for food containers, such as bottles, cans, glasses, bags and the like, and for their packs, such as bottle boxes and the like. In one embodiment, the installation comprises a central metering station comprising at least one metering pump for removing the lubricant concentrate from the supply container and for the measured introduction thereof into a metering pipe leading to the conveyor system. In addition, at least one distributing pipe connected to the metering pipe by a lubrication circuit valve is provided, leading to the nozzles through which the lubricant can be applied to the conveyor belts or chains. Finally, the installation comprises at least one fresh water connection with a pressure reducing valve for equalizing variations in the water pressure and a mixing unit for preparing a lubricating solution to be formed from the lubricant concentrate and the fresh water.
In the filling of new or reused glass or plastic bottles, cans, bags and the like with beverages or other foods, the containers are transported to the individual stations on conveyors, for example belt or chain conveyors. The conveyors generally consist of single-belt or multiple-belt chains of metal or plastic which are driven at a speed adapted to the production rate. They are divided up into individual sections with their own respective drives according to the space available and the production rate. The conveyor belts are sprayed with special chain lubricants, so-called belt lubricants, to reduce friction at places particularly vulnerable to wear. The places in question are, in particular, friction surfaces between the chain and the support, for example the slide rails, friction surfaces between the chain and the containers being conveyed, the hinges of the chains, the chain guide rollers and the friction surfaces between touching containers. Individual sections of the conveyor belt are arranged to form so-called "lubrication circuits" according to the production rate and the requirements which the lubrication of the chains and their guides are expected to satisfy. The main requirements which the lubricating installation are expected to meet require the preparation of a lubricant solution--consisting of water and a water-soluble chemical--with a constant concentration and in the application of this solution to the conveyor belts in accordance with the requirements which the individual lubrication circuits are expected to meet. So far as the form of application is concerned, the lubricating solution may be applied by a time-dependent system, in which the lubricating solution is only applied when the conveyor belt is in operation, or by a volume-dependent system in which a certain amount of lubricating solution per lubrication circuit is applied through magnetic valves with pulse/interval timing or through magnetic valves timed as a function of conveyor speed. The concentration of the lubricating solution may be adjusted to different values according to the requirements for each lubrication circuit. Different concentrations may be used, for example, for conveyor belts for bottle boxes, for empty dry bottles, for empty wet bottles, for full wet bottles and for merging conveyor belts. In this case, for example, five or more different concentrations may be used.
In modern belt lubrication installations and processes, the lubricating solution is centrally prepared in the immediate vicinity of the chemicals storeroom, for example in a cellar or other side room. The lubricant concentrate is added to the fresh water by a proportional metering system. One or more metering pumps are actuated by pulse water meters so that, for a fixed throughflow of water, a constant quantity of the chemical is added. The centrally prepared lubricating solution is transported through branch pipes to a central point of the conveyor belt system. The pipes h
REFERENCES:
patent: 4226325 (1980-10-01), Vandas
patent: 4262776 (1981-04-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4627457 (1986-12-01), Bird et al.
patent: 5320132 (1994-06-01), Weisse
Selbertinger Josef
Weinert Harry
Bidwell James R.
Jaeschke Wayne C.
Lang Apparatebau GmbH
Robbins Frank E.
Szoke Ernest G.
LandOfFree
Installation and a process for lubricating, cleaning and/or disi does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Installation and a process for lubricating, cleaning and/or disi, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Installation and a process for lubricating, cleaning and/or disi will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1451003