Conveyors: power-driven – Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections – With means controlling the interrelated operation of plural...
Patent
1995-05-30
1997-09-02
Terrell, William E.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections
With means controlling the interrelated operation of plural...
198577, B65G 4310
Patent
active
056622090
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a belt-type continuous conveyor and a conveying system comprising a plurality of similar conveyors.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is usual practice with all small scale building work, both professional and DIY, to move materials around in buckets and wheel barrows, even though this is laborious, slow and sometimes inconvenient. It is also known to use dump trucks and cranes, but these are not always practical or convenient. One object of the present invention is to provide a practical alternative to the known equipment.
According to one aspect, the invention consists in a conveying system comprising a plurality of conveyor units each comprising a frame supporting a roller at each end over which a conveyor belt passes, at least one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor, and the motors of successive conveyor units when arranged in a feed path being interconnected so that they are powered and controlled in a common power circuit.
Preferably, each motor is reversible and its sense of rotation is selectively controlled by the manner in which it is connected in the power circuit. For example, each unit is fitted with at least two input/output sockets which are interconnected such that the sense of rotation of the motor can be changed by connecting the power supply to either socket. The unused socket can then serve as the power supply socket for the next unit in the system and can be connected to it by suitable cable and plug means. The complete conveyor system can thus be laid out initially to suit the application without regard to the direction of movement of the conveyor belts, and the direction of the belts can be selected appropriately in a separate operation when inter-connecting the motors in the power circuit.
Preferably, a safety circuit is incorporated within each cable and plug means and/or socket such that if either is short-circuited or broken, the power is interrupted at the power source, stopping the conveyor system and making it electrically safe. The last input/output socket is fitted with a termination plug which protects the socket and contains additional safety circuit components.
The frame preferably consists of an elongated box-section structure which is filled with a rigid structural foam that increases the strength of the structure and serves to encapsulate the power circuit components within the frame, the foam being injected during the manufacturing process.
A suitable box-section structure preferably comprises side wall members joined by upper and lower bed plate members upon which the conveyor belt slides in use. The side walls themselves may incorporate longitudinally extending box sections to increase their strength and provide guide rails or feet top and bottom. The side walls preferably extend beyond the bed plates so as to form channels top and bottom in which the conveyor belt runs between the rollers. Sealing strips are preferably provided within the channels to seal the gap between the belt and the sides of the channel. This strip is preferably secured to the side walls and bears down on the outermost surface of the belt.
The frame of the conveyor preferably has a cross-section which is substantially symmetrical about a central transverse axis, and can be used with either run of the conveyor belt uppermost. If required, support legs or scaffolding connectors can be connected to the frame, to support it above the ground. Also, connectors can be provided to interconnect adjacent ends of successive conveyor units, either end-to-end in the same plane, or one above the other with an overhang between them, and/or with the two conveyor units angled relative to one another either vertically or horizontally for a change in conveying direction.
It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described in relation to a conveying system comprising a plurality of conveyor units, the invention also consists in an individual conveyor unit having any one or more the features referred to above.
In particular, according to anoth
REFERENCES:
patent: 2788134 (1957-04-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5058727 (1991-10-01), Jahns et al.
Roberts, Controlling Belt Conveyors, Feb. 1950.
Koto, Su, Rock Transporting Conveyor System Drive . . . , 1992, Derwent Publications Ltd.
Rako Products Limited
Terrell William E.
Tran Khoi H.
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