Patent Application
20170001804
This invention relates to a conveyor belt of the type with articulated links, for conveying products, in particular in plants, industrial machines or working areas in general.
There are prior art conveyors for conveying products, which are used in plants or industrial machinery, comprising a belt with articulated links, which extends along a closed loop configuration defining, in use, a respective positive path for conveying products, and a negative return stretch of the belt.
In the prior art conveyors, the respective link comprises a longitudinal portion for articulated connection to the adjacent links of the conveyor belt, supporting a portion extending transversely for sustaining the product to be conveyed.
A drawback in the use of these prior art conveyors concerns the safety of the personnel responsible for supervision and maintenance of the apparatuses.
In effect, in these prior art conveyor, there is generally a risk that the product conveyed or parts of the body, in particular the fingers, of the personnel, or parts of the clothing of the personnel, can be inserted between the links of the conveyor, with the consequent risk of gripping, injury or damage in general.
To overcome as much as possible this drawback, the manufacturers of conveyors with articulated links have prepared the links which have the product sustaining portion, which is configured with a lowered part and a raised part, to prevent along the curved paths in the horizontal plane or coplanar with the product sustaining plane of the conveyor belt the insertion of the fingers of the personnel or part of the product between the same links of the conveyor belt.
However, these prior art conveyors still leave large spaces between the links in the connecting or reversing stretch between the upper stretch for feeding the product and the lower return stretch of the belt, with consequent risk of insertion of the fingers or other parts of the body of the personnel and consequent risk of injury for the personnel.
This invention proposes a novel solution, alternative to the solutions known up to now and which can overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks and/or meet one or more of the needs mentioned in or inferable from the above.
A conveyor belt is therefore provided, of the type with articulated links, preferably usable for conveying products, in particular in a respective plant, industrial machine or working area; the belt extending according to a closed loop configuration defining at least one curved connecting stretch extending in a plane perpendicular to the belt, the respective link of the conveyor comprising an inner portion for articulated connection to the adjacent links of the conveyor belt, supporting an outer portion, extending transversely, for sustaining the product to be conveyed, the portion for sustaining the product comprising a lowered part and a raised part; characterised in that the respective longitudinal end of the raised part is designed to be positioned, in the curved connecting stretch of the belt, radially at, or radially on the extension of the longitudinal end of the lowered part of the adjacent link, in particular of the following link.
In this way, it is possible to define, in the connecting stretches, in particular ends, of the conveyor belt, a longitudinal space between the transversal portions for sustaining products of successive links, which is particularly reduced in size and such as to overcome the risk that the operators can accidentally insert the fingers, or other parts, between the links of the conveyor, and run the risk of injuries or damage in general.
These and other innovative aspects are set out in the appended claims and the technical features and advantages are also apparent from the detailed description which follows of non-limiting example embodiments of it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown in
As illustrated, in particular in
In turn, the supporting frame 11 comprises corresponding uprights, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, preferably resting on the ground, and supporting respective lateral side panels 113 and corresponding longitudinal supporting profiles, extending along the feed direction of the belt, which are also, however, not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, which support respective sliding and guiding means for the links of the conveyor belt.
More specifically, the path of the conveyor belt may have one or more curved stretches R in the horizontal plane or in the plane corresponding to the supporting plane of the products.
Moreover, the conveyor belt 10 has at least a first and a second curved connecting end stretch 123, 123 between the positive stretch and the negative stretch of the endless path of the conveyor belt.
More specifically, the accompanying drawings from 1 to 4B show in particular the curved connecting stretch 123, which extends from the positive feed stretch 121 to the return stretch 122 of the same belt.
More specifically, as illustrated, the curved connecting stretch defines a respective path angularly extended over 180°, which extends in a plane perpendicular to the belt, that is, in particular perpendicular to the conveying plane of the product or to the transversal plane of extension of the links of the belt.
As illustrated, at the curved connecting end stretches there is a respective gear wheel 15, which guides and/or pulls, meshing directly the links of the conveyor belt.
As may be clearly inferred in particular with reference to
As illustrated, the portion 142 of the link, which is designed to sustain the product to be conveyed, comprises, in particular, a lowered part 1421 and a raised part 1422.
In other words, the product sustaining portion 142 of the link comprises a part perpendicularly lowered and a part perpendicularly raised.
More specifically, in this preferred embodiment of the conveyor, the lowered part 1421 is located in front of the raised part 1422, according to the feed or forward movement direction of the belt.
Advantageously, the respective longitudinal end 1422′, in particular the rear end, of the raised portion 1422 is designed to position itself at the main stretches, in particular straight stretches, for feeding and returning the belt, perpendicularly above the longitudinal end, in particular the front end, 1421′ of the lowered part 1421 of the adjacent link, in particular of the following or next link positioned in the belt.
Advantageously, the respective longitudinal end, in particular the rear end, 1422′ of the raised part 1422 of the link of the belt is designed to position itself, also in the curved connecting stretch 123 of the belt, radially on, or radially on the extension of, the longitudinal end, in particular the front end, 1421′ of the lowered part 1421 of the adjacent link, in particular of the next link, of the same belt, as may be clearly inferred from
Advantageously, the respective longitudinal end, in particular the rear end 1422′ of the raised part 1422 is, in the curved connecting stretch 123 of the belt, radially distanced from the corresponding longitudinal end, in particular the front end, 1421′ of the lowered part 1421 of the adjacent link, in particular the following link, in such a way as to form between these a space with a size less than the dimensions of the fingers of a person.
In this way, this advantageously avoids, at the connecting stretches which curve in a plane perpendicular to the belt, any risk for the personnel of accidental insertion of the fingers between the links of the conveyor with the consequent risk of suffering injuries or the like.
In turn, the inner articulated connection portion 141 comprises, in particular according to this preferred embodiment, in the direction of use, a front longitudinal part 143 for articulated connection of the preceding link and a rear longitudinal part 145 for articulated connection of the link which follows.
The longitudinal articulated connection parts of the link are in the form of a corresponding receiving part 143 and a corresponding insertion part 145 respectively designed to be coupled, in an articulated fashion, with corresponding insertion and receiving parts of the adjacent links.
Preferably, the receiving part 143 of the link is provided, according to the feed direction in use of the belt, in front of the insertion part 145 of the same link.
Advantageously, the receiving part 143 and the insertion part 145 of the articulated connection portion 141 of the link are respectively at the lowered portion 1421 and the raised portion 1422 of the portion 142 for sustaining the product of the same link.
In practice, preferably, this link 14 of the conveyor belt with articulated links 12 has a front part, according to the normal drive or forward movement direction of the product of the conveyor belt, and a rear part.
Preferably, the respective link has a front part which is defined, as will become clearer in the description below, by a lowered portion of the transversal product sustaining portion of the link and by a corresponding receiving part of the articulated connection portion of the link, which receives the insertion or coupling part of the adjacent link of the belt which is positioned in front.
The respective link has a rear part which is defined by a perpendicularly raised portion, relative to the lowered portion, of the product sustaining portion of the link, and a part of the articulated connection portion, which is designed to be inserted in a corresponding receiving part of the link which follows.
In turn, the insertion part 143 is in the form of a corresponding block 145, which is designed to be inserted in the receiving part of the corresponding adjacent link.
As illustrated, the perpendicular wings 1431, 1432 are connected to the block 145 through corresponding connecting portions 1435 convergent towards the block part 145.
Moreover, as illustrated, at the free or inner end of the wings 1431, 1432 there are flaps projecting towards the lateral ends of the link, the flaps being denoted by the reference 1437, 1437 and they are designed to form corresponding means for sliding on corresponding guides, in particular provided on the longitudinal profile of the conveyor.
Particularly advantageously, the lowered sustaining portion 1421 of the product sustaining portion of the link comprises a first and a second side by side segment 1421a, 1421b, which extend laterally from a central gap 147, which is longitudinally and perpendicularly open and is designed to receive the insertion and articulated connection part 145 of the adjacent link, in particular of the link preceding it along the feed direction of the belt.
Advantageously, the insertion and articulated connection part, or block, 145 of the link has a respective outer surface 145′, in particular an upper surface in the positive product feed stretches, which is positioned, at least in the positive feed stretches of the product, at the same level or coplanar with the outer surface, in particular an upper surface, 1421s of the lowered part 1421a, 1421b of the product sustaining portion 142 of the adjacent link.
Advantageously, the sustaining portion 142 of the link, in particular the lowered part 1421 thereof, has a front transversal edge 1421′ or 1421f, in particular which is defined by the corresponding front edges of the respective side by side segments 1421a, 1421b of the lowered part 1421, the transversal edge of which extends in a rectilinear or linear fashion, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of forward movement or extension of the link.
Advantageously, the sustaining portion 142 of the link, in particular the raised part 1422 thereof, has a rear transversal edge 1422″ or 1422p, which extends in a rectilinear or linear fashion, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of forward movement or extension of the link.
Advantageously, the articulated connection portion 141 of the link comprises the respective insertion part, in particular the block part, 145, projecting longitudinally, in particular projecting backwards, beyond the respective transversal edge longitudinally at the end, in particular at the rear end, 1422p of the portion 142 for sustaining the link, in particular of the raised portion 1422 for sustaining the product.
The articulated connection portion of the link 141 comprises the respective receiving portion, in particular the perpendicular articulated connection wings 1431, 1432, which are longitudinally slightly projecting, in particular slightly projecting forwards, relative to the transversal edge at the end, in particular at the front end, of the portion for sustaining the product, in particular of the lowered portion 1421 for sustaining the product.
More specifically, the raised part 1422 of the product sustaining portion 142 has an inner surface, or lower surface in the positive feed stretches, which is located at a height, or perpendicular level, which is slightly higher than that of the outer surface, or upper surface, of the lowered part 1421 of the same sustaining portion of the link, in such a way that it is positioned, in use, outside, or above, the upper surface of the lowered part.
In this way, a suitable configuration is defined to prevent the risk of inserting parts, in particular fingers of the personnel, between the portions sustaining adjacent links.
As illustrated, advantageously, between the raised part 1422 and the lowered part 1421 of the product sustaining portion 142 of the link, an intermediate connecting edge, or part, 149 extends.
The intermediate connecting edge, or part, 149 has, as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, the general shape in a plan view of a “V”, with enlarged wings, that is, it has respective branches which are inclined, or angularly spaced, and mutually converging, to each other.
In this way, it is possible to allow the execution of curved stretches with a predetermined and desired width in the plane in which the outer surface for sustaining the product 142 lies.
As illustrated, the intermediate connecting edge, or part, 149 has a respective vertex with a “V” configuration, or vertex joining the respective branches, facing forwards, that is to say, in the feed direction of the conveyor belt.
Advantageously, as illustrated, the central part, in particular the vertex, of the “V” configuration of the intermediate connecting edge, or portion, 149 leads to the slot 147 for receiving the insertion part, or block, 145 of the adjacent link, in particular of the preceding link.
Advantageously, as illustrated, the opposite lateral parts, or stretches of the “V” configuration of the intermediate edge, or portion, 149 connect to a corresponding lateral segment 1421a, 1421b of the lowered part 1421 of the product sustaining portion 142.
As illustrated, there are advantageous means for articulated connection between the links of the conveyor belt.
More specifically, the articulated connection means comprise a respective pin 50, which is designed to connect together adjacent links.
More specifically, each link is connected, through a first and a second pin 50, 50, respectively, to a preceding link and a following link.
The articulated connection pin 50 is inserted in respective hole means provided in the receiving portion, in particular in respective holes transversely aligned provided in the perpendicular wings 1431, 1432, which are labelled with the reference numeral 51 in the accompanying drawings.
The articulated connection pin is also inserted in a respective hole 53 which is provided in the respective insertion portion of the respective link, in particular in the central insertion block 145.
More specifically, the respective insertion portion, or head, 145 has a hole 53, which, starting from a respective central diameter “D”, is flared or diverges towards the lateral end of the same through hole, in such a way as to allow relative rotation between adjacent links and the execution of corresponding curved stretches in the horizontal plane or in the plane corresponding to the product sustaining surface.
Advantageously, the respective hole 51, 51, which is made in the receiving part 143 of the articulated connection portion of the link 142, is perpendicularly at, in particular perpendicularly below, the portion for sustaining the product, in particular the lowered portion 1421 of the portion 142 for sustaining the product.
More specifically, as may be well inferred from
In other words, the front articulated connection hole 51 has a respective front edge 51′, which extends upstream of the lower end edge 1421f of the product sustaining portion, that is, of the lowered portion 1421.
As illustrated, further advantageously, the hole 53, which is made in the receiving part, or block, 145 of the articulated connection portion of the link, is perpendicularly at, in particular perpendicularly below, the portion for sustaining the product 145, in particular the raised portion 1422 of the same sustaining portion 142.
Advantageously, the longitudinal end edge 53′ of the hole 53, in particular of the central portion “D” of the hole 53, and which is made in the insertion part, or block part, 145 of the link, or the edge 53′ of the hole 53 in it, which is facing towards the corresponding longitudinal end of the link, is provided perpendicularly at or longitudinally positioned—in the direction of the corresponding end of the link—slightly beyond the transversal end edge of the portion 142 for sustaining the product of the link, in particular perpendicularly at, or longitudinally slightly beyond the rear transversal end edge 1422p of the raised portion 1422, that is, beyond the transversal end edge 1422p of the raised portion 1422 of this.
In other words, the rear edge 53′ of the hole 53 provided in the insertion part, or block part, 145 extends substantially aligned perpendicularly, or positioned longitudinally slightly beyond, the rear edge 1422p of the sustaining portion 142, that is to say, the rear edge 1422p of the raised portion of the raised product sustaining portion 1422 of the link.
As illustrated, the articulated connection holes 51, 51, 53 are longitudinally at the same height and are provided at the corresponding end respectively of the receiving portion, or wings, 143 and of the insertion portion, or block 145.
As illustrated, the articulated connection holes 51, 51, 53 of the link are in the vicinity of the outer part or end of the same link.
More specifically, the articulated connection holes 51, 51, 53 are in the vicinity of the product sustaining portion 142 of the link.
As illustrated, the articulated connection holes 51, 51, 53 extend in the outer or upper part, or centre line, of the articulated connecting portion 141 of the link.
As illustrated, the articulated connection holes 51, 51, 53 are in the form of holes passing through the corresponding part of the link and extend along a respective axis transversal to the same link.
As illustrated, the receiving part, or the respective perpendicular receiving wing, of the articulated connection portion 141 comprises an arced front edge “A”, connecting with the end, or front edge of the sustaining portion 142, in particular with the end, or front edge, of the corresponding lateral segments 1421s, 1421s of the sustaining portion.
More specifically, the arched front edge “A” of the respective receiving wing 1431, 1432 extends in a convex fashion in a direction longitudinal to the link, in particular at the front.
As illustrated, the insertion portion, or block, 145 also has an arched rear edge “P” convex in a direction longitudinal to the link, in particular at the rear.
As illustrated, advantageously, the portion for sustaining the product 142, in particular the portion, that is to say, the lateral segments of the lowered portion 1421, forms the outer or upper end, of the part, or perpendicular wings, 1431, 1432, for receiving the articulated connection portion of the link.
As illustrated, advantageously, the portion 142 for sustaining the product, in particular the raised portion 1422 of it, forms the outer, or upper edge of the insertion part, or block 145 of the articulated connection portion of the link.
As illustrated, in practice, a link has been provided for a conveyor belt with articulated links and a corresponding conveyor belt which allow a desired path to be executed comprising curved stretches in the product sustaining plane and curved in a plane perpendicular to the product sustaining plane, without causing risks of insertion, in particular of the fingers of the personnel, and without requiring the use of costly and special protection systems.
As illustrated, the central gap 147 for receiving the insertion means of the adjacent link is laterally delimited by the receiving wings, that is to say, by the lateral segments of the same lowered portion 1421 and delimited in front of by an edge 149r, which is longitudinally withdrawn from the end longitudinal edges, in particular the front edges, 1421f of the link. More specifically, the withdrawn edge 149r is defined by the connecting portion 149 between the lowered part and the raised part of the sustaining portion of the link.
As illustrated, the edge 149 corresponds with the vertex of the “V” configuration of the connecting portion 149.
In practice, the lateral segments 1421a, 1421b of the lowered portion each comprise a configuration widened from the central end towards the respective lateral end.
This second preferred embodiment 22 of the link comprises means 20 for engaging with and pulling the product.
However, it shall be understood that the means 20 for engaging the product, illustrated relative to the second preferred embodiment, are also applicable to the link of the first preferred embodiment and in particular to the raised portion 1422.
In more detail, as illustrated, the link 22 comprises a protruding element 20 and, more specifically, perpendicularly protruding, for engaging and pulling, or conveying, the product, which is preferably made of flexible or elastomeric material and extends transversely along the portion 142, or transversal plate, for sustaining the product.
The protruding element 20 for engaging the products is fixed to the plastic body of the link by corresponding fixing means 21, which extend advantageously transversely along the protruding element 20.
Advantageously, the fixing means 21 form means of stiffening the fixing means and are elongate transversely to the link, being preferably provided inside the protruding engagement element 20.
More specifically, as illustrated, the protruding engagement element 20 is in the form of a tubular elongate body defining a respective seat or longitudinal groove 201, in particular provided in the lower part this and housing the fixing means 21.
More specifically, the fixing means 21 comprise a respective elongate rod made of rigid material, preferably made of metal material.
As illustrated, the elongate rod 21 has an arched cross section, in particular the concavity of which faces the underlying supporting plate 142 of the link.
The fixing means 21 are connected to the transversal plate 142 of the link through the corresponding attaching means 23, which are clearly shown in
The fixing means are in the form of corresponding elongate shafts, in particular a first and a second elongate shaft, 23, 23, which are inserted in the same product sustaining portion 142 of the link and in the tubular body 20 for engaging the product, in particular through the lower wall of the tubular body, which rests directly on the transversal plate 142 of the link. As illustrated, the respective connecting shaft 23 has a respective widened head 25 which is positioned and engages the top of the upper wall 201′ of the seat 201 for housing the stiffening rod 21.
As illustrated, the respective connecting shaft 23 also has a respective widened head 27, which is positioned and engages, below, the plate or sustaining portion 142 of the link.
The link of the second preferred embodiment of the conveyor can also be used with the engagement portion 20 of the product, or the respective transversal product sustaining portion 142, which is provided, or positioned, vertically and acts in conjunction with an opposite conveyor belt to grip between these and jointly feed a corresponding product, in particular for lifting in height the product.
The invention described has evident industrial applications. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that several changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, described in depth above. In particular, one skilled in the art could easily imagine further embodiments of the invention comprising one or more of the features described herein.
It will also be understood that all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BO2013A000715 | Dec 2013 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2014/067126 | 12/19/2014 | WO | 00 |
