Vertical bucket elevator for conveying bulk products, bulk product conveying system comprising such elevator, and method for conveying bulk products using such elevator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vertical bucket elevator for conveying bulk products, a bulk product conveying system comprising such an elevator and a method for further conveying bulk products using such an elevator. The invention relates to a vertical bucket elevator comprising: a frame; -an endless drive device comprising a plurality of hopper carriers with hoppers for receiving bulk products, the drive device being configured to move the hopper carriers with hoppers in a substantially vertical direction; -a supply section configured for supplying the bulk product to the hopper; and-a discharge section configured for outputting the bulk product from the hopper, where the rack comprises a discharge guide and / or a supply guide, and the hopper comprises a guide follower configured for tilting the hopper relative to the hopper carrier.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an elevator for conveying bulk products. Such bulk products may include grains, flour, other powdery materials, potatoes, apples, and other bulk commodities. The elevator is used to convey bulk products across height differences.

[0002] Traditional conveyors used for transporting bulk products across height differences typically involve belt conveyors that transport products at a certain conveying angle over horizontal and vertical distances. This requires a significant amount of space. Alternatively, traditional vertical conveyors using centrifugal discharge are used. This discharge can lead to product damage, product loss, and / or the generation of "dust."

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an elevator for conveying bulk products, wherein the aforementioned problems are eliminated or at least reduced.

[0004] The objective is achieved by a vertical bucket elevator for conveying products according to the present invention, the vertical bucket elevator comprising:

[0005] - Rack;

[0006] - A ring drive unit comprising a plurality of hopper holders with hoppers for receiving bulk products, wherein the drive unit is configured to move the hopper holders with hoppers in a generally vertical direction.

[0007] - Supply section, which is configured to supply bulk products to the hopper; and

[0008] - The unloading section, which is constructed for discharging bulk products from the hopper.

[0009] The frame includes unloading guides and / or supply guides, and the hopper includes a guide follower configured to tilt the hopper relative to the hopper support.

[0010] This vertical bucket elevator transports bulk products across a generally vertical height between a supply section and a discharge section. The frame of the vertical bucket elevator extends generally vertically at least across the maximum height difference required for transporting the bulk products. Buckets are attached to bucket carriers, or the buckets are disposed in or on bucket carriers. The carriers are movable relative to the frame using a drive mechanism. Preferably, the drive mechanism involves a ring drive. The buckets are configured to transport bulk products, such as grains, flour, other powdery materials, potatoes, apples, and other suitable bulk products, between a supply section configured to supply bulk products to the buckets and a discharge section configured to discharge bulk products from the buckets.

[0011] Preferably, one hopper is provided for each individual hopper holder. The hopper holder holds the hopper at a distance from the drive system, so that the hopper can move relative to the frame together with the hopper holder and can tilt relative to the hopper holder.

[0012] In the currently preferred embodiment, the hopper is provided with a tilting axis that extends in a generally horizontal direction, and more preferably in a plane parallel to the drive system. The drive system moves the hopper in a generally vertical plane (also referred to as the drive plane). Alternatively, the hopper is tilted about the tilting axis, which extends in a generally horizontal direction generally transverse to the drive system and the drive plane. This configuration of the vertical bucket elevator is also referred to as an elevator with lateral discharge. In both configurations, the bracket preferably includes a tilting axis, and more preferably a tilting shaft.

[0013] According to the present invention, a vertical bucket elevator includes a discharge guide and / or a supply guide, wherein the bucket includes a guide follower configured to follow the discharge guide and / or supply guide configured to tilt the bucket relative to a bucket support.

[0014] Providing hoppers for conveying bulk products enables the product to be conveyed in a generally vertical direction (up or down). The hopper design can take into account the characteristics of specific products. Providing tiltable hoppers allows bulk products to be moved gently from the supply section to the discharge section, thereby reducing or even eliminating the risk of product damage. When conveying powders or powdery bulk products, the relatively gentle tilt of the hopper prevents or at least reduces the generation of so-called "dust," thereby also helping to reduce the risk of dust explosions.

[0015] The location (and preferably shape) of the supply guide and / or unloading guide corresponds to the location of the supply section and / or unloading section, respectively. Furthermore, the type of bulk product can influence the location and shape of the unloading guide and / or supply guide.

[0016] Vertical bucket elevators include a ring drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move a bucket carrier that holds the buckets. Such a drive mechanism can be of various types and configurations. However, in the currently preferred embodiment, the drive mechanism can involve an operating system similar to the so-called MK5 conveyor elevator developed and provided by the applicant. In the bucket elevator, the bucket carrier is held in a generally horizontal position during movement driven by the ring drive mechanism. This configuration is described in the applicant's EP2403782 B1. Maintaining a generally horizontal position enables efficient conveying of the buckets in the vertical bucket elevator.

[0017] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the unloading guide includes a return portion and an inclined portion having an inclined shape.

[0018] In the inclined section of the unloading guide, the guide follower of the hopper forces the hopper to tilt about the tilting axis, thereby facilitating the discharge of bulk products from the hopper. The return section of the unloading guide defines the return of the hopper to the conveying position. Preferably, this return section achieves an efficient and smooth return of the hopper from the inclined position to the conveying position.

[0019] Preferably, the hopper and / or hopper bracket includes a spring or spring element that forces the hopper back to the conveying position. This spring element cooperates with the unloading guide (especially its return section) to properly position the hopper for conveying bulk products. The characteristics of the inclined section and the return section, with their angled shapes, as well as the optional spring element, can depend on the actual construction and dimensions of the vertical bucket elevator, and also on the characteristics of the product (e.g., weight).

[0020] Preferably, the inclined shape of the unloading guide includes a generally exponential shape. The application of a generally exponential shape provides a smooth curvature, which enables efficient and effective unloading of bulk products from the hopper while minimizing the risk of product damage.

[0021] In a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, the unloading guide is movable along the frame of the vertical bucket elevator.

[0022] By providing a movable unloading guide, the position of the unloading guide relative to the frame can be adjusted. This improves the flexibility of the vertical bucket elevator and allows for adjustments to the bucket elevator to match its configuration to (changing) unloading sections. Preferably, both the unloading guide and the supply guide are movable along the frame. This further enhances the overall flexibility of the bucket elevator according to the invention.

[0023] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide follower includes one or more guide wheels.

[0024] One or more guide wheels are provided for the guide follower to enable efficient following of the trajectory defined by the discharge guide and / or supply guide, and to force the hopper to tilt in the appropriate position. Experiments have shown that reliable tilting motion in the correct position effectively supplies bulk product to and / or discharges bulk product from the hopper.

[0025] Preferably, the hopper includes a supply and / or discharge follower configured to contact the supply section and / or discharge section. This supply and / or discharge follower allows for temporary contact between the hopper and the supply and / or discharge section. This temporary contact can be used to improve the positioning of the hopper relative to the discharge and / or supply section.

[0026] Optionally, the vertical bucket elevator includes one or more load cells, preferably attached to a bracket, to enable the detection of the weight of the bulk product in the hopper. This facilitates overall control of the bulk product conveying operation.

[0027] In addition, the vertical bucket elevator may optionally include a vibrating device. Preferably, the vibrating device is attached to the bucket support and configured to vibrate the buckets and the bulk product therein. This vibrating device reduces the risk of product clogging in the buckets during transport.

[0028] If needed, electrical contacts can be provided between the frame and the bucket support of the bucket elevator. This allows power to be supplied to devices such as sensors and / or load cells and / or vibration devices.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment of the vertical bucket elevator according to the invention, the elevator further includes a second frame and a frame connector extending between the frames of the elevator, wherein the buckets are provided with an inclined shaft that extends in a generally horizontal direction and preferably extends generally parallel to the frame connector.

[0030] This type of vertical bucket elevator, having at least two frames extending in a generally vertical direction, is also known as a twin-unit configuration and is comparable to the so-called twin sorter described in applicant WO 2020 / 185081 A1. This twin-unit configuration enables the conveying of larger and / or heavier bulk products in either an upward or downward direction. For example, such a twin-unit configuration has a hopper extending between the two frames within a hopper carrier, which is capable of conveying up to 200 kg of bulk product in a single hopper.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a bulk product conveying system, which includes a vertical bucket elevator as described in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as a supply section and an unloading section.

[0032] This bulk product conveying system provides the same or similar effects and advantages as described regarding vertical bucket elevators.

[0033] Optionally, the supply section is equipped with a movable supply device configured to (partially) tilt downwards along with the moving hopper during the actual supply of bulk product to the hopper. This improves the gentle conveying of bulk product from the supply section to the hopper, thereby further reducing the risk of product damage and / or “dust” formation.

[0034] The present invention also relates to a method for vertically conveying bulk products, comprising the following steps:

[0035] - Provides a vertical bucket elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] - Supply bulk products to the hopper;

[0037] - Conveying bulk products in a generally vertical direction; and

[0038] - Unload bulk products from the hopper.

[0039] This method provides the same or similar effects and advantages as described with respect to vertical bucket elevators and / or bulk product conveying systems.

[0040] Where possible, the aspects and features described and illustrated in the specification may be applied individually. These individual aspects, as well as specific aspects of the features described in the appended dependent claims, may serve as the subject matter of a divisional patent application.

[0041] Other advantages, features, and details of the invention are described based on preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0042] - Figure 1 A vertical bucket elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0043] - Figures 2A to 2B It shows Figure 1 Side and front views of the elevator;

[0044] - Figures 3A to 3B Showing from Figure 1 The hopper in the hopper bracket of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;

[0045] - Figures 4A to 4E The tilting process of the hopper relative to the unloading guide is shown;

[0046] - Figures 5A to 5D This illustrates the supply of bulk product to a hopper in a first embodiment;

[0047] - Figures 6A to 6B This illustrates the supply of bulk products to a hopper in a second embodiment; and

[0048] - Figure 7 The diagram schematically illustrates a double-unit construction of an embodiment of the vertical bucket elevator according to the present invention.

[0049] Vertical bucket elevator 2 ( Figure 1 It includes a frame 4 with a drive rail 6. Multiple carriers 8 move along the rail 6 in direction A and pass through the supply section 10 and the output or unloading section 12.

[0050] The frame 4 includes a supply guide 14 and an unloading guide 16. Figures 2A to 2BGuides 14 and 16 define the tilting movement of the hopper 18 relative to the hopper carrier 20. The hopper carrier 20 moves within the track 6. In the illustrated embodiment, two wheels 21 are provided, enabling the hopper 18 to move along the drive track 6 within the carrier 20. The operation of the wheels 21 can be similar to the configuration described in the applicant's aforementioned EP 2403782 B1. This configuration allows the hopper carrier 20 to maintain a generally horizontal position throughout its movement along the track 6. It should be understood that alternative configurations are also contemplated according to the invention.

[0051] Supply section 10 supplies bulk products from conveyor 10a to supply device 10b in direction B, and then into trough 10c. The bulk products are conveyed from supply section 10 into hopper 18. The tilting movement of hopper 18 is achieved by guide follower 22 upon contact with supply guide 14. In the (exponential) tilting section 14a, hopper 18 tilts towards supply section 10. After vertical movement and having been supplied with bulk products, hopper 18 returns to the conveying position via guide follower 22 following the return section 14b of supply guide 14.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the unloading section 12 receives bulk products in receiving container 12a, after which the bulk products move along conveyor 12b in direction C. The tilting movement of hopper 18 is defined by unloading guide 16. Guide follower 22 follows the tilting portion 16a of unloading guide 16, which is preferably exponentially shaped. It should be understood that other shapes are also conceivable according to the invention. The return of hopper 18 to the conveying position is achieved by guide follower 22 following the return portion 16b of unloading guide 16.

[0053] Bulk Product Conveying System 62 ( Figure 2A This includes a vertical bucket conveyor 2, an unloading section 12, and a supply section 10. It should be understood that other configurations are also conceivable according to the invention. For example, in other configurations, bulk products can move downwards.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the support member 8 is provided with a hopper 18 ( Figures 3A to 3BThe hopper 18 is disposed within the hopper holder 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide follower 22 includes a guide wheel positioned at a distance from the hopper 18 together with a pin 24. In the illustrated embodiment, a supply and / or discharge follower 26 is provided, capable of contacting components or elements of the supply section 10 and / or discharge section 12. Optionally, a spring 28 is provided, providing a force to hold the hopper 18 in the conveying position, such that bulk product is held within the hopper 18. A rotation axis 30 corresponds to the tilt axis of the hopper 18 relative to the hopper holder 20. In this illustrated embodiment, a sensor element 32 (e.g., a load cell) is attached to the holder 20 to measure the weight of the bulk product in the hopper 18. Additionally, optionally, a vibration device 33 is attached to the hopper holder 20, such that, for example, the contents of the hopper 18 can be vibrated to prevent blockage. A strip or guide 36 is provided at the edge 34 of the hopper 18.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the discharge hopper 18 ( Figures 4A to 4E This involves the upward movement of hopper 18, wherein guide follower 22 follows the inclined portion 16a of discharge guide 16. Hopper 18 is inclined relative to hopper support 20 about inclined axis 30. The position of discharge guide 16 coincides with the position of discharge section 12. The tilting movement is preferably initiated before product is actually discharged from hopper 18, and hopper 18 begins to tilt toward discharge section 12. After bulk product is conveyed from hopper 18 to discharge section 12, return portion 16b allows hopper 18 to return to its conveying position and is held in that position with optional assistance of spring 28. Optionally, discharge section 12 includes additional discharge section guide 40 to improve the positioning of hopper 18 relative to discharge section 12.

[0056] In the first embodiment of supply section 10, bulk products are supplied to hopper 8. Figures 5A to 5D The movement of hopper 8 begins when it approaches supply section 10. The tilting portion 14a of supply guide 14 initiates movement of hopper 8 about tilting axis 30 via guide follower 22. After hopper 18 has advanced and been filled with bulk product through supply section 10, hopper 18 returns to its conveying position via guide follower 22 following return portion 14b of supply guide 14. Supply guide 14 allows hopper 18 to return to its conveying position, optionally using spring 28.

[0057] In the alternative implementation scheme of supply section 10 ( Figures 6A to 6B The supply section 10 has a movable portion 42 that moves toward the hopper 18 when the hopper 18 approaches the supply section 10. Figures 6A to 6BIn the illustrated embodiment, the frame portion 38 is positioned at a height corresponding to the supply section 10. The supply section 10 has a supply or movable portion 42 that can contact the hopper 18. Bulk products are supplied by the supply portion 46. A support member 48 is connected to a gas spring 52 and a supply spring element 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the hopper 18 contacts the supply portion 42, and movement of the supply portion 42 is initiated by the supply and / or unloading guide follower 26 that contacts the supply contact member 50 of the supply section 10. This improves the conveying of bulk products to the hopper 18. The gas spring 52 inhibits the return movement of the supply portion 24 after the hopper 18 is filled.

[0058] Bulk products are supplied by supply section 10. Supply section 10 conveys the bulk products into hopper 18 of carrier 8, preferably while moving hopper 18 vertically (up or down). Optionally, supply section 10 may include one or more movable portions to improve the gentle conveying of bulk products into hopper 8. The tilting movement of hopper 18 is achieved by supply guide 14. Discharge of bulk products from hopper 18 occurs at discharge section 12, which involves tilting movement of hopper 8 using discharge guide 16. Bulk products are conveyed from hopper 18 to discharge section 12 and further conveyed.

[0059] In an alternative configuration, particularly for larger bulk products or higher capacities, the twin-unit configuration 102 ( Figure 7 Two vertical bucket elevators 2' and 2" are provided. Multiple frame connectors 104 are provided between frames 4' and 4" to which bucket brackets 20' with buckets 8' are attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the buckets 8' extend over most of the width direction W of the twin-frame structure 102. The operation of the twin-frame structure 102 is similar to that described for a single-frame bucket elevator 2. Notably, in the illustrated embodiment of the twin-frame structure 102, the tilting movement of the buckets 8' is about a tilting axis transverse to the drive plane 106. It should be understood that, regarding the vertical bucket elevator 2 ( Figures 1 to 6B The components shown can also be applied to the double-unit construction 102. Figure 7 Examples include supply guide 14, unloading guide 16, and supply and unloading sections 10 and 12.

[0060] The present invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The sought rights are defined by the following claims, and many modifications may be contemplated within their scope. For example, the vertical bucket elevator 2 may optionally be provided with an inclined direction toward the side of the elevator 2 to provide a bucket elevator with lateral discharge. In this embodiment, the inclined shaft 30 extends transversely to the frame 4 of the bucket elevator 2.

Claims

1. A vertical bucket elevator for conveying bulk products, the bucket elevator comprising: - Rack; - A ring drive device comprising a plurality of hopper holders with hoppers for receiving bulk products, wherein the drive device is configured to move the hopper holders with hoppers in a generally vertical direction. - A supply section configured to supply bulk products to the hopper; and - A discharge section, configured to discharge bulk products from the hopper. The frame includes a discharge guide and / or a supply guide, and the hopper includes a guide follower configured to tilt the hopper relative to the hopper support.

2. The vertical bucket elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The hopper is provided with an inclined shaft extending in a generally horizontal direction.

3. The vertical bucket elevator according to claim 2, wherein, The hopper support includes the tilting shaft.

4. The vertical bucket elevator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The tilting axis extends in a plane parallel to the drive system.

5. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The hopper support is kept in a generally horizontal position during movement driven by the annular drive device.

6. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The unloading guide includes a return section and an inclined section with an inclined shape.

7. The vertical bucket elevator according to claim 6, wherein, The tilted shape includes a roughly exponential shape.

8. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The unloading guide is movable along the frame of the vertical bucket elevator.

9. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide follower includes one or more guide wheels.

10. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The hopper includes a spring element configured to hold the hopper in the conveying position.

11. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The hopper includes a supply and / or discharge follower configured to contact the supply section and / or discharge section.

12. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a weighing sensor.

13. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a vibration device.

14. The vertical bucket elevator according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - Second rack; and - Rack connectors that extend between the racks. The hopper is provided with an inclined shaft that extends in a generally horizontal direction and is generally parallel to the frame connector.

15. A bulk product conveying system comprising a vertical bucket elevator, a supply section, and an unloading section according to any one of the preceding claims.

16. The bulk product conveying system according to claim 15, wherein, The supply section also includes a mobile supply device.

17. A method for vertically conveying bulk products, comprising the following steps: - Provide a vertical bucket elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 14; - Supply the bulk product to the hopper; - Conveying the bulk product in a generally vertical direction; and - Discharge the bulk product from the hopper.

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