Guide particularly for conveyor belts

Abstract

A guide, particularly for conveyor belts, inside which it is possible to accommodate first elements for generating a magnetic field, each one being constituted by a single permanent magnet, which has a U-shaped cross-section and has at least one pair of wings that protrude upward; the magnet can be inserted within a complementarily shaped receptacle formed inside the guide structure that can support slidingly a chain composed of a plurality of conveyance elements, which have second elements for their mutual engagement and are made at least partially of ferromagnetic material.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide particularly for conveyor belts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The design of suitable systems for moving semifinished articles from one processing station to the next and for moving the finished products toward the store is particularly important in the provision of industrial facilities for manufacturing or processing goods of various kinds. [0003] Especially in the case of facilities that have a high production capacity, these movement systems must be completely automated and must ensure high efficiency and reliability, since the malfunction of one of them may halt the entire production facility or part thereof. [0004] Moreover, the need to limit the overall space occupation of processing facilities, while on the one hand reduces the average distance that a semifinished or finished product must cover before reaching the next processing station or the store, on the other hand forces said products to trace convoluted paths, which ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention aims to solve problems in existing conveyor systems by providing a device that can transfer products on a surface even if the path includes curved sections. The device is easy to assemble, maintain, and requires low power. It can also move fragile products regularly and is structurally simple and cost-effective. The invention includes a guide with a U-shaped magnet that can support a chain of conveyance elements. The magnet is inserted into a complementary receptacle in the guide."

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, the need to limit the overall space occupation of processing facilities, while on the one hand reduces the average distance that a semifinished or finished product must cover before reaching the next processing station or the store, on the other hand forces said products to trace convoluted paths, which often have curves that have the most disparate radii of curvature.

The main drawback of this first known type of conveyor belt is that, due to the forces mutually transmitted among the individual conveyance elements, said elements tend to rise, at any bends of the guide, on the outer side of said bend.

The main drawback of this second known type of conveyor belt is that it is necessary to provide the first abutment surfaces on all the conveyance elements of the chain and on the guide, causing an increase in the manufacturing costs of the conveyor belt.

Another drawback of this second known type of conveyor belt is that the first and second abutment surfaces are subject to intense wear.

Another drawback is that fragments or portions of the conveyed products, such as for example glass splinters or metallic elements, may accidentally jam between the abutment surfaces, causing an increase in wear or even halting the belt.

The main drawback of this third known type of conveyor belt is that it requires the use of ferromagnetic material to provide the loading surface of the conveyance elements, and therefore the conveyor belt requires a lubrication system in order to ensure its regular and smooth operation, which is required for example when conveying bottles, particularly bottles containing beer or carbonated beverages.

Moreover, said conveyance elements are scarcely suitable if it is necessary to convey products that may be damaged by contact with metallic surfaces.

Another drawback of this third known type of conveyor belt is that the permanent magnets must be arranged within the rails so that their respective magnetic poles are oppositely orientated, thus making it difficult to perform assembly and maintenance and accordingly increasing the overall production and management costs of the conveyor belt.

Another drawback is that an error in positioning the permanent magnets may lead to poor operation of said belt.

The main drawback of this fourth known type of conveyor belt is that the permanent magnets must be arranged inside the guide so that their respective magnetic poles are oppositely orientated, thus making assembly and maintenance troublesome and accordingly causing an increase in the overall production and operating costs of the conveyor belt.

Another drawback is that providing a single magnet in which the left half has the north pole arranged upward and the south pole arranged downward and the right half has the south pole arranged upward and the north pole arranged downward is onerous and causes a high overall production cost of the conveyor belt.

Another drawback of this fourth known type of conveyor belt is that, since the attraction force is applied to the pivot, and therefore in the central region of the conveyance element, a perfectly horizontal arrangement of the loading surface is not ensured, since the lateral ends of said loading surface can flex or tilt slightly.

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