A disintegration apparatus for conveyor belts and method for recovering materials of a conveyor belt
The disintegration apparatus with fluid jets and tensioning rollers efficiently processes thick conveyor belts by synchronizing the movement of the conveyor belt and disintegration devices, reducing disintegration times.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PNEUS JET RECYCLING SRL
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing conveyor belt disintegration methods are inefficient in processing conveyor belts with large thicknesses and require lengthy disintegration times.
A disintegration apparatus with upper and lower fluid jets and tensioning rollers is used to disintegrate conveyor belts, allowing for efficient processing of belts with thicknesses greater than 40 mm by moving the jets transversely to the feed direction, combined with a control unit to manage and synchronize the movement of the conveyor belt and disintegration devices.
The apparatus significantly reduces disintegration process times by ensuring effective disintegration of thick conveyor belts through the coordinated action of upper and lower fluid jets and tensioning rollers.
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Abstract
Description
With particular reference to figure 1, the disintegration apparatus 1 can further comprise a collection means 6 configured to collect the portion of polymeric matrix disintegrated by the at least one upper disintegration device 4 and / or at least one lower disintegration device 5. Preferably, the collection means 6 can be at least partly arranged below the disintegration station 100 in order to collect the disintegrated portion of polymeric matrix. For example, the collection means 6 can comprise a collection hopper 60 facing the disintegration station 100 and configured to receive, for example by gravity, the aforesaid disintegrated portion of polymeric matrix. Furthermore, the disintegration apparatus 1 can comprise a recovery station 200 configured to recover at least one metal cable “M” of the conveyor belt “N”. As illustrated in the appended figures, the recovery station can be located downstream of the disintegration station 100 along the aforesaid feed direction “X”. In particular, the disintegration apparatus 1 can further comprise a storage means 7 for storing the at least one metal cable “M” and a conveyor means 8 at least partly defining the recovery station 200. For example, the conveyor means 8 can be configured to convey the at least one metal cable “M” at least from the disintegration station 100 to the storage means 7. Purely by way of non-limiting example, the conveyor means 8 can comprise a tracked tensioning means 80 active on the metal cable “M” in order to maintain it at a pre-established level of tension during its movement towards the aforesaid storage means 7. Furthermore, the storage means 7 can comprise a cutting means 70 activatable on the at least one metal cable to enable the subsequent storage thereof and / or a winder configured to wind the at least one metal cable. In accordance with a further advantageous aspect, the disintegration apparatus 1 can comprise a control unit configured to control at least the conveyor 2 and / or upper disintegration device 4 and / or lower disintegration device 5 in such a way as to manage and / or synchronise the movement of the conveyor belt “N” and of the disintegration means 4, 5. Purely by way of non-limiting example, the control unit can be configured to adjust the speed of movement of the conveyor belt “N” along the feed direction “X” and / or to adjust the speed of movement of the disintegration devices 4, 5 along the disintegration direction "Y" in such a way as to enable multiple passes of the disintegration devices 4, 5 along the transverse direction of extension “B” of the conveyor belt “N”, thereby ensuring an effective disintegration of the conveyor belt “N”. In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for recovering materials of a conveyor belt. The method comprises a step of arranging a conveyor belt “N” so that at least a lower surface “S1 ” of the conveyor belt is at least partly facing downwards and that at least an upper surface “S2” of the conveyor belt is opposite the lower surface and substantially facing upwards. It is noted that, in the present description, the words “lower” and “upper” refer to a substantially vertical direction. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of feeding the conveyor belt “N” along a feed direction “X”. Preferably, the feed direction “X” is substantially horizontal. Advantageously, the method comprises the step of focusing an upper fluid jet and a lower fluid jet respectively on an upper surface and on a lower surface of the conveyor belt in order to disintegrate at least one portion of the polymeric matrix of the conveyor belt “N”. In this manner, the method enables conveyor belts having large thicknesses, for example greater than 40 mm, to be efficiently processed thanks to the joint action of the upper fluid jet and lower fluid jet. Furthermore, the combined effect of an upper fluid jet and lower fluid jet enables the disintegration process times to be reduced. Preferably, the method comprises the step of moving the upper fluid jet and / or lower fluid jet along a disintegration direction “Y” which is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the feed direction “X”. Furthermore, the method can comprise a step of collecting the disintegrated portion of the polymeric matrix and / or a step of storing at least one metal cable “M” of the conveyor belt “N”. Preferably, the method can be implemented with a disintegration apparatus 1 in accordance with what was previously described. Advantageously, the step of focusing and / or the step of moving of the upper fluid jet and / or lower fluid jet can be carried out at least partly during a movement of the conveyor belt, thus ensuring a significant reduction in the disintegration process times. Advantageously, the method comprises arranging a tensioning means 17 upstream and / or downstream of said upper fluid jet (4) and / or said lower fluid jet. The tensioning means 17 is configured to tension the conveyor belt N at least along a portion of said conveyor belt N exposed to the emission of said jet. Advantageously, the step of arranging said tensioning means 17 envisages that the latter comprise at least one upper tensioning roller 18 and one lower tensioning roller 19, facing each other and counter-rotating. Said at least one upper tensioning roller 18 and one lower tensioning roller 19 are activatable on the conveyor belt N in order to tension it at least during an emission of said jet. It may be observed, therefore, that the present invention achieves the proposed objects by providing a disintegration apparatus for conveyor belts, in particular for conveyor belts comprising at least one metal cable embedded in a polymeric matrix, which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art thanks to the presence of at least one upper 5 disintegration device and at least one lower disintegration device which are operatively associated in order to bring about the disintegration of the conveyor belt.
Claims
1. A disintegration apparatus (1) for conveyor belts, in particular for conveyor belts comprising at least one metal cable (M) embedded in a polymeric matrix, said disintegration apparatus comprising:- at least one conveyor (2) defining a conveyor top (T) adapted to support at least one conveyor belt (N) so that at least one lower surface (S1) of the conveyor belt (N) is at least partly in contact with said conveyor and that at least one upper surface (S2) of the conveyor belt (N) is opposite the lower surface (S1), said at least one conveyor (2) being configured to convey the conveyor belt (N) at least towards a disintegration station (100) of said disintegration apparatus (1) along a feed direction (X);- at least one upper disintegration device (4) and at least one lower disintegration device (5) which can be facing, respectively, said upper surface (S2) and lower surface (S1) of the conveyor belt (N), each of said disintegration devices being configured to emit at least one jet of a fluid adapted to disintegrate at least one portion of the polymeric matrix of the conveyor belt (N); said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and at least one lower disintegration device (5) at least partly defining said disintegration station (100) of said disintegration apparatus (1);- a recovery station (200) configured to recover at least one metal cable (M) of the conveyor belt (N), said recovery station (200) being located downstream of said disintegration station (100);characterised in that said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and said at least one lower disintegration device (5) are staggered along said feed direction (X);said disintegration apparatus further comprising an abutment means (23) opposite said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and / or said at least one lower disintegration device (5) relative to the conveyor belt (N) and configured to define an abutment for a portion of the conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of said jet.
2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising a movement means (9) configured to move said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and / or said at least one lower disintegration device (5) along a disintegration direction (Y) which is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to said feed direction (X) so as to move said upper disintegration device (4) and / or said lower disintegration device (5) along a transverse direction of extension (B) of the conveyor belt (N).
3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said movement means (9) comprises a guide (10, 11), extending parallel to said disintegration direction (Y), and a carriage (12, 13), slidably associated with said guide (10, 11); and wherein said upper disintegration device (4) and / or said lower disintegration device (5) is mounted on said carriage (12, 13) in order to be reversibly moved along said disintegration direction (Y).
4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein said movement means (9) comprises an upper guide (10) and a lower guide (11), extending parallel to said disintegration direction (Y); wherein said movement means (9) comprises an upper carriage (12) and a lower carriage (13), slidably associated, respectively, with said upper guide (10) and with said lower guide (11); and wherein said upper disintegration device (4) and said lower disintegration device (5) are mounted, respectively, on said upper carriage (12) and on said lower carriage (13) in order to be reversibly moved along said disintegration direction (Y).
5. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said upper disintegration device (4) and / or said lower disintegration device (5) comprises at least one nozzle (16) adapted to enable the emission of said fluid jet, preferably at least 4 nozzles, even more preferably 12 nozzles.
6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said upper disintegration device (4) and / or said lower disintegration device (5) are positioned in such a way that the distance between said at least one nozzle (16) and said conveyor top is comprised between 2 mm and 8 mm.
7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or 6, wherein each disintegration device (4, 5) comprises a support body (14), connectable to a fluid supply conduit to enable an inflow of the fluid to said disintegration device (4, 5), and an emission head (15), having said at least one nozzle (16); and wherein said emission head (15) is rotatable relative to said support body (14) in order to promote the disintegration of the polymeric matrix of the conveyor belt (N).
8. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a tensioning means (17) located upstream and / or downstream of said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and / or said at least one lower disintegration device (5), said tensioning means (17) being configured to tension the conveyor belt (N) at least along a portion of said conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of said jet.
9. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a tensioning means (17) located upstream and downstream of said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and of said at least one lower disintegration device (5), said tensioning means (17) being configured to tension the conveyor belt (N) at least along a portion of said conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of said jet.
10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 or 9, wherein said tensioning means (17) comprises at least one upper tensioning roller (18) and one lower tensioning roller (19), facing each other and counterrotating, said at least one upper tensioning roller (18) and one lowertensioning roller (19) being activatable on the conveyor belt (N) in order to tension it at least during an emission of said jet.
11. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and / or said at least one lower disintegration device (5) is configured to emit a high-pressure fluid jet, preferably at a pressure greater than 2,000 bar, even more preferably greater than 2,300 bar.
12. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a collection means (6) configured to collect the portion of polymeric matrix disintegrated by said at least one upper disintegration device (4) and / or by said at least one lower disintegration device (5); said collection means (6) preferably being arranged below said disintegration station (100) in order to collect the disintegrated portion of polymeric matrix.
13. The apparatus in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a storage means (7) for storing at least one metal cable (M) and a conveyor means (8) configured to convey the at least one metal cable (M) at least from said disintegration station (100) to said storage means (7), said storage means (7) and conveyor means (8) at least partly defining said recovery station (200).
14. A method for recovering materials of a conveyor belt (N), comprising the steps of:- arranging a conveyor belt (N) so that at least a lower surface (S1) of the conveyor belt (N) is at least partly facing downwards and that at least an upper surface (S2) of the conveyor belt (N) is opposite the lower surface (S1) and substantially facing upwards;- feeding the conveyor belt (N) along a feed direction (X);- focusing an upper fluid jet and a lower fluid jet respectively on an upper surface (S2) and on a lower surface (S1) of the conveyor belt (N) in order to disintegrate at least one portion of the polymeric matrix of the conveyor belt (N);- moving said upper fluid jet and / or said lower fluid jet along a disintegration direction (Y) which is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to said feed direction (X) so as to move said upper fluid jet and / or said lower fluid jet along a transverse direction of extension (B) of the conveyor belt (N);- collecting the disintegrated portion of the polymeric matrix;- storing at least one metal cable (M) of the conveyor belt (N);characterised in that it comprises a step of staggering the position of said upper fluid jet and said lower fluid jet along said feed direction (X);said method further envisages positioning an abutment means (23) opposite at least said upper fluid jet and / or said lower fluid jet relative to the conveyor belt (N), the abutment means (23) being configured to define an abutment for a portion of the conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of said jet.
15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said step of focusing and / or said step of moving said upper fluid jet and / or said lower fluid jet are carried out at least partly during a movement of the conveyor belt (N).
16. The method in accordance with one or more of claims 14 to 15, characterised in that a tensioning means (17) is arranged upstream and / or downstream of said upper fluid jet (4) and / or said lower fluid jet, said tensioning means (17) being configured to tension the conveyor belt (N) at least along a portion of said conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of said jet.
17. The method in accordance with one or more of claims 14 to 15,characterised in that a tensioning means (17) is arranged upstream and downstream of said upper fluid jet (4) and of said lower fluid jet, said tensioning means (17) being configured to tension the conveyor belt (N) at least along a portion of said conveyor belt (N) exposed to the emission of 5 said jet.
18. The method in accordance with claim 16 or 17, wherein the step of arranging said tensioning means (17) envisages that the latter comprises at least one upper tensioning roller (18) and one lower tensioning roller 10 (19), facing each other and counter-rotating, said at least one upper tensioning roller (18) and one lower tensioning roller (19) being activatable on the conveyor belt (N) in order to tension it at least during an emission of said jet.