Roller belt with supporting edge

Abstract

A modular conveyor belt having a solid edge capable of supporting the weight of the conveyor belt along a carryway. The solid edge has a bearing surface (such as the periphery of a wheel or the face of a wear pad) mounted at the side of the belt to support the weight of the belt when the belt rollers are not supported by a roller activation system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to power driven conveyors and more particularly to conveyor belts with article transfer rollers and supporting edges. Background Art

[0002] A conveyor belt having an article transfer belt roller that rotates by contacting a roller or flat surface in a carrying lane is used to sort, center, align or otherwise transfer the conveyed articles. The belt roller is arranged to rotate about its axis in a direction that is oblique or perpendicular to the direction of belt travel. The belt roller protrudes through the top and bottom of the belt. The roller activation system in the conveyor carrying lane has contact surfaces that are selectively moved to contact and not contact the bottom of the belt roller. As the belt advances along the carrying lane in the direction of belt travel, the belt rollers rotate as they ride on the contact surfaces to transfer the articles on top of the belt rollers. When contacting the belt rollers, the contact surfaces also support the belt along the carrying lane. When the contact surface is positioned not to contact the belt roller, the contact surface cannot be used to rotate the belt roller or support the belt. In that case, the belt must be supported on the carrying lane in another way. An example of such a roller belt is manufactured and sold by Intralox, LLC of Harahan, Louisiana, USA. 7000 series transverse roller belts and 7050 series double stack transverse roller belts, and they are composed of S7000 Frame and Roller Carryway Activation Such roller belt and roller activation systems are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,461,739, 7,506,751, 8,225,751 and 9,079,717. Summary of the invention

[0003] A version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the invention includes a module body extending in length from a first end to a second end, in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top to a bottom. A first belt roller is mounted in the module body so that a protrusion protrudes outward from a bottom of the module body to a first horizontal plane. First and second edge portions are at first and second sides of the module body. Each edge portion includes a support surface extending to a second horizontal plane between the first horizontal plane and the bottom of the module body.

[0004] A version of a conveyor belt embodying features of the present invention includes a series of conveyor belt modules. Each belt module includes a module body extending from a first end to a second end in a length direction, from a first side to a second side in a width direction, and from a top to a bottom in thickness. First hinge elements are spaced apart along the first end, and second hinge elements are spaced apart along the second end. A first belt roller is mounted in the module body so that a protrusion protrudes outward from the bottom of the module body to a first horizontal plane. First and second edge portions are at the first and second sides of the module body. Each edge portion includes a support surface that extends to a second horizontal plane between the first horizontal plane and the bottom of the module body. The first hinge elements of the conveyor belt modules are interlaced with and connected to the second hinge elements of adjacent conveyor belt modules in the conveyor belt modules to form an endless belt loop.

[0005] A conveyor embodying features of the invention includes a carryway and a conveyor belt supported in the carryway. A first wear strip in the carryway is positioned below a bearing surface on a first edge portion of the belt, and a second wear strip in the carryway is positioned below a bearing surface on a second edge portion of the belt. A roller activation system in the carryway has a contact surface movable between a first position in contact with a belt roller to cause the belt roller to rotate as the conveyor belt advances on the carryway and a second position in which the contact surface does not contact the belt roller. When the roller activation system is in the first position, the weight of the conveyor belt is borne by the roller activation system, and when the roller activation system is in the second position, the weight of the conveyor belt is borne by the first wear strip and the second wear strip. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figures 1A to 1D There are top exploded isometric, bottom exploded isometric, side elevation cross-sectional and side elevation views of the side edge of a first version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B are top exploded isometric views and top isometric views of the side edges of a second version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are top exploded isometric, bottom exploded isometric and side elevation views of the side edges of a third version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B are top exploded isometric and enlarged cross-sectional views of the side edges of a fourth version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B are top isometric and top exploded isometric views of a fifth version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B are side elevation and top exploded isometric views of the side edges of a sixth version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0012] 7A to 7C are oblique views of side edges, top plan views and side elevation views of a seventh version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are oblique top, oblique bottom and side elevation views of the side edge of an eighth version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the invention.

[0014] Fig. 9 Is caused by 7A to 8C An isometric view of a portion of the bottom portion of a conveyor belt formed by a conveyor belt module is shown.

[0015] Fig.10 Yes 7A to 7C A cross-sectional elevational view of a conveyor belt in which rollers of the conveyor belt are activated in a first direction by a roller activation system in the conveyor belt carryway.

[0016] Fig.11 Yes Fig.10 A cross-sectional elevation view of a belt roller in which the belt roller is activated in an opposite second direction.

[0017] Fig.12 Yes Fig.10 and Fig.11 Cross-sectional elevation view in which the belt rollers are deactivated and the side edges of the belt are supported by the carryway wear strips. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] exist Figure 1A and Figure 1D One version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention is shown in FIG. Belt module 20 includes a module body 22 extending in length from a first end 24 to a second end 25, in width from a first side 26 to an opposite second side (not shown), and in thickness from a top 28 to a bottom 29. Hinge elements 30, 31 are spaced apart along the first end 24 and the second end 25 of the module body 22. Lateral holes 34 through the hinge elements 30, 31 receive hinge rods (not shown). The belt modules 20 are linked together by interleaving the hinge elements 30, 31 of a module with the hinge elements 31, 30 of an adjacent module. The hinge rods received in the lateral channels through the aligned holes 34 of the interleaved hinge elements 30, 31 link the modules together at the hinge joints.

[0019] Pairs of article support belt rollers 36 extend outward from the top 28 of the module body 22. The rollers 36 are partially or completely above the horizontal plane of the top 28 of the module body 22. The article support belt rollers 36 are mounted on shafts 38, the ends of which are supported in pillars 40. The shafts 38 are parallel to the length direction of the module body 22, so that the rollers rotate on the shafts in the width direction. The lower rollers 42 have a protruding portion extending outward from the bottom 29 of the module body 22. The lower rollers 42 are mounted on shafts (not shown) located between the top 28 and the bottom 29 in the module body. The shafts of the lower rollers are parallel to the shafts 38 of the article support rollers 36. Each lower roller 42 contacts a pair of upper article support rollers 36, so that when the lower rollers are rotated, their rotation in one lateral direction causes the contacting pair of upper rollers to rotate in the opposite lateral direction.

[0020] At each side 26 of the module body is an edge portion 44. The edge portion 44 includes a mounting base 46 formed integrally with the module body 22. A first removable outermost edge member 48 is attached to a first retaining structure 50 in the mounting base 46. A hinge element 49 having a rod hole is formed at one end of the first removable outermost edge member 48. A first tab 52 with a shoulder snaps into place in the mounting base 46 and is removably retained by the first retaining structure 50 engaging the tab shoulder. A removable wear pad 54, also having a second tab 56 with a shoulder, snaps into place in the edge portion 44 and is retained by the first tab 52 of the first removable outermost edge member 48. The wear pad 54 has a flat outer surface 58 as a bearing surface that can slide along the wear strip on the upper carryway path of the belt formed by the module 20. The wear pad 54 is made of a durable, wear-resistant material (such as UHMW plastic). And for low friction sliding, the wear pad 54 may include PTFE. The convex portion of the lower roller 42 extends to a first horizontal plane 60 below a second horizontal plane 61 of the face 58 of the wear pad 54. The first removable outermost edge member 48 has an inclined outer side 62 that tapers inwardly toward the top 28 of the module body 22. The taper may be linear or may be concavely curved to allow for placement of a lateral exit drain near the module 20 side.

[0021] Another version of the conveyor module is Figure 2A and Figure 2B The module body 22, the article support roller 36, the lower roller and the wear pad 54 are Figures 1A to 1DThe difference is that the conveyor belt module 64 has a second removable outermost edge member 66, which includes a freely rotatable edge roller 68 on an axle supported at the end by a support 70. The axis of the axle is parallel to the axis of the axle of the pair of article support rollers 36. The edge roller 68 disposed outside the outermost article support rollers 36 is passive in that it does not rotate by contact with the lower rollers.

[0022] exist FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C In the third version shown in FIG. 1 , the roller belt module 72 has wheels 74 that can roll along the carryway wear strips in a low friction rolling contact. Figure 2A The second removable outermost edge member 66 of the present invention differs in that it includes a wheel well 78 in the bottom side to accommodate the wheel 74. The wheel 74 is mounted on parallel shafts 80, the axis of which is in the width direction, so that the wheel rotates in the length direction. The ends of the shafts 80 are retained at one end in a cavity 82 in the mounting base 46 and at the other end in complementary half cavities 84, 85 in the mounting base and the third removable outermost edge member 76. The protruding portion of the lower roller 42 extends to the first horizontal plane 60 below the third horizontal plane 86 of the periphery of the wheel 74. The periphery of the wheel 74 serves as a bearing surface against the carryway wear strips.

[0023] Yet another version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention is Figure 4A and Figure 4B As shown in FIG. 88 with module Figures 1A to 1D The module of is different in that it has a rim portion 90 that is integrally formed with the module body 92. Although the integral rim portion 90 is not removable, the wear pad 94 having the third tab 96 is removable. The third tab 96 allows the wear pad 94 to be retained in place by a locking structure 98 in the rim portion 90. Figure 4B It is also shown how the lower rollers 42 cooperate with the paired upper article support rollers 36 to cause them to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the lower rollers with which they contact. The roller-to-roller interaction is the same for all described versions of the conveyor belt module having both upper and lower rollers.

[0024] Figure 5A and Figure 5B The conveyor belt module 100 and FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B The module in is different in that it has an integral edge portion 102 with a support post 104 at the top to support the passive edge roller 68. Figure 4A and Figure 4B Like the belt module 100 , the belt module 100 includes structure for retaining the removable wear pads 94 .

[0025] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B Another version of a conveyor belt module is shown with both upper rollers 36 and lower rollers 42. The belt module 106 has an integral rim portion 108 which accommodates the wheels 74 mounted on axles 80 whose ends are retained in cavities 110, 111 in the rim portion.

[0026] Another version of a conveyor belt module embodying features of the present invention is 7A to 7C In this version, the belt module 112 has a single layer roller 114, wherein the roller has a raised portion that protrudes beyond the top 116 and bottom 117 of the module body 118. The module 112 has an edge portion 120 that is integrally formed with the module body 118. A second retaining structure 122 in the unitary edge portion 120 holds snap-in tabs 124 on the wear pad 126 in place. The roller 114 extends to a level below the level of the wear pad 126.

[0027] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C The conveyor belt module 128 shown in FIG. 7A to 7C The same as shown in , except that it has an integral edge portion 130 retaining wheel 74 instead of a wear pad.

[0028] Fig. 9 Shown as 7A to 7C 1 is a bottom view of several conveyor belt modules 112 connected together at hinge joints 131 by hinge rods 132 received in lateral channels formed by aligned holes through staggered hinge elements 134, 135 of adjacent belt modules. The modular conveyor belt is typically driven around drive and idler sprockets (not shown) whose teeth are received in drive grooves 133 in the bottom 137 of the belt between rollers 114. The drive sprocket is typically mounted on a drive shaft (not shown) rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0029] Figures 10 to 12 The sorting conveyor is shown as follows 7A to 7C The modular conveyor belt 136 is composed of the belt modules 112 in the embodiment of the present invention. Fig.10 In the belt 136, in the belt travel direction 142 ( Fig.10 As the belt rolls 114 advance on the belt (outside the page in the figure), the belt rolls 114 are activated to rotate in the direction of arrow 138 because they ride on the periphery of the freely rotatable activation rolls 140 in the roll activation system. The activation rolls 140 rotate on an axis oblique to the belt travel direction 142 and to the axis of rotation of the belt rolls 114 as indicated by arrow 144. Articles 146 atop the belt rolls 114 are pushed to the left of the belt in the direction of arrow 148. As the belt rolls 114 advance on the belt (outside the page in the figure), the belt rolls 114 are activated to rotate in the direction of arrow 138 because they ride on the periphery of the freely rotatable activation rolls 140 in the roller activation system. The activation rolls 140 rotate on an axis oblique to the belt travel direction 142 and to the axis of rotation of the belt rolls 114 as indicated by arrow 144. Articles 146 atop the belt rolls 114 are pushed to the left of the belt in the direction of arrow 148. As the belt rolls 114 Fig.10The start rollers 140 also support the weight of the belt 136 in the carryway when lifting as in the conveyor. Because the belt wear pads 126 do not extend down as far as the belt rollers 114, they only slightly contact or do not contact the wear strips 150 on both sides of the carryway mounted in the conveyor frame 152.

[0030] In order to sort the articles 146 away from the opposite (right) side of the conveyor belt 136, as Fig.11 As shown in FIG. 1 , the roller start system orients the axis of rotation of the start roller 140 at an oblique angle relative to the belt travel direction 142, which is Fig.10 This causes the belt rollers 114 to rotate in the direction of arrow 139 (as they roll along the start roller 140), which pushes the article 146 to the right as indicated by arrow 151.

[0031] When the start roller 140 of the roller start system is driven by a starter (not shown) Fig.10 and Fig.11 The raised position in Fig.12 142, they are no longer in a position to cause the belt rollers 114 to rotate. Articles 146 atop the belt rollers 114 therefore remain stationary. And the conveyor belt 136, whose weight is no longer supported by the start rollers 140, is supported by the wear strips 150 over which the wear pads 126 at each side of the belt slide as the belt advances in the belt travel direction 142. The replaceable wear pads 126 extend the useful life of the belt because the outer edges of the belt bear the weight of the belt.

[0032] Although the invention has been described in detail in several different versions, other versions are possible. Features such as wear pads, wheels, integral mounting bases, removable edge portions, integral edge portions, passive edge rollers, single belt rollers, and upper and lower belt rollers may be combined in various other combinations than those described in detail. In addition, the belt rollers may be arranged to rotate on an axis that is inclined to the direction of belt travel. And the roller activation system may provide a flat surface on which the inclined belt rollers ride. The roller activation system may provide a carrier roller whose axis of rotation is in the direction of belt travel. The roller activation system, rather than raising and lowering the activation rollers to bring them into contact or out of contact with the belt rollers, may laterally displace the activation rollers or otherwise move the activation rollers from an activation position in which they contact the belt rollers to a non-activation position in which they do not contact the belt rollers. Therefore, as these few examples suggest, the scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the exemplary versions used to describe the invention.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt module, comprising: a module body extending in length from a first end to a second end, in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top to a bottom; a plurality of first belt rollers mounted in the module body such that a protrusion protrudes outwardly from the bottom of the module body to a first horizontal plane; a first edge portion at the first side of the module body and a second edge portion at the second side of the module body, wherein the first edge portion and the second edge portion are removable from the module body, the first edge portion comprising a first mounting base integrally formed with the module body, and a first removable outermost edge member attached to the first mounting base; wherein each of the first edge portion and the second edge portion comprises a support surface extending to a second horizontal plane between the first horizontal plane and the bottom of the module body, wherein the support surface is formed on the periphery of a wheel capable of rotating about an axis extending in the width direction of the module body, or wherein the support surface includes a wear-resistant pad made of a low-friction durable material, and wherein the wear-resistant pad has a structure for cooperating with a corresponding one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion to detachably retain the wear-resistant pad to the corresponding one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion.

2. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: The wear pad has a tab that cooperates with a respective one of the first and second edge portions for removably retaining the wear pad to the respective one of the first and second edge portions.

3. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: Each edge portion includes a sloped outer side that tapers inwardly toward the top of the module body.

4. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: The first plurality of belt rollers have raised portions extending outwardly from the top of the module to support articles.

5. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: The conveyor belt module also includes a plurality of second belt rollers extending outwardly from the top of the module body and contacting the plurality of first belt rollers such that rotation of the plurality of first belt rollers in a first direction causes the plurality of second belt rollers to rotate in an opposite second direction.

6. The conveyor belt module according to claim 5, wherein: The edge portions each include an edge roller that does not contact any of the plurality of first belt rollers and is disposed at an outermost outer side of the plurality of second belt rollers at the first side and the second side and extends outward from the top of the module body.

7. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: The second edge portion includes a second mounting base integrally formed with the module body, and a second detachable outermost edge member attached to the second mounting base.

8. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein: The bearing surface of the first edge portion is held by the first removable outermost edge member.

9. The conveyor belt module according to claim 7, wherein: The support surface of the second edge portion is retained by the second detachable outermost edge member.

10. A conveyor belt comprising: A series of conveyor belt modules according to any one of claims 1 to 9, each conveyor belt module further comprising: a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart along the first end; a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart along the second end; The first hinge element of the conveyor belt module is interlaced with the second hinge element of an adjacent conveyor belt module among the conveyor belt modules and connected to the second hinge element to form an endless belt loop.

11. A conveyor comprising: Carrier Road; The conveyor belt of claim 10, said conveyor belt being supported in said carryway; a first wear strip located in the carryway below the bearing surface on the first edge portion; a second wear strip located in the carryway below the bearing surface on the second edge portion; a roller activation system in the carryway, the roller activation system having a contact surface movable between a first position in contact with the belt roller to cause rotation of the belt roller as the conveyor belt advances on the carryway and a second position out of contact with the belt roller; Wherein, when the contact surface is in the first position, the weight of the conveyor belt is borne by the roller activation system, and when the contact surface is in the second position, the weight of the conveyor belt is borne by the first wear strip and the second wear strip.

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