Conveyor belt module with relatively narrow surface

Abstract

A conveyor belt module for a side-bending modular conveyor belt is proposed, wherein the width ratio between the longitudinal surface width and the maximum width of an eye portion placed centrally along the longitudinal direction is smaller than the width ratio of eye portions placed on both sides of the centrally placed eye portion. In addition, a modular conveyor belt, a conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements and the use of a modular conveyor belt for conveying one or more elements are proposed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor belt module, and more particularly to a conveyor belt module for a side-bent modular conveyor belt, and also to a corresponding conveyor belt, a modular conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements, and a use of a conveyor belt. BACKGROUND

[0002] It can generally be considered advantageous if the modular conveyor belt is durable, arranged so as to avoid or reduce contamination and / or arranged so as to be easy to clean and / or effective to clean.

[0003] Generally, contamination can be almost unavoidable, in particular when conveying foodstuffs such as fish or poultry or meat, but preferably contamination should be reduced or avoided.

[0004] The need to clean conveyor belts assembled from a plurality of modular conveyor belt modules is increasing, in particular if the assembled conveyor belt is used for foodstuffs such as meat or vegetables. Even with the frequent use of pressure washers, it is challenging to properly clean an assembled modular conveyor belt, as such a belt has voids, crevices, vertices or edges that can collect foodstuffs or other undesired material such as debris.

[0005] Hence, an improved conveyor belt module and a corresponding conveyor belt, a modular conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements, and a use of a modular conveyor belt would be advantageous and in particular an improved conveyor belt module and a corresponding conveyor belt, a modular conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements, and a use of a conveyor belt that improves durability, reduces contamination and / or improves cleanability, such as cleanability during cleaning with a pressure washer or a water jet, would be advantageous. SUMMARY

[0006] It can be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor belt module and a corresponding conveyor belt, a modular conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements, and a use of a conveyor belt, which overcome the above mentioned drawbacks. It can be a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art. The above described object and multiple other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the present invention by providing a conveyor belt module for a side-bent modular conveyor belt, the conveyor belt module comprising:

[0007] - a first eye portion, the first eye portion defining a first axis, and

[0008] - a second eye portion, the second eye portion defining a second axis,

[0009] wherein the eye portions comprise:

[0010] - a primary eye portion group,

[0011] - a secondary eye portion group, wherein the secondary eye portion group comprises eye portions placed on both sides of the primary eye portion group along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis.

[0012] wherein, in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the line, the line is:

[0013] - orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, and

[0014] - intersects both the first axis and the second axis,

[0015] a first width of any eye portion is given as a ratio of:

[0016] - the width of the surface of the eye portion at the distal end in the first direction in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the first direction is along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, to

[0017] - the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0018] and a second width of any eye portion is given as a ratio of:

[0019] - the width of the surface of the eye portion at the distal end in the second direction in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, to

[0020] - the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0021] and wherein, for eye portions within the primary eye portion group, the first width ratio and / or the second width ratio is smaller compared to eye portions within the secondary eye portion group.

[0022] A possible advantage of the present invention can be that by having a first width ratio and / or a second width ratio of the eye portions within the primary eye portion group smaller compared to the eye portions within the secondary eye portion group, i.e. for having at least one width ratio of the primary eye portion group sandwiched between eye portions of the secondary eye portion group smaller, for a given width of the load bearing eye portions, the objects carried by the primary eye portion group will have a relatively smaller surface area contact compared to a relatively larger surface area contact of the eye portions in the secondary group of a given width that interact with the actuation means for driving the conveyor. Notably, the width can scale with the strength. Thus, it is achieved that there is a relatively smaller surface area (for a given width or strength) that will interact with e.g. contaminating objects such as fish, meat or poultry at the middle / center / sandwiched portion of the modular conveyor belt, while there is a relatively larger surface area (for a given width or strength) that will be able to interact with the actuation means. In turn, this can be beneficial in allowing minimal deposition of contaminants due to the relatively lower width ratio, allowing easy and / or efficient cleaning as the relatively lower width ratio (within the primary eye portion group) facilitates that solvents such as water can more easily enter between the eye portions, and allowing stronger durability as the relatively larger width area (within the secondary eye portion group) results in smaller normal forces and thus smaller friction and thus less wear.

[0023] A “conveyor belt module” can be understood as a module that can be combined with other modules such as other similar or identical modules, optionally by means of rods that pass through the first and second axis, to form some or all of the modules of the modular conveyor belt, such as where one or more surfaces of the module form a load surface of the conveyor belt.

[0024] The center plane is defined by the following axes:

[0025] - an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, and

[0026] - an axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersecting both the first axis and the second axis.

[0027] The conveyor belt module has a load carrying surface, such as a load carrying surface that is substantially parallel to the center plane and / or substantially flat. The load carrying surface of the center portion of the conveyor belt module, such as between the outermost eye portions, can be flush with the load carrying surface of one or both of the outermost eye portions. The conveyor belt module can be connected to identical conveyor belt modules such that the load carrying surfaces of the connected conveyor belt modules have a flat and uninterrupted load carrying surface in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis (directly, e.g. without intermediate elements).

[0028] The conveyor belt module can comprise an elongated (and oriented in the direction of the first axis and / or the second axis) central beam from which a first eyelet portion extends in a first transverse direction (in the central plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis) and a second eyelet portion extends in a second transverse direction (in the central plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis), the second transverse direction being substantially opposite to the first transverse direction, such as opposite (such as counter-parallel).

[0029] A "conveyor belt" can generally be understood as a looped conveyor comprising a plurality of traction elements, each given by a conveyor belt module. The surface of the conveyor belt can be formed by the surface of the traction elements. The conveyor belt can, such as is adapted to, follow a curved path in two or three dimensions.

[0030] A "side-bending modular conveyor belt" is understood to be common in the art, such as wherein, optionally similar or identical, a plurality of conveyor belt modules combine into a conveyor belt that allows for a turn in the plane of the conveyor belt (such as for the conveyor belt, having a horizontal plane that allows for a turn around a vertical axis), such as a turn with a turn radius of at least 100 m or less, such as 10 m or less, such as 1 m or less. The side-bending can be allowed, for example, by making at least a portion of the conveyor belt module from a flexible material, such as an elastic material, and / or by making the first eyelet portion and / or the second eyelet portion comprise, such as consist of, an elliptical eyelet portion. A side-bending modular conveyor belt can generally be understood as a modular conveyor belt that is adapted to follow a curved path.

[0031] A "first eyelet portion" or "second eyelet portion" is understood to be common in the art, such as allowing a straight, rigid or flexible, rod to pass through the first eyelet portion or the second eyelet portion.

[0032] "Defining a first axis" or "defining a second axis" can be understood as defining an axis, such as an axis through the center of the first eyelet portion or the second eyelet portion, by the first eyelet portion or the second eyelet portion. It is encompassed that the first axis and / or the second axis is curved. The first axis and / or the second axis can be straight. The first axis and the second axis can be substantially parallel, such as parallel.

[0033] The first eyelet portion and / or the second eyelet portion can comprise an elliptical hole, such as an elliptical hole having a longest extension in a direction parallel to a line intersecting each of the first axis and the second axis (such as a hole having a horizontal long axis in a plane orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, in case of a conveyor belt module having the first axis and the second axis in the same horizontal plane).

[0034] A "primary eye portion group" is understood to be a group of eye portions that are sandwiched between eye portions from a secondary eye portion group along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. The primary eye portion group can be centrally arranged, such as arranged on both sides of (and optionally substantially symmetric around) an intermediate plane that is located in the middle of the conveyor module and that is orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis. The primary eye portion group can cover an area of the conveyor module that is suitable for carrying objects during use in a process in which the conveyor module is used in a modular conveyor.

[0035] A "secondary eye portion group" is understood to be a group of eye portions that are placed on both sides of a primary eye portion group along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, such as suitable for interacting with a drive arrangement during use of the conveyor module in a process in which the conveyor module is used in a modular conveyor.

[0036] A "width ratio" is understood to be a ratio between a width of a surface of an eye portion at a distal end relative to a central plane and a maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein a "first" surface width ratio and a "second" surface width ratio refer to a surface width ratio in each direction, such as "up" and "down" for a horizontally oriented conveyor module, away from the central plane that is defined by:

[0037] - an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, and

[0038] - an axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and that intersects both the first axis and the second axis.

[0039] A surface width is understood to be a width of a flat portion parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. However, for practical purposes (with real-world roughness, tool radius, etc.), the surface width can be understood to be a width measured at a position closer to the central plane than the most distal point relative to the central plane. For example, the surface width can be obtained at a position closer to the central plane than the most distal point, such as the closer distance being 1% of the total distance from the central plane to the most distal point of the eye portion (corresponding to a position of e.g. 99% of the distance between the central plane and the most distal point away from the central plane), such as 2%, such as 5%, such as 10%, such as 20%. For example, the surface width can be obtained at a position closer to the central plane than the most distal point, such as the closer distance being 1 mm, such as 2 mm, such as 5 mm, such as 10 mm, such as 20 mm of the total distance from the central plane to the most distal point of the eye portion.

[0040] It is to be understood that the width ratio can be given as s where the surface width w l is the numerator, such as given by ws / w l The ratio is given.

[0041] For a given maximum width (and thus a given strength of the eye portions), a low width ratio can be beneficial for a relatively small surface width (and thus a relatively small area), which in turn can be meaningful for minimizing the contact area between the eye portions and the object to be conveyed, and / or maximizing the passage for a cleaning solution, such as water, into the volume between the eye portions. For a given maximum width (and thus a given strength of the eye portions), a high width ratio can be beneficial for having a relatively large surface width (and thus a relatively large area), which in turn can be meaningful for reducing wear of the actuators for driving the conveyor and / or the eye portions in contact with said actuators. A low width ratio of the eye portions can for example be achieved by having a slanted side of the eye portions, such as a side slanted by 45°.

[0042] “For the eye portions within the primary eye portion group, the first width ratio and / or the second width ratio is smaller compared to the eye portions within the secondary eye portion group” is to be understood as the first width ratio of the eye portions within the primary eye portion group being smaller than the first width ratio of the eye portions within the secondary eye portion group, and / or the second width ratio of the eye portions within the primary eye portion group being smaller than the second width ratio of the eye portions within the secondary eye portion group. Thus, on one or both sides of the center plane, the width ratio of the eye portions within the (clamped) primary eye portion group will be smaller than the width ratio of the (clamping) secondary eye portion group.

[0043] “B is smaller than A” can generally be understood as A being equal to or larger than 101% B, such as equal to or larger than 102% B, such as equal to or larger than 105% B, such as equal to or larger than 110% B, such as equal to or larger than 125% B, such as equal to or larger than 150% B, such as equal to or larger than 200% B, such as equal to or larger than 500% B, such as equal to or larger than 1000% B, and / or (in case of units of length) A being at least 1 mm larger than B, such as at least 2 mm larger than B, such as at least 5 mm larger than B, such as at least 10 mm larger than B, such as at least 25 mm larger than B, such as at least 50 mm larger than B, such as at least 100 mm larger than B, such as at least 500 mm larger than B, such as at least 1000 mm larger than B.

[0044] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is proposed, wherein the duty cycle (which can be considered similar to a duty factor, such as the fraction of a period that a signal or system is in an active state, such as the percentage of the total period (T) of a waveform that is the pulse duration or pulse width (PW)) within the primary eye portion group is smaller than the duty factor within the secondary eye portion group. The duty cycle for a group of eye portions can be understood as the ratio of:

[0045] - such as w s / w ep-ep which is the ratio between the surface width (w s ) of an eye portion within a group of eye portions and the distance (w ep-ep ) between adjacent eye portions within that group, and / or

[0046] - such as w l / w ep-ep which is the ratio between the surface width (w l ) of an eye portion within a group of eye portions and the distance (w ep-ep ) between adjacent eye portions within that group.

[0047] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein,

[0048] For any eye portion, a first distance is given as the distance along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis between:

[0049] - the surface at the distal end of the eye portion in the first direction, and

[0050] - the position at which the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis lies,

[0051] and for any eye portion, a second distance is given as the distance along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis between:

[0052] - the surface at the distal end of the eye portion in the second direction, and

[0053] - the position at which the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis lies,

[0054] and wherein, for eye portions within the group of primary eye portions, the first distance and / or the second distance is larger compared to eye portions within the group of secondary eye portions.

[0055] A possible advantage can be that a larger distance results in more space for the cleaning solvent to enter the volume between the eye portions. The first distance and the second distance can be described in alternative wording as the (shortest) difference from each distal surface of an eye portion to the distance of the widest portion in a direction orthogonal to the central plane.

[0056] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein, for any eye portion, a first distance is given as the distance along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis between:

[0057] - the surface of the eye portion at the distal end in the first direction, and

[0058] - the position at which the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis is located,

[0059] and for any eye portion, the second distance is given as the distance between the following surfaces and positions along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis:

[0060] - the surface of the eye portion at the distal end in the second direction, and

[0061] - the position at which the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis is located,

[0062] and wherein, for the eye portions within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance is equal to or larger than 1 mm, such as equal to or larger than 2 mm, such as equal to or larger than 3 mm, such as equal to or larger than 5 mm, such as equal to or larger than 10 mm.

[0063] A possible advantage of the relatively large distances can be that it creates more space for the cleaning solvent to enter the volume between the eye portions.

[0064] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the first distance and / or the second distance of the eye portions within the main eye portion group is larger than the first distance and / or the second distance of the eye portions within the secondary eye portion group. "A is larger than B" can generally be understood as A being equal to or larger than 101% B, such as equal to or larger than 102% B, such as equal to or larger than 105% B, such as equal to or larger than 110% B, such as equal to or larger than 125% B, such as equal to or larger than 150% B, such as equal to or larger than 200% B, such as equal to or larger than 500% B, such as equal to or larger than 1000% B, and / or (in case the unit is length) A being at least 1 mm larger than B, such as at least 2 mm larger than B, such as at least 5 mm larger than B, such as at least 10 mm larger than B, such as at least 25 mm larger than B, such as at least 50 mm larger than B, such as at least 100 mm larger than B, such as at least 500 mm larger than B, such as at least 1000 mm larger than B.

[0065] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein one or more eye portions are attached to the central beam, and wherein the thickness of these one or more eye portions in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis of the one or more eye portions attached to the central beam increases in a direction away from the central beam. A possible advantage can be that it creates more space for the cleaning solvent to enter the volume between the eye portions.

[0066] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module comprises a central beam comprising:

[0067] - a main beam portion, and

[0068] - a secondary beam portion, wherein the secondary beam portion is placed on both sides of the main beam portion along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0069] and wherein,

[0070] - for the secondary beam portion, the first flat surface area and / or the second flat surface area at the distal end in the first direction, respectively the second direction, is larger per unit length in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis compared to the main beam portion.

[0071] Possible advantages can be similar to the advantages described for the eye portions, a smaller surface area to be contaminated and / or a better access for the cleaning solvent in the main beam portion, and a larger surface area which can reduce the wear in the secondary beam portion when in contact with the driving means. A smaller surface area per unit length in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis can be understood as a smaller length in a direction orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis.

[0072] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein one end or both ends of the eye portions in the cross-sectional plane of the eye portions in the main eye portion group have a shape selected from the group of:

[0073] - a triangle, such as a symmetric triangle or an asymmetric triangle, such as a symmetric triangle with a (substantially) right angle at the most distal vertex,

[0074] - a semicircle,

[0075] - a quarter circle,

[0076] - a pointed arch,

[0077] - an inward folding arch, and

[0078] - a polygon with more than three sides.

[0079] Any of these shapes can be chosen such that the smaller end of the shape results in a relatively narrow surface profile of the corresponding eye portion.

[0080] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein one end or both ends of the eye portions in the cross-sectional plane of the eye portions in the secondary eye portion group have a rectangular shape with a surface parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis.

[0081] Any of these shapes can be chosen such that the smaller end of the shape results in a relatively narrow surface profile of the corresponding eye portion.

[0082] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt is presented, wherein the group of primary eye portions occupies a primary distance of the conveyor belt module in a direction along the first axis and / or the second axis and towards the middle, wherein the primary distance is within 10-100 cm, such as within 20-50 cm, and / or wherein the group of secondary eye portions occupies a secondary distance from each side of the conveyor belt module in a direction along the first axis and / or the second axis and towards the middle, wherein the secondary distance is within 1-20 cm, such as within 2-10 cm, such as within 3-5 cm, such as 4 cm.

[0083] A possible advantage can be that these values are suitable for a modular conveyor belt having sections for conveying objects, such as corresponding to the primary distance, and / or for a modular conveyor belt having sections for driving the modular conveyor belt, such as corresponding to the secondary distance.

[0084] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module has two-fold rotational symmetry around one or more of the following axes:

[0085] - an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0086] - an axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersecting both the first axis and the second axis, and

[0087] - an axis orthogonal to each of the following axes:

[0088] - an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, and

[0089] - an axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersecting both the first axis and the second axis.

[0090] A possible advantage can be that the conveyor belt module can be rotated, e.g. flipped upside down, and still be properly installed in the modular conveyor belt (such as "fail-safe" during installation). The rotational symmetry can be a two-fold rotational symmetry, such as a rotational symmetry where similar or identical shapes appear when rotated 180°. A possible advantage of the two-fold rotational symmetry (e.g. around an axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersecting both the first axis and the second axis) can be that it can allow the conveyor belt to be flipped, such as upside down, which in turn can be beneficial to allow the conveyor belt module to be rotated 180° to allow the conveyor belt module to wear on the other side relative to a side that can have been worn, e.g. flipped upside down in case of wear on the upper side, such that the previously unworn lower side becomes the new readily available upper side, i.e. effectively doubling the useful lifetime of the conveyor belt module, and can bring associated benefits in terms of resources, economy and environment.

[0091] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module comprises a unitary element, which unitary element comprises at least:

[0092] - a first eyelet portion,

[0093] - a second eyelet portion, and

[0094] - a portion of material.

[0095] A possible advantage can be that the strength will increase, since there will be no weak joint. Another possible advantage can be that it is hygienic, since there will be no joint where dirt, bacteria etc. can attach. The unitary conveyor belt module can be provided e.g. by injection moulding.

[0096] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module comprises a polymer material, such as consists of a polymer material, such as a single type of polymer material.

[0097] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module comprises a polymer material, such as consists of a polymer material, such as a single type of polymer material.

[0098] In an embodiment, a conveyor belt module is presented, wherein the conveyor belt module can be joined to an identical conveyor belt module by:

[0099] - positioning the conveyor belt module and the identical conveyor belt module such that:

[0100] - the first axis of the conveyor belt module and the second axis of the identical conveyor belt module are coaxial,

[0101] - the positions of the conveyor belt module and the identical conveyor belt module along the first axis of the conveyor belt module are similar or identical,

[0102] - inserting a rod through the first eye portion of a conveyor module and the second eye portion of the same conveyor module.

[0103] According to an embodiment, a conveyor module is presented for a side-bending modular conveyor, the conveyor module comprising:

[0104] - a first eye portion defining a first axis, and

[0105] - a second eye portion defining a second axis,

[0106] wherein, in

[0107] - a cross-sectional plane, which is a main cross-sectional plane, intersects the main outermost eye portion and is orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the main outermost eye portion is the outermost eye portion placed in a main end portion of the conveyor module in a dimension defined by the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0108] - a cross-sectional plane, which is a secondary cross-sectional plane, intersects the secondary outermost eye portion and is orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the secondary outermost eye portion is the outermost eye portion placed in a secondary end portion of the conveyor module in a dimension defined by the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the secondary end portion of the conveyor module is opposite the main end portion of the conveyor module,

[0109] The conveyor module comprises portions of material having a position on both sides of a central plane defined by:

[0110] - an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, and

[0111] - an axis in the cross-sectional plane and intersecting the first axis and the second axis,

[0112] The material has portions on both sides of each of the following planes:

[0113] - a plane orthogonal to the central plane and comprising a first intersection point between a line, such as a straight line, through the first eye portion and the cross-sectional plane, and

[0114] - a plane orthogonal to the central plane and comprising a second intersection point between a line, such as a straight line, through the second eye portion and the cross-sectional plane.

[0115] Further, an attachment unit is disclosed, such as for attachment to an assembled modular conveyor, such as for attachment to a conveyor module, the attachment unit defining:

[0116] - a longitudinal direction,

[0117] - a first transverse direction, perpendicular to each of the longitudinal directions,

[0118] - a second transverse direction, perpendicular to each of the longitudinal directions and the first transverse direction,

[0119] The attachment unit comprises:

[0120] - a flight part, such as for decelerating or blocking an element;

[0121] - an attachment part, the attachment part comprising:

[0122] - a first set of protrusions, comprising one or more protrusions; and

[0123] - a second set of protrusions, comprising one or more protrusions;

[0124] wherein each of the protrusions extends away from the flight part in the first transverse direction,

[0125] wherein each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions comprises one or more protrusions, each having one or more protrusions and / or cavities extending in the longitudinal direction and / or the second transverse direction, such as hooks for engaging recesses of a modular conveyor belt, such as a conveyor belt module, and

[0126] wherein the first set of protrusions is offset along the second transverse direction.

[0127] According to an embodiment, a conveyor belt module system is presented, comprising a conveyor belt module and an attachment unit, optionally connected to each other, such conveyor belt module system wherein one or more protrusions and / or cavities of the one or more attachment units engage one or more recesses and / or extensions of the one or more conveyor belt modules.

[0128] According to a second aspect, a modular conveyor belt is presented, comprising a plurality of conveyor belt modules according to the first aspect. One or more surfaces of the conveyor belt modules, optionally one or more surfaces of the conveyor belt modules as a whole, can be load carrying surfaces of the modular conveyor belt.

[0129] According to an embodiment, a modular conveyor is presented, which is suitable for conveying food products and / or sticky products, such as unpackaged food products, such as unpackaged food products comprising animal protein, such as unpackaged food products of any one of fish or meat or poultry. "Suitable for conveying food products" can generally be understood as that, under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, the modular conveyor does not transfer components of the modular conveyor to the food in quantities that can endanger human health, does not bring about unacceptable changes in the composition of the food or does not bring about a deterioration of the organoleptic properties of the food, and / or that the modular conveyor is susceptible to cleaning and disinfection by continuous or non-continuous techniques. "Sticky products", in the context, can be understood as products that can remain attached to the surface of the modular conveyor even when the surface of the modular conveyor is oriented to have a horizontal normal.

[0130] According to a third aspect, a modular conveyor system is presented, which comprises:

[0131] - a modular conveyor according to the second aspect,

[0132] - means for controlling the path of the modular conveyor, such as a track or a guide, and

[0133] - an actuator arranged for driving the modular conveyor.

[0134] According to an embodiment, a modular conveyor system is presented, wherein the modular conveyor system comprises a portion in which the modular conveyor is laterally curved. "In which the conveyor is laterally curved" can generally be understood as that the modular conveyor is adapted to follow a curved path, such as a curved path in a plane covered by:

[0135] - a conveying direction, and

[0136] - a first axis and / or a second axis.

[0137] According to a fourth aspect, a method for conveying one or more elements is provided, the method comprising:

[0138] - placing the one or more elements on or at a modular conveyor according to the second or third aspect, and

[0139] - conveying the one or more elements with the modular conveyor.

[0140] According to an embodiment, a method for conveying one or more elements is presented, wherein the one or more elements comprise food products and / or sticky products, such as unpackaged food products, such as unpackaged food products comprising animal protein, such as unpackaged food products of any one of fish or meat or poultry.

[0141] According to the fifth aspect, the use of a conveyor belt according to the second or third aspect is proposed for conveying one or more elements, such as, wherein the one or more elements include food products and / or viscous products, such as unpackaged food products, such as unpackaged food products comprising animal protein.

[0142] The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth aspects of the present invention can each be combined with any of the other aspects. These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent and will be clarified with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0143] The conveyor belt module and corresponding conveyor belt and modular conveyor belt system according to the invention, the method for conveying one or more elements, and the use of the conveyor belt will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention and should not be construed as limiting other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

[0144] Figure 1 The illustration shows a conveyor belt module not covered by this invention;

[0145] Figure 2 The illustration shows a conveyor belt module with the outermost eye portion and the material portion;

[0146] Figure 3 The illustration shows a side-bending modular conveyor belt;

[0147] Figure 4 The illustration shows how the water jet can clean the conveyor belt due to the raised sections; and

[0148] Figure 5 A non-exhaustive list of possible ridges is illustrated. Detailed Implementation

[0149] Figure 1 The illustration depicts a conveyor belt module not covered by this invention, which can be assembled with another similar or identical conveyor belt module to form a side-bending modular conveyor belt. This conveyor module does not offer the following advantages: low contamination from the conveyed objects, ease of cleaning, and good durability (because the width ratio of the centrally placed eye portion, for example, see the width ratio of the central eye portion in the inserted enlarged view, appears to be no less than the width ratio of the peripheral eye portions). Because the center width ratio is no less than the peripheral width ratio, Figure 1 The conveyor belt module in the middle cannot (for a given intensity of eye section) ensure low contamination of the central conveyor eye section (in the main eye section group), good cleanability of the central conveyor eye section, and good durability of the peripheral eye section (in the secondary eye section group).

[0150] Figure 2 Fig. illustrates a conveyor belt module 10 having a main eye portion group 40 with a bulge 42. The conveyor belt module 10 is suitable for assembly into a side-bent modular conveyor belt 100 (see Figure 3 ), the side-bent modular conveyor belt 100 comprising a plurality of conveyor belt modules 10. The conveyor belt module comprises:

[0151] - a first set of eye portions defining a first axis 20, and

[0152] - a second set of eye portions defining a second axis 30,

[0153] wherein the eye portions comprise:

[0154] - a main eye portion group 40,

[0155] - a secondary eye portion group, wherein the secondary eye portion group comprises eye portions placed on both sides of the main eye portion group along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis.

[0156] wherein, in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the line (e.g. the cross-sectional plane comprising the axis 20 or the axis 30, such as the cross-sectional plane depicted in subfigure B in Figure 2 ), the line is:

[0157] - orthogonal to the first axis 20 and / or the second axis 30, and

[0158] - intersects both the first axis 20 and the second axis 30,

[0159] a first width of any eye portion is given as a ratio of:

[0160] - a surface of the eye portion at a distal end in a first direction (such as the upper end in subfigure B in Figure 2 ), along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, to Figure 2 - a maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis,

[0161] and a second width of any eye portion is given as a ratio of:

[0162] - a surface of the eye portion at a distal end in a second direction (such as the lower end in subfigure B in

[0163] - a maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, Figure 2The width of the surface of the lower end of sub-figure B in the figure (in the figure) in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, and

[0164] - The maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis.

[0165] Furthermore, the first width ratio and / or second width ratio of the eye portion in the primary eye portion group are smaller than those of the eye portion in the secondary eye portion group.

[0166] For example, in Figure 2 In sub-figure B, the bulge causes the width of the two distal ends of the eye portion (within the main eye portion group) to be approximately zero in the horizontal direction, and the maximum width is not zero. Therefore, in the main eye portion group, the first width ratio and the second width ratio are approximately zero. In the (peripheral) eye portion of the secondary eye portion group, there is no bulge, and this eye portion has a fairly rectangular cross-section. Therefore, for the eye portion in the secondary group, the first width ratio and the second width ratio are approximately one.

[0167] exist Figures 2 to 4 The conveyor belt module portion 10 shown is adapted to be assembled into a modular side-bending conveyor belt 100 comprising multiple conveyor belt modules, see [link / reference]. Figure 3 .

[0168] exist Figures 2 to 4 The conveyor belt module 10 shown can be such that the eye portions in the first set of eye portions and the eye portions in the second set of eye portions are offset relative to each other, so that when two similar or identical conveyor belt modules are oriented in the same way, they can be overlapped, and positioned such that their first axis and second axis are respectively brought into a coaxial position and their positions are the same along the coaxial direction. The conveyor belt module 10 can thus form a row in a modular side-bending conveyor belt.

[0169] exist Figures 2 to 4 The conveyor belt module 10 shown can be a modular conveyor chain that can form a single row in a side-bending conveyor. This is in Figure 3 As shown in the image.

[0170] exist Figures 2 to 4 The conveyor belt module 10 shown includes a central beam 12.

[0171] exist Figures 2 to 4 The conveyor belt module 10 shown includes a first eyelet portion extending from the beam 12. The first eyelet portion has a first hole along the axis of the first rod for receiving the rod. Figures 2 to 4The conveyor belt module 10 shown includes a second eyelet portion extending from beam 12 in the opposite direction to the first eyelet portion and laterally offset relative to the first eyelet portion. The second eyelet portion has an elliptical hole along the axis of the second rod for receiving the rod. The elliptical shape of the second hole allows the conveyor belt module 10 to be used with a side-bending belt.

[0172] The main eye portion assembly 40 from the first and second eye portions includes a raised portion 42 on the load-bearing side 14 and the lower side 16, the raised portion 42 extending along at least a portion of the eye portion 44 of the eye portion assembly. This allows the conveyor belt module 10 to be better cleaned using water jets, because the raised portion 42 forms a gap that... Figure 4 The best illustration shows that the modular conveyor belt section 10 is used as part of the modular conveyor belt 100.

[0173] In this embodiment, the eye portion in the main eye portion group 40 has a tapered shape (such as in...). Figure 5 In the cross-sectional view depicted, there are 45° inclined sides on both sides of a vertical axis passing through the center of the eye portion. However, other shapes may also be used; see [reference needed]. Figure 5 .

[0174] exist Figure 2 In sub-figure C, the central beam 12 is disclosed to include a curved surface on the load-bearing side 14 and (due to mirror symmetry) on the lower side 16, the curved surface extending between one or more adjacent eye portions 40 having a ridge 42.

[0175] The proposed main eye assembly 40 is sandwiched between the eye portions within the secondary eye assembly, and the eye portions within the secondary eye assembly have flat surfaces on both the underside and the load-bearing side.

[0176] Figure 3 The illustration shows a conveyor belt 100 assembled from at least three conveyor belt modules 10I, 10II, and 10III.

[0177] The conveyor belt 100 is assembled using a rod that passes through the coaxially aligned axis of the eye portion of the adjacent conveyor belt module.

[0178] Figure 4 The illustration shows how water jets can clean the conveyor belt 100 due to the raised portion 42 of the eye portion in the main assembly 40, since the raised portion 42 forms a gap, which is marked by a dashed ellipse.

[0179] Therefore, the water jet can impact the conveyor belt 100 at an angle that allows the water jet to enter the first and / or second holes without obstruction. This is as follows: Figure 4 The elliptical shape shown in the figure is particularly likely.

[0180] Figure 5 A non-exhaustive list of possible shapes of the protrusions 42 is illustrated for different eye portions 44.

[0181] In summary, a conveyor belt module is proposed for a side-bending modular conveyor belt, wherein the width ratio between the longitudinal surface width and the maximum width of an eye portion placed centrally along the longitudinal direction is smaller than the width ratio of eye portions placed on both sides of the centrally placed eye portion. In addition, a modular conveyor belt, a modular conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements and the use of a modular conveyor belt for conveying one or more elements are proposed.

[0182] Although the application has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it should not be construed to be limited with regard thereto. The scope of the application is set out in the appended claims. In the claims, the term "comprise" or "comprises" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claim. Further, the reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the application. Moreover, individual features mentioned in different claims can possibly be combined to give a variety of modifications to the application. Furthermore, the features mentioned in the different claims can be combined in any manner, and the combination of features mentioned in the different claims does not exclude the possibility of further features being added to the combination.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt module for use as a side-bending modular conveyor belt, the conveyor belt module comprising: - The first set of eye portions, which defines the first axis, and -The second set of eye portions, which defines the second axis, The eye portion includes: -Main eye group - Secondary eye assembly, wherein the secondary eye assembly includes eye portions placed on both sides of the primary eye assembly along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis; Wherein, in the cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the line, the line is: - Orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis, and - Intersects with both the first axis and the second axis. The first width ratio of any eye portion is given as the ratio of the following two widths: - The width of the surface of the distal end of the eye portion in a first direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the first direction is along an axis in the cross-sectional plane and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis. - The maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, the second width ratio of any eye portion is given as the ratio of the following two widths: - The width of the surface of the distal end of the eye portion in the second direction in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, and - The maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, for the eye portion within the primary eye portion group, the first width ratio and / or the second width ratio are smaller compared to the eye portion within the secondary eye portion group.

2. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein, For any eye portion, the first distance is given as the distance between the following surfaces and locations along an axis in the plane of the cross-section and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis: -The surface of the eye portion at its distal end in the first direction, and - The position of the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, for any eye portion, the second distance is given as the distance between both the surface and the location of the axis along the plane of the cross-section and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis: -The surface of the eye portion at its distal end in the second direction, and - The position of the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, for the eye portion within the primary eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance are greater compared to the eye portion within the secondary eye portion group.

3. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, For any eye portion, the first distance is given as the distance between the following surfaces and locations along an axis in the plane of the cross-section and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis: -The surface of the eye portion at its distal end in the first direction, and - The position of the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, for any eye portion, the second distance is given as the distance between both the surface and the location of the axis along the plane of the cross-section and orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis: -The surface of the eye portion at its distal end in the second direction, and - The position of the maximum width of the eye portion in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. Furthermore, for the eye portion within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance are equal to or greater than 1 mm.

4. The conveyor belt module according to claim 3, wherein for the eye portion within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance is equal to or greater than 2 mm.

5. The conveyor belt module according to claim 3, wherein for the eye portion within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance is equal to or greater than 3 mm.

6. The conveyor belt module according to claim 3, wherein for the eye portion within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance is equal to or greater than 5 mm.

7. The conveyor belt module according to claim 3, wherein for the eye portion within the main eye portion group, the first distance and / or the second distance is equal to or greater than 10 mm.

8. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, One or more eye portions are attached to a central beam, and wherein the thickness of these one or more eye portions increases in a direction away from the central beam in a direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis of the one or more eye portions attached to the central beam.

9. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The conveyor belt module includes a central beam, and the central beam includes: -Main beam section, and - A secondary beam portion, wherein the secondary beam portion is positioned on both sides of the main beam portion along an axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis. And among them, - For the sub-beam portion, compared to the main beam portion, the first flat surface area and / or the second flat surface area at the distal end in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, have a larger surface area per unit length in the direction parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis.

10. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, One or both ends of the cross-sectional plane of the eye portion in the main eye portion group have a shape selected from the following group: -triangle, -semicircle, -A quarter circle -pointed arch, -Inner fold arch, and - A polygon with more than three sides.

11. The conveyor belt module according to claim 10, wherein, One or both ends of the cross-sectional plane of the eye portion in the main eye group have a symmetrical triangular shape or an asymmetrical triangular shape.

12. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The main eye portion group occupies a main distance of the conveyor module in a direction along the first axis and / or the second axis and toward the center, wherein the main distance is within 10-100cm. and / or The secondary eye group occupies a secondary distance from each side of the conveyor belt module in a direction along the first axis and / or the second axis and toward the center, wherein the secondary distance is within 1-20cm.

13. The conveyor belt module according to claim 12, wherein, The main distance is within 20-50cm.

14. The conveyor belt module according to claim 12, wherein, The distance between the two sides is within 2-10cm.

15. The conveyor belt module according to claim 12, wherein, The distance between the two sides is within 3-5cm.

16. The conveyor belt module according to claim 12, wherein, The sub-distance is 4cm.

17. The conveyor belt module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The conveyor module has double rotational symmetry about one or more of the following axes: - An axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, - An axis orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersecting both the first axis and the second axis, and - An axis orthogonal to each of the following axes: - The axis parallel to the first axis and / or the second axis, and - An axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and / or the second axis and intersects both the first axis and the second axis.

18. A modular conveyor belt comprising a plurality of conveyor belt modules according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The modular conveyor belt according to claim 18, wherein the modular conveyor belt is suitable for conveying food products and / or viscous products.

20. The modular conveyor belt according to claim 19, wherein, The modular conveyor belt is suitable for conveying non-packaged food products.

21. The modular conveyor belt according to claim 19, wherein, The modular conveyor belt is suitable for conveying unpackaged food products containing animal protein.

22. The modular conveyor belt according to claim 19, wherein, The modular conveyor belt is suitable for conveying unpackaged food products of any of the following: fish, meat, or poultry.

23. A modular conveyor belt system, comprising: - Modular conveyor belt according to any one of claims 18-22, - A device for controlling the path of the modular conveyor belt, and - An actuator, the actuator being arranged to drive the modular conveyor belt.

24. The modular conveyor system according to claim 23, wherein, The device for controlling the path of the modular conveyor belt is a track or guide.

25. The modular conveyor system according to claim 23, wherein, The modular conveyor system includes a side-bent portion of the modular conveyor belt.

26. A method for transferring one or more elements, the method comprising: - Place the one or more components on or at the modular conveyor belt according to any one of claims 18-25, and - The modular conveyor belt is used to transport one or more of the components.

27. The method for transmitting one or more elements according to claim 26, wherein, The one or more elements include food products and / or sticky products.

28. The method for transmitting one or more elements according to claim 27, wherein, The one or more elements include unpackaged food products.

29. The method for transmitting one or more elements according to claim 27, wherein, The one or more components are unpackaged food products that include animal protein.

30. The method for transmitting one or more elements according to claim 27, wherein, The one or more elements include unpackaged food products of any one of fish, meat, or poultry.

31. Use of a modular conveyor belt according to any one of claims 18-25, the modular conveyor belt being used to convey one or more components.

32. The use of the modular conveyor belt according to claim 31, wherein, The one or more elements include food products and / or sticky products.

33. The use of the modular conveyor belt according to claim 32, wherein, The one or more elements include unpackaged food products.

34. The use of the modular conveyor belt according to claim 32, wherein, The one or more components are unpackaged food products that include animal protein.

35. The use of the modular conveyor belt according to claim 32, wherein, The one or more elements include unpackaged food products of any one of fish, meat, or poultry.

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