Apparatus for conveying ceramic slabs
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SYSTEM CERAMICS SPA
- Filing Date
- 2022-03-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing conveying equipment cannot effectively adapt to the different sizes of slabs produced by modern ceramic production lines, causing the slabs to deform during the conveying process, especially in the case of larger slabs.
It employs a pair of inner belts and a pair of outer belts, which are connected to rotatable front, rear, and intermediate rods via threaded connections to achieve adjustment of the belt spacing, ensuring even distribution of the plate weight and preventing deformation.
It enables efficient transfer of plates of different sizes, prevents plate deformation, ensures balanced support, and adapts to the diverse needs of modern ceramic production lines.
Smart Images
Figure CN116783128B_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a device for conveying ceramic plates.
[0002] Conveying equipment is widely used in the ceramics industry. This equipment comprises one or two pairs of motorized belts arranged parallel and coplanarly to define a horizontal conveying plane. Such conveying equipment is used in many steps of the production process to move ceramic slabs from one processing step to the next. The portion of the slab essentially at its center of gravity is positioned on the motorized belt.
[0003] In many cases, the distance between multiple motorized belts can be adjusted using relevant adjustment mechanisms to make the width of the conveyor plane adapt to the size of the sheet metal.
[0004] Modern ceramic manufacturing technology has enabled the production of slabs in much larger sizes than could be achieved with less advanced processes compared to more traditional sizes. Consequently, it is common for the same production line to be required to produce slabs of varying sizes, from smaller, more traditional designs to larger ones.
[0005] Current conveyor equipment is not effectively adapted to all sheet metal patterns that can be produced by modern production lines. Adjustments to the distance separating multiple strips (especially with sheets of larger patterns) alter the location of the support areas within the sheet itself, which often have large unsupported sections or extend cantilevered from the conveyor plane. This can cause the sheet itself to deform, bending due to its own weight (especially during pre-firing process steps).
[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a device for conveying ceramic plates that eliminates the drawbacks of currently available conveying devices.
[0007] The main advantage of the conveying device according to the present invention is that it can effectively adapt to the conveying of plates of different sizes, while still providing balanced support at the center of gravity to prevent deformation of the plates themselves.
[0008] Additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention as illustrated by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] Figure 1 is a top view of the transmission device according to the present invention;
[0010] - Figure 1a shows a side view (from the bottom of Figure 1) of the transmission device according to the present invention;
[0011] - Figure 2 Region II of Figure 1 is shown at an enlarged scale;
[0012] - Figure 3Region III of Figure 1 is shown at an enlarged scale;
[0013] - Figure 4 Region IV of Figure 1 is shown at an enlarged scale;
[0014] The apparatus for conveying ceramic slabs (L) according to the invention comprises a pair of inner belts (2, 3) parallel to the conveying direction (x). The belts (2, 3) are coplanar to define a substantially horizontal conveying plane. Each inner belt (2, 3) is associated with a corresponding support unit (210, 220, 310, 320). Such support units respectively include at least one front support member (210, 310) and at least one rear support member (220, 320).
[0015] The conveying device also includes a pair of outer belts (4, 5) parallel to the conveying direction (x) and coplanar with the conveying plane. In fact, the outer belts (4, 5) are also coplanar with each other and with the conveying plane defined by the inner belts (2, 3). Furthermore, the outer belts (4, 5) and the inner belts (2, 3) are parallel to each other. The outer belts (4, 5) are located on opposite sides of the pair of inner belts (2, 3), that is, the pair of inner belts (2, 3) are located between the two outer belts (4, 5). Each outer belt (4, 5) is associated with a corresponding support unit (410, 420, 510, 520). Such support units each include at least one front support member (410, 510) and at least one rear support member (420, 520).
[0016] The inner belts (2, 3) and outer belts (4, 5) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical central plane parallel to the conveying direction (x). Specifically, the belts in the inner belts (2, 3) and the belts in the outer belts (4, 5) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical central plane parallel to the conveying direction (x).
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, each inner belt (2, 3) is mounted on a corresponding front pulley (21, 31) and a corresponding rear pulley (22, 32). In a known manner, each belt (2, 3) is closed in a loop arrangement at least around its front pulley (21, 31) and its rear pulley (22, 32). These pulleys rotate about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, each outer belt is mounted on a front pulley (41, 51) and a rear pulley (42, 52) that rotate about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. Essentially, like the inner belts (2, 3), each outer belt (4, 5) is closed in a loop arrangement at least around its front pulley (41, 51) and its rear pulley (42, 52). These pulleys rotate about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
[0019] Each belt therefore has an upper section that can slide along the conveying direction (X) and is suitable for supporting the tiles. Each belt also has a lower section that moves generally in the opposite direction to the upper section.
[0020] At least one front pulley from the front pulley set is motorized, allowing the belt (2, 3, 4, 5) to slide. For example, front pulleys (21, 31, 41, 51) are mounted on the drive shaft (S) ( Figure 2 As can be seen in the image, the drive shaft is associated with the motor (M), thus creating a motorized system well-known in the industry. Actuation of the motor (M) causes the belts (2, 3, 4, 5) to slide along their path.
[0021] In the preferred but non-exclusive embodiment shown, each front pulley (21, 31, 41, 51) is associated with a corresponding front support (210, 310, 410, 510), and each rear pulley (22, 32, 42, 52) is associated with a corresponding rear support (220, 320, 420, 520). These front and rear supports are further associated with the support frame of the device, of which only two transverse members (A, B) are shown.
[0022] Advantageously, the front support members (210, 310, 410, 510) are slidably associated with the front rod (6) which is arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
[0023] The front rod (6) includes a first threaded portion (61) and a second threaded portion (62). The threads of the first portion (61) and the second portion (62) have opposite turning directions.
[0024] A front support member (210, 410) of an inner belt (2) and an outer belt (4) arranged on the same side relative to the center plane of the equipment is connected to the first part (61) of the front rod (6) by a threaded connection. A front support member (310, 510) of another inner belt (3) and another outer belt (5) is connected to the second part (62) of the front rod (6) by a threaded connection.
[0025] In other words, the front support (210) of the first inner band (2) is associated with the first part (61) of the front rod (6), while the front support (310) of the second inner band (3) is associated with the second part (62) of the front rod (6).
[0026] In the same manner, the front support (410) of the first outer strap (4) is associated with the first part (61) of the front rod (6), while the front support (510) of the second outer strap (5) is associated with the second part (62) of the front rod (6).
[0027] In this way, the rotation of the front rod (6) causes all the front support members to move simultaneously in opposite directions, that is, the front support members (210, 410) connected to the first part (61) move in opposite directions relative to the front support members (310, 510) connected to the second part (62).
[0028] In other words, the two parts (61, 62) of the front rod (6) with opposite threads allow the two belts in the inner belt pair (2, 3) and the two belts in the outer belt pair (4, 5) to move simultaneously away from or toward each other by rotating the front rod (6). In this way, by increasing the distance between each pair of belts in the inner belt pair (2, 3) and the outer belt pair (4, 5) to adapt the conveying plane to a larger plate, a uniform distribution of the remaining weight can be maintained.
[0029] The motor is pre-configured to actuate the front lever (6) to rotate, thereby displacing the front support members (210, 310, 410, 510) in the manner described above in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. The motor can actuate the front lever (6) to rotate in both rotational directions, thereby causing the belts (2, 3, 4, 5) to approach or move away.
[0030] Preferably, the first part (61) and the second part (62) each include a first section (611, 621) and a second section (612, 622) with threads having different pitches. The front support members (210, 310) of the inner belt (2, 3) are connected to the first sections (611, 621) of the first part (61) and the second part (62). The front support members (410, 510) of the outer belt (4, 5) are connected to the second sections (612, 622) of the first part (61) and the second part (62).
[0031] In fact, the front support (210) of the first inner band (2) is associated with the first section (611) of the first part (61), while the front support (310) of the second inner band (3) is associated with the second section (621) of the second part (62).
[0032] In the same manner, the front support (410) of the first outer belt (4) is associated with the second section (612) of the first part (61), while the front support (510) of the second outer belt (5) is associated with the second section (622) of the second part (62).
[0033] In this way, all the front support members are also displaced in opposite directions at the same time. That is, the front support members (210, 410) connected to the first part (61) are displaced in opposite directions relative to the front support members (310, 510) connected to the second part. The rotation of the front rod (6) also produces different length displacements between the front support members (210, 310) of the inner belt (2, 3) and the front support members (410, 510) of the outer belt (4, 5).
[0034] Preferably, the pitch of each second segment (612, 622) is greater than the pitch of the first segment (611, 621). In other words, the rotation of the front rod (6) allows the two belts in the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and the two belts in the pair of outer belts (4, 5) to move away from or toward each other by different lengths of travel. Specifically, the moving-away travel performed by the outer belts (4, 5) is greater than the moving-away travel performed by the inner belts (2, 3). In the case of larger ceramic slabs, the outer belts (4, 5) are therefore located closer to the edge of the slab, thereby making the weight distribution of the slab more even. The front supports (210, 310, 410, 510) are slidably associated with the support frame of the conveying device. In the illustrated embodiment, the front supports are associated with the front cross member (A) by means of a sliding guide (As) oriented parallel to the conveying plane and perpendicular to the conveying direction (x). In fact, the sliding guide of the front support (210, 310, 410, 510) is parallel to the rotation axis of the front rod (6).
[0035] A connecting device is provided for each belt (2, 3, 4, 5) to connect the front support members (210, 310, 410, 510) and the rear support members (220, 320, 420, 520) to each other. This connecting device is configured such that each rear support member follows the front support member of the same belt in the displacement caused by the front rod (6).
[0036] In the preferred but non-exclusive embodiment shown, the rear support (220, 320, 420, 520) is slidably associated with the rear rod (7), which is arranged parallel to the front rod (6), i.e. perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
[0037] The rear rod (7) includes a first threaded portion (71) and a second threaded portion (72). The threads of the first portion (71) and the second portion (72) have opposite turning directions. The threads of the rear rod (7) are exactly the same as those of the front rod (6).
[0038] The rear support members (220, 420) of an inner belt (2) and an outer belt (4) arranged on the same side relative to the center plane of the equipment are connected to the first part (71) of the second rod (7) by threaded connection. The rear support members (320, 520) of another inner belt (3) and another outer belt (5) are connected to the second part (72) of the rear rod (7) by threaded connection.
[0039] In other words, the rear support member (220) of the first inner band (2) is associated with the first part (71) of the rear bar (7), while the rear support member (320) of the second inner band (3) is associated with the second part (72) of the rear bar (7).
[0040] In the same manner, the rear support (420) of the first outer strap (4) is associated with the first part (71) of the rear bar (7), while the rear support (520) of the second outer strap (5) is associated with the second part (72) of the rear bar (7).
[0041] In this way, the rotation of the rear rod (7) (which occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the front rod (6)) causes all the rear support members to displace simultaneously in opposite directions, that is, the rear support members (220, 420) connected to the first part (71) displace in opposite directions relative to the rear support members (320, 520) connected to the second part (72). The rear support members maintain alignment with the front support members while displacing simultaneously.
[0042] In an embodiment where the first part (61) and the second part (62) of the front rod (6) respectively include first sections (611, 621) and second sections (612, 622) of threads with different pitches, the first part (71) and the second part (72) also respectively include first sections (711, 721) and second sections (712, 722) of threads with different pitches. The threads of the first part (71) and the second part (72) of the rear rod (7) are the same as those of the first part (61) and the second part (62) of the front rod (6). In this case, if the same scheme as the front rod (6) is adopted, the pitch of each second section (712, 722) is greater than the pitch of the first section (711, 721).
[0043] The motor is pre-configured to actuate the rear rod (7) to rotate, thereby displacing the rear support members (220, 320, 420, 520) along the rear rod (7) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. The motor for rotating the rear rod (7) can be dedicated to the rear rod (7) itself or can be shared with the front rod (6). In other words, a single rotary actuator (e.g., an electric motor) can be connected to the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7), for example, by means of a drive belt (T) associated with a gear, which is securely bound to the corresponding ends of the rods (6, 7).
[0044] In an advantageous embodiment, the front bar (6) is formed of two or more parts rigidly connected to each other at joints (6a). Each joint (6a) is configured to removably constrain two adjacent portions of the front bar (6). Various joint configurations are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail. The possibility of disconnecting one or more parts of the front bar (6) essentially makes it possible to create inlets for removing or installing the straps (2, 3, 4, 5). Preferably, the joints (6a) are located near the front supports (210, 310, 410, 510). This facilitates the removal of the individual straps (2, 3, 4, 5).
[0045] In the same manner, the rear bar (7) can also be made of two or more parts rigidly connected to each other at joints (7a). In the same manner as described for the front bar (6) and for the same purpose of facilitating the removal and reinstallation of the straps (2, 3, 4, 5), each joint (7a) is configured to removably constrain two adjacent portions of the rear bar (7). Like the front bar (6), the joints (7a) are preferably located near the rear supports (220, 320, 420, 520).
[0046] In a possible embodiment, the support unit of each strip (2, 3, 4, 5) may be provided with an intermediate support (230, 330, 430, 530) located between the front support (210, 310, 410, 510) and the rear support (220, 320, 420, 520). This intermediate support is associated with the corresponding strip (2, 3, 4, 5) in the intermediate region to support the corresponding strip (especially when the strip has a large length).
[0047] In the preferred but non-exclusive embodiment shown, the intermediate support is slidably associated with the intermediate rod (8), which is arranged parallel to the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7), i.e. perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
[0048] The intermediate rod (8) includes a first threaded portion (81) and a second threaded portion (82). The threads of the first portion (81) and the second portion (82) have opposite turning directions. The threads of the intermediate rod (8) are exactly the same as those of the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7).
[0049] Intermediate supports for an inner belt (2) and an outer belt (4) arranged on the same side relative to the central plane of the equipment are connected to the first part (81) of the intermediate rod by threaded connections. Intermediate supports for another inner belt (3) and another outer belt (5) are connected to the second part (82) of the intermediate rod by threaded connections.
[0050] In other words, the intermediate support of the first inner band (2) is associated with the first part (81) of the intermediate rod, while the intermediate support of the second inner band (3) is associated with the second part (82) of the intermediate rod (8).
[0051] In the same manner, the rear support (430) of the first outer band (4) is associated with the first part (81) of the intermediate rod (8), while the rear support (530) of the second outer band (5) is associated with the second part (82) of the intermediate rod (8).
[0052] In this way, the rotation of the intermediate rod (8) (which occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7)) causes all intermediate supports to be displaced simultaneously in opposite directions, that is, the intermediate support connected to the first part (81) is displaced in opposite directions relative to the intermediate support connected to the second part (82). The intermediate supports are displaced simultaneously and remain aligned with the front and rear supports.
[0053] In embodiments where the first part (61) and the second part (62) of the front rod (6) and the first part (71) and the second part (72) of the rear rod (7) respectively include first sections (611, 621, 711, 721) and second sections (612, 622, 712, 722) of threads with different pitches, the first part (81) and the second part (82) of the intermediate rod (8) also respectively include first sections (811, 821) and second sections (812, 822) of threads with different pitches. The threads of the first part (81) and the second part (82) of the intermediate rod (8) are the same as the threads of the first part (61) and the second part (62) of the front rod (6) and the first part (71) and the second part (72) of the rear rod (7).
[0054] The motor is pre-configured to actuate the intermediate rod (8) to rotate, thereby displacing the intermediate support along the intermediate rod (8) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. The motor for rotating the intermediate rod (8) can be dedicated to the intermediate rod (8) or shared with the front rod (6) and / or the rear rod (7). In other words, a single rotary actuator (e.g., an electric motor) can be connected to the front rod (6), the rear rod (7), and the intermediate rod (8), for example, by means of a drive belt (T) associated with gears, which are securely fastened to the corresponding ends of the rods (6, 7, 8).
[0055] The intermediate rod (8) can also be made of two or more parts rigidly connected to each other at the joint (8a). In the same manner as the scheme described for the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7) and for the same purpose of facilitating the removal and reinstallation of the straps (2, 3, 4, 5), each joint (8a) is constructed to rigidly constrain two adjacent parts of the intermediate rod (8). The joint (8a) is preferably located near the intermediate support (230, 330, 430, 530).
Claims
1. A conveying device for conveying ceramic slabs (L), said conveying device comprising: A pair of inner strips (2, 3) are parallel to the conveying direction (X) and coplanar with the conveying plane, and each inner strip in the pair of inner strips is associated with a corresponding support unit; A pair of outer belts (4, 5) are parallel to the conveying direction (X) and coplanar with the conveying plane. Each outer belt in the pair of outer belts is associated with a corresponding support unit, which includes a front support member and a rear support member. Wherein, the pair of inner bands (2, 3) are located between the two outer bands of the pair of outer bands (4, 5); Its features are: The front supports of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and the pair of outer belts (4, 5) are slidably associated with a front rod (6) arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane; The front rod (6) includes a first threaded portion (61) and a second threaded portion (62), wherein the threads of the first threaded portion (61) and the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6) can be screwed in opposite directions; The front support of one inner belt of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and one outer belt of the pair of outer belts (4, 5) is associated with the first threaded portion (61) of the front rod (6) by a threaded connection. The front support of the other inner belt of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and the other outer belt of the pair of outer belts (4, 5) is associated with the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6) by a threaded connection; The motor is pre-configured to actuate the front rod (6) to rotate, thereby displacing the front support along the front rod (6) in a direction perpendicular to and parallel to the conveying plane relative to the conveying direction (X). The first threaded portion (61) and the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6) respectively include a first section (611, 621) and a second section (612, 622) of threads with different pitches.
2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein, The pitch of each second segment (612, 622) of the first threaded portion (61) and the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6) is greater than the pitch of the first segment (611, 621) of the first threaded portion (61) and the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6).
3. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein: The rear supports of the pair of inner straps (2, 3) and the pair of outer straps (4, 5) are slidably associated with the rear rod (7), which is arranged parallel to the front rod (6). The rear rod (7) includes a first threaded portion (71) and a second threaded portion (72), wherein the threads of the first threaded portion (71) and the second threaded portion (72) of the rear rod (7) have opposite turning directions; The rear support of one inner belt of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and one outer belt (4) of the pair of outer belts (4, 5) is associated with the first threaded portion (71) of the rear rod (7) by a threaded connection; The rear support of the other inner belt (3) of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) and the other outer belt (5) of the pair of outer belts (4, 5) is associated with the second threaded portion (72) of the rear rod (7) by a threaded connection; The motor is pre-configured to actuate the rear rod (7) to rotate, thereby displacing the rear support along the rear rod (7) in a direction that is perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane.
4. The conveying device according to claim 3, wherein, The first threaded portion (71) and the second threaded portion (72) of the rear rod (7) respectively include a first section (711, 721) and a second section (712, 722) of threads with different pitches.
5. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein, The pitch of each second segment (712, 722) of the first threaded portion (71) and the second threaded portion (72) of the rear rod (7) is greater than the pitch of the first segment (711, 721).
6. The conveying device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: Each of the pair of inner belts (2, 3) is mounted on a front pulley (21, 31) and a rear pulley (22, 32) that rotate about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. Each of the pair of outer belts (4, 5) is mounted on a front pulley (41, 51) and a rear pulley (42, 52) that rotate about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction (X) and parallel to the conveying plane. Each front pulley is associated with a corresponding front support, and each rear pulley is associated with a corresponding rear support.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein, The support unit of each inner band in the pair of inner bands (2, 3) and each outer band in the pair of outer bands (4, 5) includes an intermediate support located between the front support and the rear support.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein, The intermediate support is slidably associated with the intermediate rod (8), which is arranged parallel to the front rod (6) and the rear rod (7).
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein, The intermediate rod (8) includes a first threaded portion (81) and a second threaded portion (82), and the threads of the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion of the intermediate rod (8) are exactly the same as the threads of the first threaded portion (61) and the second threaded portion (62) of the front rod (6).
10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The front rod (6) is formed by two or more parts rigidly connected to each other at a joint (6a), each of the joints being configured to removably constrain two adjacent portions of the front rod (6).
11. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein, The rear rod (7) is formed by two or more parts rigidly connected to each other at a joint (7a), each of the joints being configured to removably constrain two adjacent portions of the rear rod (7).