Material conveying system and method without stopping the machine during transfer

Abstract

This application provides a material conveying system and method for non-stop material transfer. The material conveying system includes a belt conveyor, multiple hoppers arranged in sequence, a distributor, multiple chutes, and multiple material distribution trolleys. The distributor selectively opens and closes each of the chutes, and each material distribution trolley corresponds to a different chute arrangement, allowing material falling from the belt conveyor to fall onto each material distribution trolley via different chutes. Each material distribution trolley can move along the hopper arrangement direction to unload material into different hoppers. This application achieves non-stop material transfer, avoiding the drawbacks of high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency caused by downtime during material transfer. Moreover, the material transfer process is intelligent and automated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of material conveying equipment technology, and in particular to a material conveying system and method that allows for continuous material conveying during warehouse transfer. Background Technology

[0002] The material conveying system relies on the movement of the material distribution trolley to distribute the material, which means unloading the material (usually in bulk) into different silos.

[0003] If the fabric conveyor belt of the fabric trolley continues to operate during the movement of the fabric trolley, the material on the fabric conveyor belt may fall from the discharge end of the fabric conveyor belt before the fabric trolley reaches the unloading point of the target hopper, resulting in some material not being accurately unloaded into the target hopper.

[0004] To avoid this, the entire material conveying system is currently shut down during the transfer process (i.e., while the fabric trolley is moving) until the fabric trolley reaches the unloading point of the target silo before being restarted. However, this results in high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency in the material conveying system.

[0005] Therefore, how to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks is a technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a material conveying system that allows for continuous material transfer. The material conveying system includes a belt conveyor, multiple silos arranged in sequence, a distributor, multiple chutes, and multiple material distribution trolleys. The distributor selectively opens and closes each of the chutes, and each material distribution trolley corresponds to a different chute arrangement, so that the material falling from the belt conveyor can fall onto each of the material distribution trolleys through different chutes. Each material distribution trolley can move along the silo arrangement direction so as to unload the material into different silos.

[0007] One embodiment of a material conveying system includes a position detection device for detecting the position of a fabric trolley, the position detection device including a coded cable laid along the material bin layout direction.

[0008] One embodiment of a material conveying system includes a material level detection device for detecting the material level in a silo.

[0009] One embodiment of a material conveying system includes an automatic control device, which is electrically connected to the belt conveyor, the distributor, and the material distribution trolley, and is communicatively connected to the position detection device and the material level detection device.

[0010] One embodiment of the material conveying system includes a material trolley comprising a trolley body and a discharge belt. The trolley body and the discharge belt are connected so that they can move together along the material bin layout direction. The discharge belt is a reversible belt, with one end being a forward discharge end and the other end being a reverse discharge end.

[0011] One embodiment of a material conveying system includes a guide rail extending along the arrangement direction of the hoppers. The guide rail is guided and cooperates with the trolley body to guide the trolley body to move along the arrangement direction of the hoppers.

[0012] In addition, this application also provides a material conveying method, implemented based on the material conveying system described in any of the above claims, the material conveying method including a transfer strategy:

[0013] When it is necessary to move the silo, some chutes are opened and some chutes are closed. The first material feeding trolley corresponding to the closed chute stops unloading and moves along the silo layout direction, while the second material feeding trolley corresponding to the open chute keeps unloading without stopping.

[0014] After the first material placing trolley moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute corresponding to the first material placing trolley is opened and the first material placing trolley begins to unload. The chute corresponding to the second material placing trolley is closed and the second material placing trolley stops unloading and moves along the silo layout direction.

[0015] After the second fabric trolley moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute corresponding to the second fabric trolley is opened, and the second fabric trolley begins to unload.

[0016] One implementation of a material conveying method involves an automatic control device that determines whether a silo needs to be moved and automatically selects a target silo based on the material level signal of the silo.

[0017] One embodiment of the material conveying method involves an automatic control device that automatically controls the fabric trolley to start or stop moving and to start or stop unloading materials based on the position signal of the fabric trolley.

[0018] One implementation of the material conveying method involves an automatic control device that controls the distributor to selectively open or close the chute based on a transfer signal.

[0019] In this application, since some chutes are opened during the transfer process and the corresponding material trolleys keep unloading without stopping, the belt conveyor and the entire material conveying system can transport materials normally without stopping during the transfer process. This achieves non-stop transfer and avoids the drawbacks of high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency of the material conveying system caused by downtime during transfer. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 A front view of one embodiment of the material conveying system provided in this application;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the logic block diagram of the material conveying method in the material conveying system.

[0023] Figure 4 A modular view of the automatic control device, position detection device, and silo detection device;

[0024] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0025] 1. Frame, 2. Conveyor, 3. Hopper, 4. Distributor, 5. Fabric trolley, 51. Unloading hopper, 6. Position detection device, 7. Material level detection device, 8. Chute, 9. Hopper. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the past, material conveying systems would shut down during the transfer process until the material trolley reached the unloading point of the target silo before restarting. This resulted in high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency.

[0027] To avoid this drawback, this application provides a material conveying system and a material conveying method based on the material conveying system, which can operate without stopping during warehouse transfer.

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this application, the technical solution of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the material conveying system provided in this application includes at least a belt conveyor, a silo 9, a distributor 4, a chute 8, and a material distribution trolley 5.

[0030] There are multiple hoppers 9, meaning two or more, arranged sequentially. A common arrangement is a straight line arrangement, but it is not limited to this. In the illustrated embodiment, two hoppers 9 are arranged in a straight line from left to right.

[0031] The number of chutes 8 is multiple, meaning two or more. In the illustrated embodiment, two chutes 8 are provided, and the two chutes 8 are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the belt conveyor.

[0032] The distributor 4 selectively opens and closes each chute 8. When the chute 8 is open, the material can enter the chute 8 from the feed port and then slide down the chute 8 and finally be discharged from the discharge port of the chute 8. When the chute 8 is closed, the material cannot enter the chute 8 or cannot be discharged from the discharge port of the chute 8.

[0033] The number of fabric carts 5 is multiple, meaning two or more. In the illustrated embodiment, two fabric carts 5 are provided.

[0034] Each of the fabric trolleys 5 is arranged to correspond to a different chute 8, and the material falling from the belt conveyor can fall onto each fabric trolley 5 through different chute 8. Specifically, a single fabric trolley 5 can correspond to one chute 8, or it can correspond to multiple chute 8 at the same time.

[0035] Each of the aforementioned material-laying trolleys 5 can move along the arrangement direction of the hoppers 9, so that the material-laying trolleys 5 can move from the unloading point of the current hopper 9 to the unloading point of the target hopper, thereby unloading the material into different hoppers 9 and realizing material laying.

[0036] The material handling methods implemented based on the above material handling system include warehouse transfer strategies, specifically, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the rollover strategy is as follows:

[0037] When it is necessary to move the silo, some chutes 8 (one or more chutes 8) are opened and some chutes 8 (one or more chutes 8) are closed. The first material feeding trolley 5 corresponding to the closed chutes 8 stops unloading and moves along the arrangement direction of the silo 9. The second material feeding trolley 5 corresponding to the open chutes 8 keeps unloading without stopping.

[0038] After the first fabric trolley 5 moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute 8 corresponding to the first fabric trolley 5 is opened and the first fabric trolley 5 starts unloading. The chute 8 corresponding to the second fabric trolley 5 is closed and the second fabric trolley 5 stops unloading and moves along the arrangement direction of the silo 9.

[0039] After the second fabric trolley 5 moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute 8 corresponding to the second fabric trolley 5 is opened, and the second fabric trolley 5 begins to unload.

[0040] Because some chutes 8 are opened during the transfer process and the material trolley 5 corresponding to the opened chutes 8 keeps unloading without stopping, the belt conveyor and the entire material conveying system can transport materials normally without stopping during the transfer process. This achieves non-stop transfer and avoids the disadvantages of high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency of the material conveying system caused by downtime during transfer.

[0041] In one embodiment, the belt conveyor includes a frame 1, a belt conveying section 2, and a hopper 3. The frame 1 is supported on a mounting base. The belt conveying section 2 includes a plurality of idlers and rollers spaced apart on the frame 1. The hopper 3 is installed at the end discharge point of the frame 1. Material falls from the belt conveying section 2 into the hopper 3, and then falls through a distributor 4 into an open chute 8.

[0042] In one embodiment, the distributor 4 is arranged below the hopper 3. The distributor 4 includes multiple flaps, each flap being used to open and close a respective chute 8. The distributor 4 also includes an electric drive assembly for driving the flaps to open and close the corresponding chute 8.

[0043] In one embodiment, the fabric trolley 5 includes a trolley body and a discharge belt. The trolley body and the discharge belt are connected so that they can move together along the arrangement direction of the hopper 9. The discharge belt is a reversible belt, meaning that it can rotate forward or backward. One end of the discharge belt is the forward discharge end, and the other end is the reverse discharge end. Both discharge ends of the discharge belt can be equipped with discharge hoppers 51. The material falls onto the discharge belt, is transported to the discharge end of the discharge belt by the operation of the discharge belt, and then falls into the discharge hopper 51, and then from the discharge hopper 51 into the target hopper.

[0044] The above-mentioned "starting the unloading of the fabric trolley 5" refers to starting the unloading belt of the fabric trolley 5 to run, and the above-mentioned "stopping the unloading of the fabric trolley 5" refers to stopping the unloading belt of the fabric trolley 5 to run. If the forward unloading end of the unloading belt is facing the target hopper, the unloading belt needs to rotate forward during unloading. If the reverse unloading end of the unloading belt is facing the target hopper, the unloading belt needs to rotate in reverse during unloading. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the left end of the unloading belt is the forward unloading end, and the right end is the reverse unloading end. If the hopper on the left is the target hopper, the unloading belt needs to run to the left during unloading. If the hopper on the right is the target hopper, the unloading belt needs to run to the right during unloading.

[0045] In one embodiment, the material conveying system includes a guide rail extending along the arrangement direction of the hopper 9. The guide rail engages with the trolley body to guide the trolley body to move along the arrangement direction of the hopper 9. Specifically, the trolley body may be equipped with rollers, which engage with the guide rail to reduce the moving resistance of the fabric trolley 5.

[0046] In one embodiment, the material conveying system is equipped with a position detection device 6. The position detection device 6 is used to detect the position of the fabric trolley 5 so that the fabric trolley 5 can be controlled to accurately stop at the unloading point of the target hopper based on the detection result of the position detection device 6.

[0047] In one embodiment, the position detection device 6 includes an coded cable, which is laid along the arrangement direction of the hopper 9 and can be fixed to the side of the guide rail. The coded cable works with the decoder and receiver to realize the position detection of the fabric trolley 5. By using the coded cable to detect the position of the fabric trolley 5, as long as the fabric trolley 5 is within the laying path of the coded cable, its position can be accurately detected without any blind spots. Moreover, the coded cable is not easily damaged and has high reliability.

[0048] In one embodiment, the material conveying system is equipped with a material level detection device 7. The material level detection device 7 is installed on the top of the silos 9 and is used to detect the material level of each silo 9 so that it can determine whether to move the silos and select a target silo based on the detection results of the material level detection device 7.

[0049] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the material conveying system is equipped with an automatic control device. The automatic control device is electrically connected to the belt conveyor, distributor 4, and material distribution trolley 5 to send control commands to them. The automatic control device is also communicatively connected to the position detection device 6 and the material level detection device 7 (including any connection method capable of data transmission, such as wired, wireless, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi) to obtain the position of the material distribution trolley 5 and the material level in the hopper 9. This enables the automatic control device to control the operation of the belt conveyor, control the operation of the electric drive components of the distributor 4, control the start or stop of the movement of the material distribution trolley 5 based on the detection results of the position detection device 6, control the start or stop of the unloading belt of the material distribution trolley 5 to unload material, control the distributor 4 to selectively open or close the chute 8 based on the hopper transfer signal, and automatically determine whether hopper transfer is needed and automatically select the target hopper based on the detection results of the material level detection device 7.

[0050] When the current silo 9 reaches the preset material level, the automatic control device automatically analyzes and calculates the new target silo, and at the same time issues instructions to control the distributor 4 and the material distribution trolley 5 to execute the above-mentioned silo transfer strategy to automatically complete the silo transfer operation, making the silo transfer process automated and intelligent, which is more conducive to improving the conveying efficiency of the material conveying system.

[0051] In one embodiment, the automatic control device is also responsible for the safety interlocking and protection between the belt conveyor, the distributor 4, and the material distribution trolley 5. Specifically, the automatic control device can be equipped with a human-machine interface module, a control module, a digital input module (DI), and a digital output module (DO). The operation, fault, and protection signals of the belt conveyor, distributor 4, and material distribution trolley 5 are input to the control module through the digital input module DI. The control module controls the operation, fault handling mode activation, and protection mode activation of the belt conveyor, distributor 4, and material distribution trolley 5 through the digital output module DO. In this way, the entire operation of the material conveying system can be guaranteed to be safe and reliable.

[0052] The above embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0053] In summary, the core idea of ​​this application is to achieve warehouse transfer by alternately opening different chutes 8 and alternatingly moving different fabric trolleys 5. During the warehouse transfer process, some chutes 8 are opened and the fabric trolleys 5 corresponding to the opened chutes 8 continue to unload without stopping, so that the entire material conveying system can transport materials normally without stopping during the warehouse transfer process. This avoids the drawbacks of high energy consumption and low conveying efficiency of the material conveying system caused by warehouse transfer shutdown.

[0054] The above examples illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of these embodiments are merely for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this application without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A material conveying method for non-stop material transfer, characterized in that, Based on a material conveying system, the material conveying system includes a belt conveyor, multiple silos arranged in sequence, a distributor, multiple chutes, and multiple material distribution trolleys. The distributor selectively opens and closes each of the chutes, and each material distribution trolley corresponds to a different arrangement of the chutes, so that the material falling from the belt conveyor can fall onto each of the material distribution trolleys through different chutes. Each of the material distribution trolleys can move along the arrangement direction of the silos so that the material can be unloaded into different silos. The material conveying method includes a warehouse transfer strategy: When it is necessary to move the silo, some chutes are opened and some chutes are closed. The first material feeding trolley corresponding to the closed chute stops unloading and moves along the silo layout direction, while the second material feeding trolley corresponding to the open chute keeps unloading without stopping. After the first material placing trolley moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute corresponding to the first material placing trolley is opened and the first material placing trolley begins to unload. The chute corresponding to the second material placing trolley is closed and the second material placing trolley stops unloading and moves along the silo layout direction. After the second fabric trolley moves to the unloading point of the target silo, the chute corresponding to the second fabric trolley is opened, and the second fabric trolley begins to unload.

2. The material conveying method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material conveying system includes a position detection device for detecting the position of the fabric trolley, and the position detection device includes a coded cable laid along the material bin layout direction.

3. The material conveying method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The material conveying system includes a material level detection device, which is used to detect the material level in the silo.

4. The material conveying method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The material conveying system includes an automatic control device, which is electrically connected to the belt conveyor, the distributor, and the material distribution trolley. The automatic control device is also communicatively connected to the position detection device and the material level detection device. The automatic control device automatically determines whether a silo needs to be moved and automatically selects a target silo based on the material level signal of the silo. The automatic control device automatically controls the material distribution trolley to start or stop moving and to start or stop unloading based on the position signal of the material distribution trolley. The automatic control device automatically controls the distributor to selectively open or close the chute based on the silo relocation signal.

5. The material conveying method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The fabric trolley includes a trolley body and an unloading belt. The trolley body and the unloading belt are connected so that they can move together along the material bin layout direction. The unloading belt is a reversible belt, with one end being a forward unloading end and the other end being a reverse unloading end.

6. The material conveying method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The material conveying system includes a guide rail that extends along the layout direction of the hoppers. The guide rail is engaged with the trolley body to guide the trolley body to move along the layout direction of the hoppers.

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