Screw conveyor and roller drive for a screw conveyor

Abstract

A screw conveyor has a roller (110) extending from a bottom (112) to a top (114) and having a transition height. The roller (110) includes a plurality of drive bars (120), each having a drive side parallel to an axis of rotation (a) of the roller (110). The drive side extends in length from the transition height to the top (114) of the roller (110). The drive bars (120) are spaced around a periphery of the roller (110). The roller (110) includes a plurality of transition members (130), each having a drive surface. At least a portion of each drive surface is at an angle to the axis of rotation (a) of the roller (110) such that, over a feed distance, a periphery location of the drive surface of each transition member (130) advances a contraction distance d of a corresponding modular belt.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a screw conveyor, and more particularly to a direct drive roller for a screw conveyor system. Background Technology

[0002] Conveyor belts that travel along a spiral path (so-called "screw conveyors") are typically used to transport goods over extended periods in climate-controlled environments. For example, screw conveyors are used to transport food through freezers, inspection equipment, and other similar applications.

[0003] Some previous screw conveyors were driven outside the spiral of the belt path, requiring very high belt tension near the drive positions to pull the belt through the spiral. To reduce belt tension, other screw conveyors have employed an overdrive configuration, where the conveyor belt follows a spiral path around a central roller, which drives the belt through friction with the inner edge of the belt. The drive speed of the central roller is greater than the belt speed (i.e., allowing belt slippage). In this way, the belt is driven along the entire spiral path around the central roller, eliminating the need for high maximum belt tension at the drive positions. However, the overdrive system of the screw conveyor can cause considerable wear on the driven edge of the conveyor belt and the outer surface of the roller due to the constant slippage of the belt on the roller. Furthermore, a second drive element must be used in addition to the friction roller to determine the belt speed.

[0004] Furthermore, the coefficient of friction between the rollers and the belt is difficult to predict because it depends on factors such as belt material, cage material, temperature, humidity, surface roughness, surface shape, contact pressure, and speed. Another factor affecting the coefficient of friction is the material being conveyed. For example, when conveying food such as cured meat, fat and other drippings may come into contact with the rollers, significantly reducing the coefficient of friction between the rollers and the belt. In a more specific example, the coefficient of friction between a steel roller and a belt made of polypropylene is approximately 0.3, but if substances such as fat from the conveyed meat are introduced between the rollers and the belt, this coefficient can drop to 0.1 or less. The driving force exerted by the rollers on the belt will decrease with changes in the coefficient of friction. Ultimately, this change in driving force can disrupt production due to belt lifting, belt breakage, or both.

[0005] On the other hand, the friction between the belt and its supports changes over time. Here, debris from the products transported on the belt is likely to contaminate the supports. In most cases, the friction between the belt and the supports increases over time. At some point, the friction between the belt and the rollers used to drive the belt may no longer be sufficient to overcome the friction between the belt and the supports. This could lead to production stoppages.

[0006] Other screw conveyor systems use a forward drive, where rotating rollers include drive rods surrounding their periphery to directly engage structures on the inner edge of the driven conveyor belt. Such forward drive systems do not rely on slippage and friction between the rollers and the belt, and therefore do not suffer from the disadvantages of overspeed drive systems. However, forward drive systems are problematic when the conveyor belt contacts the rollers (“feed”). During feeding, as the inner edge of the belt contracts into the turning radius of the rollers, there is a momentary difference between the pitch of the drive rods on the rollers and the pitch of the structures on the inner edge of the belt. This pitch difference can cause flutter, fluctuations in belt tension, and other problems, potentially leading to belt breakage.

[0007] According to US 2017 / 0022012 A1 and related patent applications US 2018 / 0290833 A1 and US 2019 / 0308817 A1, positive drive systems for helical conveyor belts, also known as direct drive systems, are known, in which drive elements, particularly in the form of corrugated ribs and cages forming part of a drive roller, engage and drive the modular conveyor belt, but also support it. The drive roller may also include a continuous peripheral loop extending between the ends of the ribs and the inlet end of the roller, thereby connecting the drive elements and providing a belt support surface.

[0008] WO 2013 / 142136 A1 discloses a similar positive drive system in which combined drive and support elements engage, drive, and support a modular conveyor belt. Additional support elements can be arranged between these combined drive and support elements.

[0009] The technical problem encountered by such known positive drive or direct drive systems when used to drive modular conveyor belts (in this context, "modular" devices consisting of multiple individual belt modules) is the generation of unwanted tension in the modular conveyor belts because they do not allow sufficient slippage between the drive rollers and the conveyor belt. This tension occurs particularly during changes in the direction of movement of the modular conveyor belt or during changes in the belt's travel direction.

[0010] When the direct drive roller forces the conveyor belt from a linear direction into a circular direction of belt travel—that is, circumferentially around the direct drive roller in systems such as screw conveyors—the individual belt modules of the modular conveyor belt are forced together to move closer to their (inner) ends, which are near and supported by the direct drive roller, and then move apart towards their (outer) ends, away from the direct drive roller. Therefore, during this "contraction phase," the distance between the individual belt modules of the conveyor belt needs to change, while the distance between the individual drive elements of the drive roller (which engage the conveyor belt's drive elements at or between their respective belt modules) remains constant. The individual belt modules are simultaneously pressed together and separated, thus creating movement within the modular conveyor belt and between the modular conveyor belt and the direct drive roller. Furthermore, for some direct drive solutions, there is a risk of mismatch between the drive elements on the conveyor belt and the corresponding drive elements on the roller. This can generate unexpected forces that may damage the belt, drive shaft, or both. Over time, such damage can lead to the failure of the entire screw system.

[0011] When the modular conveyor belt changes from a circular to a linear travel direction as it exits the direct drive roller during the disengagement phase, the individual conveyor belt modules need to be realigned and disengaged from the outer surface, especially the drive elements of the direct drive roller, which also generates tension. Sometimes, the tension at the exit is too low and should be increased slightly.

[0012] Therefore, there has long been a need for a positive drive screw conveyor with feed to cleanly engage the belt. Summary of the Invention

[0013] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the invention aims to provide a direct drive roller for better control of tension generated within a modular conveyor belt, and in particular, to allow for greater engagement tolerances during the contraction phase of the modular conveyor belt.

[0014] This objective is achieved by providing the screw conveyor of the present invention or the screw conveyor according to the present invention.

[0015] In some embodiments, the invention can be implemented as a screw conveyor with a rotating cylindrical roller. The roller extends from bottom to top. The roller has a transition height at which a modular belt fully engages with the roller. The roller includes a plurality of drive rods. Each drive rod has a drive side parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller. For an upward conveyor, the drive side extends lengthwise from the transition height to the top of the roller, or for a downward conveyor, from the transition height to the bottom of the roller. The drive rods are spaced apart around the periphery of the roller.

[0016] The roller includes multiple transition members. Each transition member has a drive surface. At least a portion of the drive surface of each transition member is angled to the axis of rotation of the roller, such that, over the feed distance, the peripheral position of the drive surface of each transition member advances by the corresponding contraction distance of the modular belt. At the transition height of the roller, the peripheral position of each drive surface is aligned with the peripheral position of the drive side of the corresponding drive rod.

[0017] The screw conveyor also includes a helical support surrounding the periphery of the roller. The helix angle of the helical support is selected such that the helical support extends from ¼ to 2 times the periphery of the roller over the feed distance.

[0018] In some embodiments, the screw conveyor includes a plurality of parallel support rods. At least one support rod is disposed around the periphery of the roller between each pair of adjacent drive rods. Each support rod extends upward in an ascending conveyor and downward at least from a transition height in a descending conveyor. In some embodiments, each support rod extends from a corresponding transition member to the discharge height of the roller. In some embodiments, the discharge height is below the top of the roller in the ascending conveyor or above the bottom of the roller in the descending conveyor. In some embodiments, the inner edge of the modular belt contacts the drive rods and support rods between the transition height and the discharge height.

[0019] In some embodiments, the screw conveyor further includes a modular belt driven along a helical path around the roller by a plurality of drive rods engaging with a plurality of teeth on the inner edge of the modular belt. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of teeth has a drive surface configured to contact a drive side of the drive rod. The drive surface may be positioned at an angle between 1° and 5° (inclusive) relative to the radius of the roller. In some embodiments, the modular belt moves radially inward on the roller, and the distance between adjacent teeth decreases over the feed distance.

[0020] In some embodiments, the invention can be implemented as a screw conveyor with a roller. The roller has an outer periphery extending from the bottom to the top. The roller has a transition height near the bottom for upward spiraling, or a transition height near the top for downward spiraling. The roller has a plurality of parallel drive rods. Each drive rod has a drive side that extends along the periphery of the roller for upward spiraling between the transition height and the top of the roller, and for downward spiraling, extends between the transition height and the bottom of the roller.

[0021] The roller also has multiple transition members. Each transition member has a drive surface having a length on the periphery of the roller. Each drive surface is circumferentially aligned with the corresponding drive side of the drive rod at the transition height. At least a portion of each drive surface forms an angle with the axis of rotation of the roller such that, over the feed distance, the peripheral position of the drive surface advances at least the contraction distance of the modular belt.

[0022] The screw conveyor includes a modular belt configured to advance upward in an upward conveyor or downward in a downward conveyor along a helical conveying path surrounding the periphery of the roller. The modular belt has a plurality of teeth spaced apart along its length on its inner edge. Each of the plurality of teeth is configured to engage a transition member and a drive member rod of the roller. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of teeth has a drive surface configured to contact the drive rod. In some embodiments, the drive surface is angled relative to the radius of the roller at a range between 1° and 5° (inclusive).

[0023] In some embodiments, the modular belt moves radially inward on the rollers, and the distance between adjacent teeth decreases over the feed distance.

[0024] In some embodiments, the screw conveyor includes a helical support surrounding the periphery of the roller. The helix angle of the helical support is such that the helical support extends from ¼ to 2 times the periphery of the roller over the feed distance.

[0025] In some embodiments, the screw conveyor further includes a plurality of parallel support rods. Each support rod is disposed between two drive rods surrounding the periphery of the roller and extends upward from a corresponding transition member in the upward conveyor and downward from a corresponding transition member in the downward conveyor. In some embodiments, each support rod extends from the corresponding transition member to the discharge height of the roller. In some embodiments, the inner edge of the modular belt contacts the drive rods and support rods between the transition height and the discharge height. Attached Figure Description

[0026] For a more complete understanding of the nature and purpose of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of a screw conveyor system configured as an upward conveyor;

[0028] Figure 1B yes Figure 1B A perspective view of a screw conveyor system;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of another screw conveyor configured as a downward spiral;

[0030] Figure 3A It is a roller according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A view of the roller's drive rod, support rod, and transition components, shown isolated from the roller;

[0032] Figure 3C This is a detailed view showing the transition member, as well as a portion of the drive rod and support rod;

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 3A The rollers indicate the presence of a conveyor;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a detailed view showing a portion of the conveyor at the roller feed section;

[0035] Figure 6A This is another detailed view showing a portion of the conveyor at the roller feed section;

[0036] Figure 6B This is another detailed view showing the conveyor at the feed section, which is higher than... Figure 6A The conveyor;

[0037] Figure 6C This is another detailed view showing a conveyor that is fully engaged by rollers at a height above the transition height;

[0038] Figure 7A This is a top view of a portion of the conveyor according to the invention, showing a constricted internal section;

[0039] Figure 7B yes Figure 7A A top view of the conveyor section, where the conveyor is not retracted;

[0040] Figure 8 It is a side and elevation view of a set of transitional components;

[0041] Figure 9A This is a top view of the teeth of the belt module, showing the angle of the drive surface;

[0042] Figure 9B yes Figure 9A A top view of the teeth, showing the tooth width;

[0043] Figure 10A This is a top view of the roller section and belt at the discharge point of the conveyor belt;

[0044] Figure 10B This is another top view of the roller section at the discharge point;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a side elevation view of a portion of a roller according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 12 A side elevation view of a portion of a roller according to another embodiment of the invention; and

[0047] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 A top view of the roller. Detailed Implementation

[0048] In a first aspect, the invention can be implemented as a screw conveyor 100 having a rotating cylindrical roller 110 (see, for example...) Figure 3A Roller 110 is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation a and extends from bottom 112 to top 114. The roller can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise (when viewed from above). The roller can be configured to drive the conveyor belt along a helical (i.e., spiral) path, such that the conveyor belt travels upwards, for example... Figure 1A and Figure 1B The configuration shown is an "upward" conveyor or a downward-driven conveyor belt, for example... Figure 2 The configuration shown is a "downward" conveyor. Upward conveyors can be configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. Similarly, downward conveyors can be arranged to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. For clarity and convenience, unless otherwise stated, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to a clockwise upward conveyor belt. This is not intended to be limiting, and the described concepts can be used in conveyor systems with counterclockwise and / or downward configurations.

[0049] The axis of rotation is a geometric, imaginary axis of rotation that extends through the center of each of the (imaginary) top and bottom circular regions of the roller and along the entire height of the roller. For example, in cases where the roller is mounted on and supported and / or driven by a turntable (e.g., with peripheral gear rims), drive disc, or gear, the axis of rotation (or axis of rotation a) may not be a mechanical part or component. However, the roller may have an axis of rotation in the form of a mechanical part for supporting and / or driving the roller, such as having one or more bearings, sprockets, and / or gears attached to one or both ends of the axis of rotation.

[0050] refer to Figure 3B and Figure 6A The roller has a transition height Above this height, the conveyor belt is fully engaged by the rollers of the upward conveyor (below this height, for the downward spiral, the conveyor belt is fully engaged). Below the transition height, the belt of the upward spiral conveyor transitions from a linear configuration near the rollers to partial engagement as the belt first encounters the rollers and begins to contract, and finally to full engagement as the belt is fully contracted at the transition height.

[0051] Multiple drive rods 120 form the outer cylindrical periphery of roller 110. Each of the multiple drive rods 120 has a drive side 122 parallel to the axis of rotation a (e.g., ...). Figure 1B (As shown in the diagram). The drive rods 120 are arranged to form a cylinder. Each drive rod is spaced apart from the adjacent drive rod around the periphery of the roller 110. The drive sides of the plurality of drive rods have a transition height. The length extending to the top of the roller (for an upward spiral) or from the transition height to the bottom of the roller (for a downward spiral).

[0052] Rollers engage modular conveyor belts via drive rods that engage the teeth of the modular belt. The teeth of the modular belt extend inward from the edge of the belt (in the radial direction). The roller engages the conveyor belt teeth via the drive side of each drive rod—for example, by pushing the teeth. Modular belts consist of individual belt modules, with adjacent belt modules interconnected. In radial or helical (modular) conveyor belts, the interconnection of belt modules allows the belt modules to rotate, at least to some extent, relative to each other in the direction of belt travel. For example, adjacent belt modules can be connected via insert-type linkage ends linked by pivot rods extending through slots in the linkage ends. These slots allow the pivot rods to move to some extent in both the direction of belt travel and the opposite direction, thus forming a somewhat flexible connection that allows the belt modules to move relative to each other.

[0053] In some embodiments, the screw conveyor does not include a corresponding modular belt. In other embodiments (such as, for example) Figure 4 (In one embodiment), the screw conveyor includes a modular belt having multiple teeth configured to engage a drive rod (i.e., the drive surface of the drive rod). Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6A The roller 210 and the corresponding modular belt 290 are configured such that the teeth 292 of the belt are spaced apart from each other by two or more belt modules – that is, spaced apart. , so that, for example, when At this time, there is one tooth for every four modules. For example, the spacing can be such that the belt has one tooth for every three modules, every twelve modules, or an integer value in between (i.e., The configuration has one tooth. In some embodiments, Values ​​selected from 2 to 20 modules, including In the example, if In this configuration, each pair of conveyor belt modules includes a tooth—that is, each toothed module is separated from its adjacent toothed module by a toothless module. In some embodiments, the teeth are spaced between 5 and 15 belt modules.

[0054] There are separating conveyor belts between the toothed modules (i.e., where...) This advantageously allows the belt to be made from modules with the same or different pitches. For example, belt modules can be selected to provide a tooth pitch tailored to a given drive rod pitch. Among many advantages, this allows the conveyor belt to be configured to retrofit existing roller configurations. For example, the radius of the existing rollers and the number of drive rods may be known. Based on this information (and other optional considerations, such as, for example, helical slope, belt width, etc., described below), a conveyor belt module configuration can be selected to include a tooth pitch. The conveyor belt can be configured using belt modules with the same or different pitches to match or closely match the designed drive rod pitch. In an illustrative example, for a given roller configuration with 57 drive rods, a suitable configuration of the belt modules could be one tooth every 7th module, where 6 of these modules have a contraction pitch of 30.9 mm and 1 of these modules has a contraction pitch of 35 mm. Alternatively, if the same roller is configured with 30 drive rods and a belt configured with one tooth for every 12th module, wherein two of these modules have a contraction pitch of 30.9 mm, eight of these modules have a contraction pitch of 35 mm, and two of these modules have a contraction pitch of 38.5 mm. It should be noted that these values ​​are only used to illustrate the concept of tooth pitch when using various belt modules and are rounded. In this way, each tooth of the modular belt is occupied by two or more belt modules (i.e., When separated, the pitch of at least one of the two or more belt modules may be different from the pitch of at least one other belt module among the two or more belt modules.

[0055] The ability to design conveyor belts with custom tooth pitches for use with existing rollers is advantageous because it allows problematic friction-based spiral systems to be retrofitted into direct-drive systems using existing rollers. This can significantly reduce the cost and time required for system conversion.

[0056] Each of the plurality of teeth 292 may have a drive surface 294, which is configured to contact the drive side 222 of the drive rod 220 (see example). Figures 6A to 6C In some embodiments, the drive surface 294 is at an angle relative to the radial direction of the roller. Settings. In some embodiments, Selected between 2° and 5°, including 2° and 5° (see example) Figure 9A In some embodiments, It was selected to be between 0° and 15°, inclusive.

[0057] The roller's drive rod is configured to directly engage with the modular conveyor belt's components to propel the conveyor belt forward by pushing the modular conveyor belt components with the drive rod, thus providing positive drive (e.g., virtually no slippage) instead of friction drive (overspeed drive).

[0058] Roller 110 has a plurality of transition members 130. Each of the plurality of transition members 130 includes a drive surface 132. Each transition member 130 is disposed on the periphery of roller 110. At least a portion of the drive surface 132 of each transition member 130 forms an angle with the axis of rotation. (See example) Figure 3C This angle is measured relative to the vertical axis in the tangential plane of the roller. At least a portion of the drive surface 132 of each transition member 130 is configured to engage with the teeth of the modular belt, and a section of the belt near the transition member can advance at a rate faster than the rotational speed of the roller, thereby causing local modular contraction of the belt. The angle at which at least a portion of each drive surface 132 is configured... And the peripheral position of the drive surface advances the corresponding modular belt's "contraction distance" over the feed distance i (the vertical distance from the conveyor belt's entry height to the transition height). For example, in some embodiments, Between 1° and 45°. (Reference) Figure 7A and Figure 7B The retraction distance is the distance between adjacent teeth of the modular belt in its unfolded (stretched) state. Distance between adjacent teeth in the contracted state The difference. In this way, each transition component can retract the belt (a local section of the belt) over at least a portion of the feed distance.

[0059] Figures 6A to 6C The behavior of the belt over the feed distance of the roller in an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. Figure 6A In this stage, the belt can be seen at or near the inlet height (where the belt enters the helical system). It can be observed that the belt is not contracted (e.g., there is still a distance between at least some belt modules), and the teeth 292 of some belt modules are typically located before the drive surface 232 of the transition member 230. At this stage, the belt will continue to contract on its own as it begins to follow the curvature of the roller. Figure 6BThe diagram shows the belt almost fully contracted, but with minor irregularities or other inconsistencies in its construction (e.g., multiple sections along the belt width that may not contract uniformly with other sections, resulting in inconsistent angles between these sections and others, etc.). At this stage, the teeth of the local belt modules begin to engage with the drive surfaces of the corresponding transition members, for example, at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of the rollers. The parts are joined together. Figure 6C It shows the transition height. The belt has teeth that move from the drive surface of the transition member 230 to the drive side 222 of the drive rod 220. In the illustrated embodiment, a portion of each drive rod (i.e., starting from the transition height) is integrated with the corresponding transition member. At this stage, the belt is fully retracted and wraps around the periphery of the roller in a generally regular bending pattern. Therefore, the belt can provide smoother and more predictable movement over the remaining portion of the roller height.

[0060] In some embodiments, the minimum value of the transition member's construction can be determined mathematically. For example, refer to... Figures 7A to 9B Given The distance between adjacent teeth of the belt in the contracted state. The distance between adjacent teeth of the belt under tension. The width of each tooth, For the safety factor of the inlet cam, and Let the backlash be the safety factor, then:

[0061] (1)

[0062] And (2)

[0063] (3)

[0064] in, It is the minimum distance of the inlet cam. It is the minimum distance between the teeth of the two inlet cams, and It is the minimum distance between the inlet cams on the bottom side.

[0065] In terms of the feed distance, the conveyor belt can move radially inward as the module contracts (i.e., the distance between the teeth decreases). In some embodiments, the transition member and / or drive rod can taper over at least a portion of the corresponding height—for example, it can have a radial angle relative to the vertical axis, such that the diameter of the roller varies throughout the height. Figure 11A partial view of an embodiment of roller 300 is shown, wherein a portion of the transition member 330 tapers at an angle, such that the diameter of the roller is wider at the bottom of the roller than at the transition height. Figure 12 and Figure 13 In the embodiment of roller 400 depicted in the middle section, the transition member 430 or a portion of the transition member is tapered, making the roller wider at the bottom until it is just above the normal position of the transition height (the diameter db of the roller at the bottom is greater than the diameter dh at the drive height). In other embodiments, the transition member and the drive rod are not tapered over their respective entire heights.

[0066] The transition members 130 and drive rods 120 are configured such that, at the transition height, the peripheral position of each drive surface 132 of the plurality of transition members 130 is aligned with the peripheral position of the corresponding drive side 122 of the drive rod 120. In this way, once the conveyor belt is fully engaged by the rollers, the teeth are switched to being driven by the drive rod. It should be noted that the interface 136 between the drive surface 132 and the corresponding drive side 122 can be smoothed by chamfering or rounding the interface, or by similar smoothing at the interface. Embodiments with such smooth interfaces should be considered as part of the scope of the invention. For example, a transition member with a chamfered interface with the corresponding drive rod is still considered to have an angle over at least a portion of the feed distance (even if a portion of the transition member over the feed distance is chamfered).

[0067] It should be noted that the drive rod and its corresponding transition member can be a single integral component—for example, made from a single piece, connected as a single piece (this is achieved, for example, by welding, brazing, etc.) or otherwise. In some embodiments, the drive rod and its corresponding transition member can be made from separate components connected at a transition height. In some embodiments, the drive rod and its corresponding transition member can be made from two or more separate components connected at locations other than the transition height.

[0068] Some embodiments of the screw conveyor 200 include a helical support 240 surrounding the periphery of the roller (see, for example...). Figure 4 The spiral support 240 is configured to support the conveyor belt as it passes through the roller 210. The spiral support 240 has a helix angle. The helix angle is configured such that the belt travels a specific circumferential distance at a given height. The screw conveyor can be configured such that the conveyor belt rotates ¼ to 2 revolutions (i.e., 90° to 720°) around the roller within the feed distance. In some embodiments, the conveyor can be configured such that the corresponding belt travels beyond the circumference of the roller by 200°, 210°, 220°, 230°, 240°, 250°, 260°, 270°, 280°, 290°, 300°, 330°, 360°, 390°, 420°, 450°, 480°, 510°, 540°, 570°, 600°, 630°, 660°, or 690° over the feed distance. In some embodiments, the conveyor is configured such that the belt travels between 260° and 270° around the circumference of the roller over the feed distance.

[0069] The screw conveyor 100 may also include a plurality of support rods 140. The support rods 140 may be arranged parallel to the periphery of the roller 110. The support rods 140 may be spaced apart and disposed between drive rods 120. For example, each support rod may be disposed between two drive rods, such that the drive rods and support rods alternate around the periphery of the roller. In other embodiments, the ratio of support rods to drive rods may not be 1:1. For example, two (or more) support rods may be disposed between adjacent drive rods. The length of each support rod 140 extends at least (in an upward conveyor) from the transition height upwards or (in a downward conveyor) from the transition height downwards. In some embodiments, each support rod extends upwards or downwards from a corresponding transition member (if applicable).

[0070] Each support rod 140 forms part of the peripheral surface structure of the roller and has a belt support surface 142 that points outward in a radial direction away from the roller's axis of rotation, thereby contacting and supporting the edge of the modular conveyor belt. The belt support surface may form part of the outermost surface of the roller. The support rods may have different cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular or rod-shaped. The length of the support rod (along its longest or longitudinal axis) is several times its width or diameter, for example, a length-to-width or length-to-diameter ratio of 5:1 to 100:1. In some embodiments, this ratio is between 10:1 and 100:1. In some embodiments, this ratio is between 10:1 and 25:1. The width or diameter of the support rod may range from 30 mm to 150 mm, but may be less than or greater than these widths. The length of the support rod may be up to 8 m or longer, depending on the height of the roller. The support rod may have one or more edges that are not part of the belt support surface—e.g., chamfered edges, rounded edges, etc. The shape of the support rod may be the same as or different from that of the drive rod.

[0071] In some embodiments, the support rod 140 extends to the discharge height of the roller 110. The discharge height is the height at which the conveyor belt begins to separate from the roller. In other words, the discharge height is the height at which the belt moves from full engagement to partial engagement with the roller. For example, in an upward spiral, the discharge height may be below the top of the roller (e.g., the top of the drive rod), and in a downward spiral, it may be above the bottom of the roller (e.g., the bottom of the drive rod). In some embodiments, the discharge height is below the top of the roller in an upward conveyor (and above the bottom of the roller in a downward conveyor). In this way, the support rod does not extend as far as the drive rod extends. Because the support rod terminates at the discharge height, the teeth of the conveyor belt can pass over the end of the support rod in an upward conveyor (or below it in a downward conveyor), see, for example, [see...]. Figures 10A to 10B .exist Figure 10A In the diagram, the direction of travel is indicated by arrow T. The inner end of the modular belt can be supported by a drive rod and a support rod at the distance between the transition height and the discharge height. In some embodiments, the rear edge of each support rod has a notch, allowing the teeth of the modular belt to pass through without interference from the support rod. The interference fit of the support rod can be determined based on the following:

[0072] (1)

[0073] in, The radius of the innermost range of the belt teeth (point A in the diagram). The radius of the outermost rear edge of the support rod (point B in the figure). It is the angle between point A and point B, and This refers to the width of the belt. When indicating calibration (e.g., when...), (for the correct time) The value indicates the corrected height. In other words, This indicates the amount by which the support rod should be shorter than the drive rod.

[0074] The materials of the drive rods, support rods, transition members, and / or conveyor belts may be the same as or different from the materials of other components. Suitable materials may be metals (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), polymers (e.g., polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, polyester), polyurethane, etc.), composites, or other materials. Some suitable materials may be modified to enhance performance, which may be beneficial in certain applications. For example, some materials may be infused with wax and / or other lubricants, coated with a low-friction coating, or otherwise modified to reduce frictional losses. This may be beneficial, for example, in a downward spiral configuration, to better allow the conveyor belt to move downwards following a downward spiral path using gravity. In some embodiments, the materials of some or all components are chosen to be different in order to utilize the capabilities of each component. For example, support rods may be made of low-friction materials (e.g., polyethylene with self-lubricating additives) so that the conveyor belt they support can move more easily upwards (or downwards, as appropriate). In another example, the drive rod may be made of steel to enhance durability. In yet another example, the drive rod may be made of a polymer and have a drive side made of steel. In yet another example, the feed section of the screw conveyor (e.g., transition members and / or multiple sections of the drive rod, etc.) may be made of a durable material, while the remaining parts of the belt engagement components (e.g., drive rod, support rod, etc.) may be made of a low-friction material. In yet another example, the drive rod may have a core made of a first material (e.g., steel) and a cap made of one or more other materials (e.g., UHMW polyethylene). Other combinations of materials may be used for the drive rod, support rod, transition member, belt module, or any other component of the rollers and / or conveyor belt.

[0075] As mentioned above, in some cases, existing rollers can be modified to function as described herein. For example, in rollers used in existing friction drive systems, the roller may have a closed sheet of material (e.g., a metal sheet) covering its outer perimeter. To modify such a roller, the drive rod and other components (e.g., transition members, support rods, etc.) according to the invention can be fixed to the closed metal sheet. For example, the drive rod can be bolted, welded, or otherwise attached to the surface of the metal roller. In other cases, the closed sheet of material can be removed or partially removed to allow the addition of components of the roller of the invention.

[0076] In this disclosure, the terms "conveyor belt," "modular belt," and "modular conveyor belt" are generally used interchangeably to describe a conveyor belt consisting of a plurality of interconnected belt modules. While the invention has been described with respect to one or more specific embodiments, it should be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A screw conveyor (100; 200), comprising: Rotating cylindrical roller (110; 210； 300; 400), the rotating cylindrical roller extends from the bottom (112) to the top (114) and has a transition height. At the transition height, the modular belt (290) is fully engaged by the roller, which includes: Multiple drive rods (120; 220), each drive rod (120; 220) having a drive side (122; 222), the drive side being parallel to the rotation axis (a) of the roller and extending in length from the transition height for the upward conveyor. Extending to the top of the roller, or for a downward conveyor from the transition height. Extending to the bottom of the roller, and wherein the drive rods (120; 220) are spaced apart around the periphery of the roller; A spiral support (240) surrounds the periphery of the roller; The roller is characterized in that it further includes a plurality of transition members (130; 230; 330; 430), each transition member having a driving surface (132; 232), wherein at least a portion of the driving surface (132; 232) of each transition member forms an angle with the rotation axis (a) of the roller. ), such that, in the feeding distance, the peripheral position of the drive surface (132; 232) of each transition member advances at least the contraction distance of the corresponding modular belt (290), the corresponding modular belt having a plurality of teeth (292) spaced along the length of the modular belt (290) on its inner edge, wherein the contraction distance is in the stretched state ( The distance between adjacent teeth (292) of the modular belt (290) described below is the same as that in the fully retracted state. The difference in distance between adjacent teeth (292) of the modular belt (290) described below; The transition height of the roller At this location, the peripheral position of each drive surface is aligned with the peripheral position of the drive side (122; 222) of the corresponding drive rod (120; 220); and The helix angle of the helical support (240) is ( This causes the spiral support (240) to extend ¼ to 2 times the periphery of the roller over the feed distance.

2. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 1 further comprises a plurality of parallel support rods (140), wherein at least one support rod (140) is arranged around the periphery of the roller between each pair of adjacent drive rods (120; 220), and wherein each support rod (140) in the upward conveyor is at least from the transition height Extending upwards, and at least from the transition height in the downward conveyor. Extend downwards.

3. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 2, wherein each support rod (140) extends from the corresponding transition member (130; 230; 330; 430) to the discharge height (H) of the roller. o ).

4. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further includes a modular belt (290) driven in a helical path around the roller by a plurality of drive rods (120; 220) engaging with a plurality of teeth (292) on the inner edge of the modular belt (290).

5. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 4, wherein the modular belt (290) comprises a plurality of belt modules, and wherein each of the plurality of teeth (292) is spaced apart by two or more belt modules.

6. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 5, wherein the pitch of at least one of the two or more belt modules is different from the pitch of at least one of the other belt modules.

7. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of teeth (292) has a drive surface (294) configured to contact the drive side (122; 222) of the drive rod (120; 220).

8. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 4, wherein, over the feed distance, the modular belt (290) moves radially inward on the roller, and the distance between adjacent teeth (292) decreases.

9. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at the transition height At this point, the modular belt (290) is fully retracted.

10. The screw conveyor (100; 200) according to claim 4, wherein each support rod (140) extends from the corresponding transition member (130; 230; 330; 430) to the discharge height (H) of the roller. o ), where at the transition height With the discharge height (H) o Between the modular belt (290), the inner edge of the belt contacts the drive rod (120; 220) and the support rod (140).

11. A screw conveyor (100; 200), comprising: Rollers (110; 210; 300; 400) have an outer periphery extending from a bottom (112) to a top (114), wherein the transition height... The roller comprises: spiraling upwards towards the bottom (112) and spiraling downwards towards the top (114). Multiple parallel drive rods (120; 220), each drive rod (120; 220) having a drive side (122; 222), the drive side extending along the periphery of the roller at the transition height for an upward spiral. Extending between the top of the roller and the transition height for downward spiraling. Extending between the bottom of the roller; A modular belt (290) is configured to move upward or downward in the conveying direction along a spiral conveying path around the periphery of the roller, the modular belt (290) having a plurality of teeth (292) spaced apart along the length of the modular belt (290) on its inner edge. The roller is characterized in that it further includes a plurality of transition members (130; 230; 330; 430), each transition member having a driving surface (132; 232), the driving surface having a length on the periphery of the roller, wherein each driving surface (132; 232) is at the transition height The corresponding drive sides (122; 222) of the drive rods (120; 220) are circumferentially aligned, and at least a portion of each drive surface (132; 232) is at an angle to the axis of rotation (a) of the roller. ), such that, in the feeding distance, the peripheral position of the drive surface (132; 232) advances by at least the contraction distance of the modular belt (290), wherein the contraction distance is in the stretched state ( The distance between adjacent teeth (292) of the modular belt (290) described below is the same as that in the fully retracted state. The difference in distance between adjacent teeth (292) of the modular belt (290) described below; and Each of the plurality of teeth (292) is configured to engage the transition member (130; 230; 330; 430) and the drive rod (120; 220) of the roller.

12. The screw conveyor according to claim 11, further comprising a helical support (240) surrounding the periphery of the roller, wherein the helix angle of the helical support (240) is ( This causes the spiral support (240) to extend ¼ to 2 times the periphery of the roller over the feed distance.

13. The screw conveyor of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of teeth (292) has a drive surface (294) configured to contact a drive rod (120; 220).

14. The screw conveyor according to claim 13, wherein each drive face (294) forms an angle between 1° and 5° with respect to the corresponding drive side (122; 222) of the drive rod (120; 220). The angle ( The range includes 1° and 5°.

15. The screw conveyor according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein, over the feed distance, the modular belt (290) moves radially inward on the roller, and the distance between adjacent teeth (292) decreases.

16. The screw conveyor according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising a plurality of parallel support rods (140), wherein at least one support rod (140) is disposed around the periphery of the roller between each pair of adjacent drive rods (120; 220), and wherein each support rod (140) in the upward conveyor is at least from the transition height Extending upwards, and at least from the transition height in the downward conveyor. Extend downwards.

17. The screw conveyor according to claim 16, wherein each support rod (140) extends from the corresponding transition member (130; 230; 330; 430) to the discharge height (H) of the roller. o ).

18. The screw conveyor according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein at the transition height At this point, the modular belt (290) is fully retracted.

19. The screw conveyor according to claim 17, wherein at the transition height With the discharge height (H) o Between the modular belt (290), the inner edge of the belt contacts the drive rod (120; 220) and the support rod (140).

20. The screw conveyor according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the modular belt (290) comprises a plurality of belt modules, and wherein each of the plurality of teeth (292) is spaced apart by two or more belt modules.

21. The screw conveyor of claim 20, wherein the pitch of at least one of the two or more belt modules is different from the pitch of at least one of the other belt modules.

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