Wear-resistant silk screen metal belt conveyor

Abstract

A belt conveyor includes a modular conveyor belt constructed from a series of belt rows joined at an articulated joint and having an intermediate article support section formed from a spiral wire mesh including first regions having a first transverse pitch alternating with one or more second regions, the first regions having a second transverse pitch alternating with one or more second regions, and the second regions having a second transverse pitch alternating with one or more second regions. The one or more second regions have a smaller second lateral pitch. The one or more second regions are positioned across the width of the belt to contact one or more wear strips on the carrying path of the belt.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to wire-mesh metal-belt conveyors. Background Art

[0002] Wire mesh metal conveyor belts are used to convey products. The belt is constructed of a series of belt rows, which are connected end to end by hinged rods at hinged joints between adjacent belt rows. Tension links located on opposite sides of each belt row bear the tension in the belt when the belt is driven. In many cases, the tension links are engaged and driven by a drive element such as a sprocket. The wire mesh in the form of a spiral is wound around the hinged rod multiple times between the tension links at the end of each belt row. The conveyed product is located on the wire mesh. The spiral has a transverse pitch between consecutive loops, which provides sufficient open area for airflow or drainage. Typically, the transverse pitch is constant throughout the belt row. The conveyor belt is supported on the top of the wear strip on the carrying path. The areas of the wire mesh that slide on the wear strip as the belt travels along the carrying path wear faster than the areas that do not contact the wear strip. The rapid wear of these areas shortens the service life of the wire mesh. Summary of the invention

[0003] A type of conveyor belt embodying features of the present invention includes a plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end. Each belt row includes a first tension link located at the first outer side and a second tension link located at the second outer side. The first tension link and the second tension link each have a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end. A wire mesh extends around the hinge rod between the first tension link and the second tension link at the first end and the second end of each belt row. The wire mesh is in the form of a spiral having a first transverse pitch in first regions spaced across the width of each belt row and a different second transverse pitch in one or more second regions, each of the one or more second regions being located between two first regions in the first region across the width of the belt row. The first rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row are aligned with the second rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of an adjacent belt row. Hinge rods extend through the aligned first and second rod holes and the wire mesh at the first and second ends of adjacent belt rows to join the belt rows together at hinge joints between adjacent belt rows.

[0004] A type of conveyor embodying features of the invention comprises a carryway extending in length along a conveying direction and in width from a first side to a second side; one or more wear strips extending along the length of the carryway between the first side and the second side; and a conveyor belt supported on the one or more wear strips in the carryway. The conveyor belt comprises a series of belt rows hinged end-to-end at hinged joints by hinge rods. A wire mesh extends around the hinge rod of each belt row, the wire mesh being in the form of a spiral having a first transverse pitch in first regions spaced across the width of each belt row and a smaller second transverse pitch in one or more second regions across the width of the belt row. The one or more second regions of each belt row are in contact with one or more of the one or more wear strips on the carryway. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a belt conveyor embodying features of the present invention.

[0006] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged isometric view of a portion of a belt conveyor.

[0007] Figure 3yes Figure 1 Isometric view of a portion of a single belt row of a conveyor belt. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] exist Figures 1 to 3 1 shows various portions of a belt conveyor embodying features of the present invention. The conveyor 10 includes a modular conveyor belt 12 that rides on a carryway wear strip 14 along a conveying direction 16. The conveyor belt 12 is constructed of a series of belt rows 18 that are connected by hinge rods 22 at hinge joints 20. Each belt row 18 extends in width from a first outer side 24 to an opposite second outer side 25. Each row 18 extends from a first end 26 to a second end 27 along the conveying direction 16. Tension links 28, 29 located at the first outer side 24 and the second outer side 25 carry the belt tension when the belt 12 is driven along the conveying direction 16. On a curved belt run, the tension links 28 located at the outer side of the turn carry most, if not all, of the belt tension. On a straight run, the belt tension is shared by the tension links 28, 29 located at the two outer sides 24, 25.

[0009] The tension links 28, 29 in this example are Figure 2 3 is shown as being generally U-shaped having two legs 30, 31 diverging (forking) from a base 32. First rod holes 34 passing through distal ends 33 of the legs 30, 31 of the tension links 28 along a first outer side 24 of each belt row 18 are aligned with each other and with first rod holes of the tension links 29 along a second outer side 25 of the row 18. Second rod holes 35 elongated in the conveying direction 16 near the base 32 of the first tension link 28 of each belt row 18 are aligned with each other and with second rod holes of the corresponding second tension link 29 at the other outer side of the row. Figure 1 As shown, sprocket teeth 37 received in the interior of the U-shaped tension links 28 , 29 between the legs 30 , 31 push against the articulated rod 22 to drive the belt in the conveying direction 16 .

[0010] A spiral round-wire mesh 36 forms the article-supporting section of the belt 12 between the two tension links 28, 29 of each belt row 18. Figure 3As shown, the bends 38, 39 of the spiral mesh 36 at the first end 26 and the second end 27 of each belt row 18 define opposite ends 40, 41 of the open area of ​​the article support spiral mesh at the first and second ends. The first end 40 of the intermediate article support mesh section 36 is aligned with the first rod hole 34 in the first tension link 28. Similarly, the second end 41 of the spiral mesh section 36 is aligned with the second rod hole 35 in the second tension link 29. The first end 26 of the belt row 18 overlaps the second end 27 of the adjacent belt row, and the hinge rod 22 extends through the overlapping ends to join the rows together at the hinge joint 20, where the rows can be hinged. Similar to a helical spring, the mesh 36 is helically wound around the hinge rod 22 between the tension links 28, 29 at the first end 26 and the second end 27 of each belt row 18. The bottom 42 of the spiral mesh 36 between the bent ends 40 and 41 is straight and coplanar for smooth riding along the wear strip 14. The tops 43 of the webs are shown as being coplanar with each other, but may also be curved. Figure 3 In the axial view of the sight line 47, the loops of the spiral screen 36 are elliptical or stadium shaped.

[0011] As in Figure 1 As shown on the right side of FIG, the elongated second rod hole 35 passing through the tension links 28, 29 allows the outer side 25 of the belt 12 to collapse at the inner side of the turn. In a straight belt, the second rod hole can be circular because the outer side does not need to collapse. The articulated rod 22 can also terminate at the second outer side 25 of the belt 12 with a protrusion 44 extending laterally from the second tension link 29. For example, the protrusion 44 can be engaged by a forced drive drive member 45 on the periphery of the rotating drum of the screw conveyor. Alternatively, for an outer side drive belt, the protrusion 44 can be provided only at the first outer side 24 located at the outer side of the turn. For a side-bending side drive belt capable of turning left and right, a protrusion can be provided at both outer sides 24 and 25 of the belt 12. The tension link is not necessarily U-shaped. For example, the tension link can be a flat plate with a single first rod hole and a single second rod hole.

[0012] The spiral wire mesh 36 is characterized by having regions of different transverse pitches. The transverse pitch P is the distance between consecutive similar points on the spiral mesh, such as Figure 3 The bend 39 at the second end 41 of the net is shown. Figure 1As best shown, the wire mesh has a plurality of first regions 46 having a primary first transverse pitch P1 separated by second regions 48 having a smaller second transverse pitch P2. The higher metal density second regions 48 of the wire mesh 36 are positioned across the width of each belt row 18 to ride directly on the wear strips 14. The denser second regions 48 expose a greater surface area in contact with the wear strips 14 so that the sliding pressure of the wear strips is distributed over more turns of the spiral than if the wear strips were in contact with the longer pitch first regions 46. The result is an extended wear life of the belt.

[0013] Since the wear strips 14 are generally positioned within the outer sides 24, 25 of the belt 12, the number of first regions 46 is usually greater than the higher density second regions 48. For example, if only one wear strip 14 is used, there is one second region 48 at the wear strip with two first regions 46 on either side of the second region 48. Figure 1 In the case of two wear strips 14 shown, three first areas 46 are aligned in the conveying direction 16 and alternate with two second areas 48 across the width of the belt 12. Therefore, there is usually one more first area 46 than second area 48. The first area 46 is usually adjacent to the tension links 28, 29. Since the space between consecutive (consecutive) wear strips 14 is usually greater than the width of the wear strip, the first area 46 is usually wider than the second area 48. However, this depends on the geometry of the layout. In roller-driven screw conveyors, it is common that the wear is greater on the area of ​​the web sliding on the wear strips closest to the drive roller, because the drag forces are greatest at this area. Therefore, in some cases, it may be necessary to use a second area of ​​higher density web only at the wear strips closest to the drive roller, where the web wear is greatest.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt, comprising: A plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end, each belt row comprising: a first tension link, the first tension link being located at the first outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; a second tension link located at the second outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; multiple articulated rods; a wire mesh extending about the articulated rod between the first and second tension links at the first and second ends of each belt row, the wire mesh being in the form of a spiral having a first transverse pitch in first regions spaced across the width of each belt row and a different second transverse pitch in one or more second regions, each of the one or more second regions being located between two first regions in the first region across the width of the belt row; Wherein, the first rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row is aligned with the second rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of the adjacent belt row, and the hinge rod extends through the aligned first rod hole and the second rod hole and the wire mesh at the first end and the second end of the adjacent belt row to connect the belt rows together at the hinge joint between the adjacent belt rows.

2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first lateral pitch is greater than the second lateral pitch.

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least some of the first regions are adjacent to the first tension link and the second tension link.

4. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first region is wider than the second region.

5. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the first regions in each row of belts is one greater than the number of the second regions.

6. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first regions in all belt rows are aligned in the transport direction, and the second regions in all belt rows are aligned in the transport direction.

7. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spiral has a sports field shape in an axial perspective.

8. A conveyor comprising: a carryway extending in length along a conveying direction and in width from a first side to a second side; one or more wear strips extending along the length of the carryway between the first side and the second side; a conveyor belt supported on the one or more wearstrips in the carryway, the conveyor belt comprising: A series of belt rows, the series of belt rows being hingedly connected end to end at hinged joints by hinged rods; a wire mesh extending about the hinged rod of each belt row, the wire mesh being in the form of a spiral having a first transverse pitch in first regions spaced across the width of each belt row and a second, smaller transverse pitch in one or more second regions across the width of the belt row; wherein the one or more second regions of each belt row are in contact with one or more of the one or more wearstrips on the carryway.

9. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The first region is not in contact with the wear strip.

10. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The width of the second region is slightly greater than the width of the wear strip.

11. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The conveyor belt has an outer side and a tension link located at the outer side of each belt row.

12. The conveyor according to claim 11, characterized in that The first region of each belt row is adjacent to the tension link.

13. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The first region is wider than the second region.

14. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The number of first regions in each belt row is one greater than the number of second regions.

15. The conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that The spiral is in the shape of a sports field in an axial perspective.

Images