Conveying device

Abstract

In order to achieve a reliable guide of a conveyor belt in a conveyor device having a conveyor belt and conveyor rollers that roll on carrier elements, a support element (31) is provided on at least one side of an upper belt (11) and / or a lower belt (12) of the conveyor belt (4) in a guided conveyor section (9) of the conveyor device (1), the support element (31) extends in the guided conveying section (9) in the conveying direction (x): at least one guide clip (16) is arranged on the conveyor belt (4) on one side of the support element (31), the guide clip (16) surrounds the support element (31) in a guide region (32) in a closed position, a gap is provided in the guide region (32) between the support element (31) and the closed guide clip (16), and the support element (31) is guided by the guide clip (16) in the closed position. The guide clip (16) is guided at the support element (31) without clamping the support element (31), and the guide clip releases the support element (31) in the open position; a clamping drive (35) is arranged on the guide clip (16), by means of which clamping drive the guide clip (16) can be brought into an open position or a closed position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveying device having a circulating conveyor belt, at which conveyor belt, in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, a plurality of load-carrying rollers are rotatably supported and distributed on both sides thereof, wherein the load-carrying rollers roll at least partially (in partial sections) on load-carrying elements along the conveying path of the conveying device.

[0002] Conveying devices in the form of continuous conveyors, such as conveyor belts, are well known for material transport. In the case of such continuous conveyors, the circulating conveyor belt is guided over deflection rollers, wherein a plurality of load-carrying rollers are usually arranged between two deflection rollers in order to support the conveyor belt, the upper belt or, if necessary, also the lower belt. The upper belt usually denotes the part of the conveyor belt on which the material to be conveyed is to be placed, and the lower belt usually denotes the part of the conveyor belt in the return area. However, there are also continuous conveyors in which the material is also conveyed on the lower belt. At least one deflection roller is arranged at the loading station and at the unloading station, and the material is conveyed between the loading station and the unloading station.

[0003] Conveying devices with a rotating conveyor belt are known, wherein the conveyor belt is moved in such a way that the components of the conveyor belt are detachably clamped to a traction device. Examples of such conveying devices can be obtained from US2007 / 0074955A1, US 4,766,994 A, DE 1 203 672 B or DE 31 29 072 A1.

[0004] Continuous conveyors with a rotating conveyor belt are also known, wherein the load-carrying rollers are rotatably supported at the conveyor belt, wherein the load-carrying rollers roll on load-carrying ropes which are tensioned between two end points of the conveying path of the continuous conveyor. The advantage of such an arrangement is that very large spans can be achieved with the aid of the load-carrying ropes, so that only few supports are required for the load-carrying ropes along the conveying path. Also in such continuous conveyors, the conveyor belt is also guided via deflection rollers at the end stations. Examples of such continuous conveyors can be obtained from EP 1 538 112B1, EP1 338 531 B1 or EP 2 030 919 B1.

[0005] In conveying applications, it is usually also necessary to overcome height differences. Here, in the case of large height differences, vertical conveyors are particularly used, in which the conveyor belt is arranged essentially vertically, since in this way the required base area is small. Such vertical conveyors with very large conveying heights in the range of several hundred meters are used, for example, in mining areas for conveying materials from the mine to the surface. Smaller conveying heights are encountered, for example, in transfer devices in ports, such as ship unloading equipment. In such vertical conveyors, conveying can also be carried out in both directions, for example, in transfer devices for goods or materials.

[0006] An example of a vertical conveyor is obtained from US 5,392,897 A, in which a vertical conveyor is shown in which two conveyor belts are used, which are arranged facing each other, so that the two upper belts contact in the vertical conveying section. The material to be conveyed is enclosed between the two upper belts and is thus conveyed vertically upwards. For this purpose, the upper belts are guided in a zigzag manner by support rollers, where the support rollers are connected to each other in a chain-like manner. When this chain-like arrangement is tensioned in the longitudinal direction, the associated upper belt is thereby pressed against the opposite upper belt, so that the material to be conveyed is reliably held between the two upper belts.

[0007] A vertical conveyor with a conveyor belt is known from EP 1 102 715 B1, to which a plurality of load-carrying means for receiving the conveyed goods are fastened. The conveyor belt itself consists of a plurality of traction means and a plurality of guide ropes and is guided by a plurality of deflection pulleys and guide rope pulleys. Since the conveyor belt can sometimes be very long in the vertical region, horizontal deflection (the conveyor belt actually has no stiffness in this direction) is possible and is problematic. Here, the conveyor belt may vibrate, and the conveyor belt may also contact the part of the mine in which it is arranged, which may cause damage to the conveyor belt or the mine. Also because of this vibration, the conveyed material may fall from the conveyor belt and fall down in the mine, which may also cause damage and equipment shutdown. Therefore, in EP 1 102 715 B1, deflection pulleys and fixed guide housings are provided in the vertical conveying section to avoid horizontal deflection of the conveyor belt.

[0008] In the case of such a vertical conveyor, a very deep vertical mine may be required in which the vertical conveyor is arranged. The larger the base area required for the vertical mine, the more costly its manufacture, for example by drilling the mine. If maintenance components, such as the guiding elements described in EP 1 102 715 B1, now have to be arranged in the mine, then of course these maintenance components must be accessible to maintenance personnel, which significantly increases the cost of such a vertical conveyor. Thus, in addition to the relatively costly maintenance of such guiding elements, a larger mine is also required from the start.

[0009] A conveying device is known from WO 2019 / 192983 A1, which has load-carrying rollers at a conveyor belt and a vertical conveying area, wherein a plurality of vertical support elements are arranged at both sides of the conveyed belt, and the load-carrying rollers arranged at the conveyor belt roll on these support elements. Thereby, in the vertical conveying section, reliable guidance of the conveyor belt is generated at the support elements, whereby very large height differences in the range of several hundred meters can also be achieved. However, the advantage of this embodiment is that only support elements have to be arranged in the vertical conveying section, whereby in the vertical conveying section practically no maintenance components are required, and all these maintenance components are arranged at the conveyor belt itself. This also enables the production of a vertical conveying section with a very small cross-section. In particular, in the case of two support elements on each side of each (belt) of the conveyor belt, i.e., a total of eight support elements, the guidance becomes technically complex, especially in the area of the transition from the horizontal conveying area to the vertical conveying area.

[0010] The conveying device can extend along a long path, and the load-carrying rollers of the conveyor belt roll on the respective load-carrying elements along this path. Due to impacts on the conveyor belt, uneven loading of the conveyor belt by the conveyed goods, or deflection of the conveyor belt in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the conveyor belt (which may typically occur in the vertical conveying area), there is a risk of vibration of the conveyor belt, and in the conveying path where the load-carrying rollers roll on the load-carrying elements, there is also a risk of derailment of the load-carrying rollers from the respective load-carrying elements. Both of these are undesirable for the normal operation of the conveying device and should therefore be avoided as much as possible. "Derailment" means that the load-carrying element jumps out of the load-carrying roller and thus can no longer achieve the guidance of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction. "Vibration of the conveyor belt" means that the upper belt and / or the lower belt of the conveyor belt move in a certain direction, especially in the height direction of the conveyor belt. Therefore, a preventive measure is needed to prevent such vibrations and possible derailment of the conveyor belt.

[0011] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a conveying device having a conveyor belt and (a plurality of) conveyor rollers rolling on a load-bearing element, wherein the conveyor belt is guided simply and reliably, in particular to avoid upward swinging (jumping, vibration) of the conveyor belt and possible derailment of the conveyor belt.

[0012] This object is achieved according to the invention in that, in the guided conveying section of the conveying device, support elements are provided on at least one side of the upper belt and / or the lower belt of the conveyor belt, the support elements extending in the conveying direction in the guided conveying section; at least one guide clip is arranged on the side of the conveyor belt where the support element is located, and in the closed position, the guide clip surrounds (cooperates with) the load-bearing element in the guiding area, wherein, in the guiding area, a gap is provided between the closed guide clip and the support element such that the guide clip is guided at the support element without clamping the support element, and the guide clip releases the support element in the open position; and a clamping drive is arranged at the guide clip, by means of which the guide clip can be placed in the open position or the closed position. Thereby, the guiding of the conveyor belt by the guide clip and the support element is independent of the interaction between the load-bearing rollers and the load-bearing element. The closed guide clip surrounds (clamps) the support element in the guided conveying section and thereby serves for reliable guiding of the conveyor belt and for preventing vibration of the conveyor belt and also possible derailment. By guiding the conveyor belt by means of the guide clip, it is ensured at the same time that the load-bearing rollers roll safely at the respective load-bearing elements in the conveying section where the load-bearing rollers and the load-bearing elements interact.

[0013] In an advantageous and easily implementable design, a moving clamping part is provided at the guide clip, and the clamping drive moves the moving clamping part to open or close the guide clip. The movement of the moving clamping part can be achieved in various ways, for example as its rotational movement, or its linear movement, or a combination of both.

[0014] If a clamping mechanism is provided at the guide clip, and the clamping drive acts on the clamping mechanism to open or close the guide clip, then this movement can be implemented simply and flexibly.

[0015] The clamping drive can include a drive that acts on the moving clamping part, possibly via the clamping mechanism, to open or close the guide clip. Advantageously, an energy storage is provided for the drive, which supplies energy to the drive to open or close the guide clip. Thereby, the drive can be supplied with energy for a certain period of time.

[0016] Alternatively, the clamping drive is embodied as passive and has a clamping actuating member at the guide clip, which acts on the moving clamping member to open or close the guide clip. A fixed actuating member is provided in the guided conveying section of the conveying device. When the guide clip passes by the fixed actuating member, the actuating member interacts with the clamping actuating member in order to manipulate the clamping actuating member to open or close the guide clip. Such a passive clamping drive can be implemented particularly simply and enables reliable manipulation of the guide clip.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, the clamping actuating member is embodied as at least one actuating roller rotatably supported at the guide clip or as at least one sliding element, and the fixed actuating member is embodied as an actuating track extending in the conveying direction, on which the actuating roller rolls or the sliding element slides.

[0018] If an additional (one) load-bearing element is provided in the region of the fixed actuating member, on which a (one) load-bearing roller of the conveyor belt rolls when the clamping actuating member interacts with the actuating member, the upward swinging (jumping, vibration) of the conveyor belt can be better suppressed.

[0019] In an advantageous and simply constructed design, the guide clip includes two clamping jaws, which are arranged opposite each other, wherein at least one clamping jaw is embodied as the moving clamping member and can be placed in a closed position and an open position by means of the clamping drive. In the closed position, the clamping jaws surround the support element (engage), and in the open position, the clamping jaws release the support element. Here, it is also advantageous that claw grooves are respectively provided at the opposite and facing claw surfaces of the clamping jaws, which form the guiding region of the guide clip, and in the closed position, the support element is arranged in the claw groove of the clamping jaw. This enables reliable enclosing of the support element to guide the conveyor belt.

[0020] If a holding element is provided at the guide clip, which automatically holds the guide clip in the closed position or the open position by the holding force of the holding element, it can be ensured that the guide clip does not open or close by itself, for example due to the vibration of the conveyor belt or due to other forces acting on the conveyor belt. This improves the running safety of the guide clip.

[0021] A simply constructed embodiment of the guide clip is characterized in that the clamping mechanism has at least one clamping lever, wherein the at least one clamping lever is arranged at a first end to be rotatably supported about a rotation axis at the clamping base of the guide clip, and at a respective opposite second end of the at least one clamping lever, a moving clamping member, preferably a (one) clamping jaw, is arranged. Here, it is advantageous that the holding element acts on the at least one clamping lever.

[0022] In the case of a passive clamping drive, it is advantageous if two lever arms are provided at the second end of at least one clamping lever, a guiding region for guiding the clip is formed between the two lever arms, a moving clamping member, preferably a clamping jaw, is arranged at the first lever arm, and a clamping actuating member for actuating the clamping mechanism is arranged at the second lever arm. This enables the guiding clip to be implemented compactly.

[0023] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 11 exemplarily, schematically and non - restrictively showing advantageous design configurations of the present invention. Shown in the drawings are: Figures 1 to 11 a schematic view of a vertical conveyor;

[0024] Figure 1 a cross - section of the conveyor belt of the vertical conveyor taken through;

[0025] Figure 2 a view of the first end (terminal) station of the vertical conveyor;

[0026] Figure 3 a view of the second end (terminal) station of the vertical conveyor;

[0027] Figure 4 a view of the vertical conveying region of a vertical conveyor with guiding by a guiding clip and a support element according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 a detailed view showing the design configuration of the guiding clip;

[0029] Figure 6 a detailed view showing the design configuration of the guiding clip;

[0030] Figure 7 an open guiding clip in the guided conveying section;

[0031] Figure 8 a turning of the support element at the start or end of the guided conveying section;

[0032] Figure 9 a guided conveying section with a bearing element and a support element;

[0033] Figure 10 a view showing the active clamping drive of the guiding clip, and

[0034] Figure 11 a view showing the passive clamping drive of the guiding clip.

[0035] The present invention relates to a conveying device 1 which preferably has as Figure 1The vertical conveying area shown in the figure. In this embodiment, the conveying device 1 is in a mine. The conveying device 1 includes a rotating and circulating conveyor belt 4.

[0036] At the first height level H1 (underground in this embodiment), a loading station 2 is provided as the first end station of the conveying device 1. At this loading station 2, the conveyed goods to be conveyed, such as bulk goods, are loaded onto the rotating and circulating conveyor belt (conveyor belt) 4 of the conveying device 1. How the conveyed goods are loaded onto the conveyor belt 4 is not important for the present invention. At another second height level H2 (e.g., at the surface or also underground), an unloading station 3 is provided as the second end station of the conveying device 1. At this unloading station 2, the conveyed goods are unloaded from the conveyor belt 4. For the present invention, how the conveyed goods are unloaded at the unloading station 3 is equally unimportant. The difference between the first height level H1 and the second height level H2 basically creates the height difference to be overcome by means of the conveying device 1. However, the conveying device 1 according to the present invention does not necessarily have to include a vertical conveying area as Figure 1 shown in the figure.

[0037] The circulating conveyor belt 4 of the conveying device 1 rotates between the loading station 2 and the unloading station 3. For this purpose, a first turning roller 5 is arranged in the area of the loading station 2, and a second turning roller 6 is arranged in the area of the unloading station 3. The conveyor belt 4 runs over the first turning roller 5 and the second turning roller 6. At least one of the turning rollers 5, 6 is driven in a well-known manner so that the conveyor belt 4 can rotate in a loop. However, the conveyor belt 3 can also be driven in other ways.

[0038] However, the conveying direction of the conveying device 1, that is, for example, from bottom to top or vice versa, is arbitrary in itself and only depends on the rotation direction of the driving member. Similarly, the conveying can be carried out only in the upper (skin) belt 11 or simultaneously in the upper (skin) belt 11 and the lower (skin) belt 12. This can also be changed as required.

[0039] Along the conveying path of the conveying device 1, a deflecting roller 7 and / or a deflecting area 8 can also be provided as required, so that the orientation of the circulating conveyor belt 4 matches the requirements. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor belt 4 is oriented slightly upwardly inclined in the region of the loading station 2. The transition to the vertical conveying area is achieved in the deflecting area 8, in which the upper belt 11 of the conveyor belt 4 extends substantially vertically. In the region of the unloading station 3, the upper belt 11 of the conveyor belt 4 is redirected back to a substantially horizontal orientation. The lower belt 12 of the conveyor belt 4 is preferably guided back substantially parallel to the upper belt 11. Of course, the path guidance of the conveyor belt 4 can also be designed and constructed in any other way along the entire conveying path. However, a vertical conveying area does not necessarily have to exist in the conveying device 1. In this case, the deflecting roller 7 and / or the deflecting area 8 can also be dispensed with.

[0040] However, in this context and in the context of the present invention, "vertical" should not be strictly understood as being vertical (senkrecht) with respect to the orientation of the conveyor belt 4 in the vertical conveying area. The conveyor belt 4 can in principle also be inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical line (plumb line). However, in the case of a very large height difference of several hundred meters that is being strived for, each degree of inclination of the conveyor belt 4 can mean that the vertical conveying area has to be expanded by several meters. If a vertical conveying area is drilled, this will force a significant increase in the drilling costs. The vertical conveying area itself can also be oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical line (plumb line), whereby, despite the inclined orientation of the conveyor belt 4, the cross-section of the vertical conveying area 9 can be kept small. However, there are also manufacturing-technical limits here. For example, the limit in drilling technology is at an inclination position of approximately 70°. Therefore, in the sense of the vertical conveyor according to the present invention, "vertical" is understood as an orientation of the conveyor belt 4 within ±20° around the vertical line (plumb line).

[0041] Figure 2 A cross-section through the conveyor belt 4 of the conveying device 1 is shown. At the conveyor belt 4, a plurality of cross beams 20 are provided at intervals from one another in the longitudinal direction x (which corresponds to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 4), the cross beams 20 protruding beyond the width of the conveyor belt 4, and at their axial ends, rotatably supported (one) load-carrying roller 21 is arranged respectively. However, the load-carrying roller 21 can also be arranged to be rotatably supported at the conveyor belt 4 in other suitable ways. The running surfaces 23 of the load-carrying rollers 21 roll on load-carrying elements 22, which are, for example, ropes, tubes, round bars, tracks, etc., and which are at least partially (in sections) arranged along the conveying path of the vertical conveyor 1. The load-carrying roller 21 thus rolls at least partially (in sections) on the load-carrying element 22. The axial spacing between the running surfaces 23 determines the gauge W of the load-carrying rollers 21, which naturally corresponds to the load-carrying element gauge of the load-carrying element 22.

[0042] In addition, at the conveyor belt 4, boundary walls (defining walls) 24 are arranged laterally on both sides, protruding from the conveyor belt 4, thereby providing a trough-shaped receiving portion for conveying goods. Since the conveyor belt 4 usually turns multiple times along the conveying path, the boundary walls 24 are preferably implemented to allow a certain degree of longitudinal elongation or bending, for example, as a known wave edge or with (multiple) slits in the direction of the free ends of the boundary walls 24.

[0043] Since the conveyor belt 4 is guided by the turning rollers 5, 6, and due to the boundary walls 24 at the conveyor belt 4, it may also be necessary to turn (reverse) the conveyor belt 4 before turning, because the conveyor belt 4 cannot naturally be guided by the turning roller 7 on the side with the boundary walls 14. For this purpose, in Figure 1 , for example, a turning (reversing) station 10 is provided, which can be implemented as described in EP 1 338 531 B1 so that they turn the conveyor belt 4 by 180° correspondingly when viewed in the longitudinal direction. However, the turning station 10 can of course also be arranged at a position different from Figure 1 shown, for example, before the lower turning roller 7 of the lower belt 12 in Figure 1 .

[0044] At the conveyor belt 4, on the side of the boundary walls 24, a plurality of dividing walls (partition walls) 25 can be arranged between the boundary walls 24 along the length of the conveyor belt 4, so that the conveyed goods can be held in the vertical conveying area 9. Of course, the conveyor belt 4 can also be implemented differently for receiving the conveyed goods.

[0045] In Figure 3 a detailed view of the area of the unloading station 3 is shown, which in this embodiment follows Figure 1 the vertical conveying area shown. The drive member 13 for driving the turning roller 6 can be seen. It can also be seen that in the turning area 8 of the upper belt 11 for the conveyor belt 4, a plurality of support rollers 14 are arranged in an arc, so as to support the conveyor belt 4 over a large area, and thereby reduce the load on the upper belt 11 of the conveyor belt 4 filled with the conveyed goods. Similarly, in Figure 3 the load-bearing element 22 is shown, such as a tensioned rope or rod, a guide rail, etc., and the load-bearing rollers 21 of the conveyor belt 4 roll at the load-bearing element 22 in the unloading station 3. The lower belt 12 can be turned into the vertical conveying area through a simple turning roller 7 after turning 180° in the turning station 10. In the vertical conveying area, in this embodiment, after the turning roller 7, the lower belt 12 is turned 180° again in another turning station 10.

[0046] Figure 4 The area of the loading station 2 is shown in detail, which in this embodiment is inFigure 1 Before the vertical conveying area shown. It can also be seen here that the upper belt 11 of the conveyor belt 4, which is subject to strong loads, is preferably deflected through an arcuate, very long-extending deflection area 8, and the lower belt 12 is deflected by the deflection rollers 7. The deflection area 8 is implemented, for example, as having curved tubes (arcuate tubes) 15 as load-bearing elements 22, and these tubes are arranged at fixed positions, where the load-bearing rollers 21 of the conveyor belt 4 roll on the curved tubes (arcuate tubes) 15 in the deflection area 8. In the deflection area 8, a plurality of load-bearing rollers 21 preferably roll on the load-bearing element 22 simultaneously. Otherwise, another load-bearing element 22 is shown, and the load-bearing rollers 21 of the conveyor belt 4 (here the lower belt 12) roll on these load-bearing elements at the loading station 2.

[0047] For the sake of completeness only, it should be noted that loading can also be carried out above or additionally above, and unloading can also be carried out below or additionally below, but this does not change the present invention.

[0048] The conveying device 1 can extend over a long conveying path, and the load-bearing rollers 21 of the conveyor belt 4 roll at least sectionally (partially) along this conveying path on the respective load-bearing elements 22. Due to the impact acting on the conveyor belt 4, the uneven loading of the conveyor belt 4 by the conveyed goods, the deflection of the conveyor belt 4 in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the conveyor belt 4 (also called the height direction z( Figure 2 )) (which may usually occur in the vertical conveying area), or due to other external influences on the conveyor belt 4, there is a risk that the conveyor belt 4 jumps up (vibrates), and in the section where the load-bearing rollers 21 roll on the respective load-bearing elements 22, there is also a risk that the load-bearing rollers 21 derail from the respective load-bearing elements 22. The vibration of the conveyor belt 4 and the derailment of the conveyor belt 4 are not desired for the normal operation of the conveying device 1 and should be avoided as much as possible. "Derailment" means that the load-bearing element 22 jumps out of the load-bearing roller 21, for example, out of the running surface 23 of the load-bearing roller 21, so that the guidance of the conveyor belt 4 in the conveying direction x is no longer provided. "Conveyor belt vibration" or "the upward jump of the conveyor belt 4" means that the upper belt 11 and / or the lower belt 12 of the conveyor belt 4 move back and forth in a certain direction, especially in the height direction z of the conveyor belt 4. Therefore, preventive measures are needed to guide the conveyor belt 4, especially to prevent the upward jump, and if necessary, also to prevent derailment. The risk of the conveyor belt 4 jumping up (vibrating) or derailing does not necessarily exist everywhere along the conveying system 1, nor necessarily to the same extent along the conveying system 1. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is sufficient to prevent the upward jump and derailment of the conveyor belt 4 at least in the guided conveying section 9 of the conveying device 1.

[0049] In order to simply and reliably guide the conveyor belt 4 in a certain guided conveyor section 9 of the conveying device 1, for example, in a vertical conveying area, or in a conveying area in the region of the unloading station 3 or the loading station 2, or in any other conveying area of the conveying path, according to the present invention, for the upper belt 11 and / or the lower belt 12 of the conveyor belt 4, support elements 31 are arranged on at least one side of the conveyor belt 4 (viewed along the conveying direction x), and the support elements 31 are oriented substantially parallel to the conveyor belt 4 in the guided conveyor section 9. In the vertical conveying area, the support elements 31 are thus also vertically oriented (again deviating from the vertical line (perpendicular) by ±20°), as Figure 5 shown. The support elements 31 can be rigid structural parts, for example, tubes, tracks (guide rails), rods (rods), etc., or can also preferably be implemented as tensioned ropes.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, in the guided conveyor section 9, at the upper belt 11 and the lower belt 12 of the conveyor belt 4, support elements 31 are provided on both sides when viewed along the conveying direction x, as Figure 5 shown.

[0051] The support elements 31 are fixedly arranged within the conveying device 1, for example, in the form of tensioned ropes or fixed tracks.

[0052] The present invention will be described below in embodiments of the guided conveyor section 9 in the vertical conveying area of the conveying device 1, wherein these embodiments apply in the same way to any other conveying area, such as a horizontal conveying area in the region of the unloading station 3 or a rising conveying area in the region of the loading station 2, as Figure 3 and 4 shown.

[0053] Figure 5 shows a part of the vertical, guided conveyor section 9 of the conveying device 1, which in this embodiment is arranged, for example, in a substantially circular, vertical hole 30. Of course, substantially circular, vertical holes 30 can also be provided separately for the upper belt 11 and the lower belt 12. However, the vertically guided conveyor section does not necessarily have to be arranged in a well (tunnel), but can be arranged, for example, independently, for example, at a reef (cliff). At the upper belt 11 of the conveyor belt 4, the boundary wall 24 and the partition wall 25 can also be seen therein. In this embodiment, for the upper belt 11 and the lower belt 12, first support elements 31 are vertically arranged on both sides (viewed along the longitudinal direction x). However, it is also conceivable to arrange (one) support element 31 only on one side of the upper belt 11 or the lower belt 12. It is also possible to provide at least one support element 31 only for the upper belt 11 or only for the lower belt 12.

[0054] The support element 31 can also coincide with the bearing element 22 and can also be arranged such that the bearing roller 21 rolls at the support element 31. However, it is preferably provided that the bearing roller 21 rolls at the conveyor belt 4 without contacting the support element 31 and thus without rolling at the support element 31, whereby the bearing element 22 and the support element 31 are separate components of the conveying device 1. In this preferred embodiment, the support element 31 is specifically used for the reliable guidance of the conveyor belt 4, while the bearing element 22 is specifically used for the rolling of the bearing roller 21.

[0055] In the embodiment according to Figure 5 , in the vertically guided conveying section 9, the spacing A of the support element 31 in the transverse direction y (transverse to the conveying direction x) is different from the gauge W of the bearing roller 21 at the conveyor belt 4. Preferably, the spacing A is greater than the gauge W, as Figure 5 shown. In the case where there is a support element 31 only on one side of the conveyor belt 4, the half of the spacing A and the half of the gauge W are correspondingly considered. Thereby, the bearing roller 21 in the guided conveying section 9 does not roll at the support element 31. However, the support element 31 can also be arranged in any other way, for example, the spacing A is less than the gauge W or there is an offset in the height direction z (i.e., the spacing A is made equal to the gauge W).

[0056] In order to guide the conveyor belt 4 at the support element 31, a guide clip 16 is arranged at the conveyor belt 4 on one side of the conveyor belt 4, and the support element 31 is also provided on this side of the conveyor belt 4. Usually, on one side of the conveyor belt 4, a plurality of guide clips 16 are distributed and arranged along the length of the conveyor belt 4, for example, they are spaced several meters apart.

[0057] At least one guide clip 16 at the conveyor belt 4 moves together with the conveyor belt 4.

[0058] The closed guide clip 16 surrounds the support element 31 in the guiding region 32 and thus guides the conveyor belt 4 along the support element 31. "Surround (umgreifen)" here means that the circumference of the support element 31 is at least partially surrounded by a part of the guide clip 16, so that the support element 31 cannot disengage (move out) from the guiding region 32 of the closed guide clip 16. The open guide clip 16 releases the support element 31, thus lifting the guidance.

[0059] In the guiding region 32, there is a sufficient gap between the support element 31 and the closed guide clip 16, whereby the support element 31 is not clamped by the guide clip 32 but only guided therein.

[0060] This clearance enables a relative movement between the closed guide clip 16 and the support element 31 fixedly arranged in the conveying device 1. During the operation of the conveying device 1, a relative movement is generated between the closed guide clip 16 at the conveyor belt 4 moving in the conveying direction x and the support element 31.

[0061] The guide clip 16 includes a clamping drive 35, by means of which the guide clip 16 can be placed in the open position or the closed position, preferably by means of a clamping mechanism 18.

[0062] The clamping drive 35 acts on the clamping mechanism 18 for opening or closing. The clamping mechanism 18 preferably includes at least one moving clamping part 17, which moves for opening or closing the guide clip 16.

[0063] The clamping drive 35 can be implemented as active or passive. In the case of an active clamping drive 35, the guide clip 16 includes all components for opening or closing the guide clip 16. In the case of a passive clamping drive 35, at least one component separated from the guide clip 16 and the conveyor belt 4 is required.

[0064] For example, as Figure 5 and Figure 10 shown, the active clamping drive 35 is preferably constituted by a drive 36, which acts (preferably through the clamping mechanism 18) on the moving clamping part 17. The drive 36 acts on the moving clamping part 17, which opens or closes the guide clip 16. The drive 36 is supplied with energy by an energy storage device to open or close the guide clip 16. The energy storage device is arranged at the guide clip 16 or the conveyor belt 4 and can also be arranged for a plurality of guide clips 16. The drive 35 can be, for example, an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive, and the energy storage device can be an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic energy storage device. For example, the electrical energy storage device can be non-contact, for example inductive, and is charged during the movement of the conveyor belt 4, for example at one or more positions (one or more moments) during the rotation of the conveyor belt 4.

[0065] For example, in as Figure 6 or Figure 11In the case of the passive clamping drive 35 shown in [Fig.], a clamping control member 29 is provided at the guide clip 16. When the guide clip 16 with the clamping control member 29 passes by the fixed control member 33, the clamping control member 29 interacts with the fixed control member 33 to open or close the guide clip 16. The clamping control member 29 is, for example, a lever that rests on the fixed control member 33 and is switched (rotated). However, the clamping control member 29 can also be a control roller or a sliding element that rolls or slides on the guide surface in order to control the opening or closing of the guide clip 16. During operation, the clamping control member 29 acts on the moving clamping member 17 in order to open or close the guide clip 16.

[0066] In a preferred design, the guide clip 16 includes two clamping jaws 37. The clamping jaws 37 are arranged, for example, on the clamping mechanism 18. At least in the case of the closed guide clip 16, the clamping jaws 37 are arranged opposite to each other. The clamping jaws 37 can each have a jaw groove 19 at the jaw surfaces that face each other and are opposite to each other. In the case of the closed guide jaw 16, the jaw grooves 19 form a guide region 32.

[0067] The clamping jaws 37 can be placed in the closed position and the open position by means of the clamping drive 35 and, if necessary, also via the clamping mechanism 18. For this purpose, at least one clamping jaw 37 is arranged to be movable to form the moving clamping member 17. The movement of at least one clamping jaw 37 can be rotational and / or translational.

[0068] In the closed position, the facing jaw grooves 19 form a hollow space in which the support element 31 can be arranged. In the closed position, the clamping jaws 37 surround the support element 31 (if present) in the guide region 32. The dimensions of the jaw grooves 19 are determined such that the support element 31 is not clamped, but rather there is a sufficient gap between the clamping jaws 37 and the support element 31 in the closed position, so that although the conveyor belt 4 is guided, the clamping jaws 37 do not continuously and excessively rub (drag, schleifen) against the support element 31.

[0069] For example, a cable with an outer diameter is used as the support element 31. The jaw grooves 19 are preferably designed as semi-cylindrical. In the closed position, the jaw grooves 19 form a cylindrical cavity whose diameter is a few millimeters, for example 5 millimeters, larger than the outer diameter of the cable.

[0070] In the open position, the clamping jaws 37 are separated from each other by the clamping mechanism 18, so that the support element 31 is released, allowing the support element 31 to enter or leave the guide region 32 of the guide clip 16.

[0071] Preferably, the clamping jaws 37 are releasably arranged at the guide clip 16, for example at the clamping mechanism 18, and are preferably made of plastic, bronze alloy or other wear-resistant materials, so that the clamping jaws 37 can be easily replaced in case of wear, and the support element 31, such as a cable, is worn as little as possible. With the clamping jaws 37 made of such materials, surface damage or wear of the support element 31 can be suppressed (eliminated) to the greatest extent.

[0072] However, the moving clamping part 17 can also be implemented as a locking part that moves to close or open the guide clip 16. For example, the locking part, such as a locking bolt, can close the groove for the support element at the guide clip 16 to close the guide clip 16. However, the locking part can also lock the two members of the guide clip 16 together for closing.

[0073] At the guide clip 16, a holding element 26 is preferably additionally provided, and the holding element 26 acts on the guide clip 16 with a holding force, for example, on the clamping mechanism 18 or the moving clamping part 17, so that the guide clip 16 is automatically held in the closed position or the open position of the guide clip 16 by the holding force. The holding element 26 can be implemented as a helical spring, a torsion spring, a gas spring, a rubber element, etc. In order to manipulate the guide clip 16 to open or close the guide clip 16, the holding force of the holding element 26 must be overcome.

[0074] Figure 6 An embodiment of the guide clip 16 with a clamping mechanism 18 is shown. The clamping mechanism 18 includes two clamping levers 27 here, which are rotatably supported at the clamping base 28 around a rotation axis (drawn as a dotted line) at their first ends. The guide clip 16 can be fastened to the conveyor belt 4 through the clamping base 28. At the respective opposite second ends of the clamping levers 27, (a) clamping jaws 37 are respectively arranged. Here, an upper clamping jaw 37 is arranged at the lower clamping lever 27, while a lower clamping jaw 37 is arranged at the upper clamping lever 27. Here, "upper" and "lower" do not indicate the orientation or position in space, but are only used to describe the clamping mechanism 18. With this arrangement, when the clamping levers 27 are pushed apart (pressed out) from each other, the clamping jaws 37 are pressed towards each other, that is, placed in the closed position. A holding element 26, here a helical spring, is additionally arranged between the two clamping levers 27, which pushes the clamping levers 27 apart (pressed out) from each other.

[0075] At the guide clip 16, a control roller is provided as a clamping control member 29 for the control drive 35 of the clamping mechanism 18. In this embodiment, a rotatably supported control roller is arranged at each clamping lever 27. The clamping lever 27 has two lever arms at the second end relative to the axis of rotation, and a guide area 32 of the guide clip 16 is provided between the two lever arms. A clamping jaw 37 is arranged at the first lever arm, and a clamping control member 29, here a control roller, is arranged at the second lever arm. By means of the clamping control member 29, here the control roller, the two clamping levers 27 can be pressed together, and the clamping jaws 37 thus move away from each other in order to actuate the clamping mechanism 18 to open the guide clip 16.

[0076] Figure 7 is shown according to Figure 6 the open guide clip 16. In order to actuate the clamping control member 29, here the control roller as described with reference to Figure 6 , a fixed control member 33 is arranged relative to the moving conveyor belt 4 at the conveying path. In the embodiment according to Figure 7 , the control member 33 is embodied as a control guide rail extending in the conveying direction x. In the shown embodiment with two clamping control members 29, two mutually opposed control guide rails are provided as the fixed control member 33, with one control guide rail corresponding to each clamping control member 29.

[0077] The guide clip 16 at the conveyor belt 4 passes by the fixed control member 33 when rotating around the conveying path. In the area of the fixed control member 33, the clamping control member 29, here the control roller, comes into contact with the fixed control member 33 and thus interacts therewith, for example in such a way that (a) control roller rolls on (a) respective control guide rail in order to form the control drive 35.

[0078] The fixed control member 33 of the control drive 35 can naturally be embodied in various ways depending on the design of the clamping control member 29, for example as a guide rail, a guide or a stop for switching the lever.

[0079] In the design according to Figure 6 with the guide clip 16 according to Figure 7 , the spacing between the mutually opposed control guide rails is selected such that by means of the control roller, the clamping levers 27 of the clamping mechanism 18 are pressed together, whereby the clamping jaws 37 move away from each other (apart) and into the open position. The support element 31 is thus released and can be placed in the guide area 32 (at the start of the guided conveying section 9) or disengaged therefrom (at the end of the guided conveying section 9), and the guide clip 16 can be closed, for example automatically by a retaining element 29 at the end of the control guide rail.

[0080] The actuating member 33 for actuating the clamping actuating member 29 of the guide clip 16 is thus arranged at the beginning and / or end of the guided conveying section 9. For the active clamping drive 35, a signal can be sent to the clamping drive 35 at the beginning and / or end of the guided conveying section 9 in order to activate the clamping drive 35 to open or close the guide clip 16.

[0081] It is clear that the guide clip 16 can be implemented in various ways structurally by means of the clamping mechanism 18 and the clamping actuating member 29, for example by means of the reverse acting force (force action) of the holding element 26, by means of the common squeezing of the clamping lever 27 to close the clamping jaws 17, by means of other clamping actuating members 29, by means of other actuation methods, etc.

[0082] It is also conceivable that only one clamping lever 27 is rotatably supported, and only this rotatably supported clamping lever 27 is moved by means of the clamping drive 35, for example via the clamping actuating member 29, to open and close the guide clip 16. In this case, only (one) clamping actuating member 29 needs to be arranged at the moving clamping lever 27. It is also conceivable to have an embodiment form of such a clamping lever 27 that is not rotatably supported but is implemented as movable by means of the clamping drive 35, preferably by means of the clamping mechanism 18, for example displaceable.

[0083] By means of Figure 8 It is illustrated how the support element 31 can be inserted into or removed from the guide region 32 of the guide clip 16. In the region of the actuating guide rail as the actuating member 33, the support element 31 is turned in the transverse direction y, so that it is removed from or inserted into the guide region 32 of the guide clip 16. In the case where the support element 31 is a rope, a position-fixed turning member 34 can be provided, which turns the rope away from the conveyor belt 4 in the transverse direction y. In this case, the rope as the support element 31 is tensioned, for example, in the guided conveying region 9, for example, between the tensioning frame 40 ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 ) that is fixedly arranged on the conveying path. When the conveyor belt 4 moves and is turned by the support element 31, for the open guide clip 16, the guide clip 16 automatically moves away from the support element 31.

[0084] Alternatively, at least one moving clamping member 17 can also be made to perform a relative movement with respect to the support element 31, so that the support element 31 is led out of or introduced into the guide clip 16.

[0085] At the end of the guided conveying area 9 (viewed in the conveying direction x), it can also be that a support element 31 simply ends, especially when the support element 31 is implemented as a rigid member. The closed guide clip 16 then directly moves away from the support element 31. It is not necessary to open the guide clip 16 for this purpose either.

[0086] In order to suppress vibrations of the conveyor belt 4 caused by the manipulation of the guide clip 16, for example due to the movement (actuation) of the manipulation roller onto the manipulation guide rail, a load-bearing element 22 can also be provided in the area where the guide clip 16 is manipulated, for example in the area of the manipulation guide rail, on which the load-bearing rollers 21 of the conveyor belt 4 roll during the manipulation of the guide clip 16 (see Figure 8 ). In this case, it is advantageous if load-bearing rollers 21 are arranged at the conveyor belt 4 immediately before and / or after (viewed in the conveying direction x) the guide clip 16.

[0087] Figure 9 The guided conveying section 9 is shown, for example, in the area of the unloading station 3 or the loading station 2. The guided conveying section 9 is oriented substantially horizontally. The conveyor belt 4 moves on load-bearing elements 22, here guide rails, via load-bearing rollers 21, where the load-bearing rollers 21 roll on the load-bearing elements 22. At the same time, in this design, a support element 31, such as a rope, is provided, and the conveyor belt 4 is guided on the support element 31 by means of the guide clip 16 on the conveyor belt 4. In this way, it is possible, for example, to reliably prevent the load-bearing rollers 21 from jumping off the load-bearing elements 22 and the conveyor belt 4 from derailing, which could lead to an emergency stop of the conveyor.

[0088] The holding element 26 at the guide clip 16 is advantageously dimensioned to hold the guide clip 16 closed such that: in the case of movement of the conveyor belt 4, the guide clip 16 does not open by itself due to possible vibrations of the conveyor belt 4. Such dimensioning can be easily carried out with knowledge of the construction of the guide clip 16 and the acting forces.

[0089] It is also possible to monitor the wear at the clamping jaws 17 by measurement technology in order to schedule the necessary replacement of the clamping jaws 17 and prevent damage to the support element 31. It is also possible, for example, to monitor the support element 31 by means of a camera moving along with the conveyor belt 4, which takes pictures of the support element 31. Magnetic induction detection for the support element 31, especially in the case of a steel cable, is also conceivable.

Claims

1. A conveying device (1) having a circulating conveyor belt (4), at which a plurality of load-carrying rollers (21) are rotatably supported on both sides in a distributed manner along the conveying direction (x) of the conveyor belt (4), wherein, The carrier roller (21) rolls at least partially at a bearing element (22) along a conveying path of the conveying device (1), characterized in that in a guided conveying section (9) of the conveying device (1), support elements (31) are provided on at least one side of an upper belt (11) and / or a lower belt (12) of the conveyor belt (4), and the support elements (31) extend in the conveying direction (x) in the guided conveying section (9): at least one guide clip (16) is arranged at the conveyor belt (4) on one side of the support element (31), and in a guiding area (32), in a closed position, the guide clip (16) surrounds the support element (31), wherein in the guiding area (32), a gap is provided between the support element (31) and the closed guide clip (16) such that the guide clip (16) is guided at the support element (31) without clamping the support element (31), and the guide clip (16) releases the support element (31) in an open position; and a clamping drive (35) is arranged at the guide clip (16), and by means of the clamping drive, the guide clip (16) can be placed in an open position or a closed position.

2. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, A moving clamping member (17) is provided at the guide clip (16), wherein the clamping drive (35) moves the moving clamping member (17) to open or close the guide clip (16).

3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A clamping mechanism (18) is provided at the guide clip (16), wherein the clamping drive (35) acts on the clamping mechanism (18) to open or close the guide clip (16).

4. The conveying device (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that, The moving clamping member (17) is arranged at the clamping mechanism (18).

5. The conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The clamping drive (35) includes a drive member (36) which acts on the moving clamping member (17) to open or close the guide clip (16).

6. The conveying device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, An energy storage is provided which supplies energy to the drive member (36) to open or close the guide clip (16).

7. The conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The clamping drive (35) includes a clamping actuating member (29) at the guide clip (16), the clamping actuating member acts on the moving clamping member (17) to open or close the guide clip (16), and a fixed actuating member (33) is provided in the guided conveying section (9) of the conveying device (1), and when the guide clip (16) passes by the fixed actuating member (33), the fixed actuating member (33) interacts with the clamping actuating member (29) so as to operate the clamping actuating member (29) to open or close the guide clip (16).

8. The conveying device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The clamping actuating member (29) is embodied as at least one actuating roller rotatably supported at the guide clip (16) or as a sliding element, and the fixed actuating member (33) is embodied as an actuating guide rail extending in the conveying direction (x), on which the actuating roller rolls or the sliding element slides.

9. The conveying device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, A bearing element (22) is provided in the region of the fixed actuating member (33), on which the bearing roller (21) of the conveyor belt (4) rolls when the clamping actuating member (29) interacts with the actuating member (33).

10. The conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that The guide clip (16) includes two clamping jaws (37), wherein the clamping jaws (37) are arranged opposite one another, and at least one of the clamping jaws (37) is embodied as a movable clamping member (17) and can be brought into the closed position and the open position by means of the clamping drive (35), in which the clamping jaws (37) surround the support element (31) in the closed position and release the support element (31) in the open position.

11. The conveying device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, Claw grooves (19) are respectively provided at the mutually opposite and facing claw surfaces of the clamping jaws (37), which form the guide region (32) of the guide clip (16), and the support element (31) is arranged in the claw grooves (19) of the clamping jaws (37) in the closed position.

12. The conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, A holding element (26), preferably a spring element, is provided at the guide clip (16), which automatically holds the guide clip (16) in the closed position or the open position by the holding force of the holding element (26), preferably the spring force.

13. The conveying device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The clamping mechanism (18) has at least one clamping lever (27), wherein the at least one clamping lever (27) is rotatably supported at the clamping base (28) of the guide clip (16) at a first end about a rotation axis, and the movable clamping member (17), preferably a clamping jaw (37), is arranged at a respective opposite second end of the at least one clamping lever (27).

14. The conveying device (1) according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that, The holding element (26) acts on the at least one clamping lever (27).

15. The conveying device (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, Two lever arms are provided at the second end of the at least one clamping lever (27), between which the guide region (32) of the guide clip (16) is formed, and the movable clamping member (17), preferably a clamping jaw (37), is arranged at a first lever arm, and the clamping actuating member (29) for actuating the guide clip (16) is arranged at a second lever arm.

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