Idle conveyor roller

Abstract

The invention relates to an idle conveyor roller. An idle conveyor roller (1I) comprising: a) a rotating member (6); b) a fixing member (4); c) a bearing (5) located between the rotating part (6) and the fixed part (4) and rotatably supporting the rotating part (6) on the fixed part (4); the rotating member (6) comprises:-a roller (62) and-two bottom members (61), each of which closes an axial end of the roller (62); the fixed part (4) comprises a shaft (41) through which the roller can be attached to a frame (91) of the roller conveyor (90); it is characterized in that the shafts comprise two separate stub shafts (41), each located at a different axial end of the roller (1I), each bottom part (61) comprising a blind hole (64) receiving the stub shaft (41).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an idler conveyor roller. Background Technology

[0002] EP 4 175 129 A1 discloses a motor incorporated into a conveyor roller having a roller body and a motor unit inserted into the roller body.

[0003] International patent application PCT / EP2024 / 063031 discloses a conventional idle conveyor roller without an internal motor. The roller includes a shaft that protrudes along the entire length of a tube passing through the roller.

[0004] For the basic function of an electric roller, it is crucial that the electrical components inside the roller do not come into contact with water. This is entirely different from the idle rollers of a conveyor; here, water that intrudes into the internal areas of the roller initially has no impact on the roller's basic function.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an idle roller with improved hygienic properties. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention includes an idle conveyor roller according to the main claim; embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the specification.

[0007] For sanitary equipment, the most important thing is that no contaminated water comes out from the roller area, nor can contaminated water come into contact with the material being transported.

[0008] The main advantage of the idle roller of this invention is that the chance of contaminated water flowing out of the idle roller is significantly reduced. By using a short shaft housed within a blind hole, no water escapes from the interior of the shaft area. Even in the worst-case scenario, where water is unlikely to be pushed into the interior area of ​​the roller by a high-pressure cleaner, any water inside is safely sealed within the interior area and will not flow out of the roller. Such a flushing roller can be replaced at regular maintenance intervals.

[0009] Correspondingly, this different seal functions similarly to a one-way valve, allowing water to flow into the roller under certain circumstances, but safely preventing water from flowing out from the inside. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings; wherein, it is shown

[0011] Figure 1 A 3D view of the traditional conveyor area;

[0012] Figure 2 Figure 1The longitudinal section of the end of the idle roller of the present invention in the conveyor area. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Figure 1 An exemplary roller conveyor 90 is shown, comprising a plurality of conveyor rollers 1, one of which may be an electric roller 1M. Most of the conveyor rollers are idle rollers 1I driven by an external motor (here, the electric conveyor roller is the external motor of the idle roller). The rollers are attached to a common frame 91. An object 99 is conveyed linearly from the inlet to the outlet along the conveying direction d.

[0014] Since the objects are food items, the components of the roller conveyor 90 have specific hygiene requirements. In particular, the conveyor area is suitable for cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner.

[0015] The presence of an object 99 to be conveyed, arranged on the conveyor area 90, can be determined by the presence sensor 95. The presence sensor 95 thus generates a sensor signal, which is connected to the area controller (not shown) via a signal line (not shown).

[0016] Figure 2 A partial cross-section of the idler roller 1I at one axial end of the roller is shown. The idler roller 1I has a rotating component 6 and a stationary component 4, where the term rotating refers to a specific conveying condition during the roller's intended use. The stationary component 4 does not rotate relative to the frame 91 (see [link to frame 91]). Figure 1 The rotating component 6 is rotatably held relative to the fixed component 4 by means of the bearing 5.

[0017] The rotating component 6 includes a roller 62 and a bottom component 61 fixedly attached to the roller 62 at its axial end. The bottom component 61 closes the axial opening of the roller 62. The bottom component 61 is attached to the roller 62 by pressing it into the roller 62.

[0018] The fixing component 4 includes a shaft, which in this embodiment is implemented by two separate short shafts 41, each located at each axial end of the roller. The rotating component 6 is indirectly supported on the short shafts 41 by the bearings. The short shafts 41 have blind holes 411 into which fixing screws can be inserted to secure the roller to the frame 91.

[0019] A bearing seal 51 is provided axially in front of the bearing 5 (viewed from the outside of the roller) to prevent external liquid from contacting and / or passing through the bearing 5.

[0020] The bearing 5 and the bearing seal 51 are protected by the end cap 42 from mechanical influence. In this embodiment, the end cap 42 is one of the fixed components, but alternatively it can be one of the rotating components.

[0021] End cap 42 has a protective cover 421 that axially covers bearing 5 and prevents any high-energy component from impacting bearing 5 and bearing seal 51. Such a high-energy component can be any rigid component or water from a high-pressure cleaner. End cap 42 has a sleeve section 422 arranged coaxially with the short shaft and located between the short shaft 41 and bearing 5 (this is merely an example of why rotating components can be indirectly supported on the short shaft). A sealing ring 43 is provided between the short shaft 41 and end cap 42, particularly the sleeve section 422 of end cap 42.

[0022] For hygienic applications, it is particularly important to avoid areas where bacteria can thrive and then escape back to the surface. A primary hiding place is the hollow interior of roller 62. If water enters this area, bacteria can multiply readily. Therefore, it is essential that this area is free of water ingress, or that if water does enter, it cannot escape from this area and come into contact with the object being transported.

[0023] The critical area where water can enter the interior of roller 62 is the space C1 between the rotating component 6 and the stationary component 4, even if this area is sealed (cost-effective rotating seals typically have an increased risk of leakage). This invention provides a simple solution for sealing this area. Accordingly, the bottom component 61 is provided with a blind hole 64 to accommodate the short shaft 41. Therefore, even if water passes through the bearing seal 51, it is blocked by the bottom of the blind hole and thus cannot enter the interior of the roller. This is a significant advantage compared to conventional idle rollers.

[0024] The bottom component 61 and the roller 62 are assembled by press fitting, which typically provides sufficient seal to prevent water from being introduced between these components (see [link]). Figure 2 (See arrow P1 in the image). To improve safety and prevent water ingress, a sealing ring 63 is located between the bottom component 61 and the roller 62.

[0025] The bottom component can have a poly-V-head. Figure 2 (not shown in the image), or it may be without a multi-V head (see [reference]). Figure 2 The above description of the bottom component refers to two types of bottom components.

[0026] Appendix Label Table

[0027] 1M Electric Conveyor Roller

[0028] 1I Idle Roller

[0029] 4. Fixing components

[0030] 41 Short axis

[0031] Blind hole in 411 short shaft

[0032] 42 End Cap

[0033] 421 Protective Cover

[0034] 422 Sleeve Section

[0035] 43. Sealing ring between the short shaft and the end cover

[0036] 5 bearings

[0037] 51 Bearing seals

[0038] 6 Rotating parts

[0039] 61 Bottom component

[0040] 62 rollers

[0041] 63. Sealing ring between the roller and the bottom component

[0042] 64 Blind holes in the bottom component

[0043] 90 Roller Conveyor

[0044] 91 Framework

[0045] 95. Sensors are present.

[0046] 99 objects

[0047] d Conveying direction

[0048] C1 The space between the rotating part and the stationary part.

Claims

1. A free-wheeling conveyor roller (II), comprising: a) a rotating part (6); b) a fixed part (4); c) a bearing (5) located between the rotating part (6) and the fixed part (4) and rotatably supporting the rotating part (6) on the fixed part (4); the rotating part (6) comprising - a roller barrel (62), and - two bottom parts (61), each of the bottom parts (61) enclosing an axial end of the roller barrel (62); the fixed part (4) comprising a shaft (41) by which the roller can be attached to a frame (91) of a roller conveyor (90); characterized in that the shaft comprises two separate stub shafts (41), each located at a different axial end of the roller (II), each bottom part (61) comprises a blind hole (64) accommodating the stub shaft (41).

2. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom parts (61) provide an enclosing surface enclosing the roller barrel (62) over its entire diameter.

3. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller is free of any non-fixed parts protruding through the bottom parts (61), in particular through the enclosing surface of the roller bottom.

4. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom parts (61) are held in the roller barrel (62) in a press fit.

5. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blind holes (64) of the bottom parts (61) accommodate the bearings (5).

6. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first seal (51), in particular a bearing seal (51), is located in a space (CI) between the rotating part (6) and the fixed part (4).

7. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the first bearing (51) is located in the blind hole (64) of the bottom part between the rotating part (6) and the fixed part.

8. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom parts (61) are held in the roller barrel (62) by a press fit, and in addition to the press fit, a sealing ring (63) is located between the roller barrel (62) and the bottom parts (61).

9. The free-wheeling conveyor roller (II) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sealing ring (63) is adapted to safely retain any water introduced during a high-pressure cleaning process within the roller barrel (62) by the sealing ring (63).

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