A belt conveyor transfer hopper anti-blocking device

Abstract

A device for preventing blockage in the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor is disclosed. The transfer hopper is equipped with a power transmission mechanism, which includes a drive wheel. An anti-blockage chuck is mounted on a reciprocating crankshaft. The advantages of this invention are: This device abandons the traditional vibration-based anti-blockage method. It uses a reciprocating crankshaft linked to the existing drive motor of the belt conveyor to drive the anti-blockage chuck in a reciprocating motion. Through a connecting hinge, it achieves adaptive left-right swinging, directly breaking down the adhesion, arching, and bridging of wet powder on the inner wall of the transfer hopper through physical impact. This effectively avoids the problem of vibration-induced material compaction exacerbating blockage, resulting in significant unblocking effect. Simultaneously, the device has a simple structure and low cost. Overload protection is achieved through the slippage characteristics of the annular belt, preventing equipment damage. Furthermore, it achieves full automation of the blockage handling process, eliminating the need for manual entry into high-risk areas and mitigating safety hazards such as material collapse and falls from heights.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an anti-blocking device, specifically an anti-blocking device for a conveyor belt hopper. Background Technology

[0002] In the process of conveying materials by belt conveyors, the transfer hopper is a key component connecting different belt conveyor sections. When the conveyed material is a wet powder (such as iron ore powder, concentrate powder, etc.), fine particles are very easy to stick to the inner wall of the hopper due to moisture. As the adhesive layer gradually thickens, it eventually leads to hopper blockage and affects normal production.

[0003] Currently, common methods for addressing material blockage in transfer hoppers include manual cleaning and the installation of vibration anti-blocking devices. Manual cleaning is not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also requires operators to enter the hopper or work at heights, posing significant safety hazards such as material collapse and falls from heights. Existing, widely used hopper sidewall vibration anti-blocking devices work by using high-frequency vibration to loosen and dislodge bonded materials. However, in practical applications, it has been found that for wet powders such as iron ore powder, vibration can actually cause moisture to seep out between the material particles, generating capillary adhesion and leading to even tighter particle bonding, creating a "the more you vibrate, the more compacted" compaction effect, further exacerbating the blockage and failing to meet the anti-blocking requirements for such materials.

[0004] A search revealed that Chinese patent CN 216637577 U discloses a material discharge anti-blocking device for silos, comprising a discharge cylinder, a stirring mechanism, a swirling mechanism, a rotating rod mechanism, a first motor, a drive mechanism, a connecting plate, a PLC, and a protective cover, installed at the silo outlet. This device primarily addresses blockages at the outlet, but does not improve blockages caused by material adhering to the silo wall. Chinese patent CN 203283806 U discloses a material conveying funnel anti-blocking device, comprising a silo mounted on the side wall inside the funnel and a transmission mechanism hinged to the silo side wall. The rotation of the transmission mechanism drives a controller to stop the belt conveyor. This patent can automatically stop the belt conveyor when blockage occurs, preventing the accident from escalating, but it also fails to substantially solve the problem of material blockage inside the silo.

[0005] Therefore, developing a safe, efficient, and simple anti-clogging device that can specifically solve the problem of material blockage in wet powder transfer hoppers is a technical challenge that urgently needs to be addressed in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings and defects of the existing technology by providing an anti-blocking device for the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a belt conveyor transfer hopper anti-blocking device, comprising a transfer hopper and a reciprocating crankshaft, wherein a transfer belt is provided at the discharge end of the transfer hopper, a power transmission mechanism is installed on the transfer hopper, a drive wheel is installed on the power transmission mechanism, an anti-blocking shovel is installed on the reciprocating crankshaft, and the anti-blocking shovel is freely suspended and extends downward into the interior of the transfer hopper, a connecting hinge is installed between the anti-blocking shovel and the reciprocating crankshaft, a driven wheel is installed at one end of the reciprocating crankshaft, and an annular belt is provided between the driven wheel and the drive wheel.

[0008] Furthermore, the power transmission mechanism includes a drive motor and a reducer connected to the output end of the drive motor. A belt conveyor head pulley axle is installed at the output end of the reducer, and the drive pulley is installed on the belt conveyor head pulley axle.

[0009] Furthermore, a crankshaft bearing housing is installed on the transfer hopper, and both ends of the reciprocating crankshaft are mounted on the transfer hopper through the crankshaft bearing housing.

[0010] Furthermore, the belt conveyor head pulley axle is provided with axle bearing seats at both ends.

[0011] Furthermore, the reciprocating crankshaft is provided with a plurality of symmetrically distributed eccentric journals, each eccentric journal being hinged to a corresponding anti-blocking material ejector rod via a connecting hinge, and the anti-blocking material ejector rod and the eccentric journal of the reciprocating crankshaft being connected by a connecting hinge to form a pin hinge.

[0012] Furthermore, the anti-clogging push rod is made of cylindrical high-strength wear-resistant steel.

[0013] Furthermore, the length of the anti-blocking material-push rod is greater than half the depth of the transfer hopper.

[0014] Furthermore, the annular belt is configured to slip when the motion resistance of the anti-blocking push rod exceeds a predetermined value, thereby providing overload protection.

[0015] The method also includes an anti-clogging method for a conveyor belt transfer hopper, specifically comprising the following steps: starting the drive motor, which drives the conveyor head pulley shaft to rotate via a reducer; S: the conveyor head pulley shaft drives the drive wheel at its end to rotate synchronously, which in turn drives the driven wheel and the reciprocating crankshaft coaxial with it to rotate via an annular belt; the reciprocating crankshaft converts its rotational motion into the up-and-down reciprocating motion of an anti-clogging push rod hinged to it via a connecting hinge; the anti-clogging push rod moves up and down and swings adaptively within the transfer hopper, applying physical impact to the wet powder material adhering to the inner wall of the hopper, breaking the arching or bridging of the material; when the movement resistance of the anti-clogging push rod exceeds a predetermined value, the annular belt slips to cut off the power transmission; when the drive motor stops, the anti-clogging push rod stops moving synchronously.

[0016] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention include at least the following: 1. Abandoning traditional vibration-based anti-clogging methods, this method employs the reciprocating physical impact and adaptive oscillation of the anti-clogging chute rod to directly apply mechanical impact force to the wet powder material adhering to the inner wall of the transfer hopper. This effectively breaks down the adhesion between the material and the hopper wall, as well as the arching and bridging structures within the material. Because high-frequency vibration is avoided, the material particles do not become denser due to vibration or experience the expulsion of moisture, thus fundamentally solving the problem of increased compaction in wet powders such as iron ore powder under vibration-based anti-clogging methods, resulting in a significant unblocking effect.

[0017] 2. It achieves full automation of material blockage handling, eliminating the need for manual entry into the hopper or manual handling of blockages in high-altitude areas, completely eliminating the risk of personnel injury or death caused by material collapse or falling from heights, and significantly improving the safety level of the working environment.

[0018] 3. Power is directly derived from the existing drive motor and reducer of the belt conveyor, transmitted to the reciprocating crankshaft via the drive pulley, ring belt, and driven pulley, eliminating the need for additional independent power equipment and complex control systems. The entire device consists only of a crankshaft, a feeding rod, connecting hinges, and a small number of bearing seats, resulting in low equipment investment, convenient installation and maintenance, and low operating costs.

[0019] 4. A ring belt is used as the transmission medium. When the anti-blocking push rod encounters abnormally large resistance in the hopper (such as the presence of large foreign objects or extremely dense material), the ring belt will automatically slip, cutting off power transmission. This overload protection mechanism effectively prevents damage to the reciprocating crankshaft, anti-blocking push rod, and even the drive motor due to overload, improving the overall reliability and service life of the machine.

[0020] 4. The anti-clogging chuck rod and the eccentric journal of the reciprocating crankshaft are connected by a hinge to form a pin hinge. This allows the chuck rod to adaptively swing left and right according to the curved shape of the inner wall of the hopper and the resistance of the adhering material while moving up and down with the crankshaft. This design enables the chuck rod to effectively cover all easily adhered areas of the inner wall of the hopper (especially by setting the length of the chuck rod to be greater than half the depth of the hopper), achieving all-round, dead-angle-free anti-clogging and unblocking.

[0021] 5. The anti-blocking device is powered entirely by the belt conveyor's own drive motor. When the belt conveyor starts conveying materials, the anti-blocking device automatically starts working; when the belt conveyor stops, the push rod stops moving synchronously. No additional manual operation or electrical control logic is required, simplifying the operation process and avoiding material blockage or idling problems caused by forgetting to turn the anti-blocking device on or off. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission structure of the driving wheel, the annular belt, and the driven wheel in this invention.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Transfer hopper; 2. Drive wheel; 3. Annular belt; 4. Driven wheel; 5. Anti-blocking push rod; 6. Connecting hinge; 7. Reciprocating crankshaft; 8. Crankshaft bearing seat; 9. Wheel and axle bearing seat; 10. Belt conveyor head wheel and axle; 11. Reducer; 12. Drive motor; 13. Transfer belt. Detailed Implementation

[0026] See Figures 1-2 As shown, the technical solution adopted in this specific embodiment is as follows: it includes a transfer hopper 1 and a reciprocating crankshaft 7. The discharge port of the transfer hopper 1 is provided with a transfer belt 13. A power transmission mechanism is installed on the transfer hopper 1. A drive wheel 2 is installed on the power transmission mechanism. An anti-blocking push rod 5 is installed on the reciprocating crankshaft 7. The anti-blocking push rod 5 is freely suspended and extends downward into the interior of the transfer hopper 1. A connecting hinge 6 is installed between the anti-blocking push rod 5 and the reciprocating crankshaft 7. A driven wheel 4 is installed at one end of the reciprocating crankshaft 7. An annular belt 3 is provided between the driven wheel 4 and the drive wheel 2.

[0027] More specifically, the power transmission mechanism includes a drive motor 12, a reducer 11 connected to the output end of the drive motor 12, a belt conveyor head pulley 10 installed at the output end of the reducer 11, and a drive pulley 2 installed on the belt conveyor head pulley 10.

[0028] More specifically, a crankshaft bearing seat 8 is installed on the transfer hopper 1, and both ends of the reciprocating crankshaft 7 are installed on the transfer hopper 1 through the crankshaft bearing seat 8.

[0029] More specifically, the belt conveyor head pulley axle 10 is provided with axle bearing seats 9 at both ends. The installation and use of axle bearing seats 9 allows them to rotate more effectively.

[0030] More specifically, the reciprocating crankshaft 7 is provided with multiple symmetrically distributed eccentric journals. Each eccentric journal is connected to an anti-blocking shovel rod 5 via a connecting hinge 6. The anti-blocking shovel rod 5 and the eccentric journal of the reciprocating crankshaft 7 are connected by a pin hinge via the connecting hinge 6, so that the anti-blocking shovel rod 5 can swing left and right adaptively according to the resistance of the inner wall of the hopper while reciprocating up and down.

[0031] More specifically, the anti-clogging material-push rod 5 is made of cylindrical high-strength wear-resistant steel.

[0032] More specifically, the length of the anti-clogging push rod 5 is greater than half the depth of the transfer hopper 1, so that its lower end can cover the adhesion-prone area of ​​the inner wall of the hopper.

[0033] More specifically, the annular belt 3 is configured to slip when the motion resistance of the anti-blocking push rod 5 exceeds a predetermined value, thus forming overload protection.

[0034] More specifically, a method for preventing blockage in the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor is also provided, which includes the following steps: S1: Start the drive motor 12, which drives the belt conveyor head pulley 10 to rotate via the reducer 11; S2: The head pulley 10 of the belt conveyor drives the driving pulley 2 at its end to rotate synchronously, which in turn drives the driven pulley 4 and the reciprocating crankshaft 7 coaxial with it to rotate through the annular belt 3; S3: The reciprocating crankshaft 7 converts its rotational motion into the up-and-down reciprocating motion of the anti-clogging push rod 5, which is hinged to it via the connecting hinge 6; S4: The anti-blocking material-pumping rod 5 moves up and down and swings adaptively in the transfer hopper 1, applying physical impact to the wet powder material adhering to the inner wall of the hopper, breaking the arching or bridging of the material. S5: When the movement resistance of the anti-blocking push rod 5 exceeds the predetermined value, the annular belt 3 slips to cut off the power transmission; S6: When the drive motor 12 stops, the anti-blocking push rod 5 stops moving synchronously.

[0035] Working principle of the invention: The power of this device comes from the drive motor 12 of the belt conveyor itself. When the belt conveyor starts, the rotational power of the drive motor 12 is reduced and increased in torque by the reducer 11, driving the belt conveyor head pulley shaft 10 to rotate. The belt conveyor head pulley shaft 10 drives the drive wheel 2, which is fixedly installed at its end, to rotate synchronously. The drive wheel 2 transmits power to the driven wheel 4 through the annular belt 3 tensioned on it. Since the driven wheel 4 is coaxially fixedly connected to the reciprocating crankshaft 7, the rotation of the driven wheel 4 drives the reciprocating crankshaft 7 to rotate on the crankshaft bearing seat 8. The reciprocating crankshaft 7 is provided with multiple symmetrically distributed eccentric journals. When the reciprocating crankshaft 7 rotates, each eccentric journal moves in a circle around the center of the main journal. The upper end of the anti-blocking material-push rod 5 is hinged to the eccentric journal through the connecting hinge 6, and the lower end is freely suspended and extends downward into the interior of the transfer hopper 1. Due to the circular motion of the eccentric journal, and the free and unrestrained lower end of the anti-blocking push rod 5, this circular motion is transformed into the vertical reciprocating motion of the anti-blocking push rod 5. Simultaneously, the connecting hinge 6 employs a pin-shaft hinge structure, allowing the anti-blocking push rod 5 to adaptively swing left and right in a direction perpendicular to the plane of motion during its vertical movement, based on the curved shape of the inner wall of the transfer hopper 1 and the resistance of the adhering material. Under the combined action of the vertical reciprocating motion and the adaptive swing, the anti-blocking push rod 5 continuously applies physical impact to the wet powder material adhering to the inner wall of the transfer hopper 1, effectively breaking the adhesion between the material and the hopper wall, and dispersing the arched and bridging structures formed inside the material. The stripped and dispersed material falls smoothly under its own gravity, passing through the outlet of the transfer hopper 1 onto the transfer belt 13, achieving continuous conveying. Because this device uses direct physical impact rather than high-frequency vibration, it avoids the particle compaction and further adhesion caused by moisture extrusion resulting from vibration in wet powders. This fundamentally solves the problem of vibration-based anti-clogging methods leading to "more compaction" in wet powders. When the anti-clogging push rod 5 encounters insurmountable abnormal resistance in the hopper, such as the introduction of large metal objects or an abnormally dense material layer, the torque transmitted to the annular belt 3 increases sharply. When this torque exceeds the maximum static friction between the annular belt 3 and the driving pulley 2 or driven pulley 4, the annular belt 3 slips, thus cutting off power transmission. This overload protection mechanism effectively prevents damage to the reciprocating crankshaft 7, anti-clogging push rod 5, connecting hinge 6, drive motor 12, and reducer 11 due to overload. When the belt conveyor stops normally or due to a malfunction, the drive motor 12 stops rotating, and the driving pulley 2, the annular belt 3, the driven pulley 4, and the reciprocating crankshaft 7 also stop rotating. The anti-blocking push rod 5 also stops moving synchronously and remains freely suspended in the transfer hopper 1, without affecting the normal material passage. In summary, this device achieves synchronous linkage between the anti-blocking action and material conveying, requiring no manual intervention, and has a self-protection function, ensuring safe and reliable operation.

[0036] The above is only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and is not intended to limit it. Any other modifications or equivalent substitutions made by those skilled in the art to the technical solution of the present invention, as long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for preventing blockage of a conveyor belt hopper, comprising a conveyor hopper (1) and a reciprocating crankshaft (7), wherein a conveyor belt (13) is provided at the discharge end of the conveyor hopper (1), characterized in that: The transfer hopper (1) is equipped with a power transmission mechanism, and the power transmission mechanism is equipped with a drive wheel (2). The reciprocating crankshaft (7) is equipped with an anti-blocking rod (5), and the anti-blocking rod (5) is freely suspended and extends downward into the interior of the transfer hopper (1). A connecting hinge (6) is installed between the anti-blocking rod (5) and the reciprocating crankshaft (7). One end of the reciprocating crankshaft (7) is equipped with a driven wheel (4), and an annular belt (3) is provided between the driven wheel (4) and the drive wheel (2).

2. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor belt hopper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power transmission mechanism includes a drive motor (12) and a reducer (11) connected to the output end of the drive motor (12). A belt conveyor head pulley axle (10) is installed at the output end of the reducer (11), and the drive wheel (2) is installed on the belt conveyor head pulley axle (10).

3. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor belt hopper according to claim 1, characterized in that: A crankshaft bearing seat (8) is installed on the transfer hopper (1), and both ends of the reciprocating crankshaft (7) are installed on the transfer hopper (1) through the crankshaft bearing seat (8).

4. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor hopper of a belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The belt conveyor head pulley (10) is provided with pulley bearing seats (9) at both ends.

5. The anti-blocking device for the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reciprocating crankshaft (7) is provided with a plurality of symmetrically distributed eccentric journals. Each eccentric journal is hinged to an anti-blocking material ejector rod (5) through a connecting hinge (6). The anti-blocking material ejector rod (5) and the eccentric journal of the reciprocating crankshaft (7) are connected by a pin hinge through the connecting hinge (6).

6. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor belt hopper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anti-clogging shovel rod (5) is made of cylindrical high-strength wear-resistant steel.

7. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor hopper of a belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the anti-blocking material-poke rod (5) is greater than half the depth of the transfer hopper (1).

8. The anti-blocking device for the conveyor hopper of a belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The annular belt (3) is configured to slip when the motion resistance of the anti-blocking push rod (5) exceeds a predetermined value, thus forming overload protection.

9. The anti-blocking device for the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a method for preventing blockage in the transfer hopper of a belt conveyor, which specifically includes the following steps: S1: Start the drive motor (12), which drives the belt conveyor head pulley (10) to rotate via the reducer (11); S2: The head pulley shaft (10) of the belt conveyor drives the driving pulley (2) at its end to rotate synchronously, and then drives the driven pulley (4) and the reciprocating crankshaft (7) on the same axis to rotate through the ring belt (3); S3: The reciprocating crankshaft (7) converts its rotational motion into up-and-down reciprocating motion through the anti-clogging push rod (5) hinged to it via the connecting hinge (6); S4: The anti-blocking tug rod (5) moves up and down and swings adaptively in the transfer hopper (1) to exert physical impact on the wet powder material adhering to the inner wall of the hopper, thereby breaking the arching or bridging of the material. S5: When the motion resistance of the anti-blocking push rod (5) exceeds the predetermined value, the annular belt (3) slips to cut off the power transmission; S6: When the drive motor (12) stops, the anti-blocking push rod (5) stops moving synchronously.

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