Roller for guiding conveyor belts

The roller design with symmetrical lateral surfaces and a dual-roller deflection mechanism addresses conveyor belt slipping and interference issues, ensuring improved guidance and handling in dough processing systems.

DE102013218072B4Active Publication Date: 2025-08-28BACKNET GMBH
View PDF 4 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
DE102013218072
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2012-09-14
Filing Date
2013-09-10
Publication Date
2025-08-28
Estimated Expiration
2033-09-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing conveyor belts for dough processing face issues with slipping and interference due to adjustable spreading angles, particularly at the drive roller, leading to difficult handling and potential contact between conveyor belts.

Method used

A roller design with a base body having symmetrical lateral surfaces featuring varying cross-sections and a deflection mechanism with two rollers, one as a drive and one as a tension roller, ensures improved guidance by centering and spacing conveyor belts, preventing slipping and interference.

Benefits of technology

The solution effectively prevents conveyor belt slipping and interference, enhances handling, and reduces the need for additional components, while allowing adjustable spreading angles for different dough pieces and processing installations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
    Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

Roller for guiding at least one conveyor belt (9), in particular for conveying dough (6), with a) a roller rotation axis (25; 26; 43; 50) extending perpendicular to a conveying direction (10) of the conveyor belt (9), b) a one-piece base body (28; 37; 44; 51) which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the roller rotation axis (25; 26; 43; 50), with a lateral surface (29; 38; 45), wherein c) the shell surface (29; 38; 45) has a plurality of shell sections (30; 39; 46; 52), each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roller for guiding at least one conveyor belt, in particular for conveying dough. Furthermore, the invention relates to a deflection mechanism for deflecting an endless conveyor belt with at least one such roller.

[0002] Devices for conveying dough are known from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2008 016 954 A1 shows a dough processing system with a dough processing machine and a proofer, wherein dough pieces to be processed are transported between the dough processing machine and the proofer by means of a conveyor device. The conveyor device is a multi-part conveyor belt. Part of such conveyor devices in known dough processing systems is a transfer spreading belt, on which dough pieces are transported in several rows, for example from a dough kneading device. With transfer spreading belts, the distance between the individual conveyor belts increases along a conveying direction transversely to the conveying direction. With known spreading belts, the spreading angle of the individual conveyor belts is often variably adjustable.In particular, transfer spreader belts with variable spread angles lead to the problem of extremely difficult guidance of the individual conveyor belts, especially in the area of ​​a drive roller, since changing the spread angles carries the risk of the outer edges of the individual conveyor belts coming into contact with one another and interfering with one another. Known transfer spreader belts are generally driven by a roller around which the individual conveyor belts wrap in certain areas. The individual conveyor belts are guided on a circumferential surface of this roller. Increasing the spacing between the conveyor belts along the conveying direction of known rollers causes the conveyor belts to slip on the circumferential surface of the roller transverse to the conveying direction. Furthermore, DE 18 02 544 A discloses a drive roller intended for sheet metal and strip rolling mills, and DE 10 2007 018 163 A1 discloses a spreader belt mechanism as a machine element for drive technology.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to further develop a roller for guiding at least one conveyor belt, in particular for conveying dough, in such a way that guidance of the at least one conveyor belt is improved.

[0004] According to the invention, it was recognized that a roller for guiding at least one conveyor belt, having a roller rotational axis running perpendicular to a conveying direction of the conveyor belt, a one-piece base body that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the roller rotational axis, and having a shell surface comprising a plurality of shell sections, each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section, leads to significantly improved guidance of individual conveyor belts on the roller. In particular, when a plurality of conveyor belts are driven side by side by a roller for multi-row transport of dough pieces, the guidance is significantly improved by using the roller according to the invention. The advantages of the roller according to the invention become particularly apparent when the spread angle between the longitudinal axes of the conveyor belts and the conveying direction can be adjusted.The maxima and minima of the roller cross-section lead to a centering of the individual belts in the area of ​​the minimum and maximum roller cross-sections, respectively. The inventive design of the roller's lateral surface effectively prevents slipping of the individual belts on the roller transverse to the conveying direction, i.e., axial slipping relative to the roller's rotation axis. This prevents the individual conveyor belts from abutting one another in the area of ​​their lateral outer edges and hindering one another. The one-piece design of the roller's base body is particularly simple to manufacture. Furthermore, the one-piece design significantly reduces component expenditure. Because the lateral surfaces of the base body themselves have a minimum and maximum roller cross-section, additional components are not required to create the minima and maxima, respectively.

[0005] According to claim 2, the shell sections adjoin one another across a minimal roller cross-section. This design of the shell surface has the advantage that the individual conveyor belts rest on shell sections with an increased roller cross-section. The conveyor belts are therefore centered on the individual shell sections in such a way that a respective longitudinal axis of the conveyor belts runs in an area of ​​the maximum roller cross-section. The increased roller cross-sections result in a crown, i.e., a cross-sectional shape of the roller that deviates from the cylindrical shape. These crowns of the roller each counteract a restoring force, which acts by spreading the conveyor belts in the area where the roller wraps. Rollers for guiding several conveyor belts with multiple crowns are not known from the prior art.

[0006] The design according to claim 3 provides that the shell sections adjoin one another across a maximum roller cross-section. This design results in the individual conveyor belts centering themselves on the shell sections in the area of ​​a minimum roller cross-section.

[0007] According to claim 4, at least one of the casing sections has a conical segment. Conical segments allow the individual conveyor belts to be secured particularly effectively against slipping transversely to the conveying direction.

[0008] According to claim 5, at least one of the shell sections is designed to be convex relative to the roller's rotational axis. A convex design of the shell surface secures conveyor belts against slipping transversely to the conveying direction along the roller's rotational axis, even when the conveyor belt's spread angle is adjusted.

[0009] According to claim 6, at least one of the casing sections is designed to be concave relative to the roller's rotational axis. A concave design of at least one of the casing sections leads to centering of the conveyor belts, with the respective conveyor belt centering itself toward the position where the greatest distance exists between the conveyor belts due to the concave design of the at least one casing surface.

[0010] The design according to claim 7 provides that each of the shell sections is convex. Preferably, a conveyor belt is guided on each of the convex shell sections. This design of the roller is particularly simple and cost-effective to implement.

[0011] The design according to claim 8, which provides that each of the shell sections is concave, also leads to a particularly simple and cost-effective production of the roller according to the invention.

[0012] According to claim 9, each of the casing sections is partially wrapped by a conveyor belt. Each of the casing sections serves to guide the conveyor belt wrapping around the casing section.

[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a deflection mechanism for deflecting at least one conveyor belt, with which the guidance of the conveyor belt is improved.

[0014] According to a further aspect, this object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features specified in claim 10.

[0015] According to the invention, it was recognized that a deflection mechanism for deflecting an endless conveyor belt comprising a roller according to the invention, at least one spreader belt guide body arranged downstream of the roller in the conveying direction, and a second roller arranged downstream of the at least one spreader belt guide body, leads to particularly reliable guidance of the individual conveyor belts. This advantage is particularly evident when the spreader belt guide bodies can be pivoted by the spread angle relative to the conveying direction.

[0016] According to claim 11, the second roller is also a roller according to the invention with several shell sections, each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section. The first roller is advantageously designed as a drive deflection roller, and the second roller as a tensioning roller. The provision of two rollers according to the invention in the deflection mechanism has the advantage that improved guidance of the conveyor belts can be achieved at two different points along the conveying direction. Preferably, the individual conveyor belts have a smaller spread angle relative to the conveying direction in the region of the first roller than in the region of the second roller.

[0017] According to claim 12, the spreading belt guide bodies are arranged so that they can be adjusted by an angle relative to the conveying direction. This enables the use of the deflection mechanism according to the invention for various types of dough pieces with a wide range of dimensions and for different dough processing systems. The spreading angles can be adapted to the dimensions of the dough pieces to be conveyed and to the dimensions of the dough processing system.

[0018] According to claim 13, several conveyor belts are provided next to one another, with at least one of the rollers being wrapped around by the conveyor belts simultaneously. Preferably, both rollers are wrapped around by the conveyor belts simultaneously. Guiding different conveyor belts on one roller has the advantage that only one common drive is required for all conveyor belts, thus making the design of the deflection mechanism particularly simple.

[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dough processing plant which enables improved guidance of at least one conveyor belt, in particular for conveying dough.

[0020] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 14.

[0021] Such a device comprises a deflection mechanism according to the invention. The advantages of the dough processing system correspond to those of the deflection mechanism according to the invention and the roller according to the invention.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a dough processing plant in a side view, with some internal details shown in cross-section; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a deflection mechanism of a transfer spreading belt from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a view of the deflection mechanism according to Fig. 2 from the bottom; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a first roller of the deflection mechanism according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 for guiding conveyor belts; Fig. 5 a view of the roller according to Fig. 4 from view direction V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a sectional view of the roller according to Fig. 4; Fig. 7 a second roller according to the deflection mechanism according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3; Fig. 8 a variant of a roller according to Fig. 4 or Fig. 7 in one with Fig. 6 comparable sectional view; and Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of a roller according to Fig. 4 or Fig. 7 in one with Fig. 6 comparable sectional view.

[0023] One in Fig. 1, the dough processing plant 1 for processing dough comprises a dough processing machine 2 with an internal dough dividing device 3, which is only indicated schematically, and a dough kneading device 4 designed as a chamber kneading drum. The dough is fed to the dough processing machine 2 via a feed hopper 5.

[0024] A transfer spreading belt 7 is arranged downstream of the dough kneading device 4 in a conveying direction of the kneaded dough pieces 6. The latter is divided into a receiving-side parallel section 8 with several endless conveyor belts 9 that are closely adjacent to one another and run parallel to one another in the conveying direction. On the conveyor belts 9, the dough pieces 6 can be transported in several rows from the dough kneading device 4. The conveying direction is in Fig. 1 by the directional arrow 10. The parallel section 8 serves as the receiving section of the transfer spreading belt 7 for the dough pieces 6. In the conveying direction 10, the parallel section 8 is followed by a spreading section 11 on the discharge side, which serves as the discharge section of the transfer spreading belt 7 for the dough pieces 6. In the conveying direction 10 of the spreading section 11, the distance between the endless individual belts 9 increases. Preferably, on the discharge side, a distance A between the conveyor belts 9 of the spreading section 11 is approximately three times as large as on the receiving side. Advantageously, the distance A between the endless individual belts 9 is adjustable in the region of the spreading section 11 and can be adapted to the respective dough pieces 6 to be processed and to the dimensions of the dough processing system 1.

[0025] In the version of the dough processing plant 1 according to Fig. 1, the conveyor belts 9 of the spreading section 11 transfer the dough pieces 6 to a hanger 12 of a proofing cabinet 13 on the discharge side. The dough pieces 6 then pass through a meandering path in the hangers 12 through the proofing cabinet 13. In the illustrated embodiment of the dough processing plant 1 according to Fig. 1, a transfer belt 14 is provided between the transfer spreading belt 7 and the hanger 12. Alternatively, this transfer belt could be omitted, in which case the dough pieces 6 would be transferred from the transfer spreading belt 7 directly into the hanger 12.

[0026] The transfer spreading belt 7 is preferably designed in a modular manner. The modular design of the transfer spreading belt 7 is particularly Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Due to such a modular design, the transfer spreading belt 7 can be particularly easily integrated into a conveyor path of any dough processing plant 1.

[0027] As in particular Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the transfer spreading belt 7 comprises, in addition to the individual conveyor belts 9, a deflection mechanism 15 for deflecting the conveyor belts 9. The conveyor belts 9 are in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 not shown. The deflection mechanism 15 according to the illustrated embodiment serves to deflect four endless conveyor belts 9 for conveying the dough pieces 6. Alternatively, the deflection mechanism 15 can also be designed to deflect more than four conveyor belts 9, in particular five to eight conveyor belts 9. The conveyor belts 9 are preferably made of a plastic material. Alternatively, the use of felt belts as conveyor belts 9 would also be possible. However, the use of plastic as the material for the conveyor belts 9 has proven particularly advantageous for the deflection mechanism 15 according to the invention.

[0028] The deflection mechanism 15 comprises a driven first roller 16, four spreader belt guide bodies 17 arranged downstream of the roller 16 in the conveying direction 10, each for guiding a conveyor belt 9, and a second roller 18 arranged downstream of the spreader belt guide bodies 17. In the illustrated embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15, the second roller 18 is not driven and is designed as a tensioning roller. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the second roller 18 as driven and the first roller 16 as non-driven.

[0029] The first roller 16 is arranged in the area of ​​the parallel section 8 of the endless conveyor belts 9, and the second roller 18 is arranged in the area of ​​the spreading section 11. The first roller 16 is preferably driven by a belt drive motor (not shown). The drive can be direct or indirect, for example, via power transmission means. The belt drive motor can be an electric motor, for example. The drive of the belt drive motor can be intermittent or continuous.

[0030] The deflection mechanism 15 further comprises a support frame 19 with a first side wall 20 extending in the conveying direction 10, a second side wall 21 arranged parallel to the first side wall 20, and a horizontal support plate 22 extending between the two side walls 20, 21 and connecting them to one another. The support plate 22 serves to support the spreader belt guide bodies 17.

[0031] The two rollers 16, 18 extend between the two side walls 20, 21 and are rotatably mounted on them. The first roller 16 is, as Fig. 3, it is rotatably mounted in the support frame 19 via connecting shafts 16a, 16b, with the connecting shaft 16a being directly driven by the belt drive motor. The second roller 18 is also rotatably mounted in the support frame 19 via connecting shafts 18a, 18b.

[0032] Furthermore, two tensioning rollers 23 extend between the side walls 20, 21 for tensioning the endless conveyor belts 9.

[0033] Furthermore, each of the spreader belt guide bodies 17 is assigned a deflection roller 24, which is wrapped around the conveyor belts 9. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide a single deflection roller, which is assigned to all spreader belt guide bodies 17 simultaneously and is mounted in the support frame 19. As in particular Fig. 2, the second roller 18 extends between the side walls 20, 21 below the spreading belt guide bodies, i.e. adjacent to the undersides of the spreading belt guide bodies 17 facing away from the dough pieces 6. The distance A of the conveyor belts 9 in the area of ​​the roller 18 is preferably smaller than in the area of ​​the deflection rollers 24. The distance A decreases constantly until the parallel section 8 is reached. In the embodiment variant of the deflection mechanism 15 shown, the second roller 18 only comes into contact with one lower run of the conveyor belts 9.

[0034] The first roller 16 is mounted between the side walls 20, 21 for rotation about a first roller rotation axis 25 running perpendicular to the conveying direction 10. The second roller 18 is mounted between the side walls 20, 21 for rotation about a second roller rotation axis 26 running parallel to the first roller rotation axis 25.

[0035] The design of the rollers 16, 18 will be described in more detail later with reference to various embodiments. In the embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15 according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 have a different design. Alternatively, the rollers 16, 18 can also be identical.

[0036] The endless conveyor belts 9 rotate around the rollers 16, 18, whereby the first roller 16 according to the embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15 is Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 serves as a drive deflection roller and the second roller 18 serves as a tensioning roller. The wrap angle of the conveyor belts 9 around the first roller 16 is preferably between 140° and 180°. The wrap angle of the conveyor belts 9 around the second roller 18 is preferably less than 90°, in particular between 70° and 30°.

[0037] Furthermore, the conveyor belts 9 are supported in the conveying direction 10 between the first roller 16 and the second roller 18 by the spreading belt guide bodies 17. The spreading belt guide bodies 17 rest movably on the support plate 22 of the support frame 19. Preferably, a spreading angle α of the spreading belt guide bodies 17 is adjustable with respect to the conveying direction 10. As a result, the distance A of the endless conveyor belts 9 in the region of the spreading section 11 can be variably adjusted to the dough pieces 6 to be conveyed, to the dimensions of the transfer belt 14 or the proofer 13, or to the hangers 12 used.

[0038] The spreading angle α of the spreading band guide bodies 17 is preferably manually or automatically adjustable by means of spreading levers (not shown). The spreading band guide bodies 17 are, as Fig. 2, are designed such that they each define a conveying trough 27 for the dough pieces 6, to which the endless conveyor belt 9 circulating therefrom adapts in terms of shape. Furthermore, the spreading belt guide bodies 17 are preferably also designed to be adjustable in length in the conveying direction 10, so that a conveying path between the parallel section 8 and the spreading section 11 can be adapted to the respective conditions of the dough processing system 1 or to a length of the conveyor belts 9 used.

[0039] In the Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shows a first embodiment of the first roller 16. In the illustrated embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15 according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the first roller 16 has a design according to the first embodiment variant according to the Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. The second roller 18 can also be rotated according to the Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 be designed.

[0040] The roller 16 according to Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 comprises a base body 28 which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the roller rotation axis 25 and has a shell surface 29 which has a plurality of shell sections 30, each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, the base body 28 is formed in one piece. A diameter of the shell sections 30 in the area of ​​the maximum roll cross-sections is designated by a1, a diameter of the shell sections 30 in the area of ​​the minimum roll cross-sections is designated by a2. According to the embodiment according to the Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, five shell sections 30 are provided, which are adjacent to each other along the roller rotation axis 25 over a minimal roller cross-section. A conveyor belt 9 can be assigned to each of the shell sections 30. In the design according to Fig. 6, in which the roller 16 is shown wrapped by conveyor belts 9, a casing section 30 is free, i.e. not wrapped by a conveyor belt 9.

[0041] The shell sections 30 are each convex between the minimum roller cross-sections with diameter a2 in relation to the roller rotation axis 25. Due to their convex design, the shell sections 30 have their maximum roller cross-section with diameter a1 in the region of a vertex of the convex shell sections 30. As can be seen in particular from the sectional view of the roller 16 according to Fig. 6, a circumferential transition region 31 is formed in the area of ​​the minimum roller cross-sections with the diameter a2 and a centering region 32 is formed in the area of ​​the maximum roller cross-sections with the diameter a1.

[0042] Due to the design of the lateral surface 29, the Fig. 6, the endless conveyor belts 9 shown in section are arranged on the casing sections 30 in such a way that central longitudinal axes 33 of the endless conveyor belts 9, running parallel to the conveying direction 10, are arranged in the region of the maximum roller cross-section with the diameter a1. The convex design of the casing sections 30 consequently results in the conveyor belts 9 being centered on the casing sections 30 in the centering regions 32. As a result of this centering, the outer edges 34 of the endless conveyor belts 9 are at a maximum distance A from one another in the region of the first roller 16 along the roller rotation axis 25. This effectively prevents the lateral outer edges 34 of the endless conveyor belts 9 from coming into contact with one another and the conveying of the conveyor belts 9 in the conveying direction 10 from being impeded.By means of a distance A of the outer edges in the area of ​​the parallel section 8, a tolerance is also achieved with regard to the dimensions of the conveyor belts 9 in the area of ​​the lateral outer edges 34.

[0043] Upper sides 35 of the conveyor belts 9 serve as supports for the dough pieces 6 and lower sides 36 serve as supports for the conveyor belts 9 on the roller 16. Preferably, the outer surface 29 of the roller 16 in the transition regions 31 with the minimum diameter a2 is not wrapped around by conveyor belts 9 and does not come into contact with the lower side 36.

[0044] Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange the conveyor belts 9 on the roller 16 such that the central longitudinal axes 33 of the conveyor belts 9 extend in the area of ​​the transition areas 31 and the conveyor belts 9 are centered in the area of ​​the transition areas 31. In this case, the centering areas 32 would not be wrapped around by the conveyor belts 9.

[0045] As in particular the Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 6, the roller 16 is designed as a hollow roller. Alternatively, it is also possible to design the roller as a shaft made of solid material.

[0046] In the following, with reference to Fig. 7 a second embodiment of one of the rollers 16, 18 is described. In the illustrated embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15 according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the second roller 18 has a design according to the embodiment variant Fig. 7. The first roller 16 can also be set according to Fig. 7 be designed.

[0047] How Fig. 7, the roller 18 has a base body 37 which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the second roller rotation axis 26 and has a shell surface 38 with a plurality of shell sections 39. As can be seen in particular Fig. 7, the base body 37 is formed in one piece. The casing sections 39 are each adjacent to one another via a maximum roller cross-section with a diameter b1. The maximum roller cross-sections form transition areas 40, which are not wrapped around by the endless conveyor belts 9. The conveyor belts 9 are in Fig. 7 not shown. A minimum roller cross-section with a diameter b1 is located centrally between two transition areas 40 with respect to the roller rotation axis 26. Centering areas 41 are formed by the minimum roller cross-sections of the roller 18. The outer surface 38 is concave between the transition areas 40 with respect to the roller rotation axis 26, with the apex of the concave outer surface 38 being located in the centering area 41. Fig. 7 Conveyor belts 9 (not shown) circulate the second roller 18 between the transition areas 40, with the endless conveyor belts 9 being centered in the area of ​​the minimum roller cross-section, i.e., in the centering area 41. The outer edges 34 of the conveyor belts 9 are kept spaced apart from one another in the transition areas 40.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment of the deflection mechanism 15, the second roller 18 is according to Fig. 7 and the first roller 16 according to Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. As already explained above, it is possible to design the second roller 18 identically to the first roller 16 according to Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. Conversely, it is also possible to form both rollers 16, 18 like the second roller 18 just described according to Fig. 7, i.e. with adjacent lateral surfaces 38 over a maximum roller cross-section.

[0049] Based on the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, further embodiments of the rollers 16, 18 are described. Components corresponding to those already described above with reference to the Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 have the same reference numbers and will not be discussed in detail again.

[0050] The Fig. The roller 42 shown in Figure 8 can be used either as the first roller 16 in the region of the parallel section 8 or as the second roller 18 in the region of the spreading section 11 of the transfer spreading belt 7. The roller 42 comprises a base body 44 that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a roller rotation axis 43 and has a shell surface 45 that has a plurality of shell sections 46, each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section.

[0051] The shell sections 46 are each adjacent to one another via a maximum roller cross-section with a diameter c1. The minimum roller cross-section with a diameter c2 is located centrally between two maximum roller cross-sections along the roller rotation axis 43. The shell surface 45 of a shell section 46 between two maximum roller cross-sections is conical in such a way that the shell surface 45 slopes down in a straight line from the area with the maximum diameter c1 to the shell surface 45 with the minimum roller diameter c2. The shell surface 45 of the roller 42 thus alternates between rising and falling in a straight line with respect to the roller rotation axis 43, so that a conical area 47 with a positive slope always adjoins a conical area 48 with a negative slope. Preferably, the Fig. 8, the conveyor belts 9 (not shown) are arranged with their central longitudinal axis 33 in the region of the maximum roller cross-sections on the outer surface 45. The areas with the minimum roller cross-section are not wrapped around by the conveyor belts 9. Alternatively, a reverse arrangement is also possible, i.e., the conveyor belts 9 wrap around the outer surface 45 in the region of the minimum roller cross-sections.

[0052] Based on Fig. Figure 9 describes a further embodiment of the rollers 16, 18. It is conceivable that only one of the rollers 16, 18 is designed as described below, or alternatively, both rollers. The roller 49 comprises a base body 51 that is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a roller rotation axis 50. The base body 51 comprises four shell sections 52, each with a maximum roller cross-section with a diameter d1 and a minimum roller cross-section with a diameter d2.

[0053] The shell sections 52 adjoin one another via a minimal roller cross-section with a diameter d2. Within a shell section 52, there is a centering region 53, which includes a support section 54 running parallel to the roller rotation axis 50. The support section 54 has a constant roller diameter corresponding to the maximum diameter d1. The support sections 54 serve to support the undersides 36 in Fig. 9 conveyor belts 9, not shown. Each of the support sections 54 is adjoined by a conical inclined section 55 sloping relative to the roller rotation axis 50. The conical inclined section 55 of a first shell section 51 meets the conical inclined section 55 of a second shell section 52 at the point of the minimum roller cross-section with the diameter d2.

[0054] In the conveying position of the conveyor belts 9, the support sections 54 are each wrapped around the conveyor belts 9, with the conical inclined sections 55 only partially covered by the outer edges 34 of the conveyor belts 9. The areas with a minimal roller cross-section are preferably not wrapped around the conveyor belts. Centering of the conveyor belts 9 takes place along the roller rotation axis 50 in a central area of ​​the support sections 54 between two areas with a minimal roller cross-section.

[0055] The design of the rollers 16, 18, 42, 49 according to the embodiments shown above can be adapted to the number of conveyor belts 9 and the dimensions of the conveyor belts 9 transverse to the conveying direction 10. In particular, the length of the rollers 16, 18, 42, 49 along the roller rotation axes 25, 26, 43, 50 is to be selected depending on the conveyor belts 9. The rollers 16, 18, 42, 49 are arranged interchangeably in the support frame 19 of the deflection mechanism 15.

[0056] In the following, the guidance of endless conveyor belts 9 for conveying dough pieces 6 by means of the deflection mechanism 15 is described according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The first roller 16 is therefore according to the Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 and the second roller 18 according to Fig. 7 trained.

[0057] The transfer spreading belt 7 having the deflection mechanism 15 is as in Fig. 1, the dough pieces 6 are integrated in a modular manner into the conveying path of the dough processing plant 1, that is to say between an output area of ​​the dough kneading device 4 and the transfer belt 14 for transferring the dough pieces 6 into a hanger 12. The dough pieces 6 are transferred to the parallel section 8 of the transfer spreading belt 7 by a kneading discharge belt 56, which preferably comprises a plurality of individual belts running parallel to one another and parallel to the conveying direction 10. For this purpose, the parallel section 8 is directly adjacent to the kneading discharge belt 44 in the conveying direction 10. The first roller 16 is therefore arranged directly adjacent to the kneading discharge belt 44 in the conveying direction 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the transfer spreading belt 7 comprises four endless conveyor belts 9, which wrap around the roller 16 and the deflection rollers 24, the first roller 16 being depicted as the drive deflection roller in the parallel section 8.In the area of ​​the parallel section 8, the central longitudinal axes 33 of the conveyor belts 9 run parallel to one another. Along the conveying direction 10, the distance A between the outer edges 34 of the conveyor belts 9 increases continuously up to the deflection rollers 24. As described above, the spreading angle α of the spreading belt guide bodies 17 is adjustable. Consequently, the distance between the dough pieces 6, which are each conveyed on the conveyor belts 9, increases between the first roller 16 and the deflection rollers 24 in the conveying direction. In the area of ​​the deflection rollers 24, i.e. in the spreading section 11, the conveyor belts 9 and thus the dough pieces 6 are spaced apart from one another by a distance A such that the dough pieces 6 can be easily transferred via the transfer belt 14 into the hanger 12 of the proofer 13.

[0058] Due to the spreading of the conveyor belts 9 between the first roller 16 and the deflection rollers 24, the conveyor belts 9 tend to slip transversely to the conveying direction or axially to the roller rotation axis 25 on the first roller 16. However, because the conveyor belts 9 are centered on the casing sections 30 of the casing surface 29 of the first roller 16, this effectively prevents the conveyor belts 9 from slipping axially on the casing surface 29, in particular from coming into contact with one another with their outer edges 34. The crowning, i.e. the cross-sectional shape of the roller 16 that deviates from the cylindrical shape, counteracts a restoring force which acts on the conveyor belts 9 in the area where the first roller 16 wraps due to the spreading. This restoring force depends on the spreading angle α.

[0059] Because the second roller 18 also has several shell sections 39, each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section, the guidance of the conveyor belts 9 is further improved, since the conveyor belts 9 are kept spaced apart from one another by the second roller 18, even in the region of their lower run. The design of the deflection mechanism 15 with the rollers 16, 18 according to the invention enables guidance of the conveyor belts 9 that reliably guides the individual conveyor belts 9 even with different spread angles α. This also applies when using the alternative embodiments of the rollers 42, 49 according to. Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.

Claims

[1] Roller for guiding at least one conveyor belt (9), in particular for conveying dough (6), with a) a roller rotation axis (25; 26; 43; 50) extending perpendicular to a conveying direction (10) of the conveyor belt (9), b) a one-piece base body (28; 37; 44; 51) which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the roller rotation axis (25; 26; 43; 50), with a lateral surface (29; 38; 45), wherein c) the shell surface (29; 38; 45) has a plurality of shell sections (30; 39; 46; 52), each with a minimum and a maximum roller cross-section. [2] Roller according to claim 1, characterized by that the shell sections (30; 39; 46; 52) are adjacent to one another over a minimum roller cross-section. [3] Roller according to claim 1, characterized by that the shell sections (30; 39; 46; 52) are adjacent to one another over a maximum roller cross-section. [4] Roller according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat at least one of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) has a conical segment. [5] Roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) is convex. [6] Roller according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) is concave. [7] Roller according to claim 5, characterized by that each of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) is convex. [8] Roller according to claim 6, characterized by that each of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) is concave. [9] Roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each of the casing sections (30; 39; 46; 52) is partially wrapped by a conveyor belt (9). [10] Deflection mechanism for deflecting at least one endless conveyor belt (9), in particular for conveying dough (6), comprising a) a roller (16; 18; 42; 49) according to one of claims 1 to 9, b) at least one spreader belt guide body (17) arranged in the conveying direction (10) after the roller (16; 18; 42; 49) for guiding at least one conveyor belt (9), and c) a second roller (16; 18; 42; 49) arranged downstream of the at least one spreading belt guide body (17). [11] Deflection mechanism according to claim 10, characterized by that the second roller (16; 18; 42; 49) is a roller (16; 18; 42; 49) according to one of claims 1 to 9. [12] Deflection mechanism according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that the spreader belt guide bodies (17) are arranged to be adjustable by an angle (α) in relation to the conveying direction (10). [13] Deflection mechanism according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized by that several conveyor belts (9) are provided next to one another, wherein at least one of the rollers (16; 18; 42; 49) is simultaneously wrapped around by the conveyor belts (9). [14] Dough processing plant with a deflection mechanism (15) according to one of claims 10 to 13.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Spreading band mechanism with roller guide

    DE102007018163A1

  • Dough processing machine comprises dough portioning device, dough kneading device, dough transfer spreading belt with individual belts, reception section, delivery section, spreading belt-length adjustment device, and tensioning device

    DE102008016954A1

  • Driven roller for sheet and band strips

    DE1802544A1

  • roller drive unit

    DE4224816C1