Brake roller and roller conveyor

Abstract

Brake roller (4) for a roller conveyor (1), comprising at least one axle element (43); a roller tube (42) rotatable about at least one axle element (43); a brake (44) capable of generating a braking force, wherein the brake roller (4) is designed so that - in a freewheeling state, the roller tube (42) can rotate freely around the axle element (43), - in a braking state, the rotation of the roller tube (42) is braked by the brake (44); characterized in that that the brake roller is designed in such a way - that the brake roller (4) is automatically switched to the braking state in the event of a main power supply voltage failure (V1), - that the brake roller (4) is automatically transferred to the freewheel state after the voltage of the main power supply (V1) has been made available again.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a brake roller and a roller conveyor.

[0002] EP 2 922 775 B1 describes a brake roller. A roller tube is mounted in a stationary bearing for rotation about an axis. An eddy-current brake with a tubular eddy-current receiver is arranged within the roller tube and rigidly connected to it. A magnet is stationary connected to the bearing. When the roller tube rotates, the magnetic field induces an eddy current in the insert, which counteracts the rotational movement of the roller shell with a braking torque that increases with increasing speed. Without rotation, no braking torque is generated, so the roller is not suitable as a holding brake.

[0003] AT 516925 A1 shows a combined motor and brake roller. The brake roller is operated according to a method that includes the steps of providing a command to start the conveyor roller, applying an electrical voltage to the drive motor based on this command, and completely releasing or releasing the brake only after a time delay. The release of the brake is directly linked to the actuation command. This method requires a control interface that connects the brake roller to a controller that controls the operation of the motor roller.

[0004] DE 197 31 310 A1 describes a gravity roller conveyor with brake rollers for conveying materials. The material is fed into a specific section of the gravity roller conveyor and braked by the brake rollers. The roller conveyor has a timer that releases the brake after a certain, preset time.

[0005] US 2014 / 0291118 A1 describes a brake unit for an accumulating conveyor for braking at least one roller, which is provided for transporting a piece of goods on a roller conveyor of the accumulating conveyor by means of an endless drive train. The brake unit is continuously driven during operation via an endless drive train on a drive roller and is designed, in a coupled operating state, to transmit the rotational movement of the drive roller about an axis to a driven roller and, in a braked operating state, to brake the driven roller on a housing of the brake unit. The driven roller is connected to the roller via the endless drive mechanism.

[0006] US 2,979,177 A shows another gravity roller conveyor with a brake shoe. The brake shoe is movable toward and away from a braking position.

[0007] It is the object of the present invention to provide means to prevent damage to the goods being conveyed on an inclined roller conveyor in the event of a power supply failure.

[0008] The invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims; embodiments are the subject matter of the subclaims and the description.

[0009] The invention offers a simple way to keep the goods on a roller conveyor in their current position in the event of a main power failure.

[0010] The invention is universally applicable to any roller conveyor from any manufacturer and does not require any specific interfaces to a conveyor control system.

[0011] In particular, the brake roller does not include a motor to drive the brake roller or other rollers, and / or the brake roller is not a motorized roller. This applies to the insulated brake roller and / or the roller conveyor.

[0012] In a roller conveyor, for example, the brake roller is designed separately from a motor roller. Because the brake is actively held in freewheeling mode, it generates waste heat that doesn't accumulate in the already warm motor roller.

[0013] In addition, an automatic mechanism is provided that returns the brake roller to the freewheeling state as soon as the main power supply voltage is available again.

[0014] In particular, the operation of the brake roller is completely independent of any commands or the operation of the motor roller. A particular advantage of the roller conveyor according to the invention is therefore that no control interface is required for the exchange of information between the motor roller and the brake roller. During installation, the brake roller can simply be connected to the main power supply and is immediately ready for operation. To improve functionality when restarting the conveyor, a time delay can be provided. The time delay is set using the delayer, and no connection is required between the brake roller and the motor roller or any motor control units.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the figures; these show Fig. 1 shows a roller conveyor according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 2 a detail of the roller conveyor according to Fig. 1 in perspective view; Fig. 3 a functional diagram of the roller conveyor according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 the brake roller of the roller conveyor according to Fig. 1 in a schematic cross-sectional view; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the main power supply voltage and the brake supply voltage; Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the main power supply voltage and the brake power supply voltage in the state where the main power supply voltage is available again.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. The roller conveyor 1 comprises a plurality of rollers 2, 3, 4 arranged in parallel to create a conveying path along a conveying direction D. The conveyor rollers are mounted on a support frame 10.

[0017] The rollers 2, 3, 4 are arranged to form an inclined conveying direction D. This means that the conveying direction D runs uphill and / or downhill with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0018] Several drive segments 11 are provided in the roller conveyor 1. Each drive segment 11 comprises a plurality of rollers 2, 3, 4, which are connected via a drive connector 21 ( Fig. 2) are connected to each other so that the rotational movement of all rollers in a segment is coupled. The drive connection can comprise one or more poly-V belts. The drive connection can be slip-resistant.

[0019] The segment 11 comprises a motor 2, a brake roller 4 and optionally one or more idler rollers 3. In the present embodiment, the motor is a motor roller 2, while in an alternative embodiment the motor is separate from the rollers.

[0020] It will be Fig. 3. Each of the rollers comprises a roller tube 22, 42, which is rotatably mounted on at least one axle element 23, 43 via a bearing (not shown). The same applies to the Fig. 3 idle rollers not shown.

[0021] The motor roller 2 comprises a motor 24 for providing a driving force for the roller tube 22. Between the motor 24 and the roller tube 22, a coupler 25 is provided, which establishes a rotationally fixed connection between a motor shaft of the motor 24 and the roller tube 22.

[0022] The motor 24 is connected to a main power supply 14 via a motor power line 27. The main power supply 14 provides a main power supply voltage V1, which is necessary for the operation of the motor.

[0023] The function of the motor 24 is optionally controlled by a motor control 26. The motor control 26 can be mounted inside the roller tube 22 (as shown in Fig. 3) or arranged externally. The motor control 26 can be connected to a conveyor control 13 via a motor control line 28 and / or optionally via an external control line 12.

[0024] In the event of a voltage failure of the main power supply V1 in the main power supply 14, the motorized roller 2 will not be supplied with electrical power. Conveyed goods 9 located on the inclined track are subject to the whims of gravity. Depending on the height difference and mass of the conveyed goods 9, the conveyed goods 9 may be damaged if they collide at the lower parts of the inclined track.

[0025] The failure of the main power supply voltage may occur intentionally by actuating an emergency stop switch 15 or unintentionally by a power failure in the public power grid or by the tripping of a fuse.

[0026] A loss of main power supply voltage also includes a drop in the main power supply voltage below a certain threshold. For example, if the main power supply only supplies 5V instead of the regular 48V, this is also considered a loss of main power supply voltage, as the motorized rollers can no longer operate properly, thus creating the risk of damage to the conveyed goods as described above.

[0027] To prevent damage to the conveyed goods 9 in the event of a main power supply V1 failure, each segment 11 is equipped with the aforementioned brake roller 4. During normal operation of the conveyor 1, the brake roller 4 is in the freewheeling state. In the freewheeling state, the brake roller 4 operates similarly to an idler roller 3 and does not exert any braking force (normal friction is not considered a braking force).

[0028] The brake roller 4 is designed to automatically and immediately enter a braking state when the voltage of the main power supply V1 is no longer available in order to supply the motor rollers 2 with sufficient energy (failure of the voltage of the main power supply).

[0029] The brake roller 4 has a brake 44 ( Fig. 3) that can selectively exert a braking force on the roller tube 42. On the one hand, the brake 44 is fixedly connected to one of the rotationally fixed axle elements 43; on the other hand, the brake 44 is connected to the roller tube 42, in particular via a coupler 45. An exemplary coupler 45 is described in WO 2018 / 109165 A1. The brake 44 is connected to the main power supply 14 via a brake supply line 47.

[0030] Fig. Figure 4 shows the brake 44 in detail. The brake 44 has a first braking element 441, which is fixedly positioned in the roller tube 42, and a second braking element 442, which is fixedly connected to the roller tube 42. The first and second braking elements 441, 442 can be selectively engaged with one another, e.g., by friction or positive engagement.

[0031] The brake is, in particular, a holding brake, which is intended to provide braking force in the braking state even when the roller is not rotating. Consequently, an inductive brake (e.g., as described in EP 2 922 775 B1), in which the braking force is based solely on the relative movement of magnetic components within the roller, is less suitable for this function.

[0032] A brake spring 444 or other force accumulator presses the first and second brake elements 441, 442 against each other with a second force F2. A brake actuator 443 supplies a first force F1, which counteracts the second force F2 and keeps the brake in the freewheeling state ( Fig. 4a). To provide the first force F2, the brake actuator 443 requires power from the voltage of the main power supply V1. In the event of a voltage failure of the main power supply V1, the first force F1 is lost, whereby the brake roller is automatically transferred to the braking state ( Fig. 4b).

[0033] From the above description it can be seen that in the event of a voltage failure of the main power supply V1, the conveyed goods on the rollers can be held in their current position on the inclined roller conveyor.

[0034] In a first embodiment, when the main supply voltage V1 is restored, the brake actuator 443 can immediately apply the first force F1, so that the brake roller 4 is transferred to the freewheeling state. If the motor roller 2 also immediately resumes proper operation after the main supply voltage V1 is reapplied, no further problems arise. In this embodiment, the operating states of the brake roller 4 and the motor roller 2 are completely synchronized with the availability or unavailability of the main supply voltage V1.

[0035] In a second embodiment, the motor roller 2 has in particular a more complex roller functionality, which is described with reference to Fig. 5. As soon as the main supply voltage V1 fails at time t1, the motor's drive power P is no longer available. Without the brake roller 4, the conveyed goods 9 would roll down the slope along the inclined conveyor track and could be damaged.

[0036] It should be noted that the drive power is not only used to rotate the motor. The drive power P can also be used to hold the motor in a stop position. As long as the drive power is available, the motorized roller can either drive the roller tube or hold the roller tube stationary (zero motion hold).

[0037] To avoid the damage mentioned above, the brake roller 4 is provided in this application. If the main supply voltage V1 is removed at time t1, the first force F1 is also removed. Now, the second force F2 transfers the roller to the braking state at time t1 ( Fig. 6).

[0038] At time t2, the voltage of the main supply voltage V1 is made available again. Particularly in the case where the motorized roller is controlled via an external bus connection, the motorized roller 4 requires a certain initialization time from the time the voltage of the main supply voltage V1 is available. Thus, a certain motor delay time dt2 remains until the motor 24 actually delivers drive power P to the motorized roller 2 again. This also includes the possibility that the motor holds the roller at a standstill without rotating (zero motion hold).

[0039] If the brake were to immediately return the brake roller 4 to the freewheeling state at time t2, the conveyed goods 9 would roll down the slope along the inclined conveyor track and could be damaged. To avoid this disadvantage, a deceleration device 46 is arranged between the brake actuator 443 and the main power supply 14 ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

[0040] The delay device 46 is designed to delay the availability of a supply voltage for the brake actuator 443. In particular, the delay device 46 provides a brake supply voltage V4 depending on the availability of the main supply voltage V1, as shown in Fig. 6 shown.

[0041] In the event of a voltage failure of the main power supply V1, the voltage supply of the brake V4 is immediately reduced at time t1 such that the brake actuator 443 cannot hold the brake roller in the freewheeling state with a sufficient second force F2.

[0042] When the voltage of the main power supply V1 is available again at time t2, the delay device 46 prevents the brake actuator 443 from receiving a sufficient voltage supply for the brake V4. Only after a further braking delay time dt4 does the delay device 46 provide the voltage supply for the brake V4 to the brake actuator 443 at time t3.

[0043] Ideally, the brake delay time dt4 is similar to the motor delay time dt2, so that the brake 44 is released simultaneously with the start of conveying by the motor roller 2.

[0044] It is also possible that the brake delay time dt4 is greater than the motor delay time dt2. In this case, the brake roller counteracts the operation of the motor roller, resulting in some slip in the drive connection between the brake 44 and the motor 24.

[0045] It is also possible, but of lesser advantage, for the braking deceleration time dt4 to be slightly shorter than the motor deceleration time dt2. In this case, only a very small deviation may be acceptable to avoid damage to the conveyed goods 9.

[0046] The delay device 46 comprises an input means 461 which is Fig. 4 is shown as an example as a rotary knob. Any other suitable means may also be used.

[0047] During installation of the conveyor assembly 1, the motor delay time dt2 is determined, in particular by experiment or with the aid of a lookup table. Based on the determined motor delay time dt2, the braking delay time dt4 is set in the delay device 46. Preferably, the braking delay time dt4 is not less than the motor delay time dt2.

[0048] From the above description and in particular Fig.3 shows that no data connection is provided between the brake 44 or the brake roller 4 and the conveyor controller 13 or the motor controller 26. Furthermore, there is no link between the motor controller and the brake controller. The brake roller is only connected to the main power supply. This enables simple and safe installation without the need to provide and configure defined data interfaces between a) the motor 2, the motor controller 26 and / or the conveyor controller 13 and b) the brake roller 4. Installation can be performed by simply connecting the brake roller to the main power supply.

[0049] In particular, the deceleration device 46 is considered to be a component of the brake roller 4, even if it is located outside the roller tube 42. List of reference symbols 1 roller conveyor 2 Motor device / motor roller 3 idle roller 4 brake roller 5 Engine control 6 Control line 7 Brake control 8 brake line 9 Conveyed material 10 supporting frames 11 Drive segment 12 Control line 13 Conveyor control 14 Main power supply 15 emergency stop switches 21 drive connectors (poly-V belts) 22 roller tube 23 Axle element 24 engine 25 couplers 26 Engine control 27 Motor power line 28 Motor control line 42 roller tube 43 Axle element 44 Brake 441 first brake element 442 second brake element 443 brake cylinder 444 brake spring 45 couplers 46 Brake supply delay 461 input devices 47 Brake supply line D Conveying direction V1 Main power supply voltage V4 Brake power supply P Drive power of the engine dt2 Motor delay time dt4 braking deceleration time QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 922 775 B1 [0002, 0031] AT 516925 A1

[0003] DE 197 31 310 A1

[0004] US 2014 / 0291118 A1

[0005] US 2,979,177 A

[0006] WO 2018 / 109165 A1

[0029]

Claims

[1] Brake roller (4) for a roller conveyor (1), comprising at least one axle element (43); a roller tube (42) rotatable about at least one axle element (43); a brake (44) capable of generating a braking force, wherein the brake roller (4) is designed so that - in a freewheeling state, the roller tube (42) can rotate freely around the axle element (43), - in a braking state, the rotation of the roller tube (42) is braked by the brake (44); characterized by , that the brake roller is designed in such a way - that the brake roller (4) is automatically switched to the braking state in the event of a main power supply voltage failure (V1), - that the brake roller (4) is automatically transferred to the freewheel state after the voltage of the main power supply (V1) has been made available again. [2] Brake roller (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a brake actuator (443), wherein the brake actuator (443) is arranged to keep the brake roller (4) in the freewheeling state against a counterforce (F2) as long as the brake actuator is provided with a power supply, in particular wherein the brake (4) has a first brake element (441) and a second brake element (442), wherein the brake elements (441, 442) are biased against one another by a preload (444), in particular a brake spring, wherein the brake actuator counteracts the preload (444) in the freewheeling state. [3] Brake roller (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the brake (44) is designed to immediately transfer the brake roller (4) into the braking state in the event of a loss of voltage from the main power supply (V1). [4] Brake roller (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the brake (44) is designed to transfer the brake roller (4) into the freewheeling state after a predetermined braking delay time (dt4) after the voltage of the main power supply (V1) has been made available again. [5] Brake roller (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , a brake supply delay device (46) which is arranged to provide a brake power supply (V4) depending on the availability of the voltage of the main power supply (V1), wherein when the power supply of the brake (V4) is provided, the brake roller (4) is transferred to the freewheeling state, in particular wherein the brake supply delay (46) - is connected to the main power supply (14) which provides the voltage of the main power supply (V1), - is arranged to provide the brake (4) with a power supply of the brake (V4) at a predefined braking delay time (dt4) after the voltage of the main power supply (V1) has been made available again. [6] Brake roller (4) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the brake supply delay device (46) - is connected to the main power supply (14), - is designed to immediately stop the supply of the brake (4) with a brake voltage supply (V4) in the event of a loss of voltage from the main power supply (V1). [7] Brake roller (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the brake roller (4) is not a motorized roller (2). [8] Roller conveyor (1), comprising - a plurality of rollers (2, 3, 4) arranged parallel to one another and suitable for forming a conveying path along a conveying direction (D), wherein the conveying direction (D) is in particular perpendicular to an alignment of the rollers; - a support frame (10) to which the rollers (2, 3, 4) are mounted; the rollers (2, 3, 4) being arranged to provide an inclined conveyor track; - at least one brake roller (4) according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Roller conveyor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by at least one of - a motor device (2), in particular a motor roller (2), which is designed to provide a driving force for a material (9) to be conveyed by the roller conveyor (1), - an idle roller (3), wherein the brake roller (4) is drive-connected to the at least one motor device (2) and / or idle roller (3) via a drive connector (21), in particular via a drive belt. [10] Roller conveyor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the motor device (2) can only provide the driving force (P) if the voltage of the main power supply (V1) is available. [11] Roller conveyor (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the motor device (2) is designed to provide the driving force (P) after a motor delay time (dt2) from the time (t2) at which the voltage of the main power supply (V1) is available. [12] Roller conveyor (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a brake roller according to one of claims 4, 5 or 6, characterized bythat the braking deceleration time (dt4) is not shorter than the motor deceleration time (dt2). [13] Roller conveyor (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized by that the brake roller (4) is automatically transferred from the braking state to the freewheeling state independently of commands from a motor control (26) or a higher-level control (13) which controls operation of the motor device (2). [14] Roller conveyor (1) according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized by that the roller conveyor (1) is free of any data connection which connects the brake roller (4) to a motor control (26) or a higher-level control (13) which controls operation of the motor device (2).

Images