TRANSPORT SYSTEM COMPLIMENTING WITH AN ELASTIC TRANSPORT BELT

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a transport system with an elastic conveyor belt for transporting goods on the conveyor belt in a transport direction. The conveyor belt has a guide surface, wherein at least two guide grooves extending along the transport direction are provided in the guide surface for guiding the conveyor belt along the transport direction, the guide grooves being arranged transversely to the transport direction with a groove center distance from each other. The transport system comprises at least two guide elements, exactly one of which engages in each of the guide grooves to guide the conveyor belt along the transport direction, the guide elements being arranged transversely to the transport direction with an element center distance from each other. State of the art

[0002] Conveyor systems of this type with elastic conveyor belts are known, for example, from EP 2 679 522 A1, EP 3 590 694 A1 and EP 3 623 321 A1. Such conveyor belts are guided along the transport direction by one or more guide elements engaging in guide grooves of the conveyor belts. A large number of guide elements and guide grooves are generally provided for precise and reliable guidance. However, this results in increased friction and wear between the conveyor belt and the guide elements. German patent DE 10 2021 127 421 A1 discloses a transport system according to the preamble of claim 1. Technical task

[0003] The object of the invention is to create a transport system with an elastic conveyor belt that enables precise, reliable and low-friction guidance of the conveyor belt. Technical solution

[0004] The present invention provides a transport system according to claim 1 that solves the technical problem. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The transport system according to the invention comprises an elastic conveyor belt designed for transporting goods in one direction within the transport system. For this purpose, the conveyor belt preferably has a support surface for carrying the goods.

[0006] The conveyor belt has a guide surface, which is located, for example, opposite the wing.

[0007] The guide surface has at least two, for example 5 to 20, in particular 10 to 15, guide grooves running along the transport direction to guide the conveyor belt along the transport direction.

[0008] The guide grooves are arranged transversely to the transport direction with a groove center distance between them. The groove center distance is defined as the distance between the center lines of adjacent grooves.

[0009] The transport system comprises at least two guide elements, exactly one of which engages in each of the guide grooves to guide the conveyor belt along the transport direction. The guide elements include, for example, guide pins or guide ribs. The guide elements are arranged, for example, on a cylindrical surface of a guide roller of the transport system around which the conveyor belt is guided.

[0010] The guide elements are arranged transversely to the transport direction with a center-to-center distance between them. The center-to-center distance is defined as the distance between the center lines of adjacent guide elements.

[0011] The groove center distance in an unloaded rest state of the conveyor belt is chosen to be larger than the element center distance by an additional center distance. Beneficial effects

[0012] The conveyor belt is elastic, meaning that it deforms reversibly when in use within the transport system to move goods. For example, a section of the conveyor belt along the direction of transport may be stretched relative to its resting state by 0.5% to 10%, more specifically by 1% to 5%, and preferably by 2%. This stretching can cause a contraction of the belt's width parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the direction of transport in areas weakened by the guide grooves.

[0013] The contraction of the belt width in the area of ​​the guide grooves results in the guide grooves being closer together in the operating state of the conveyor belt than in the resting state. If the groove center distance in the resting state corresponded to the element center distance, as in known conveyor belts, the guide elements would not engage precisely in the guide grooves in the operating state due to the belt width contraction, resulting in increased friction and wear.

[0014] The fact that, according to the invention, the groove center distance in the rest state is chosen to be larger by the additional center distance than the element center distance ensures that the guide elements engage precisely in the guide grooves in the operating state and thus guarantee reliable, precise, low-friction and low-wear guidance. Description of the execution types

[0015] The additional center spacing is preferably from 0.05% to 5%, more preferably from 0.1% to 2.5%, and most preferably 1% of the element center spacing. Such an additional center spacing is particularly effective for typical conveyor belts. For example, with an element center spacing of 10.0 mm, the additional center spacing can be 0.1 mm.

[0016] The belt thickness of the conveyor belt, perpendicular to the guide surface, is preferably from 0.1 mm to 20 mm, more preferably from 1 mm to 10 mm, and particularly preferably 2 mm. A contraction of the belt width in the area of ​​the guide grooves occurs particularly with conveyor belts of small thickness, such as the aforementioned thickness. Therefore, the additional center spacing is especially effective with such conveyor belts.

[0017] The guide grooves preferably have a groove depth orthogonal to the guide surface and a groove width parallel to the guide surface and orthogonal to the transport direction, wherein the groove depth and / or groove width is from 0.25 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and particularly preferably 1 mm. A contraction of the bandwidth in the area of ​​the guide grooves occurs particularly with guide grooves with a large groove depth and / or groove width, such as the aforementioned groove depth and / or groove width. Therefore, the additional center distance is particularly effective with such guide grooves.

[0018] The guide grooves preferably have a groove depth orthogonal to the guide surface and a groove width parallel to the guide surface and orthogonal to the transport direction, wherein the groove depth and / or groove width is 25% to 75%, preferably 40% to 60%, and particularly preferably 50% of the conveyor belt thickness, perpendicular to the guide surface. A contraction of the belt width in the area of ​​the guide grooves occurs particularly in guide grooves with a relatively large groove depth and / or groove width compared to the belt thickness, such as the aforementioned groove depth and / or groove width. Therefore, the additional center distance is particularly effective in such guide grooves.

[0019] The guide grooves preferably have a groove width parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the transport direction, wherein the guide elements have an element width parallel to the guide surface and transverse to the transport direction, the groove width in the rest state of the conveyor belt being selected to be larger than the element width by an additional groove width. The additional groove width is, for example, a fraction of the additional center distance, where the fraction of the additional center distance corresponds, for example, to the fraction of the groove width to the groove center distance.

[0020] By choosing a groove width larger than the element width by the additional groove width, it is ensured that the guide element fits into the guide groove even when the width of the conveyor belt is smaller in the operating state than in the rest state, so that the conveyor belt is guided reliably, precisely, with low friction and low wear.

[0021] The conveyor belt has a web on the guide surface between the guide grooves, the web having a width parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the transport direction. The transport system has a gap between the guide elements, the gap having a width parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the transport direction. The web width in the rest state of the conveyor belt is chosen to be greater than the gap width by an additional web width.

[0022] By choosing a web width that is larger than the gap width by the additional web width, it is ensured that the guide elements are arranged appropriately for the guide grooves even when the bandwidth of the conveyor belt is smaller in the operating state than in the rest state, so that the conveyor belt is guided reliably, precisely, with low friction and with low wear.

[0023] The additional web width is, for example, a proportion of the additional center distance, where the proportion of the additional center distance corresponds, for example, to the proportion of the web width to the groove center distance.

[0024] The additional web width corresponds, for example, to the additional center distance, so that the web width relative to the gap width includes the additional web width, but the groove width relative to the element width does not have an additional groove width. In this design, the additional center distance can be set particularly easily, precisely, and flexibly because only the distance between the tools used to cut the guide grooves into the guide surface needs to be adjusted, not the type or shape of the tools themselves, to set the web width and thus the additional center distance.

[0025] The guide grooves preferably have an opening width parallel to the guide surface and perpendicular to the transport direction, lying in a plane with the guide surface, and a bottom width in a plane spaced from the guide surface by one groove depth of the guide groove, wherein the opening width is greater than the bottom width. The guide grooves thus widen towards the guide elements, so that the guide elements self-center within the guide grooves. This ensures reliable, precise, low-friction, and low-wear guidance even if the groove width of the guide grooves does not exactly correspond to the width of the guide elements, for example, due to a contraction in the width of the conveyor belt. Therefore, this design is particularly advantageous when combined with a design in which the additional web width of the web between the guide grooves corresponds to the additional center distance.

[0026] The widening guide grooves, for example, have a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the transport direction, which is trough-shaped with a flat bottom and concave curved sides or trapezoidal with a flat bottom and flat sides.

[0027] The base width is preferably zero, with the guide grooves having, for example, a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the transport direction, which is V-shaped, U-shaped, parabolic, or circular segment-shaped. Guide grooves with vanishingly small base widths are particularly easy to manufacture.

[0028] The conveyor belt is, for example, monolithic and preferably made of a thermoplastic or an elastomer, preferably a polyurethane. Elastomers, especially polyurethanes, have particularly advantageous properties for a conveyor belt with regard to elasticity, durability, load-bearing capacity, and cleanability. Polyurethane has particularly advantageous properties for use in the food industry. Example

[0029] In one exemplary embodiment, the conveyor belt is made of polyurethane and has a thickness of 2 mm. Under operating conditions, the conveyor belt is stretched by 2% along the transport direction relative to its unloaded resting state within the associated transport system. The guide elements of the transport system have a center-to-center distance of 10.0 mm. The additional center-to-center distance is 0.1 mm, resulting in a groove center-to-center distance of 10.1 mm for the guide grooves of the conveyor belt when at rest. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Further advantages, objectives and features of the invention are explained with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which exemplary objects according to the invention are shown. Figure 1 schematically shows a transport system according to the invention. Figure 2 schematically shows a guide groove of the conveyor belt of a transport system according to the invention. Fig. 1

[0031] Figure 1 Figure 200 schematically shows a transport system 200 according to the invention as a cross-section orthogonal to the transport direction TR of the conveyor belt 100 of the transport system 200.

[0032] The conveyor belt 100 has a planar guide surface 110, wherein at least two guide grooves 111 extending along the transport direction TR are provided in the guide surface 110 for guiding the conveyor belt 100 along the transport direction TR. The guide grooves 111 are arranged transversely to the transport direction TR with a groove center distance NA from each other.

[0033] The transport system 200 comprises at least two guide elements 211, for example guide webs, of which exactly one engages in each of the guide grooves 111 to guide the conveyor belt 100 along the transport direction TR. The guide elements 211 are arranged transversely to the transport direction TR with an element center distance EA from each other.

[0034] The groove center distance NA in the shown unloaded rest state of the conveyor belt 100 is chosen to be larger by an additional center distance ZA than the element center distance EA.

[0035] The guide grooves 111 have a groove depth NT perpendicular to the guide surface 110 and a groove width NB parallel to the guide surface 110 and perpendicular to the transport direction TR. The groove depth NT and / or the groove width NB, in the rest state, is, for example, 25% to 75% of the belt thickness BD of the conveyor belt 100 perpendicular to the guide surface 110.

[0036] The guide elements 211 have an element width EB parallel to the guide surface 110 and transverse to the transport direction TR. The groove width NB in ​​the rest state is, for example, selected to be larger than the element width EB by an additional groove width ZN.

[0037] The conveyor belt 100 has a web 112 on the guide surface 110 between the guide grooves 111, wherein the web 112 has a web width SB parallel to the guide surface 110 and orthogonal to the transport direction TR. The transport system 200 has a gap 212 between the guide elements 211, wherein the gap 212 has a gap width ZB parallel to the guide surface 110 and transverse to the transport direction TR. The web width SB in the rest state is chosen to be larger than the gap width ZB by an additional web width ZS. Fig. 2

[0038] Figure 2 Figure 1 schematically shows a guide groove 111 in the guide surface 110 of the conveyor belt 100 of a transport system 200 according to the invention as a cross-section orthogonal to the transport direction TR of the conveyor belt 100 ( Fig.2A ) and as a perspective representation ( Fig.2B ).

[0039] The guide groove 111 shown has an opening width OB in a plane with the guide surface 110 and a bottom width BB in a plane spaced from the guide surface 110 by a groove depth NT of the guide groove 111, wherein the opening width OB is greater than the bottom width BB.

[0040] The guide groove 111, for example, has a flat bottom surface 132 parallel to the guide surface 110 and two flat flank surfaces 131 inclined to the guide surface 110, which connect the bottom surface 132 to the guide surface 110. This gives the guide groove 111 a trapezoidal cross-sectional area perpendicular to the transport direction TR. If the bottom width BB were zero for the flat flank surfaces 131 inclined to the guide surface 110, the guide groove 111 would have a V-shaped cross-sectional area.

[0041] List of reference symbols 100 conveyor belt EB Element width 110 Guide surface N / A Groove center distance 111 Guide groove NB Groove width 112 web NT Groove depth 131 side surface WHETHER Opening width 132 floor area SB Bridge width 200 Transport system TR Direction of transport 211 Guide element ZA Additional center distance 212 space Z. space width BB Floor width ZN Additional groove width BD Band thickness ZS Additional web width EA Element center distance

Claims

1. A transport system (200) comprising an elastic conveyor belt (100) for transporting goods on the conveyor belt (100) in a transport direction (TR) in the transport system (200), a. wherein the conveyor belt (100) has a guide surface (110), b. wherein at least two guide grooves (111) extending along the transport direction (TR) are formed in the guide surface (110) for guiding the conveyor belt (100) along the transport direction (TR), c. wherein the at least two guide grooves (111) are arranged with a groove centre distance (NA) transverse to the transport direction (TR) between them, d. wherein the transport system (200) comprises at least two guide elements (211), of which exactly one engages in each of the at least two guide grooves (111) to guide the conveyor belt (100) along the transport direction (TR) , e. wherein the at least two guide elements (211) are arranged with an element centre distance (EA) transverse to the transport direction (TR) between them, f. wherein the groove centre distance (NA) is selected to be greater than the element centre distance (EA) by an additional centre distance (ZA) in an unloaded rest state of the conveyor belt (100), g. wherein the conveyor belt (100) has a web (112) on the guide surface (110) between the at least two guide grooves (111), h. wherein the web (112) has a web width (SB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), i. wherein the transport system (200) has an intermediate space (212) between the at least two guide elements (211), j. wherein the intermediate space (212) has an intermediate space width (ZB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and transverse to the transport direction (TR), characterised in that k. the web width (SB) is selected to be greater than the gap width (ZB) by an additional web width (ZS) in the rest state of the conveyor belt (100).

2. The transport system (200) according to claim 1, wherein the additional centre distance (ZA) is from 0.05% to 5% of the element centre distance (EA).

3. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a belt thickness (BD) of the conveyor belt (100) orthogonal to the guide surface (110) is from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.

4. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 3, a. wherein the at least two guide grooves (111) have a groove depth (NT) orthogonal to the guide surface (110) and a groove width (NB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), b. wherein the groove depth (NT) and / or the groove width (NB) is from 0.25 mm to 5 mm.

5. The transport system (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a. wherein the at least two guide grooves (111) have a groove depth (NT) orthogonal to the guide surface (110) and a groove width (NB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), b. wherein the groove depth (NT) and / or the groove width (NB) is from 25% to 75% of a belt thickness (BD) of the conveyor belt (100) orthogonal to the guide surface (110) in the rest state of the conveyor belt (100).

6. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, a. wherein the at least two guide grooves (111) have a groove width (NB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), b. wherein the at least two guide elements (211) have an element width (EB) parallel to the guide surface (110) and transverse to the transport direction (TR), c. wherein the groove width (NB) is selected to be greater than the element width (EB) by an additional groove width (ZN) in the rest state of the conveyor belt (100).

7. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the additional web width (ZS) corresponds to the additional centre distance (ZA).

8. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 7, a. wherein the at least two guide grooves (111) have an opening width (OB) parallel to the guide surface (110), orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), and lying in a plane with the guide surface (110) and a bottom width (BB) parallel to the guide surface (110), orthogonal to the transport direction (TR), and lying in a plane spaced from the guide surface (110) by a groove depth (NT) of the guide groove (111), b. wherein the opening width (OB) is greater than the bottom width (BB).

9. The transport system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conveyor belt (100) consists of a thermoplastic or an elastomer.