Belt conveyor with a demountable lattice frame and methods for assembling and disassembling such a conveyor

Abstract

Belt conveyor with detachable lattice frame and methods for assembling and disassembling such a conveyor. The present invention relates to a belt conveyor (10) with a detachable lattice frame comprising: - an endless conveying belt (15) defining a product transport surface between a loading zone (A) and an unloading zone (B), - a plurality of support stations (20, 22) for the conveying belt (15), and - a lattice frame (25) carrying the support stations (20, 22) and comprising at least two lattice panels extending along a principal axis (X). Each panel is connected to at least one other panel by at least one cross member extending between two fixing ends, each fixing end being connected to the respective panel by a respective removable fixing device. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Belt conveyor with a detachable lattice frame and methods for assembling and disassembling such a conveyor

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt conveyor with a detachable lattice frame comprising:

[0002] - an endless conveyor belt defining a product transport surface between a loading zone and an unloading zone,

[0003] - a plurality of transport belt support stations, and

[0004] - a lattice frame supporting the support stations and comprising at least two lattice panels extending along a main axis.

[0005] The present invention also relates to a method of mounting and a method of dismounting such a conveyor.

[0006] Belt conveyors are used to transport various products. For example, they allow the transport of a material, or a mixture of materials in bulk, between a loading area and an unloading area located a few meters to several tens of kilometers apart.

[0007] A belt conveyor includes a transport belt which is moved continuously between the loading and unloading areas by means of a drive drum and a return drum.

[0008] The conveyor belt is guided by means of a series of support rollers mounted on a chassis resting at least partly on the ground.

[0009] Belt conveyors with a lattice frame offer many advantages, including a wide range of transport capacities and very satisfactory strength, in particular thanks to reduced wind resistance due to the lattice structure of the frame.

[0010] Truss frames are generally parallelepiped in shape. They are made in the form of a welded mechanical structure, in one piece or possibly in sections, the length of which can reach about ten meters, the base of the structure having characteristic dimensions on the order of one meter.

[0011] Several sections can optionally be assembled or juxtaposed one after the other to achieve the desired span between the loading and unloading areas.

[0012] However, the bulk of the single-piece structure or sections may necessitate several trucks or several trips of the same truck to transport such a chassis from its place of manufacture to its final location of use of the belt conveyor, or from a previous place of use to a new place of use. The environmental impact, delays and transport costs are therefore high.

[0013] One aim of the invention is therefore to provide a belt conveyor with a removable lattice frame whose transport is facilitated.

[0014] To this end, the invention relates to a belt conveyor with a detachable lattice frame comprising:

[0015] - an endless conveyor belt defining a transport surface for a product between a loading zone and an unloading zone,

[0016] - a plurality of transport belt support stations, and

[0017] - a lattice frame supporting the support stations and comprising at least two lattice panels extending along a main axis,

[0018] the conveyor being characterized in that each panel is connected to at least one other panel by at least one cross member extending each between two fixing ends, each fixing end being connected to the respective panel by a respective removable fixing device.

[0019] Unlike prior art chassis (or chassis sections), the chassis according to the invention is not entirely welded. In particular, its construction in the form of two panels removably connected by crossbars allows the chassis to be assembled at the place of use after the panels and crossbars have been transported separately.

[0020] The two panels, separated from each other, have a much smaller footprint than the assembled chassis. In particular, they can be transported stacked one on top of the other, for example flat, in a dedicated truck, while leaving a significant portion of the truck's transport volume available for transporting several other chassis according to the invention.

[0021] Thus the transport of the panels and cross members of the chassis, and therefore of the elements of the belt conveyor according to the invention, requires fewer transport vehicles than for the prior art chassis belt conveyors, which makes it possible to reduce the cost and energy footprint of such transport.

[0022] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the belt conveyor with a demountable lattice frame comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0023] - the conveyor comprises at least two crossbeams and at least two panels are made of in addition connected by at least one means of bracing linked to a respective panel by means of two of said removable fixing devices of two different crossbeams;

[0024] - at least one of said removable fastening devices comprises a threaded element and a complementary threaded element to the threaded element, one of the threaded element and of the threaded element being formed at the fixing end of the respective cross member, the other of the threaded element and of the threaded element being inserted into a through hole in the respective panel, on the side opposite to the first element;

[0025] - at least one of said removable fastening devices comprises a threaded element and a complementary threaded element to the threaded element, one of the threaded element and the threaded element being formed at each of the fixing ends of the respective cross member, the other of the threaded element and the threaded element being welded onto the respective panel;

[0026] - the bracing means extends between two fixing tabs in each of which a bore is formed, at least one of the threaded element and the tapped element of the respective removable fixing device being inserted into the bore, so that the fixing tab is clamped between the respective cross member and panel;

[0027] - the conveyor comprises exactly two panels parallel to each other.

[0028] The invention also relates to a method for mounting a belt conveyor with a detachable frame, the method comprising,

[0029] - the provision of an endless conveyor belt defining a conveyor surface of a product between a loading area and an unloading area and a plurality of conveyor belt support stations;

[0030] - the supply of at least two lattice panels extending along an axis principal, a plurality of crossbeams each extending between two fixing ends, and a plurality of removable fixing devices;

[0031] - the assembly of at least two panels by means of a plurality of crossbars and the plurality of removable fixing devices, so as to form a lattice frame extending along the main axis between two polygonal bases, in which each panel is connected to at least one other panel by at least one cross member;

[0032] - the assembly of the support stations with the chassis and the transport belt.

[0033] According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the assembly method comprises a preliminary stage of transporting the panels, in which the lattice frame in a disassembled state is transported in a transport vehicle, the two panels not being fixed to each other by the crossbeams and removable fixing devices during transport.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for dismantling a belt conveyor with a detachable frame, the method comprising:

[0035] - the disassembly of the support stations from the transport belt and from the chassis;

[0036] - the separation of the panels from each other by dismantling the devices removable fixings and crossbars.

[0037] According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the dismantling process includes a subsequent step of transporting the panels, in which the chassis in the dismantled state is transported in a transport vehicle, the two panels not being fixed to each other by the cross members and the removable fixing devices during transport.

[0038] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0039] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a front view in a vertical plane of a belt conveyor with a demountable frame assembled at a place of use.

[0040] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a three-quarter perspective view of a portion of the detachable chassis of [Fig.l] during assembly or disassembly at a place of use.

[0041] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view of the chassis portion of [Fig.2], enlarged and centered on a fixing end of a cross member during assembly or disassembly.

[0042] The conveyor 10 with a belt and demountable lattice frame shown in [Fig.1] comprises an endless conveyor belt 15 supported by a plurality of upper support stations 20 and / or lower support stations 22 mounted on a lattice frame 25 and placed on the floor 30 of a place of use of the conveyor 10.

[0043] The conveyor belt 15 is configured to continuously receive a product to be transported in a loading area A and, by its continuous movement along a transport direction, to convey one or more products to be transported to the unloading area B.

[0044] The transport belt 15 therefore defines a transport surface for a product between the loading area A and the unloading area B.

[0045] The product to be transported is, for example, a bulk material, possibly non-homogeneous.

[0046] In the example, the conveyor belt 15 is positioned under a loading hopper 40 of the loading area A and above an unloading hopper 45 of the loading area B.

[0047] For the movement of the endless conveyor belt 15, the conveyor 10 includes at least one drive drum 50 and a return drum 55 around which the conveyor belt 15 is wound.

[0048] The conveyor belt 15 is preferably sufficiently taut to be driven without slippage by the motor drum 50 during the rotation of the latter.

[0049] A shaft 50A of the motor drum 50 is mounted on the chassis 25.

[0050] A shaft 55A of the return drum 55 is fixed to the chassis 25.

[0051] The portion of the conveyor belt 15 which is moved at a given moment from the drive drum 50 to the return drum 55 constitutes a carrier strand 60, on a top surface of which the product to be conveyed is received.

[0052] The carrier strand 60 is therefore the strand loaded with the product to be transported.

[0053] The portion of the transport band 15 complementary to the carrier strand 60 constitutes a return strand 65.

[0054] The return strand 65 can be loaded or unloaded.

[0055] The load-bearing strand 60 is supported by the plurality of upper support stations 20 attached to chassis 25 when conveyor 10 is mounted.

[0056] In the example, the upper support stations 20 each have at least one horizontal axis roller, the axis being removably linked to the chassis 25 by a plurality of attachment lugs.

[0057] The return strand 65 is supported by the plurality of lower support stations 22, which are integral with the frame 25 when the conveyor 10 is mounted.

[0058] In the example, the upper support stations 20 and lower support stations 22 are analogous.

[0059] In the example, the conveyor 10 further comprises a plurality of shock-absorbing stations 80 positioned in the loading area A.

[0060] The damping stations 80 are configured to dampen the movements of the carrier strand 60 when receiving the product to be transported.

[0061] The damping stations 80 include, for example, rubber ring rollers whose shaft is removably linked to the chassis 25.

[0062] The frame 25 is a lattice frame. The lattice is formed by at least two lattice panels 85. Each lattice panel 85 is removably connected to at least one other lattice panel 85 by at least one cross member 87.

[0063] In the example, the lattice is formed by exactly two lattice panels 85 removably assembled with each other by means of a plurality of crossbars 87.

[0064] In the example, each lattice panel 85 comprises two stringers 90, linked by a plurality of cross bars 95 and by a plurality of oblique bars 100.

[0065] The longitudinal members 90 extend along a first direction X which coincides with the direction of transport when using the conveyor 10.

[0066] In the example, the spars 90 have a rectangular cross-section relative to the first direction X.

[0067] As can be seen in [Fig.3], a plurality of holes 92 configured for the assembly of the cross members 87, as will be described later, are provided along each longitudinal member 90.

[0068] The holes 92 are through-holes along a second direction Z perpendicular to the first direction Y.

[0069] Preferably, the holes 92 are positioned at regular intervals along a given longitudinal member 90.

[0070] The cross bars 95 extend along a third direction Y, perpendicular to the first direction X and to the second direction Z.

[0071] The cross bars 95 are welded to the longitudinal members 90.

[0072] In the example, the cross bars 95 have a rectangular cross section relative to the third direction Y.

[0073] Each oblique bar 100 extends in the XY plane of the respective lattice panel 85 between two ends of two different cross bars 95 of the respective lattice panel 85, in a direction inclined with respect to the first and second direction.

[0074] The oblique bars 100 are welded to the longitudinal members 90.

[0075] In the example, the oblique bars 100 have a rectangular cross-section relative to the inclined direction in which they extend.

[0076] Advantageously, a lattice panel 85 comprises at least two oblique bars 100 which extend along two different inclined directions, as shown in the example in [Fig.1].

[0077] Preferably, the holes 92 for the assembly of the cross members 87 are positioned near the welding areas of the cross members 95 and oblique members 100 with the respective longitudinal member 90.

[0078] Each cross member 87 extends between two fixing ends 105, each fixing end 105 being connected to the respective lattice panel 85 by a removable fixing device.

[0079] In the example, each cross member 87 extends between the two lattice panels 85, between two fixing ends 105 along the second direction Z normal to the XY plane, each fixing end 105 being inserted into a hole 92 of a stringer 90 of a respective lattice panel 85.

[0080] In the example of [Fig.3], each end of the fixing 105 is formed by a hollow cylinder of revolution 110, on an internal surface of which a tapped hole 115 is machined.

[0081] In the example, the two fixing ends 105 of a cross member 87 are placed in projection from a cylinder of revolution 120 extending along the second direction Z, so as to delimit two annular bases 120A.

[0082] The cylinder of revolution 120 is preferably solid.

[0083] In the mounted chassis 25, a screw 125 with complementary thread to the tapping 115 is inserted into each end of the fixing 105.

[0084] As shown in [Fig.2], a head 125A of the screw 125 is then supported on an external surface 90A of the respective spar 90, optionally by means of one or more washers 130. The annular base 120A of the respective fixing end 105 is simultaneously supported on an internal surface 90B of the spar 90.

[0085] It is therefore understood that in the example, the lattice panels 85 are linked to the cross members 87 in a removable manner by means of the respective screw 125 - thread 115 assemblies, so as to form a lattice frame 25, of parallelepiped shape and removable.

[0086] In the example, the removable fixing device of a given fixing end 105 therefore includes the respective screw 125 and tapping 115.

[0087] In the example of [Fig.1], the frame 25 further comprises a plurality of bracing bars 135 connecting the two lattice panels 85 to each other.

[0088] Each bracing bar 135 extends between two fixing tabs 140 in a direction inclined with respect to the first direction X and the second direction Z.

[0089] Preferably, as shown in [Fig.1], a given lattice panel 85 comprises at least two bracing bars 135 extending in two different inclined directions.

[0090] In the example of [Fig.3], each bracing bar 135 comprises a cylindrical portion 135A and two flat fixing tabs 140 inclined with respect to the axis of the cylindrical portion 135A.

[0091] Advantageously, the cylindrical portion 135A is solid.

[0092] Each fixing tab 140 is drilled with a through hole 140A configured for the insertion of a fixing end 105 of a respective cross member 87.

[0093] In the mounted chassis 25, the annular base 120A of the fixing end 105 of a given cross member 87 is supported on the internal surface 90B of the respective longitudinal member 90 by means of the fixing tabs 140 of one or two respective bracing bars 135.

[0094] It is thus understood that in this case the removable fixing means of a fixing end 105 of a cross member 87 with a respective panel 85, which in the example of [Fig.3] includes the screw 125 and the thread 115 formed on the hollowed cylinder of revolution 110, also allows the removable fixing of the bracing bars 135. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing simple assembly and disassembly of the frame 25.

[0095] We will now describe a method for mounting conveyor 10.

[0096] In a first step, at the point of use of the conveyor 10, the endless conveyor belt 15, the plurality of upper support stations 20 and / or lower support stations 22, as well as the at least two lattice panels 85, are provided, the plurality of 87 crossbeams and the plurality of removable fixing devices separated from each other.

[0097] Each removable fastening device advantageously comprises a screw 125, a respective thread 115 being formed on a fastening end 105 of a respective cross member 87.

[0098] Advantageously, the drive drum 50 and the return drum 55 and / or the bracing bars 135 are further supplied separately from each other.

[0099] Advantageously, the supply of these different separate elements follows a prior transport step of these elements by means of a transport vehicle (not shown) to the place of use of the conveyor 10.

[0100] In particular, the two lattice panels 85 are transported separately from each other, for example simply superimposed one on top of the other, by the transport vehicle.

[0101] In a second assembly step, the at least two panels 85 are assembled by means of the plurality of removable fastening devices, so as to form a lattice frame 25 extending along the first direction X between two polygonal bases and in which each lattice panel 85 is connected to at least one other panel 85 by at least one cross member 87.

[0102] In the example of figures 1 to 3, the first of the two lattice panels 85 is positioned, a stringer 90 of the lattice panel 85 resting for example on the ground 30.

[0103] Next, a first fixing end 105 of a first cross member 87 is inserted into the through hole 140A of the bracing bar(s) 135 to be assembled with this first cross member 87, then into a first insertion hole 92 of the first lattice panel 85 on the side of the internal surface 90B of the respective stringer 90.

[0104] A screw 125 is then inserted into the thread 115 of the first cross member 87, on the side of the external surface 90A of the respective longitudinal member 90, and the screw 125 is screwed in so that the head 125A is in contact with the external surface 90A of the longitudinal member 90 and so that the annular base 120A of the first cross member 87 is in contact with the internal surface 90B of the respective longitudinal member 90 by means of the respective fixing tabs 140.

[0105] The second panel 85 is then positioned opposite the first lattice panel 85, so that each hole 92 of the second lattice panel 85 is opposite a hole 92 of the first lattice panel 85 in the direction of a cross member 87.

[0106] Then the second fixing ends 105 of each of the cross members 87 are inserted into the second respective insertion hole 92 of the second lattice panel 85 on the same principle as for the first fixing ends 105 until the screws 125 are screwed in at the level of the second fixing ends 105.

[0107] In a third assembly step, the upper support stations 20 and / or lower support stations 22 are assembled with the chassis 25 and the transport belt 15.

[0108] To do this, in the example of figures 1 to 3, the upper support stations 20 and lower 22, the drive drum 50, the return drum 55 are fixed to the chassis 25.

[0109] Then the conveyor belt 15 is wound around the drive drums 50 and return drums 55 so that it is guided by the upper support stations 20 and lower support stations 22.

[0110] Dismantling the belt conveyor 10, for example for transport to a new place of use, is carried out by following the reverse steps of the assembly process.

[0111] Alternatively, at least one of the panels 85 is pre-assembled with part of the removable fixing device.

[0112] In this case, the panel 85 includes threaded elements 125 welded to the stringer 90 and protruding from the side of its internal surface 90B, which replace the screws 125 and the holes 92 of the first embodiment.

[0113] The assembly method differs from that of the first embodiment in that the assembly of the cross members 87 with the first panel 85 is done by screwing directly the first fixing ends onto the threaded elements 125 welded already present on the panel 85.

[0114] This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the assembly and disassembly time of conveyor 10.

[0115] The design of the lattice frame 25 in the form of lattice panels 85 linked in pairs in a removable manner allows the frame to be disassembled and reassembled at will to move it from one place of use to another. After disassembly, the panels 85 are thin, and therefore occupy a much smaller volume than if the frame had been designed as a single block or in the form of cylindrical modules with a polygonal base.

[0116] The cost of transport, transport time and its environmental impact are therefore reduced.

[0117] Where bracing means 135 are also provided to connect two panels 85, these bracing means 135 allow the frame 25 to be reinforced without hindering or complicating its disassembly and reassembly. The bracing means 135 are fixed using the removable fastening devices of the respective cross members 87.

[0118] If the removable fastening devices comprise a threaded element 125 and a threaded element 115 complementary to each other, one of these elements being formed at the fastening end 105 of a respective cross member 87, the other element being inserted into a hole 92 passing through a respective panel 85, on the side opposite to the first element, the dismantling (respectively the assembly) of the chassis is carried out by simply unscrewing (respectively screwing) the threaded elements 125.

[0119] If the removable fixing devices include a threaded element 125 and a tapped element 115 complementary to the threaded element 125, one of the threaded element 125 and the tapped element 115 being formed at each of the fixing ends 105 of a respective cross member 87, the other element being welded onto a respective panel 85, assembly and disassembly are faster since the threaded or tapped element already welded does not have to be positioned or removed for this assembly or disassembly.

[0120] In each of the two preceding cases, if bracing means 135 are also provided, the presence of two fixing brackets 140 including a through hole 140A allows the bracing means 135 to be mounted so that the fixing bracket is clamped between the cross member 87 and the respective panel 85. The removable fixing device of the respective cross member 87 is therefore used to fix the bracing means 135 removably without the need for an additional removable fixing device and without modifying the dimensions of the frame, the additional thickness of the fixing bracket 140 being very limited and can be taken into account in the dimensioning of the removable fixing device.

[0121] If the conveyor 10 comprises exactly two parallel panels 85, the frame 25 is rectangular in shape, the most common in the field of belt conveyors. The frame is particularly easy to assemble.

[0122] The conveyor 10 may however comprise more than two panels 85 assembled to form a cylindrical chassis 25 with a polygonal base of the user's choice.

Claims

Demands

1. A belt conveyor (10) with a detachable lattice frame comprising: - an endless conveying belt (15) defining a product transport surface between a loading zone (A) and an unloading zone (B), - a plurality of support stations (20, 22) for the conveying belt (15), and - a lattice frame (25) carrying the support stations (20, 22) and comprising at least two lattice panels (85) extending along a principal axis (X), the conveyor (10) being characterized in that each panel (85) is connected to at least one other panel (85) by at least one cross member (87) each extending between two fixing ends (105), each fixing end (105) being connected to the respective panel (85) by a respective removable fixing device (125, 115).

2. Conveyor (10) according to claim 1, comprising at least two cross members (87) and in which at least two panels (85) are further connected by at least one bracing means (135) linked to a respective panel (85) by means of two of said removable fastening devices (125, 115) of two different cross members (87).

3. Conveyor (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said removable fastening devices (125, 115) comprises a threaded element (125) and a tapped element (115) complementary to the threaded element (125), one of the threaded element (125) and the tapped element (115) being formed at the fastening end (105) of the respective cross member (87), the other of the threaded element (125) and the tapped element (115) being inserted into a hole (92) through the respective panel (85), on the side opposite to the first element.

4. Conveyor (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one of said removable fastening devices (125, 115) comprises a threaded element (125) and a tapped element (115) complementary to the threaded element (125), one of the threaded element (125) and the tapped element (115) being formed at each of the fastening ends (105) of the respective cross member (87), the other of the threaded element (125) and the tapped element (115) being welded onto the respective panel (85).

5. Conveyor (10) according to claim 2 and any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the bracing means (135) extends between two fixing tabs (140) in each of which a bore (140A) is formed, at least one of the threaded element (125) and the tapped element (115) of the respective removable fixing device (125, 115) being inserted into the bore (140A), so that the fixing tab (140) is clamped between the respective cross member (87) and panel (85).

6. Conveyor (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising exactly two panels (85) parallel to each other.

7. Method of assembling a belt conveyor (10) with a detachable lattice frame comprising: - the provision of an endless conveyor belt (15) defining a product transport area between a loading zone (A) and an unloading zone (B) and a plurality of support stations (20, 22) for the conveyor belt (15); - the provision of at least two lattice panels (85) extending along a main axis (X), a plurality of cross members (87) each extending between two fixing ends (105), and a plurality of removable fixing devices (125, 115);- the assembly of at least two panels (85) by means of the plurality of cross members (87) and the plurality of removable fastening devices (125, 115), so as to form a lattice frame (25) extending along the main axis (X) between two polygonal bases, in which each panel (85) is connected to at least one other panel (85) by at least one cross member (87); - the assembly of the support stations (20, 22) with the frame (25) and the conveyor belt (15).

8. Assembly method according to claim 7, comprising a preliminary step of transporting the panels (85), in which the lattice frame (25) in the disassembled state is transported in a transport vehicle, the two panels (85) not being fixed to each other by the cross members (87) and the removable fixing devices (125, 115) during transport.

9. A method for dismantling a belt conveyor (10) with a detachable lattice frame mounted according to the method of claim 7 or claim 8, the dismantling method comprising: - the disassembly of the support stations (20, 22) from the transport belt (15) and from the chassis (25); - the separation of the panels (85) from each other by dismantling the removable fixing devices (125, 115) and the crossbars (87);

10. Disassembly method according to claim 9 comprising a subsequent step of transporting the panels (85), wherein the chassis (25) in the disassembled state is transported in a transport vehicle, the two panels (85) not being fixed to each other by the cross members (87) and the removable fixing devices (125, 115) during transport.