Coal transportation equipment
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing coal transport systems face challenges in efficiently and safely stopping belt conveyors due to metal fragments, with recovery work being cumbersome and time-consuming due to the need for workers to set markers at the conveyor's center from outside scaffolding.
A coal transport device with a chute positioned outside the conveyor width direction, allowing marker bodies to be easily placed and dropped onto the conveyor, featuring a holding unit that releases the marker upon metal detection, and a switch to signal recovery completion.
Facilitates quicker and safer recovery operations by enabling workers to place markers outside the conveyor, improving workability and reducing downtime.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a coal conveying apparatus. [Background technology]
[0002] In coke plants, metal fragments may be mixed in with coal transported on a belt conveyor, and transporting coal with metal fragments in that state could damage the belt conveyor. To avoid damage to the belt conveyor caused by metal fragments, a known technique is to use a metal detector to detect metal fragments mixed in the transported coal, and when a metal fragment is detected, drop a marker onto the belt conveyor and stop the belt conveyor.
[0003] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a technology in which a bag serving as a marker is suspended from a belt conveyor by a hook or pin, and upon detection of a metal piece, the hook or pin is retracted to drop the marker onto the belt conveyor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3112812 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-41119 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] In Patent Documents 1 and 2, a bag serving as a marker is suspended and held above the center of the belt conveyor in the conveyor width direction, so in the recovery work after detecting a metal piece, a worker must set the bag on a hook or pin in the center of the belt conveyor in the conveyor width direction from a scaffolding located on the outside of the belt conveyor in the conveyor width direction. There is a distance between the place where the bag should be set and the scaffolding where the worker is located, which makes it difficult to work and poses a challenge in shortening the recovery work time.
[0006] The present disclosure provides a coal transport device that is advantageous in improving the ease of restoration work and shortening the restoration work time. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The coal transport device of the present disclosure comprises a belt conveyor for transporting coal, a metal detection device for detecting metal fragments mixed in the coal transported by the belt conveyor, a chute that can drop a marker body received from above onto the belt conveyor downstream of the metal detection device from below, and a holding section that holds the marker body in the chute and is able to release the marker body from its hold upon detection of a metal fragment by the metal detection device and drop the marker body from the bottom of the chute onto the belt conveyor, wherein the top of the chute is positioned outside the belt conveyor in the conveyor width direction, the bottom of the chute is positioned above the belt conveyor, and the chute extends from the top towards the bottom, which is located inside the conveyor width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a coal transport device of a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] Fig. 2A is a schematic plan view showing the holding unit 6 and the chute 4 in a state where they are holding the marker body 5. Fig. 2B is a schematic side view showing the holding unit 6 and the chute 4 in a state where they are holding the marker body 5. [Figure 3] Fig. 3A is a schematic plan view showing the holding unit 6 and the chute 4 in a state where the marker body 5 can be dropped. Fig. 3B is a schematic side view showing the holding unit 6 and the chute 4 in a state where the marker body 5 can be dropped. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] First Embodiment The coal transporting device of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the coal transporting device of the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing the holding unit 6 and chute 4 in a state where they are holding a marker body 5. FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing the holding unit 6 and chute 4 in a state where they are holding a marker body 5. FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view showing the holding unit 6 and chute 4 in a state where they are able to drop a marker body 5. FIG. 3B is a schematic side view showing the holding unit 6 and chute 4 in a state where they are able to drop a marker body 5.
[0010] A reclaimer device is used in a coke plant. The reclaimer device recovers coal from a yard where coal unloaded from ships is stacked. The reclaimer device has a recovery mechanism that extends like an arm called a boom, and the coal recovered at the tip of the boom is transported to a downstream process by a belt conveyor 1 attached to the boom. As an example, the coal transport device of the first embodiment is applied to the boom belt conveyor 1, but the application location can be changed in various ways as long as it transports coal.
[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the coal transport device includes a belt conveyor 1 that transports coal (not shown) in a transport direction FD, and a metal detector 2 that detects metal pieces mixed in the coal transported by the belt conveyor 1. The metal detector 2 includes a coil frame 20 having a coil that surrounds the belt conveyor 1, and is capable of forming a high-frequency magnetic field around the belt conveyor 1 by passing a current through the coil. If metal pieces are mixed in the coal transported by the belt conveyor 1, this magnetic field changes, and a metal detection signal is output to the controller 3. When the controller 3 receives the metal detection signal from the metal detector 2, it can stop the power that drives the belt conveyor 1 and stop the belt conveyor 1.
[0012] Even if the belt conveyor 1 is stopped immediately due to metal detection, the belt conveyor 1 does not stop immediately due to its inertia, and the metal piece may be located in a location far from the metal detector 2. Therefore, a marker body 5 is dropped onto the belt conveyor by metal detection, making it easier to understand the area in which metal pieces must be searched manually.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the marker body 5 is formed as a polyhedron. The polyhedron shape of the marker body 5 can prevent the marker body 5 from rolling after being dropped onto the belt conveyor, and can prevent the position from changing significantly. The marker body 5 in the first embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped having a long side W1, a middle side W2, and a short side W3. By forming the marker body 5 as a rectangular parallelepiped, clogging of the marker body 5 in the chute 4 (described later) can be prevented compared to, for example, a tetrahedron formed of four equilateral triangular faces. In the first embodiment, the long side W1 of the marker body 5 is approximately 150 mm, the middle side W2 is approximately 90 mm, and the short side W3 is approximately 40 mm. The relationship is long side W1 > middle side W2 > short side W3. As a result, the marker body 5 has a pair of first surfaces F1 with the largest area (area W1 × W2), a pair of second surfaces F2 with the smallest area (area W2 × W3), and a pair of third surfaces F3 (area W1 × W3) with an area between the first surfaces F1 and the second surfaces F2. Note that these numerical values can be changed as appropriate.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , the coal transport device has a chute 4 and a holding unit 6 for dropping a marker body 5. The chute 4 is arranged downstream of the metal detection device 2. The chute 4 is configured so that an operator can receive the marker body 5 from an upper portion 40, and the chute 4 is configured so that the marker body 5 received from the upper portion 40 can be dropped from a lower portion 41 onto the belt conveyor 1 downstream of the metal detection device 2.
[0015] Specifically, the chute 4 includes a tray 42 extending from the outside to the inside in the conveyor width direction WD and a downward-facing tubular portion 43 connected to the tip of the tray 42. The tray 42 extends in the conveyor width direction WD, with its outer end in the conveyor width direction WD positioned above the inner end in the conveyor width direction WD (UD). This allows the marker 5 placed in the tray 42 to slide from the outside to the inside in the conveyor width direction WD and reach the inside of the tubular portion 43. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the tubular portion 43 has a drop opening 43h sized to allow the marker 5 to be dropped in a predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position in which the second surface F2, which has the smallest area, faces downward, as shown in FIG. 1. The second surface F2, which has the smallest area, is a surface defined by a short side W3 and a middle side W2.
[0016] The holding unit 6 can hold the marker body 5 in the chute 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the holding unit 6 is positioned to cover at least a portion of the drop opening 43h from below to prevent the marker body 5 from falling through the drop opening 43h. The holding unit 6 includes a drive unit 60 using a rotary solenoid and a holding plate 61 attached to the drive unit 60. The drive unit 60 rotates to move the holding plate 61 between a position where it holds the marker body 5 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) and a position where it allows the marker body 5 to be dropped (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). The holding unit 6 can switch between a state where it holds the marker body 5 and a state where it allows the marker body 5 to be dropped by receiving a command from the controller 3 shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the holding unit 6 is configured to release the hold of the marker body 5 and drop the marker body 5 onto the belt conveyor 1 from the lower part 41 of the chute 4 upon detection of a metal piece by the metal detector 2.
[0017] The upper part 40 of the chute 4 (the outer end of the tray 42 in the conveyor width direction WD) is positioned further outward in the conveyor width direction WD than the belt conveyor 1. This allows the tray 42 to be positioned within reach from the scaffolding, facilitating the work of placing the marker body 5 in the tray 42 after collecting the metal pieces. The lower part 41 of the chute 4 is positioned above the belt conveyor 1. This allows the lower part 41 of the chute 4 to be positioned at a position where the marker body 5 can be dropped into the center of the belt conveyor 1 in the conveyor width direction WD. The chute 4 extends from the upper part 40 toward the lower part 41, which is on the inside of the conveyor width direction WD. This allows the marker body 5 to be guided to the upper UD of the belt conveyor 1 simply by setting it on the chute 4 outside the belt conveyor 1, improving recovery workability and safety.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2B, the chute 4 has a switch 7. The switch 7 is positioned so that it can be operated by the marker body 5 moving to position P1 where it is held by the holder 6. The switch 7 can transmit a signal indicating that recovery is possible when operated (touched). As a result, when the marker body 5 is set on the upper portion 40 of the chute 4 and slides down toward position P1 where it is held by the holder 6, the marker body 5 comes into contact with the switch 7, which operates the switch 7 and transmits a signal indicating that recovery is possible. The signal indicating that recovery is possible is notified to a worker who releases the stop of the belt conveyor 1, indicating that the worker collecting the metal pieces has finished their work and returned the marker body 5 to the chute 4. The position of the switch 7 can be adjusted in the vertical direction, and the position can be adjusted according to the size of the marker body 5.
[0019] The chute 4 has the following configuration to prevent clogging of the marker body 5. The inner surface width D1 perpendicular to the extension direction of the tray 42 (conveyor width direction WD) is smaller than the long side W1 of the marker body 5 and larger than the middle side W2 of the marker body 5. This allows the tray 42 to guide the marker body 5 downward only when the second surface F2 of the marker body 5 faces downstream (toward the cylindrical portion 43).
[0020] The drop opening 43h of the tubular portion 43 has a rectangular space in a plan view. In a plan view, the rectangular space is larger than the smallest second surface F2 of the marker body 5 and smaller than the third surface F3 of the marker body 5. This allows the marker body 5 to be dropped from the drop opening 43h of the tubular portion 43 in a predetermined position with the second surface F2 facing downward.
[0021] The drop opening 43h is formed by the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 43 and the guide plate 43a. The guide plate 43a is inclined vertically so that the space inside the cylindrical portion 43 tapers downward from the connection portion between the cylindrical portion 43 and the tray 42. The guide plate 43a is able to change the amount of protrusion from the inside of the cylindrical portion 43 so that the internal space of the cylindrical portion 43 can be adjusted according to the size of the marker body 5.
[0022] 1, the height distance H1 from the bottom end of the chute 4 to the belt conveyor 1 is greater than the height distance H2 from the bottom end of the coil frame 20 of the metal detection device 2 to the belt conveyor 1. This makes it possible to prevent coal passing through the coil frame 20 from colliding with the chute 4. Furthermore, the height direction distance H1 from the lower end of the chute 4 to the belt conveyor 1 is smaller than the height direction distance H3 from the upper end of the coil frame 20 of the metal detection device 2 to the belt conveyor 1. This prevents the lower end of the chute 4 from being too far from the belt conveyor 1, making it possible to prevent the marker body 5 from bouncing and changing position significantly when it falls onto the belt conveyor 1.
[0023] <Coal transport device operation> The operation of the coal conveying device will be briefly described. While the belt conveyor 1 is operating, the metal detector 2 detects whether metal fragments are present in the coal being conveyed by the belt conveyor 1. If the metal detector 2 detects a metal fragment, the controller 3 stops the belt conveyor 1, drops the marker body 5 held by the holder 6, and notifies the worker that a metal fragment has been detected. The holder 6 returns from a position allowing the marker body 5 to be dropped to a position where it holds the marker body 5. The worker heads to the site, searches for the metal fragment based on the position of the marker body 5 on the belt conveyor 1, and removes it. Once the metal fragments have been removed, the marker body 5 is retrieved and inserted into the chute 4 from outside the conveyor width direction WD of the belt conveyor 1. The marker body 5 slides down the tray 42 with the second surface F2, which has the smallest area, facing downstream, and reaches position P1 where it is held by the holder 6. During this process, the marker body 5 operates (contacts) the switch 7, which then transmits a signal regarding restoration. The restoration worker confirms that the switch 7 has been operated (contacted), and restores the drive of the belt conveyor 1.
[0024] <Modification> (A) In the above embodiment, the marker body 5 is a polyhedron and a rectangular parallelepiped, but is not limited to this. It may be, for example, a flat shape or a rugby ball shape, which is more easily movable than a polyhedron. Furthermore, although the marker body 5 is a rectangular parallelepiped, it is also possible to adopt a different polyhedron.
[0025] (B) In the above embodiment, the switch 7 is provided, but the switch 7 may be omitted.
[0026] [1] As described above in the embodiment, the coal transport device comprises a belt conveyor 1 for transporting coal, a metal detection device 2 for detecting metal pieces mixed in the coal transported by the belt conveyor 1, a chute 4 capable of dropping a marker body 5 received from an upper part 40 from a lower part 41 onto the belt conveyor 1 downstream of the metal detection device 2, and a holding section 6 that holds the marker body 5 in the chute 4 and is capable of releasing the hold of the marker body 5 upon detection of a metal piece by the metal detection device 2 and dropping the marker body 5 onto the belt conveyor 1 from the lower part 41 of the chute 4, and the upper part 40 of the chute 4 may be positioned outside the belt conveyor 1 in the conveyor width direction WD, and the lower part 41 of the chute 4 may be positioned above the belt conveyor 1, and the chute 4 may extend from the upper part 40 towards the lower part 41, which is located inside the conveyor width direction WD. According to this configuration, the worker is positioned outside the conveyor width direction WD of the belt conveyor 1 and can complete one recovery operation by inserting the marker body 5 into a nearby chute 4, thereby improving workability and safety.
[0027] [2] In the coal transport device described in [1] above, the chute 4 may have a switch 7 operated by a marker body 5 that moves to a position where it is held by the holding portion 6, and the switch 7 may be capable of transmitting a signal indicating that it can be restored. According to this configuration, simply by setting the marker body 5 on the chute 4, the switch 7 that transmits a signal indicating that recovery is possible is operated, which makes it possible to facilitate the recovery work.
[0028] [3] In the coal transporting device described in the above [1] or [2], the marker body 5 may be a polyhedron. According to this configuration, when the marker body 5 is dropped onto the belt conveyor 1, it is possible to prevent the marker body 5 from rolling and changing its position significantly.
[0029] [4] In the coal transporting device described in the above [3], the marker body 5 may be a rectangular parallelepiped. According to this configuration, clogging of the chute 4 by the marker body 5 can be suppressed in some cases.
[0030] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure is defined not only by the description of the above embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.
[0031] The structures employed in the above-described embodiments can be employed in any other embodiment. The specific configurations of the components are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]
[0032] 1: Belt conveyor 2: Metal detector 4: Shooter 5: Landmark body 6: Holding part 7: Switch 40: Upper 41: Lower WD: Conveyor width direction
Claims
1. A conveyor belt for transporting coal, A metal detection device for detecting metal fragments mixed in coal being transported by the belt conveyor, A chute capable of dropping a marker object received from above onto the belt conveyor downstream of the metal detection device from below, The device includes a holding unit that holds the marker body within the chute and, upon detection of a metal fragment by the metal detection device, releases the holding of the marker body and allows the marker body to be dropped from the lower part of the chute onto the belt conveyor, A coal conveying device wherein the upper part of the chute is positioned outside the belt conveyor in the conveyor width direction, the lower part of the chute is positioned above the belt conveyor, and the chute extends from the upper part toward the lower part which is inward in the conveyor width direction.
2. The chute has a switch operated by the marker body which moves to a position where it is held in the holding part, The coal conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is capable of transmitting a signal indicating that it is recoverable.
3. The coal conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the marker body is a polyhedron.
4. The coal conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the marker body is a rectangular parallelepiped.