Horizontal feed conveyor for roller conveyors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transverse conveyor (1) for transporting heavy loads from a horizontally extending first feed roller conveyor (2) to a horizontally extending second feed roller conveyor (3), wherein the transverse conveyor (1) is configured as a roller conveyor segment and is installed and configured to be aligned and fitted into both the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3), and a device (4) for lateral transport of the transverse conveyor (1) is provided between the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3), characterized in that the device (4) for lateral transport of the transverse conveyor (1) is installed and configured to overcome the height difference between the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cross-feed conveyor for roller conveyors for transporting heavy loads, such as slabs or blocks, plates, sheets or coils of metal material, or containers and other heavy articles. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Background technology From the prior art, roller conveyors are well known for transporting heavy loads, such as slabs or blocks, plates, sheets or coils, and containers or the like.

[0003] For example, in casting and rolling plants where slabs are cast in at least one caster and subsequently produced in rolling mills for transformation into strips or sheets, which are finally rolled into coils, roller conveyors are a common means for transporting and conveying the cast strands, the respective intermediate products, and the finished rolled strips or sheets. Such slabs or blocks generally have a weight of more than 30 tons, in particular more than 35 tons, which places great demands on the load-carrying capacity, heat resistance, and reliability of the roller conveyors.

[0004] For removing slabs, blocks, plates, sheets, coils, containers or the like from a feed roller conveyor or, as the case may be, for supplying another slab or block, plate, sheet, coil or container to a feed roller conveyor, transverse conveyors are known from the prior art, which feed roller conveyor segments transversely to the extension direction of the roller conveyor and can preferably be aligned in register with a second feed roller conveyor which also extends horizontally, so that the subsequent transport of the slabs or blocks, plates, sheets, coils or containers and the like can then be continued.

[0005] This need is becoming more and more prevalent in casting and rolling plants, especially those with a CSP concept, because the capacity of the casting plant is significantly different from that of the downstream rolling mill. Therefore, in many cases, slabs or blocks are fed laterally from a storage facility onto a feed roller conveyor in front of the rolling mill, or one rolling mill is fed simultaneously by two parallel casting plants. A cross-feed conveyor is then used to collect the slabs or blocks from the downstream feed roller conveyor downstream of each casting plant and feed them onto the upstream feed roller conveyor in front of the rolling mill.

[0006] Due to the high loads that must be reliably supported and transported by the feed roller conveyors, and thus also by the crossing conveyors, extensive work has been required up until now to ensure that the crossing can occur horizontally and without topographical obstacles. Therefore, in practice, even if the facility's topography or facility layout did not actually envisage horizontal lateral transport by the crossing conveyors, extensive preparation work was required to ensure this. When the feed roller conveyors were inevitably located at different height levels and therefore different horizontal planes, elevators had to be installed to overcome the height differences. The crossing conveyors were then transported horizontally from the first feed roller conveyor to the elevator, typically after extensive preparation work, by the crossing conveyor, and then from the elevator vertically to a second feed roller conveyor or, in some cases, to another crossing conveyor for further horizontal movement.

[0007] The provision measures required for this are therefore considerable and the number of cycles achievable with such a combination of a transverse conveyor and a lifting table is not satisfactory. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] 3. Problems to be Solved by the Invention The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a cross-feed conveyor which can be used even when only horizontal transport from a first feed roller conveyor to a second feed roller conveyor is not possible due to the topography of the facility or for reasons of the layout of the facility. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a cross-feed conveyor which comprises the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are particularly set out in the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] 4. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a transverse conveyor for transporting heavy loads from a horizontally extending first feed roller conveyor to a similarly horizontally extending second feed roller conveyor, the transverse conveyor being configured as a roller conveyor segment, installed and configured to fit in register with both the first and second feed roller conveyors, and including apparatus for transporting the transverse conveyor between the feed roller conveyors. According to the present invention, the apparatus for transporting the transverse conveyor is installed and configured to overcome a height difference between the first and second feed roller conveyors.

[0010] This provides a lateral conveyor that can bridge two feed roller conveyors and thus transport heavy loads from a first feed roller conveyor to a second feed roller conveyor and vice versa, regardless of the terrain or facility layout, even when height differences must be overcome. According to the invention, one device is provided for both lateral transport and overcoming height differences.

[0011] Therefore, according to the invention, substantial preparatory work is omitted and the throughput of the cross-feed conveyor is significantly increased compared to devices from the prior art that perform horizontal lateral transport and vertical transport using a lifting table or the like.The cross-feed conveyor according to the invention can also be integrated with a first feed roller conveyor and a second feed roller conveyor, so that removal of heavy loads from the first feed roller conveyor, their lateral transport using the cross-feed conveyor, and their further transport to the second feed roller conveyor can be easily realized.

[0012] According to the invention, it is particularly preferred if the device for lateral conveying is designed and installed so as to overcome the lateral conveyance and the height difference in one movement, preferably in one uninterrupted and unidirectional movement, which makes the transverse conveyor according to the invention particularly simple to realize and also minimizes the travel distance of the transverse conveyor and of heavy loads placed on it.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferred according to the invention if the difference in height between the first and second feed roller conveyors results in a gradient, preferably a constant gradient, for the travel path of the transverse conveyor: a gradient of at least 1°, preferably at least 4°, particularly preferably between 4° and 10°, very particularly preferably above 10°, in particular between 10° and 45°. This provides a transverse conveyor that can be optimally adapted to different terrains or differences in height and can also reliably and problem-freely overcome large differences in height.

[0014] It is particularly preferred if the device for transverse conveying is operatively connected to at least one rail, preferably two rails, for guiding the transverse conveyor. This provides a transverse conveying possibility that the transverse conveyor can be reliably and oriented between the first feed roller conveyor and the second feed roller conveyor without any incorrect orientation or deviation in the transverse conveying. In particular, therefore, the alignment of the transverse conveyor can be achieved as desired with both the first and second feed roller conveyors.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for lateral transport has at least one drive wheel for transporting the transverse conveyor on at least one, preferably two, rails. Preferably, the gradient of the travel path should be approximately 1° to 4°. According to the present invention, when the distance between the feed roller conveyors to be bridged by the transverse conveyor is large or when the difference in height between the two feed roller conveyors is small, a transverse conveyor is provided that can achieve a small gradient by simple and controllable means. Due to the Hertzian stress between the wheel and the rail, a gradient of 1° to 4° can be reliably achieved solely by the force coupling between the transverse conveyor and the rail.

[0016] In an alternative and equally preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for lateral transport has at least one drive pinion for driving the transverse conveyor on at least one toothed rod or at least one rack. The gradient of the travel path is preferably between 4° and 10°. This provides a transverse conveyor that can be used when rail transport is no longer easily possible or is only possible to a limited extent due to the gradient. Preferably, the pinion, preferably the drive pinion, engages with a toothed rod arranged parallel to the rail or with a so-called rack, where the rack is not provided with a tooth row but rather with a number of cylinders arranged at a defined distance from one another, enabling the engagement of the pinion with the rack.

[0017] In another alternative and equally preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for lateral transport includes at least one elevator including at least one rope for transporting the transverse conveyor, preferably a rope running on at least one rope drum. In this case, the gradient of the travel path is preferably greater than 10°. Large gradients can be reliably overcome, resulting in a transverse conveyor that simultaneously overcomes height differences and provides a simple and easily controllable means for lateral transport. In particular, if the sheave has multiple rope drums or deflection pulleys, the power consumed for lateral transport can be significantly reduced in accordance with the basic double sheave design.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for lateral conveying is configured and arranged to move at least two cross-feed conveyors between at least two feed roller conveyors, preferably simultaneously. It is particularly preferred if a horizontally extending third feed roller conveyor is arranged between the two feed roller conveyors, the third feed roller conveyor having a height difference, preferably the same height difference, with respect to the first and second feed roller conveyors. Here, the device for lateral conveying is designed and arranged to transport the first cross-feed conveyor from the first feed roller conveyor to the third feed roller conveyor and simultaneously transport the second cross-feed conveyor from the third feed roller conveyor to the second feed roller conveyor. This results in a cross-feed conveyor that can provide a large number of cycles when feeding from the first and second feed roller conveyors to the third feed roller conveyor. In particular, if the third feed roller conveyor is positioned higher than the first and second feed roller conveyors, the energy consumed when using the first cross-feed conveyor to transport a heavy load from the second feed roller conveyor to the third feed roller conveyor can be at least partially compensated for when the second cross-feed conveyor simultaneously returns from its position in front of the third feed roller conveyor to its end position behind the second feed roller conveyor. Thus, while the first cross-feed conveyor overcomes the height difference by following a gradient upward, the second cross-feed conveyor simultaneously or preferably travels downward over the same height difference, and possibly also travels downward along the same gradient. This allows the energy gained during the movement of the second cross-feed conveyor to be used to transport the first cross-feed conveyor.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferred that means for energy recovery are provided in order to store the energy released during the lateral transport and use it when required.

[0020] According to the invention, it is preferred if the feed roller conveyors extend parallel to one another. In the sense of the invention, non-intersecting feed roller conveyors are considered parallel, and deviations of + / - 10° from exact parallelism do not prevent the operation of the cross-feed conveyor according to the invention.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feed roller conveyor is a component part of a casting and rolling facility, in which case the first and second feed roller conveyors and the cross feed conveyor connect the two rolling mills and the caster.

[0022] According to the invention, heavy loads are, for example, slabs, blocks, plates, or coils of metal material, which are commonly known as raw materials and processed products, for example, in the steel or aluminum industry. The feed roller conveyor according to the invention and the cross-feed conveyor according to the invention can basically reliably transport all starting materials and finished products as well as intermediate products, even at high temperatures and with large weights, for example, more than 5 t, preferably more than 10 t, particularly preferably more than 15 t. The invention is also applicable to the transportation of containers and / or articles weighing at least 5 t or more.

[0023] 5. Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described in detail with reference to two drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are apparent, and which are not suitable for limiting the scope of protection of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of two cross-feed conveyors according to the present invention, connecting a first feed roller conveyor and a second feed roller conveyor, respectively, to a third feed roller conveyor; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of a drive pinion that meshes with a rack to drive a cross-feed conveyor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] 6. Detailed description of the drawings 1 shows two cross-feed conveyors 1a and 1b according to the present invention, with the first cross-feed conveyor 1a connecting the first feed roller conveyor 2 and the third feed roller conveyor 12, and the second cross-feed conveyor 1b connecting the second feed roller conveyor 3 and the third feed roller conveyor 12. The third feed roller conveyor 12 is positioned higher than the first feed roller conveyor 2 and the second feed roller conveyor 3, so that the cross-feed conveyors 1a and 1b must overcome a gradient of more than 10° when transporting thin slabs 5 to the third feed roller conveyor 12. The cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b are configured as roller conveyor segments that can be aligned and fitted behind the first and second feed roller conveyors 2, 3 and in front of the third roller conveyor 12, so that thin slabs 5 can be easily transported from the first and second feed roller conveyors 2, 3 to the cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b and from the cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b to the third feed roller conveyor 12. The cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b move on rails 6 between the feed roller conveyors 2, 3, 12, which ensures reliable transport of thin slabs 5 on the cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b and the aligned alignment of the cross-feed conveyors 1a, 1b with the feed roller conveyors 2, 3, 12. The ropes 11 are used for the lateral transport of the transverse conveyors 1a, 1b and are connected to a motor 13 and to each of the transverse conveyors 1a, 1b. The ropes 11 run around rope drums or deflection pulleys 10, which allows the forces currently applied for the lateral transport of the thin slabs 5 to be kept low. In the illustrated arrangement of the transverse conveyors 1a, 1b and the three feed roller conveyors 2, 3, 12, the thin slabs 5 are transported by the first transverse conveyor 1a from the first feed roller conveyor 2 to the second feed roller conveyor 12, following the gradient upwards, while preferably simultaneously the second transverse conveyor 1b arrives from the third feed roller conveyor 12, follows the gradient of the travel path downwards, and moves to its position behind the second feed roller conveyor 3, from where it receives a new, heavier load, for example in the form of another thin slab 5.

[0026] 2 shows a detailed view of a feed drive for a cross-feed conveyor (not shown) according to the present invention, the feed drive having a pinion 8 connected to a drive (not shown), the pinion 8 meshing with a rack 9, whereby the cross-feed conveyor (not shown) moves forward and backward along the rack 9. The rack is made up of a number of cylinders 14, which are arranged on a rail or the like at predetermined intervals, and the teeth of the pinion 8 sink into the spaces between the cylinders 14, thereby generating thrust for the cross-feed conveyor (not shown). [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1. Horizontal conveyor 2. First feed roller conveyor 3 Second feed roller conveyor 4. Device for lateral transport 5 Heavy Cargo 6 Rail 8 Pinion 9 racks 10 Rope Drum 11 Rope 12 Third feed roller conveyor 13 Motor 14 Rack Cylinder

Claims

1. 1. A transverse conveyor (1) for transporting heavy loads (5) from a horizontally extending first feed roller conveyor (2) to a horizontally extending second feed roller conveyor (3), the transverse conveyor (1) being configured as a roller conveyor segment and installed and configured to fit into both the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3), the transverse conveyor (1) being provided with a device (4) for laterally transporting the transverse conveyor (1) between the feed roller conveyors (2, 3), characterized in that the device (4) for laterally transporting the transverse conveyor (1) is installed and configured to overcome a height difference between the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3).

2. 2. A transverse conveyor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (4) for transverse conveying is designed and installed to overcome the transverse conveying and the height difference in one movement, preferably in one uninterrupted movement extending in one direction.

3. The cross-feed conveyor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the height difference between the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3) has a preferably constant gradient of at least 1°, preferably at least 4°, particularly preferably 4° to 10°, very particularly preferably more than 10°, in particular 10° to 45°, relative to the movement path of the cross-feed conveyor (1).

4. A transverse conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device (4) for transverse transport is operatively connected to at least one rail (6), preferably two rails (6), for guiding the transverse conveyor (1).

5. A transverse conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (4) for lateral transport has at least one drive wheel for transporting the transverse conveyor (1) on at least one, preferably two rails, and the gradient of the movement path is preferably between 1° and 4°.

6. A transverse conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (4) for transverse conveying has at least one drive pinion (8) for conveying the transverse conveyor (1) in at least one toothed rod or at least one rack (9), and the gradient of the movement path is preferably between 4° and 10°.

7. 5. A transverse conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (4) for lateral transport has at least one elevator including at least one rope (11) for transporting the transverse conveyor (1), preferably a rope (11) running on at least one rope drum (10), and the gradient of the movement path is preferably greater than 10°.

8. 8. A transverse conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (4) for transverse conveying is configured and arranged to move at least two transverse conveyors (1) between at least two feed roller conveyors (2, 3), preferably simultaneously.

9. 9. A cross-feed conveyor (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a third feed roller conveyor (12) extending horizontally is arranged between the two feed roller conveyors (2, 3), the third feed roller conveyor (12) having a height difference, preferably the same height difference, with respect to the first feed roller conveyor (2) and the second feed roller conveyor (3), and the device (4) for cross-conveying is designed and installed to transport the first cross-feed conveyor (1 a) from the first feed roller conveyor (2) to the third feed roller conveyor (12) and simultaneously transport the second cross-feed conveyor (1 b) from the third feed roller conveyor (12) to the second feed roller conveyor (3).

10. 10. A cross-feed conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that means for energy recovery are provided for storing the energy released during the cross-feed and for use when required.

11. A cross-feed conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that when two cross-feed conveyors (1a, 1b) are used for simultaneous transport, the energy released during the cross-feed of the first cross-feed conveyor (1a) is used for the cross-feed of the second cross-feed conveyor (1b).

12. 12. A cross-feed conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the feed roller conveyors (2, 3, 12) extend parallel to one another.

13. The cross-feed conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the feed roller conveyors (2, 3, 12) are components of a casting and rolling facility, and the first feed roller conveyor (2), the second feed roller conveyor (3) and the cross-feed conveyor (1) connect two rolling mills and a casting machine.

14. 14. A cross-feed conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the heavy loads (5) are slabs, blocks, plates, sheets or coils made of metal material, containers and / or articles weighing at least 5 tonnes, preferably at least 10 tonnes, particularly preferably at least 15 tonnes.

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