Electric meandering adjustment device for belt conveyors

Abstract

To provide an electric meandering adjustment device for a belt conveyor capable of adjusting the meandering of a belt without requiring a large-scale operating device such as a roller turning device, without taking up space. [Solution] A group of three freely rotating rollers that support a conveyor belt (2) are lined up in multiple rows across the width of the belt (2), each of which rotates freely. A first power generating means (C) is provided within each roller. Stands (4) are provided on both sides of the running path of the belt (2). A first conical roller (B) rotates freely on a center axis held by the stands, and a part of the meandering belt rides on part of its outer periphery to transmit the rotation. A second power generating means is provided on the first conical roller (B). When the second power generating means generates electricity and transmits a signal detecting the meandering of the belt (2), the first power generating means (C) on the side of a specified roller (3) is changed to an electric motor specification, causing a series of movements to occur such that it performs a braking action.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an electric belt conveyor meandering adjustment device, namely, by using a non-rotating belt meandering adjustment unit, the rotation speed of the carrier roller or return roller on the side that adjusts the belt meandering is controlled by the electromotive force of the generator built into the conical roller or a sensor (both signals are sent to the control device), thereby adjusting the belt meandering without rotating the idler body due to the resistance generated between the roller and the belt. [Background technology]

[0002] If the belt of a belt conveyor facility starts meandering for some reason, leaving the meandering unattended can result in damage to the belt of the belt conveyor, or damage to the frame of the belt conveyor or one side of the belt conveyor, causing a decrease in functionality.

[0003] Therefore, when a belt meanders, it is already known to automatically adjust (align) the meandering (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

[0004] In addition to automatically adjusting meandering, there is also a technology already known that gives the rollers supporting the belt the ability to generate electricity as they rotate, and uses the generated electricity directly or stores it in a battery for use as a power source for various purposes on-site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3224078 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3224079 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a center shaft protrudes from the center of the outer ends of the carrier rollers on both sides, a conical roller is provided at the protruding end of this center shaft, and a power generating means is provided inside the hollow interior of this conical roller.

[0007] When the belt of the belt conveyor meanders and the side edge of the belt rides on the outer periphery of the conical roller, the above-mentioned power generating means starts generating electricity as the conical roller rotates, and the electromotive force caused by the rotation of the conical roller is detected.

[0008] It is also known that the meandering is adjusted by driving the drive unit of the turning device for the entire roller stand of the meandering adjustment device using a separate operating device in response to an electromotive voltage signal from the conical roller.

[0009] It is also known that, in addition to the power generating device, a detection tag and a signal transmitting sensor are incorporated into a cone provided on the periphery of the device to transmit a control signal (Patent Document 2).

[0010] However, since a conical roller (for generating electromotive force or transmitting a signal) with a center of rotation coaxial with the outer end of the carrier roller is installed, there are problems such as difficulty in installation due to the narrow space, and great difficulty in aligning the axis of the conical roller with the axis of the roller.

[0011] In addition, the rotating stand supporting the carrier rollers in Patent Documents 1 and 2 extracts electrical signals generated by power generation and controls the driving body using a separate operating device, so that the rotating stand rotates using an operating means in accordance with the meandering of the belt.

[0012] However, since the operating device of the swivel stand is installed in a narrow space below the swivel stand, there are problems such as poor workability, difficulty in installation, and increased difficulty in maintenance and inspection work.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide an electrically operated meandering adjustment device for a belt conveyor that eliminates the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, this invention provides a belt conveyor in which tail pulleys and head pulleys with an electric drive function are arranged at both front and rear ends of a conveyor frame, an endless belt is stretched between the tail pulley and the head pulley, and free-rotating rollers for supporting the belt are provided at scattered positions in the front-rear direction below the belt on the conveyor frame, at least some of the rollers in the group of rollers are arranged in the width direction of the belt and each is free-rotating, and a first power generation means is provided within each roller, and the conveyor frame is provided on both sides of the running path of the belt. A stand is provided that rises from the mount, and the center is supported on a center shaft held by the stand so that the center can rotate freely. A first conical roller is also provided, on part of whose outer periphery a part of the meandering belt rides up to transmit the rotation. A second power generating means is provided within the first conical roller, and when the second power generating means on the first conical roller side generates electricity and transmits a belt meandering detection signal, current is passed through the first power generating means on the specified roller side, changing it to an electric motor specification, and as a result, the rotation speed is changed from that during free rotation, causing a series of movements that act as a braking action.

[0015] In a belt conveyor in which a tail pulley and a head pulley with an electric drive function are arranged at both the front and rear ends of a conveyor frame, an endless belt is stretched between the tail pulley and the head pulley, and freely rotating rollers that support the belt are provided at scattered positions in the front-to-rear direction below the belt on the conveyor frame, at least some of the rollers in the group of rollers are arranged in the width direction of the belt and each is freely rotating, and a first power generation means is provided within each roller, and stands are provided on both sides of the running path of the belt that stand up from the conveyor frame, and the center is supported so as to freely rotate around a center shaft held by the stands. In addition, a second conical roller is provided on part of its outer periphery so that part of the meandering belt rides up to transmit the rotation, and detectable objects that rotate together with the second conical roller are provided at scattered positions on the circumference of the second conical roller, and a non-rotating sensor is provided inside the second conical roller that counts the passage of the detectable objects and is relative to the second conical roller, so that when the sensor on the second conical roller side counts the passage of the detectable objects and transmits a belt meandering detection signal, current is passed through the first power generating means on the specified roller side, changing to motor specifications, and as a result, the rotation speed is changed from that during free rotation, causing a series of movements that act as a braking action.

[0016] Furthermore, the information control device that receives the meandering detection signal may be configured to, when the meandering detection signal indicates that the belt has exceeded its limit, cause the power generation function of the first power generation means to act as a braking function on the roller on the opposite side of the rotating first conical roller or second conical roller in the width direction of the belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, according to the electric meandering adjustment device for a belt conveyor of this invention, in a belt conveyor equipped with freely rotating rollers that support the belt, at least some of the rollers in the group of rollers have a first power generation means installed inside, so that part of the driving force of the belt can be recovered as electricity as the belt runs. Even if the belt conveyor is installed in a remote area such as a mountainous region where there is no power transmission equipment, the generated electricity and the storage battery attached to the conveyor equipment can be used as a power source for transmitting information to edges and various equipment.

[0018] Furthermore, as the belt conveyor operates, the belt meanders, causing the side edge of the meandering belt to ride up onto the first conical roller, causing the first conical roller to rotate.

[0019] Then, the electricity generated by the second power generating means in the first conical roller can be used as a signal for adjusting the meandering of the belt conveyor, and therefore can be used to adjust the meandering of the belt conveyor.

[0020] In other words, if a driving force (braking force) is applied to the first power generating means of one of the rollers (the roller on one side edge opposite the first conical roller) among the rollers supporting the belt lined up in the width direction of the belt, causing it to rotate in the opposite direction to the belt drive, the one side edge of the belt that is in contact with this roller will be suppressed from moving.

[0021] On the other hand, the roller on the other side edge, which does not function as a brake, tries to run. As a result, the belt moves toward the side edge where the brake is applied, thereby adjusting the meandering. As the meandering is adjusted, the belt comes off the first conical roller, the meandering detection signal (power generation from the second power generation means) stops, and the roller that had been braking the belt according to the motor specifications is then released from braking.

[0022] This action temporarily stops the belt from meandering, and then when the stop is released, the belt stops meandering and moves straight.

[0023] This has the excellent effect of eliminating belt meandering, and the electricity generated by the first power generating means on the roller side that supports the belt under normal conditions is stored in a storage battery and can be used as a power source for running the belt conveyor and transmitting information from other control devices, and there is also the effect that there is no problem even if there is no power source at the installation location of the belt conveyor.

[0024] Furthermore, without adding any additional operating device for adjusting meandering (for example, a rotating device that rotates the entire roller), meandering can be adjusted by using the existing first power generating means to supply electricity to the first power generating means of a specified roller as an electric motor to drive the belt in the opposite direction.

[0025] In addition, the same effect can be achieved by replacing the first conical roller with a second conical roller having detectable objects that rotate together with the conical roller at scattered positions on the circumference of the conical roller and a non-rotating sensor inside the conical roller that counts the passage of the detectable objects, and having this sensor count the passage of the detectable objects to emit a belt meandering detection signal.

[0026] Now, as the belt snakes to the left, the first conical roller on the left rotates and the second power generating means inside generates electricity (or the proximity sensor of the second conical roller detects the tag's rotation), and this information is sent to the control device.The control device, having received the information, then applies a very small amount of electricity to the first power generating means of the right carrier roller in order to change the rotation speed of the right carrier roller.

[0027] The reason why only a very small amount of power is supplied is that the rollers are not originally installed to function as electric motors, but rather the purpose is to disrupt the balance in which the left and right rollers rotate at the same speed, generating friction between the belt and the rollers to resist and slightly pull the running belt; only at that time is it sufficient for the first power generating means on the roller side to be electric motor specifications, but normally it serves as a normal power generating means to store the electricity needed at that time.

[0028] While the belt continues to meander to the left, the first left conical roller rotates to send information about the meandering to the control device, and electricity continues to be supplied to the power generating means of the right carrier roller.

[0029] Conversely, when the first conical roller on the left side stops rotating, the meandering of the belt is adjusted (corrected), and at the same time that information from the first conical roller on the left side disappears, the power supply from the control device to the first power generating means of the right-side carrier roller is also stopped, so the right-side carrier roller is converted into a generator and generates electricity as usual.

[0030] Of course, if the belt meanders to the right, the first conical roller on the right rotates to transmit information about the meandering to the control device, and the first power generating means of the left carrier roller is converted to electric motor specifications.

[0031] In other words, when information from the information controller indicates that the belt meandering has exceeded its limit, the power generation by the first power generator on the roller side that supports the belt acts as a brake, so that the side of the belt where the amount of belt meandering is greater is the side on which the braking force is applied, and the belt meandering can be automatically adjusted.

[0032] In particular, by providing a stand on the machine side of an existing belt conveyor and providing a first conical roller on this stand, it is possible to adjust the meandering of the belt, and there is an effect that the purpose can be easily achieved without having to significantly modify the belt conveyor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a partially cutaway rear view showing a first conical roller of a belt conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the mounting portion of the first conical roller. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway enlarged plan view showing the attachment of the stand of the same. [Figure 5]FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal front view showing the first conical roller. [Figure 6] 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section side view of the same. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing the mounting portion of the second conical roller of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal front view showing a portion of the second conical roller. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the second conical roller. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the meandering adjustment device of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a supplementary drawing for explaining the chart shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A shown in Figures 1 to 4 is a belt conveyor.

[0035] As is well known, the above-mentioned belt conveyor A is configured by arranging tail pulleys and head pulleys with electric drive functions (both of which are well known and not shown) at the front and rear ends of a conveyor frame 1, with an endless belt 2 stretched between the tail pulley and the head pulley, and the lower surface of the carrier side of the belt 2 supported by carrier rollers 3, and the upper surface of the return side supported by parallel return rollers (not shown).

[0036] Although the carrier rollers 3 are shown as having a trough shape to prevent loose transported objects from spilling, the shape is not limited to a trough shape.

[0037] At least some of the carrier rollers 3 in the group of carrier rollers 3 are provided with a trough-shaped first power generating means C at least on one side thereof, which generates electricity by the forced rotation of the carrier rollers 3 as they come into contact with the moving belt 2, as shown in FIG.

[0038] The first power generating means C is provided at both ends of the interior of each carrier roller 3 near the shaft portion, and generates electricity by the rotation of the carrier roller 3, but the resistance to power generation is kept low so as not to interfere with the running of the belt 2.

[0039] Furthermore, the power generation mechanism of the first power generation means is known and will not be described in detail, but for the convenience of extracting the generated electricity and supplying power for braking, which will be described later, it is preferable to have a permanent magnet on the rotor on the rotating side and an electromagnetic coil on the stator on the fixed side.

[0040] 2 and 3, on both sides of the path of the carrier-side belt 2, a first conical roller B is supported via an auxiliary stand 5 on a stand 4 attached to the conveyor frame 1.

[0041] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first conical roller B is composed of a hollow conical body 7 and a center shaft 9 supported at the center of the conical body 7 via a bearing 8 so as to rotate freely.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the auxiliary stand 5 for the stand 4 is formed by passing a rod 12 with a hook 11 through the long holes 10 at the top and bottom of the auxiliary stand 5, engaging the hook 11 of the rod 12 with the stand 4, and attaching the auxiliary stand 5 to the stand 4 via the rod 12 by tightening a nut 13 screwed onto the rod 12. However, this is not limited to this, and the auxiliary stand 5 may also be supported by the stand 4 in other ways.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the support of the center shaft 9 relative to the auxiliary stand 5 is achieved by fitting and engaging a U-shaped notch 14 facing downward from the upper end of the auxiliary stand 5 with a notch 15 on the outer peripheral surface of the center shaft 9, but this is not limited to this.

[0044] In addition, as the belt 2 snakes around inside the cone 7, the belt 2 rides up onto the outer surface of the cone 7, forcing the cone 7 to rotate, thereby generating electricity using the second power generating means D installed inside the cone 7.

[0045] The second power generating means D on the side of the conical roller B is composed of a coil-wound stator 16 provided on the circumference of the center shaft 9 inside the conical body 7, and a permanent magnet 17 with S and N poles arranged around the stator 16 of the conical body 7 and supported on the side of the conical body 7, so that electricity is generated as the first conical roller B rotates.

[0046] As the belt 2 meanders, the side edges of the belt 2 ride on the cones 7 of the first conical roller B, causing the belt 2 to rotate and generate electricity.

[0047] The electricity generated as described above can be used for other purposes besides transmitting signals to detect meandering of the belt conveyor, such as outputting power to an information transmission control device 19 or a storage battery. Of course, the uses are not limited. In the figure, 20 denotes wiring used for other purposes.

[0048] Then, the electrical signal generated by the second power generating means D in the first conical roller B is detected as a meandering occurrence signal, and the control device passes an electric current to the first power generating means C on the carrier roller 3 side, which is on the opposite side to the side where the belt has meandered and come into contact with the first conical roller B. This action acts as a brake on one side edge of the belt 2 (the braking action is described in the effects section of the specification), thereby adjusting the meandering of the belt 2.

[0049] Next, we will explain the second embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 7 to 11. In this second embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 10, second conical rollers E are supported on the stands 4 of the conveyor frame 1 via auxiliary stands 27 on both sides of the running path of the belt 2 of the belt conveyor A, which is similar to the first embodiment.

[0050] The attachment and configuration of the auxiliary stand 27 to the stand 4 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] The detailed explanation of the mounting method of the second conical roller E to the auxiliary stand 27, the configuration of the conical body 30 of the second conical roller E, and the freely rotating center shaft 9 of the conical body 30 are the same as those of the conical body 7 and center shaft 9 of the first embodiment, so they will not be explained here.

[0052] The second conical roller E of the second embodiment, which is similar to the conical roller 7 of the first embodiment, has a plurality of detectable objects 31 at scattered positions on the circumference of the conical body 30, which rotates together with the second conical roller E.

[0053] The object to be detected 31 is, for example, a disk 34 that rotates together with the cone 30, and tags are provided at scattered positions on the surface of one side of the disk 34.

[0054] A non-rotating arm 35 attached to the center shaft 9 is provided inside the second conical roller E, and a sensor 33 for counting the number of objects 31 to be detected that pass through the non-rotating arm 35 is provided on the non-rotating arm 35. The sensor 33 is, for example, a proximity switch.

[0055] As the belt 2 meanders, the side edge of the belt 2 rides up onto the outer surface of the second conical roller E and the second conical roller E rotates, and the sensor 33 counts the detected object 31 that rotates together, thereby making it possible to know the meandering of the belt 2. In the figure, reference numeral 32 denotes a signal cable protection pipe that houses an electric wire that transmits a signal from a sensor 33.

[0056] With the above configuration, when the belt 2 meanders to the side, the sensor signal generated in response to the meandering is used as a meandering detection signal, as in the first embodiment, and the first power generating means C in the carrier roller 3 acts as a brake by using its motor specifications. The above information is transmitted from the control device 19.

[0057] As a result, one side edge of the belt acting as a brake tries to stop, while the other side edge, which has no function, tries to stop moving, and as the belt 2 meanders, a braking force acts on one side edge and no braking force acts on the other side edge.

[0058] Under this condition, the running of one side edge of the belt 2 is restricted and the running of the other side edge is permitted, so that the meandering of the belt 2 is eliminated, and after the meandering is resolved, the restriction on the belt 2 is released, allowing the belt 2 to run normally, and the belt 2 can run between braking and release of the brake. This phenomenon allows belt 2 to run while automatically adjusting the meandering of belt 2.

[0059] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of a belt conveyor device constructed in accordance with the meandering adjustment device of this invention, and Figure 13 is a supplementary drawing to explain the parts shown in this chart. The "conical roller" in this chart applies to either the first conical roller B or the second conical roller E of this invention.

[0060] The chart is a plan view of the supplementary drawing of Figure 13, and shows the procedure when the conveyor belt meanders to the left. As the belt moves to the left, it comes into contact with the conical roller on the left side, causing the conical roller to rotate, and the conical roller transmits a meandering signal to the control device through the power generation action of the second power generation means and a signal from the sensor.

[0061] The control device energizes the right power generating roller (the roller incorporating the first power generating means C), switching this roller from normal power generating specifications to electric motor specifications, and energizing the roller in a direction that reduces the rotational speed.

[0062] As a result, the left end of the belt, which is not braked, continues to run, while the right end of the belt, which is in contact with the right roller that is braked in the deceleration direction, slows down, causing the belt as a whole to move toward the right side where the brake is applied.

[0063] When the belt returns to its normal running position, it comes off the conical roller, and when the meandering occurrence signal to the control device ceases, power is stopped from being supplied to the motor-type roller that was braked, and the roller returns to a normal generator-type roller, and power generation continues by the power generation means.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the roller having the first power generating means C is a carrier roller, and meandering is adjusted by braking the carrier roller, but it is also possible to provide the first power generating means on the return roller side, and adjust meandering on the return roller side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] A Belt conveyor B First conical roller C. First power generating means (roller side) D. Second power generating means (conical roller side) E Second conical roller 1 Conveyor Frame 2 Belt 3 Carrier roller 4 Stand 5 Auxiliary Stand 7 Cone 8 bearings 9 Center axis 12 rod 13 Nut 14 Notch 15 Notch 16 Stator 17 Permanent magnets 19 Control equipment 27 Auxiliary Stand 30 cones 31 Detectable object 32 Signal cable protection pipe 33 Sensors 34 Disc 35 Non-rotating arm

Claims

1. A belt conveyor in which a tail pulley and a head pulley with an electric drive function are arranged at both front and rear ends of a conveyor frame, an endless belt is stretched between the tail pulley and the head pulley, and free-rotating rollers for supporting the belt are provided at scattered positions in the front-rear direction below the belt on the conveyor frame, and a second power generating means disposed within the first conical roller, and when the second power generating means of the first conical roller generates electricity and transmits a belt meandering detection signal, the first power generating means of the first conical roller generates electricity and switches to the motor specifications, thereby changing the rotation speed from that of the free rotation speed, and a series of movements that act as a braking action.

2. A belt conveyor in which a tail pulley and a head pulley with an electric drive function are arranged at both front and rear ends of a conveyor frame, an endless belt is stretched between the tail pulley and the head pulley, and free-rotating rollers for supporting the belt are provided at scattered positions in the front-rear direction below the belt on the conveyor frame, a first power generating means for generating a current for the first roller, and a second conical roller for supporting the second conical roller at a position on the circumference of the second conical roller, the second conical roller having a center shaft supported on the stand for free rotation at its center and a portion of the circumferential surface of the second conical roller onto which the meandering belt rides to transmit the rotation; a non-rotating sensor for counting the passage of the object to be detected within the second conical roller; and a second conical roller for counting the passage of the object to be detected within the second conical roller, the second conical roller having a non-rotating sensor for counting the passage of the object to be detected within the second conical roller; and when the sensor on the second conical roller counts the passage of the object to be detected and transmits a belt meandering detection signal, the first power generating means for the first roller is energized to switch to an electric motor mode, and the number of rotations is changed from that of the free rotation mode, thereby performing a series of actions that act as a braking action.

3. 3. The electric meandering adjustment device for a belt conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the information control device that receives the meandering detection signal applies the power generation function of the first power generating means as a braking function to the roller on the opposite side of the rotating first conical roller or second conical roller in the width direction of the belt when the meandering detection signal indicates that the belt has exceeded its limit.

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