Hygienic conveyor rollers

Abstract

To provide a hygienic conveyor roller.SOLUTION: A hygienic and cleanable conveyor roller 100 for use in a conveyor includes a segmented hub 110, a plurality of spokes 150, and a rim 160 for contacting a conveyor belt. The segmented hub includes a plurality of mutually connected arcuate segments in different axial planes. The conveyor roller is mounted on and can rotate around a mounting shaft 10 that can constrain the roller in an axial direction. While the conveyor roller makes one revolution around the mounting shaft, all surfaces of both the conveyor roller and the mounting shaft are completely exposed, and the surfaces can be cleaned in place without removing the conveyor roller from the mounting shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a power-driven conveyor. In particular, this application relates to rollers used to support a conveyor belt at a return path, a feeding section, or another location where the conveyor belt requires support.

Background Art

[0002] Conveyor belts are used in many industries to transport products from a first location to a second location. A conveyor belt generally forms an endless belt loop wound around drive and idler sprockets or rollers at both ends of the transport path. Articles are transported on the conveyor belt and supported along the upper transport path. The conveyor belt returns along the lower return path. To minimize the maximum sag of the conveyor belt in the return path, return shoes or rollers are often used. Return rollers typically extend across the width of the conveyor belt at selected positions along the return path. Rollers may also be used to support the conveyor belt at the feeding end of the endless conveyor belt circuit and / or at another location. Conventionally, in many applications, full-width rollers extending along the width of the conveyor belt have been used. However, in food-related applications, full-width rollers contact the entire surface of the conveyor belt, which may contaminate or mix the food remaining on the belt surface, compromising food safety.

[0003] One option in use is a fixed stainless steel mounting shaft with a plurality of small-diameter journals. A plastic disk having a bore of the same diameter as the shaft can be slid onto the shaft and positioned on the journal. The advantage of this solution is that while the conveyor belt is supported, the contact between the roller and the belt surface is limited, thus improving food safety.

[0004] A drawback of roller discs is the potential for a sandwich-like area to form between the inner diameter of the roller and the outer diameter of the shaft journal. Because these sandwich-like areas cannot be cleaned in place during belt operation, they must be manually lifted and removed in order to clean the entire surface of the shaft and roller disc.

[0005] To facilitate cleaning these rollers in place, a gap is added to either the roller bore or the length of the shaft journal. While this method does not allow for complete cleaning in place, it does allow for some cleaning of the rollers while they remain attached to the shaft. However, adding a gap makes the rollers unstable, as they may move axially or tilt when subjected to lateral forces. [Overview of the project]

[0006] A hygienic and cleanable conveyor roller for use in a conveyor comprises a segmented hub, multiple spokes, and a rim for contact with the conveyor belt. The segmented hub has multiple arcuate segments connected to each other in different axial planes to form a hub having an axial bore for receiving a mounting shaft. The conveyor roller is mounted on a mounting shaft that can axially restrain the roller and is rotatable around it. While the conveyor roller makes one rotation around the mounting shaft, all surfaces of both the conveyor roller and the mounting shaft are fully exposed, allowing their surfaces to be cleaned in place without the need to remove the conveyor roller from the mounting shaft.

[0007] According to one embodiment, a roller for a conveyor comprises a segmented hub formed from a plurality of overlapping and connected segments to form an opening for receiving a shaft around which the conveyor roller is mounted, with at least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub and a rim connected to the segmented hub via at least one spoke.

[0008] In another embodiment, a roller assembly for a conveyor comprises a mounting shaft including a cylindrical body extending along an axis and a mounting area formed in the body, and a conveyor roller rotatably mounted in the mounting area. The conveyor roller has a segmented hub formed of a plurality of overlapping and connected segments to form an opening for receiving the mounting shaft, with at least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub and a rim connected to the segmented hub via at least one spoke. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an isometric view of a conveyor roller, including a segmented hub mounted on a mounting shaft, according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an isometric view of the conveyor roller. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an isometric view of the isolated arc-shaped segments of the segmented hub of the conveyor roller. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is an isometric view of a mounting shaft having a suitable mounting area for attaching the conveyor roller. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a front view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional front view. [Figure 7] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conveyor roller and its mounting shaft, passing through an axial plane that bisects the conveyor roller. [Figure 8] Figure 1 is a side view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft. [Figure 9] Figure 1 is an isometric view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft before the conveyor roller is attached to the mounting shaft. [Figure 10] Figure 1 is an isometric view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft while the conveyor roller is being attached to the mounting shaft. [Figure 11]This is an isometric view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft in the first position shown in Figure 1. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is an isometric view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft after the conveyor roller has rotated 1 / 4 turn around the mounting shaft. [Figure 13] Figure 11 is an isometric view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft after the conveyor roller has made a half-rotation around the mounting shaft. [Figure 14] This is an isometric view of the conveyor roller in Figure 2, while the conveyor roller is being mounted to the mounting shaft according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] This is an isometric view of the conveyor roller at the first mounting position on the mounting shaft, as shown in Figure 14. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a front view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft. [Figure 17] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor roller and mounting shaft. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The hygienic conveyor roller includes a segmented hub connected to a rim by spokes. The present invention will be described below in relation to specific illustrated embodiments, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described.

[0011] Referring to Figures 1-8, the conveyor roller 100 is mounted on the conveyor's mounting shaft 10 and is rotatable around it. In one embodiment, the conveyor roller is a return path roller and is mounted on the return path of the conveyor belt to guide and / or support the conveyor belt as it moves to return from the discharge end to the feed section of the conveyor. As the conveyor belt moves over the outer rim 160 of the conveyor roller 100, the conveyor belt can rotate the conveyor roller 100 around the shaft 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the conveyor roller 100 shown in this illustration can be mounted at any suitable location on the conveyor, such as the feed section or other suitable location where support for the conveyor belt is useful.

[0012] The conveyor roller 100 is mounted on the shaft 10 in a dedicated mounting area 20 and includes a segmented hub 110 that is rotatable around it. The segmented hub 110 has multiple segments on different axial surfaces, which connect and overlap to form a complete, integrated hub that can surround the mounting shaft 10, allowing the conveyor roller 100 to rotate around the mounting shaft 10.

[0013] The spokes 150 extend radially from the segmented hub 110, connecting the segmented hub 110 to the outer rim 160, with their outer surfaces 161 in contact with and supporting the conveyor belt. The illustrated conveyor roller 100 includes, but is not limited to, two spokes 150 that are parallel to each other in series and radially offset from each other by 180°. For example, more spokes can be used to connect the segmented hub 110 to the rim 160. Alternatively, a web or another suitable connector may connect the segmented hub 110 to the rim 160.

[0014] The illustrated segmented hub 110 includes a first arcuate segment 111 and a second arcuate segment 112 that is parallel to and spaced from the first arcuate segment 111. The first and second arcuate sections are equally spaced from a central vertical plane 50 that bisects the roller 100 and are mirror images of each other across the central vertical plane 50. A third arcuate segment 121 is offset from the first arcuate segment 111 both radially and axially, such that the ends of the first arcuate segment 111 overlap and connect with the ends of the third arcuate section to form first and second overlaps 140, 141. A fourth arcuate segment 122 is offset from the second arcuate segment 112 both radially and axially, such that the ends of the second arcuate segment 112 overlap and connect with the ends of the fourth arcuate segment 122 to form third and fourth overlaps 142, 143.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate segments are substantially identical in shape and size, and each segment extends more than 180°, so that the offset, overlapping, and connected segments 111, 112, 121, 122 form a complete circumference having an axial bore that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft 10 so that the segmented hub 110 can slide over the body of the mounting shaft 10.

[0016] Alternatively, three, four, or more segments that are offset, overlap, and connect may form a complete circumference that forms an axial bore for receiving the mounting shaft 10.

[0017] The first bridging segment 146 extends between the first arcuate segment 111 and the second arcuate segment 112. The illustrated first bridging segment 146 extends between a first overlap portion 140 and a third overlap portion 142 to connect the first and second arcuate sections 111, 112 to the third and fourth arcuate sections 121, 122. However, the first bridging segment 146 may be radially offset from the overlap portions 140, 142 and / or may extend between any suitable positions of the arcuate segments 111, 112, 121, 122.

[0018] The second bridging segment 147 extends the first arcuate segment 111 and the second arcuate segment 112 at a second position. The illustrated second bridging segment 147 extends between a second overlap portion 141 and a fourth overlap portion 143 to further connect the first and second arcuate sections 111, 112 to the third and fourth arcuate sections 121, 122 at opposite ends. The second bridging segment 147 can be radially offset from the overlap portions 142, 143 and / or can extend between any suitable positions to connect the arcuate segments 111, 112, 121, 122 together.

[0019] Each exemplary spoke 150 extends from the radially outer side of the associated bridging segments 146, 147. Alternatively, the spoke 150 or other suitable segmented hub-to-rim connector may be positioned at different positions or various positions, and the present invention is not limited to spokes extending from bridging segments on the segmented hub 110.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, each radial inner surface 145 of the bridging segments 146, 147 is radially offset outwardly from the radial inner surface of the arcuate segment to provide a gap.

[0021] The illustrated conveyor roller 100 has mirror symmetry about a plane 50 that bisects the rim 160.

[0022] Figure 3 shows isolated arc-shaped segments 170 representing each arc-shaped segment 111, 112, 121 and / or 122 according to one embodiment. The illustrated arc-shaped segment 170 includes a radial outer surface 171, a radial inner surface 172, an axial outer surface 173, an axial inner surface 174, and end faces 175, 176. Since the illustrated arc-shaped segments extend beyond 180°, the end faces 175, 176 are separated by less than 180°, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The illustrated arc-shaped segments have a rectangular or square cross-section and include flat axial inner and outer surfaces 173, 174. Molded connecting surfaces can connect arc-shaped segments to adjacent arc-shaped segments, prevent gaps, and smooth the interface between segments. The illustrated end faces 175, 176 extend parallel to a line 178 that extends tangent to the vertex 179 of the arc-shaped segment. In this way, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the end faces 175 and 176 are horizontal when the vertex 179 is at its highest point. One or more end faces 175 and 176 of the arcuate segment may be chamfered.

[0023] Figure 3 shows an isolated arc-shaped segment 170, but the illustrated conveyor roller 100 comprises a segmented hub 110 in which segments 111, 112, 121, and 122 are integrally formed by injection molding, compression molding, or another suitable process. The entire conveyor roller 100 can be integrally formed by injection molding, compression molding, or another suitable process. Alternatively, one or more parts or segments of the conveyor roller 100 can be formed separately and then joined together.

[0024] The conveyor roller 100 is configured to receive a mounting shaft 10 that restricts the movement of the conveyor roller 100 in the axial and radial directions, while allowing the conveyor roller 100 to rotate around the mounting shaft 10. In one embodiment shown in Figure 4, the shaft 10 comprises a cylindrical body 11 having an outer surface 12 and extending along an axis 16. The mounting shaft 10 includes one or more mounting regions 20, each to which a conveyor roller 100 can be mounted. The illustrated mounting region 20 comprises a first eccentric radial groove 30 and a second eccentric radial groove 40 parallel to the first eccentric radial groove 30 and separated from the first eccentric radial groove 30 by a raised portion 60. The illustrated outer surface of the raised portion 60 coincides with the outer surface 12 of the cylindrical body 11, but can alternatively be embedded or offset from the outer surface 12.

[0025] The illustrated eccentric radial grooves 30 and 40 form a plurality of crescent-shaped flat surfaces 31, 32, 41, and 42 that extend perpendicularly to the axis 16 of the mounting shaft 10. The radial outer surfaces 35 and 45 of the grooves 30 and 40 are embedded from the outer surface 12 of the main body of the mounting shaft 10. The grooves 30 and 40 have a combined width W of the paired segments 111, 121 and 112, 122, respectively, as shown in Figure 5. s Axial width W is slightly larger than g It has.

[0026] Figures 5-8 show the conveyor roller 100 mounted on the mounting shaft 10 in the mounting area 20 in a first position, where the first and second arc-shaped segments 111 and 112 orbit around the top of the mounting shaft 10, resulting in the vertices 179 of the first and second arc-shaped segments being located at the highest point. In this first position, the third and fourth arc-shaped segments 121 and 122 orbit around the bottom of the mounting shaft 10. The axial inner surfaces 174 of the first and second arc-shaped segments are constrained by the inner surfaces 32 and 41 of the raised portion 60. The radial inner surfaces 172 of the first and second arc-shaped segments 111 and 112 rest on the radial outer surfaces 35 and 45 of the grooves 30 and 40. The axial outer surfaces 173 of the third and fourth segments reach the outer surfaces 31 and 42 of the grooves. The segmented hub 110 provides a gap space 180 between the third and fourth arc-shaped segments 121, 122 and the bottom surface of the mounting shaft 10.

[0027] Referring to Figures 9-13, the conveyor roller 100 can be easily attached to the mounting shaft 10 without the use of tools and can rotate around the mounting shaft during operation. Each time the conveyor roller 100 rotates around the mounting shaft 10, all surfaces of the segmented hub 110 and the mounting area 20 of the mounting shaft 10 are exposed, allowing for cleaning without removing the conveyor roller 100 from the mounting shaft 10.

[0028] In the first step shown in Figure 9, the axial bore of the segmented hub 110 is aligned with the axial axis 16 of the mounting shaft 10, and then slides on the outer surface 12 of the mounting shaft 10 until it reaches the mounting area 20, as shown in Figure 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor roller 100 is mounted with the vertices 179 of the first and second arc-shaped segments 111, 112 at their highest points. When aligned on the mounting area 20 in such a position, the radial inner surfaces 172 of the arc-shaped segments 111, 112, 121, 122 are positioned around the axis 16 of the mounting shaft, providing a gap 181 between the radial outer surfaces 35, 45 of the grooves 30, 40 and the radial inner surfaces 172 of the first and second arc-shaped segments 111, 112. When the user releases the conveyor roller 100, the conveyor roller 100 falls to its original position, resulting in the axial inner surfaces 174 of the first and second arc-shaped segments contacting the inner surfaces 32 and 41 of the raised portion 60, the radial inner surfaces 172 of the first and second arc-shaped segments 111 and 112 resting on the radial outer surfaces 35 and 45 of the grooves 30 and 40, orbiting the bottom of the shaft, and the axial outer surfaces 173 of the third and fourth segments, away from the bottom of the shaft, reaching the outer surfaces 31 and 42 of the grooves as shown in Figure 11. Alternatively, the conveyor roller can be mounted in different positions.

[0029] Figures 11-13 show the conveyor roller 100 as it rotates half a turn in the direction of arrow 19. As shown in Figure 12, after a 90° rotation, the segmented hub 110 is oriented so that the first and second arcuate sections 111, 112 extend along the sides of the mounting shaft from the top to the opposite bottom, exposing specific surfaces for cleaning. Figure 13 shows the conveyor roller 100 after a further 90° rotation so that the third and fourth arcuate sections 121, 122 seat in the grooves 30, 40 and orbit the top of the mounting shaft 10. In this position, the axial outer surfaces 173 of the third and fourth arcuate sections are constrained to abut against the outer sides 31, 42 of the grooves 30, 40, exposing additional surface areas for cleaning. The radial inner surfaces 172 of the third and fourth arc-shaped sections 121 and 122 contact and rest on the radial outer surfaces 35 and 45 of the groove. At this time, the first and second arc-shaped sections 111 and 112 orbit around the bottom of the mounting shaft 10 and are spaced apart from the bottom of the shaft 10 to create a gap 182 between the radial inner surfaces 172 of the first and second arc-shaped sections 111 and 112 and the mounting shaft 10. When the conveyor roller 100 returns to the first position in Figure 11, an additional surface is exposed for cleaning without removing the conveyor roller 100 from the mounting shaft 10.

[0030] At any radial position on the mounting shaft 10, the conveyor roller 100 has at least two radial inner surfaces 172 of the arcuate sections 111, 112, 121 and / or 122 in contact with the radial outer surface of the mounting shaft. Furthermore, at any radial position, the conveyor roller has at least two axial surfaces 173 or 174 of the arcuate sections 111, 112, 121 and / or 122 that contact or abut against the sides 31, 32, 41 and / or 42 of the shaft grooves 30 and 40 in order to restrain the conveyor roller 100 in the mounting region 20 of the shaft.

[0031] The conveyor roller 100 can be used with any suitable mounting shaft. In another embodiment shown in Figures 14-17, the mounting shaft 210 may have circumferential grooves 230, 240 of a certain depth that form a mounting area 220. The grooves 230, 240 are separated by a raised portion 260 that encircles the mounting shaft. The sides of the grooves 230, 240 that restrain the segmented hub of the mounting roller 100 are annular.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the illustrated conveyor rollers and / or mounting shafts, but includes variations and modifications of these embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 10 Mounting shaft 11 Cylindrical body 12 Exterior 16 axes 19 Arrow 20 Mounting area 30. First eccentric radial groove 31 Outer side 32 Medial side 35 Radial outer surface 40. Second eccentric radial groove 41 Medial side 42 Outer side 45 Radial outer surface 50 Central vertical plane 60 Ridge 100 Conveyor Rollers 110 segmented hub 111 First arc-shaped segment 112 Second arc-shaped segment 121 Third arc-shaped segment 122 The fourth arc-shaped segment 140 First overlapping portion 141 Second overlapping section 142 Third overlapping section 143 The fourth overlapping section 145 Radial inner surface 146 First bridging segment 147 Second bridging segment 150 spokes 160 Outer rim 161 External surface 170 Isolated arc-shaped segments 171 Radial outer surface 172 Radial inner surface 173 Axial outer surface 174 Inner surface in axial direction 175 End face 176 End face 178 lines 179 vertices 180 Interstitial space 181 Gap 182 Gap 210 Mounting shaft 220 mounting area 230 Groove 240 Groove 260 Ridge

Claims

1. A roller for a conveyor, A segmented hub formed from multiple overlapping and connected segments to form an opening for receiving a shaft around which conveyor rollers are mounted, At least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub, A rim connected to the segmented hub via at least one spoke, The segmented hub, The first arc-shaped segment and A second arc-shaped segment is spaced apart from the first arc-shaped segment and parallel to the first arc-shaped segment, A third arc-shaped segment is radially offset from the first arc-shaped segment and overlaps with the first arc-shaped segment to form a first overlapping section at a first position, wherein the third arc-shaped segment is positioned axially outward from the first arc-shaped segment, A fourth arc-shaped segment that is radially offset from the second arc-shaped segment and overlaps with the second arc-shaped segment to form a second overlapping section at a second position, wherein the fourth arc-shaped segment is positioned axially outward from the second arc-shaped segment, A roller for a conveyor comprising: a first bridging segment connecting the first overlapping section to the second overlapping section.

2. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the segmented hub has mirror image symmetry through a central plane that divides the segmented hub into two equal parts in the axial direction.

3. A third overlapping section formed between the first and third arc-shaped segments at a third position, A fourth overlapping section formed between the second and fourth arc-shaped segments at the fourth position, A second bridging segment that connects the third overlapping segment to the fourth overlapping segment and The roller according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the first arc-shaped segment, the second arc-shaped segment, the third arc-shaped segment, and the fourth arc-shaped segment are substantially identical.

5. The roller according to claim 4, wherein the first arc-shaped segment, the second arc-shaped segment, the third arc-shaped segment, and the fourth arc-shaped segment each include a radial inner surface, a radial outer surface, an axial inner surface, an axial outer surface, a first end face, and a second end face.

6. The roller according to claim 5, wherein the axial inner surface and the axial outer surface are flat.

7. The roller according to claim 5, wherein each arc-shaped segment extends beyond 180°.

8. The roller according to claim 7, wherein the third arc-shaped segment is radially offset by 180° from the first arc-shaped segment, and the ends of the first and third arc-shaped segments overlap each other.

9. The roller according to claim 8, wherein the fourth arc-shaped segment is radially offset by 180° from the second arc-shaped segment, and the ends of the second and fourth arc-shaped segments overlap each other.

10. The roller according to claim 5, wherein the first end face and the second end face extend parallel to a line extending tangent to the vertex of the arc-shaped segment.

11. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the spokes extend from the bridging section to the rim.

12. A mounting shaft including a cylindrical body extending along an axis and a mounting area formed in the body, A conveyor roller rotatably mounted in the mounting area, comprising a segmented hub formed from a plurality of overlapping and connected segments to form an opening for receiving the mounting shaft, with at least one spoke extending radially from the segmented hub and a rim connected to the segmented hub via the at least one spoke, The aforementioned mounting area is The first peripheral groove formed in the cylindrical body, A roller assembly for a conveyor comprising a second peripheral groove formed in the cylindrical body and separated from the first peripheral groove by a raised portion.

13. The roller assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove are eccentric and form a plurality of crescent-shaped flat surfaces extending perpendicular to the axis of the mounting shaft for contact with the axially flat surface of the segmented hub.

14. The roller assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first and second peripheral grooves extend around the outer circumference of the shaft and have a certain depth to form a flat, ring-shaped surface extending perpendicular to the axis of the mounting shaft for contact with the axially flat surface of the segmented hub.

Images