Support roller element for a roller conveyor

Abstract

The invention relates to a support roller element (1) for a roller conveyor (100), wherein the support roller element (1) has a base roller element (10) with a conveying surface (5) and, on the conveying surface (5), at least one annular contact element (4) made of a contact material is arranged and spans the conveying surface (5) in an elongated manner, wherein a first and a second contact ring end are thus formed which overlap in a manner engaging in one another, wherein the first and the second contact ring ends are connected to the base roller element (10) by at least one fastening means (7) so as to be releasable and re-attachable, and the fastening means (7) is shaped and / or arranged to at least partially plunge into the conveying surface (5) of the base roller element (10). The invention furthermore relates to a roller conveyor (100) for conveyed goods (2), said roller conveyor comprising at least one support roller element (1) according to the invention.

Description

[0001] Support roller body for conveyor roller conveyor

[0002] The invention relates to an improved support roller body for a conveyor roller conveyor, for example for piece goods such as glass panels, and to a conveyor roller conveyor comprising at least one support roller body according to the invention.

[0003] Roller conveyors are individual conveyor systems for transporting piece goods, workpiece carriers, or even continuous goods. The respective material is transported via the conveyor's conveyor rollers or rollers and usually rests on at least three rollers. Rollers are provided with a plastic coating or lining, for example, or with a rubber surface that is firmly attached to the surface of the rollers, for example through a vulcanization or other coating process. Roller conveyors, especially those with conveyor or support rollers, are used for a variety of purposes. These include warehousing, logistics, and intralogistics for the transport and distribution of conveyed goods, such as piece goods, as well as in production lines or for workpiece feeding in machining centers or cells. Roller conveyors can also connect different warehouses and logistics halls.For this type of conveyor technology, the material to be transported must be suitable for roller conveyors.

[0004] Roller conveyors are usually based on a frame structure. Light roller conveyors for lightweight materials are made from aluminum profiles, for example, while heavy-duty roller conveyors for heavy materials are more likely to be made from steel elements. Rotating support rollers, axles, and / or shafts are fitted within the frame structure, with conveyor rollers arranged in parallel rows for straight travel. For curved travel, the support rollers can be positioned within a frame at a suitable angle to each other. Depending on the application, the roller conveyor can be equipped with a drive. The drive elements of the support rollers can be housed in a protective housing, for example. This protects both the drive elements from contamination and the operator from injury.Power is transmitted from the drive to the individual support rollers, such as steel rollers, via chains or belts. Idler rollers, which are arranged on a shaft, can be driven during the transport process and run freely when the shaft is stopped, allowing the material to be positioned. Idler roller conveyors, also known as free-running roller conveyors, or non-driven roller conveyors, do not have a motor and / or electric drive and are then driven exclusively by gravity or muscle power. They can typically be used to transport various materials with a flat surface or a surrounding frame and of varying widths and lengths. Idler roller conveyors are suitable for transporting items such as pallets, workpiece carriers, cardboard boxes, crates, and so on.The materials are transported, for example, using gravity over a gradient (gravity roller conveyor or gradient roller conveyor) or moved using muscle power. They are used where materials such as packages or boxes still have to be handled, or where pallets or workpiece carriers still have to be moved manually.

[0005] The space provided between the support rollers allows sufficient room for the installation of stoppers, fixing units and processing stations as required.

[0006] Driven roller conveyors are also a popular means of transporting, feeding, or buffering materials in conveyor technology. They can be used to transport various materials with a flat surface or a surrounding frame, and with varying widths and lengths. Driven roller conveyors are suitable for transporting both light materials and heavy loads such as pallets, workpiece carriers, cardboard boxes, crates, and so on.

[0007] If individual rollers on roller conveyors, whether driven or not, such as those used in the glass, wood, or furniture industries, become worn or cut, for example, entire axles or shafts must be removed along with the rollers, replaced with new or re-equipped shafts or axles, and then reinstalled and aligned. This typically results in a long downtime for the entire roller conveyor, or possibly even an entire production line. It can also lead to the reconfiguration of an entire production line. Furthermore, the necessary stockpiling and inventory of replacement axles and / or shafts as spare parts results in additional costs.To facilitate interchangeability, US 2014 / 0034444 A1 describes a roller divided into two parts perpendicular to the running surface. This roller can be mounted on a shaft in a roller conveyor and completely encloses the shaft via a lateral screw connection parallel to the running surface. To protect the transported goods, an elastic ring can be provided on the running surface of the roller, which can be protected from lateral slippage by a groove. If the elastic ring is worn, it must be replaced. However, the shaft must be removed for this purpose.

[0008] DE 10 2016125 019 A1 describes a multi-part roller consisting of at least two segments that can be screwed together laterally. When assembled and screwed together, the roller completely encloses a roller conveyor shaft. Each segment has an inner section on the shaft side and an outer section facing away from the shaft. The outer and inner sections are designed as multi-layered components and are positively connected to each other with a complex tongue and groove structure. The outer section forms the running surface for a transported product, and the supporting material from which the outer section is made is selected with regard to its properties, taking this transported product into account.Because the roller is made up of multiple parts, it's not necessary to replace an entire roller conveyor shaft. However, the support material in the running surface always has at least two or more joints, which can lead to poor concentricity. If damaged or worn, the outer pieces used as the running surface can be replaced with new outer pieces, which are pushed onto the inner pieces by loosening the tongue and groove structure. However, this requires disassembling the roller from the shaft and separating at least two segments.

[0009] CN 100420615 C describes a multi-part track roller for sliding onto a shaft or axle of a roller conveyor, comprising a retaining ring and a fastening plate that can be screwed laterally to the shaft or axle. An annular contact element is arranged between the retaining ring and the fastening plate and is fastened therebetween by a clamp and screw connection, wherein the contact element has at least one or more separating edges. Thanks to the separating edge provided, the annular contact element can be replaced by loosening the screw and clamp connection without the shaft or axle having to be removed, but the separating edge creates at least one joint in the running surface that can impede optimal concentricity.The need to loosen the screw connections perpendicular to the running direction also requires a relatively large amount of space for replacing a contact element, which may affect the number of transport rollers required. If the retaining ring or mounting plate of the roller is defective, the axle or shaft must be removed to remove the roller or its parts and replace them.

[0010] WO 2009 / 113127 A1 describes various variants of rollers with a one-piece roller body, wherein for a straight transport alignment at least two annular bands made of contact material are provided for a completely circumferential coating of the roller surface in the running direction. In one variant it is provided that a contact band for at least half-side coating of the running surface of the roller is threaded laterally into a guide groove in the roller body and guided onto the roller surface. This means that in order to replace a worn or defective annular contact band on the roller, the axle or shaft does not have to be removed. With these variants, however, it is only possible to equip a transport roller across the width by placing several roller bodies next to one another. A gap must be provided between the rollers in order to be able to exchange the contact bands and thread them laterally into the roller body.Other variants described in WO 2009 / 113127 A1 provide for ring-shaped contact bands to be arranged elongatedly on the running surface of the roller and fastened with hooks at the respective ends. However, this means that the transported goods can be touched in the area of ​​these hooks. In the area around the hooks, the contact material is also deformed and a rubber will, for example, bulge in a kind of eraser effect. This prevents the roller from running smoothly. For a completely circumferential covering with a contact band, one variant provides for the ends of the contact band to be fastened next to one another with hooks on the running surface with an overlapping area. This automatically results in an inclined arrangement of the contact band and thus in lateral drift for a transported goods.To prevent this drift, an alternative variant can be arranged with two contact strips arranged parallel to each other on the running surface, with the ends of the two contact strips positioned opposite each other. Even in these variants, the previously described problems for smooth concentricity arise due to the mounting on the running surface.

[0011] One object of the present invention is therefore to equip and design the support roller bodies used for transporting piece goods in conveyor roller conveyors in such a way that when contact elements of the support roller bodies become worn, they can be repaired and replaced simply and easily, so that the downtime required for the conveyor roller conveyor can be minimized. Another object is to ensure that, particularly when individual support roller bodies mounted on an axle or shaft become worn, operative capability can be restored more easily and with less material and effort, without the conveyor roller(s) or even an entire axle or shaft having to be replaced. The support roller bodies should enable the best possible concentricity, in particular for straight-line travel of the goods to be transported in a conveyor roller conveyor, preferably with reduced material expenditure.

[0012] These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a support roller body according to claim 1 and a conveyor roller conveyor according to claim 12. Preferred embodiments are evident from the subclaims.

[0013] According to the invention, a support roller body for a conveyor roller conveyor, for example for piece goods, is provided, wherein the support roller body has a base roller body with a conveying surface and at least one annular contact element made of a contact material is arranged on the conveying surface and spans the conveying surface in an elongated manner and wherein a first and a second contact ring end are formed which overlap in an interlocking manner, wherein the first and the second contact ring end are detachably and reattachably connected to the base roller body with at least one fastening means and the fastening means is formed and / or arranged at least partially submerged in the conveying surface of the base roller body.

[0014] The term support roller body refers to the roller bodies of a conveyor roller conveyor on which the material to be conveyed, for example piece goods to be conveyed, rests during the transport process and can be transported further by this.

[0015] The conveying surface is understood to be the surface of the support roller body, or more precisely the base roller body, facing the material being conveyed. This base roller body is arranged within the conveyor roller conveyor, i.e., within a frame and / or mounted on an axle and / or shaft of the conveyor roller conveyor. The conveyor roller conveyor is also referred to as the roller conveyor for short.

[0016] The contact element is the element of the support roller body that is intended to come into direct contact with the conveyed material, for example, the piece goods being conveyed, during the transport process. In other words, during the transport process, the conveyed material rests essentially and preferably only on the contact element.

[0017] According to the invention, the annular contact element is guided externally, in an elongated form, around the conveying surface of the base roller body, and the loop-like ends of the annular contact element created by the elongated shape are secured and fixed by at least one fastening means with an interlocking (interlocking) area, wherein the fastening means is formed and / or arranged at least partially submerged in the conveying surface of the base roller body. This type of fastening results in the contact element resting circumferentially on the conveying surface, so to speak, in at least two tracks and spanning it.

[0018] The two loop-like ends created during the longitudinal stretching of the annular contact element are referred to below as the first and second, but also as the inner and outer, contact ring ends or the lower and upper contact ring ends. In the context of the invention, "interlocking" means that the contact ring ends are each stretched and secured over the conveying surface of the base roller body beyond the other, i.e., overlapping in an area behind an intersection point of the contact element. In the fastened state, one contact ring end (inner contact ring end) can be arranged within the second (outer) contact ring end in an imaginary plan view. Likewise, "interlocking and overlapping" also includes embodiments in which the contact ring ends are arranged directly one above the other in the overlapping area, except for the deflection areas placed around the fastening means.Thanks to the fastening means formed submerged in the base roller body, in all embodiments according to the invention, the overlapping, interlocking fastening of the contact ring ends advantageously eliminates any bumps, unevenness, or abutting edges that could adversely affect the conveyed material. This advantageously results in the conveyed material resting better and more securely on the support roller body, or more precisely on the contact element, for optimal concentricity and straight running. This allows for easier maintenance, replaceability, and easier adaptability of the support roller bodies to different conveyed materials and their requirements for strength, damping, roughness, friction coefficient, thickness, elasticity, etc.

[0019] The fact that, according to the invention, the fastening means is formed and / or arranged at least partially submerged in the conveying surface of the base roller body means, in other words, that it is formed or arranged at least partially countersunk into the base roller body, so that when the annular contact element is applied, advantageously no bumps, deformations, or abutting edges of the contact element form on and in the conveying surface, particularly in the fastening area. This is an advantageous improvement over the variants described in WO 2009 / 113127 A1. Furthermore, the interlocking arrangement and fastening of the loop-like contact ring ends allows for improved concentricity and straight-line running in comparison.

[0020] All of this represents an advantageous difference to the prior art, because in contrast to the invention, WO 2009 / 113127 A1 does indeed provide an overlapping area in an embodiment with a contact ring on the roller, but the ends of the contact ring are fixed next to one another, i.e. not interlocking, and are also fixed with raised hooks on the surface of the roller, which inevitably leads to skewed running of the material being conveyed and is contrary to optimal concentricity.

[0021] According to the invention, the annular contact element, also referred to as the contact element for short, is detachably and reattachably connected to the base roller body. The conveying surface and the contact element are therefore not rigidly connected to one another, for example, molded onto a base body as a plastic casing, but rather designed separately. This is advantageously designed so that the contact elements can be reversibly removed and reattached or, for example, replaced with identical or different contact elements, for example made of different contact materials, in the event of wear. This can be done without disassembling parts of the roller conveyor, in particular axles, shafts, or even the base roller body.The base roller body of the support roller body can be made of metal, such as galvanized steel, or plastic, such as polyurethane, polyamide, or composite materials, or other suitable, sufficiently stable materials. With regard to product properties such as load-bearing capacity and wear resistance, particular consideration can be given to the material to be transported and the type of conveyor roller conveyor, for example, a heavy-duty roller conveyor or a light-duty roller conveyor.

[0022] In preferred embodiments, the support roller body is designed as a conveyor axle or conveyor shaft, or as a conveyor roller, also called a conveyor or idler roller. Conveyor axles or shafts are usually cylindrical, i.e., roller- or tubular, and are rotatably mounted directly within a frame structure, for example, in the side profiles of a conveyor roller conveyor. For example, a frame can have side profiles, for example, designed as T-beams, U-profiles, or square profiles, in which conveyor axles or conveyor shafts are rotatably mounted. For example, the conveyor axles or shafts can be designed as steel or plastic rollers.In the fastening embodiments according to the invention, an allocation with the annular contact element is denser than in the variants described in WO 2009 / 113127 A1, or with the same allocation number with the annular contact elements, it is better designed for straight-line running of a transported item and improved concentricity.

[0023] Conveyor rollers, however, in embodiments according to the invention, are arranged on an axle or shaft, which in turn is mounted rotatably or non-rotatably in the frame. The conveyor rollers themselves can, for example, be rotatable about an axle mounted non-rotatably in the frame, or they can be mounted non-rotatably on the axle or shaft, with the axle or shaft then being designed to rotate accordingly to enable the conveyance of the piece goods. The axle or shaft, as well as the conveyor rollers, can also be designed to rotate.

[0024] In one embodiment, the annular contact element is designed as a closed or closable ring, in particular with a round or rounded cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, the contact material of the annular contact element is an elastic material, a plastic, rubber and / or a textile material. Preferably, the contact element is a rubber ring. Advantageously, the contact material can be selected with regard to its material properties, such as thickness, elasticity, and friction properties, so that, on the one hand, secure attachment to the conveying surface of the support roller base body is ensured and, on the other hand, the contact material is also matched to the product to be conveyed, for example piece goods, so that the piece goods can be transported safely and without damage or destruction.Advantageously, the detachable fastening of the contact element also allows for easy replacement. This makes it possible, for example, to easily adapt the contact element(s) when changing the material to be transported. It is even possible to equip the support roller body with different contact elements, made of different materials or of different thicknesses, etc. Likewise, if individual contact elements become worn or worn, they can be easily and precisely replaced with new, similar contact elements without having to remove the support roller body(s) from the conveyor roller track.This not only enables simplified, highly process- and cost-efficient adaptation or replacement of contact elements on or around the support roller bodies and a conveyor roller conveyor equipped with them, but is also particularly resource-efficient and sustainable. This minimizes downtime for conveyor roller conveyors and avoids any necessary reconfiguration.

[0025] In one embodiment of the support roller body according to the invention, it is provided that the at least one fastening means is a web or hook, a double hook, a screw connection, a rivet, a pressure fastener, a clip, clamp or Velcro connection and / or an adhesive bond. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the annular contact element is preferably an elastic ring, in particular a rubber ring, which is initially placed on one side in a loop-like manner around a double hook, guided around the base roller body and stretched beyond the first fastening point of the double hook, and is fixed around the second fastening point of the double hook. The ring (annular contact element) placed longitudinally around the base roller body in this way results in at least two coatings of the conveying surface with the contact material.The double hook can, for example, be designed with two extensions, for example in a mandrel-like manner, or optionally as an undercut countersunk in the base roller body to ensure secure fastening. For example, such an undercut can be created by milling in the support roller base body. Likewise, it is also possible, for example, to produce a base roller body with the submerged double hook using a 3D printing process. Other manufacturing processes can also be used to produce a one-piece or two-piece base roller body with fastening means, for example casting, injection molding and extrusion, although this list is not exhaustive. The annular contact element is expediently designed and constructed in such a way in terms of its size / length and material that, in the fastened arrangement, it spans the conveying surface, i.e. rests on it in a stationary and non-slip manner.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the support roller body, more precisely the base roller body, has at least one guide element in or on the conveying surface, which partially surrounds and / or accommodates the contact element, wherein the contact element projects beyond the guide element perpendicular to the conveying surface. This ensures that the material to be conveyed essentially only comes into contact with the contact element, or only rests on the contact element and not directly on the base roller body surface (conveying surface). The contact element is held in position by the guide element, for example, axially symmetrical to a reference edge in the frame structure (in a straight transport direction), and is protected from lateral slipping.It is also possible to align the contact elements by means of the guide elements in such a way that the material to be transported, for example piece goods, can be moved transversely or at least obliquely to a reference edge, for example to side profiles in the frame structure of the roller conveyor, wherein the guide element or the contact element accommodated therein is then not formed or fixed axially symmetrically to the reference edge, but at an angle to it.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the support roller body has at least one groove as a guide element for partially receiving the contact element, which groove is shaped and formed in the conveying surface of the base roller body. In another preferred embodiment of the support roller body according to the invention, it is provided that the fastening means and / or the guide element, preferably a groove, is formed at least partially submerged in the base roller body. This can advantageously prevent, for example, disadvantageous warping of the contact material in the area of ​​the fastening of the contact element and / or a groove. This can prevent increased wear and tear in these areas or a negative effect, for example damage, on the conveyed material.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, a fitting piece for the conveying surface is inserted in a submerged area to the fastening means below the annular contact element. A fitting piece is understood to be a separate element which corresponds in shape to any hole to the conveying surface remaining in the base roller body around the fastening means and can fill this hole so that it is flush with the further conveying surface. This advantageously makes it possible to support the annular contact element over the entire conveying surface. At the same time, in this case, the fitting piece is in turn fixed by the contact element and protected from slipping out, without necessarily requiring further fastening.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the fastening means is at least partially designed as a movable, fixable supplementary element to the conveying surface. This can be, for example, a hook formed with a movable, closable flap, e.g., with a hinge, which is connected to the base roller body. In this case, for example, a first contact ring end can be looped around the flap in an open state, and the flap can then be closed, whereby it then fits evenly into the conveying surface. In contrast to the fitting piece, the supplementary element is part of the fastening means for the annular contact element.

[0030] In further preferred embodiments, the adapter or the supplementary element is fixed or attached to the base roller body by means of a connecting means, preferably by a clip or clamp connection, by screwing, or by riveting. The adapter and supplementary element can be made of the same or a different material as the base roller body, for example, from known and suitable metal, plastic, ceramic, or composite materials, and can also be manufactured using known manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing, casting, injection molding, and extrusion, etc.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment, the support roller body is designed as a two-part conveyor roller that can be mounted circumferentially on an axle or shaft of the conveyor roller track. In other words, in this embodiment, the base roller body consists of two parts that are placed around an axle or shaft and can be joined together, for example, by means of screws and fixed in a rotationally fixed manner or mounted rotatably. This means that not only the contact element itself can be replaced flexibly and quickly, but also individual conveyor rollers, for example worn or defective ones. A conveyor roller can thus advantageously be mechanically separated from the axle or shaft and replaced with a new one easily and very quickly. This eliminates the need to replace or remove an entire shaft or axle.The disassembly, installation, and realignment of the axles or shafts within the conveyor roller conveyor, or even the reconfiguration of an entire conveyor system, is eliminated. This leads to drastically reduced downtime overall, resulting in significant time and money savings and increased efficiency. Furthermore, the costs of stocking and storing interchangeable axles can be eliminated or at least significantly reduced.

[0032] The invention further relates to a conveyor roller conveyor for conveyed material, comprising at least one support roller body, as described above in various embodiments. The conveyor roller conveyor is preferably equipped with several, preferably exclusively, support roller bodies according to the invention. When the support roller bodies are configured as small conveyor rollers, for example, at least three are preferably arranged on an axle or shaft. This leads to secure storage, particularly for plate-shaped material, such as glass panels, during the transport process.

[0033] The conveyor roller conveyor, for example, for piece goods, can be an idle roller conveyor or a driven roller conveyor in various configurations. A conveyor system can also comprise various conveyor roller conveyors constructed according to different embodiments of the invention. The inventive core idea of ​​the contact element, which can be flexibly replaced without disassembling the roller conveyor's axles or shafts, is essentially applicable to all types of conveyor roller conveyors.

[0034] The invention also encompasses the use of at least one support roller body and / or a conveyor roller conveyor, as described above in various embodiments, in a conveyor system for conveyed goods, in particular for piece goods and / or as part of a production plant.

[0035] The various embodiments of the invention can be implemented individually or in any combination. In particular, the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, only one entity may be mentioned, which is not intended to exclude the possibility of multiple elements being present.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures. They show, in simplified form and not to scale:

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic oblique plan view of a section of a conveyor roller track comprising support roller bodies according to the invention;

[0038] Figure 2 is a schematic oblique plan view of a base roller body of the support roller body of Figure 1;

[0039] Figures 3a, 3b each show a schematic plan view of the support roller body with contact element and fastening means;

[0040] Figures 4a, 4b show a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the support roller body with a screw connection as a fastening means for the contact element,

[0041] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a support roller body in the form of a conveyor axle or shaft; Figure 6a is a schematic plan view of a support roller body from Figure 3a with the fitting piece 9a inserted;

[0042] Figure 6b is a schematic plan view of a support roller body from Figure 3a with

[0043] Supplementary element 9b.

[0044] Figure 1 shows an oblique view of a section of a conveyor roller conveyor 100 on which a plate-shaped element is transported as material 2, such as a glass sheet. The frame structure 8 has side profiles S (only one shown on one side) in which axles 3 are arranged parallel one behind the other. These axles 3 can also be designed as driven shafts. In curved conveyor roller conveyors or sections in such conveyor roller conveyors 100 that are curved, the axles 3 are arranged one behind the other, but at suitable angles to one another. In this embodiment, conveyor rollers are provided on the axles 3 as support roller bodies 1; by way of example, only one support roller body in the embodiment according to the invention is shown in Figure 1.The conveyor roller 1 is formed with a two-part base roller body 10 (shown in Figures 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) and is covered with an annular contact element 4 on the conveying surface 5 and thus encompassed. The annular design of the contact element 4 automatically ensures that the conveying surface 5 is covered at least twice by the contact element 4. This leads to a more secure support of the conveyed material 2 on the contact element, so that it only comes into contact with the contact element and not with the conveying surface of the base roller body. In a preferred embodiment, the contact element 4 is a rubber ring with a substantially round cross-section. The contact material from which the annular contact element 4 is made can advantageously be individually adapted to the conveyed material 2.Advantageously, when changing the conveyed material 2, the contact element 4 can also be changed quickly and without dismantling the axles 3 in the roller conveyor 100 and replaced with a contact element 4 made of a different contact material adapted to the changed conveyed material 2. A conveyor roller 10 as a support roller body according to the invention can therefore advantageously be mechanically separated from the axle 3 or shaft and easily and very quickly replaced with a new one. This eliminates the need to replace or remove an entire shaft or axle 3. The dismantling, installation, and realignment of the axles 3 or shafts within the conveyor roller conveyor 100, or even the reconfiguration of an entire conveyor system, is eliminated. Overall, this leads to drastically reduced downtime, which results in significant time and money savings and means increased efficiency.In addition, costs for stocking and storing interchangeable axles 3 can be eliminated or at least significantly reduced.

[0045] Figure 2 shows an oblique plan view of a base roller body 10 of a support roller body 1 (from Figure 1, i.e. as a conveyor roller) with a groove 6 as a guide element for receiving a contact element 4, for example in the form of a rubber ring or a closed round cord. The groove 6 is formed and shaped in the conveying surface 5. To fasten the contact element 4, a double hook is provided as the fastening means 7, shaped as two fastening areas, each with an undercut 7a within the base roller body 10. In other words, the groove 6 and the fastening means 7 (7a, 7b) are designed to be submerged, i.e. to be sunk into the base roller body 10, so that when occupied by the annular contact element 4, no bumps are formed that could have a negative effect on the transport of the conveyed material 2.The base roller body 10 is designed in two parts and can be mounted on an axis 3 (shaft if necessary) and dismounted from an axis 3 without removing the axis itself from the conveyor roller track 100.

[0046] Figure 3a shows the support roller body 1 according to the invention from Figure 1 in an oblique plan view on the side with the fastening means 7, with a base roller body 10 (shown in Figure 2) which is covered and surrounded by an annular contact element 4, preferably a rubber ring.The contact element 4 spans the conveying surface 5 in a longitudinally stretched manner, wherein an inner and an outer contact ring end are formed which overlap in an interlocking manner, wherein the inner contact ring end, which lies behind an intersection point K of the contact element 4 (on both sides) in an overlapping area 1 1 in an imaginary plan view in the embodiment shown within the outer contact ring end and the outer contact ring end are detachably and reattachably connected to the base roller body 10 by the at least one fastening means 7 and the fastening means 7 (7a 7b) is formed and / or arranged at least partially submerged in the conveying surface 5 of the base roller body 10.

[0047] The annular contact element 4 is thus secured against slipping on the circumference, i.e., all the way around the conveying surface 5 of the base roller body 10, and is partially received in the groove 6 provided for this purpose. This additionally secures the contact element 4 against lateral slipping and holds it in the desired position. The contact element 4 is elongated for fastening, and the first (outer) contact ring end is looped around a first undercut 7a, guided within the groove around the conveying surface 5 of the base roller body 10, and the second (inner) contact ring end is looped beyond the first fastening point 7a, around a second undercut 7b, and fastened. The first contact ring end is arranged within the second contact ring end in a plan view, so that there is an interlocking overlap area.According to the invention, "interlocking overlap" also encompasses embodiments in which, in a top view, the first and second contact ring ends are arranged exactly one above the other in an overlapping region, except for the ends that are guided directly around the fastening means, i.e., the deflection areas of the loop-like ends, thus forming an upper and a lower contact ring end. Advantageously, the type of fastening arranged in a submerged manner according to the invention, i.e., the fastening means 7 recessed in the base roller body 10, nevertheless always enables optimal concentricity and straight running for a transported item 2.

[0048] Figure 3b shows the support roller body 1 according to the invention, i.e., the conveyor roller from Figure 3a rotated by 180 degrees. Also shown here is the screw connection V of the two-part base roller body 10, by means of which the base roller body 10 can be mounted on an axle 3 or shaft of a conveyor roller conveyor 100. The conveyor rollers 1a can be mounted freely or non-rotatably on an axle or shaft. The non-rotatable fixation of conveyor rollers 1a on an axle 3 or shaft can be achieved in the usual way using force-locking or positive-locking connections.

[0049] Figure 4a shows the support roller body 1 according to the invention from Figure 1 in an oblique plan view of the side with the fastening means 7, with a base roller body 10 (shown in Figure 2) which is covered and surrounded by an annular contact element 4, preferably a rubber ring. The contact element 4 is partially received in the groove 6 provided for this purpose and is thereby secured against lateral slipping and held in the desired position. Unlike in Figure 3a, the contact element 4 is placed in a loop-like manner around a first undercut 7a for fastening on only one side, guided around the conveying surface 5 of the base roller body 10 within the groove and fastened beyond the first fastening point 7a by means of a countersunk screw connection 7c in the base roller body 10.

[0050] Figure 4b shows the support roller body 1 according to the invention from Figure 4a rotated by 90 degrees, with a view of the fastening point of the contact element 4 with the screw connection 7c. In this embodiment, the fastening means 7c simultaneously serves as a screw connection V for joining and connecting the two-part base roller body 10. With the screw connection 7c, V, one fastening point can thus be used twice, and space can be saved.

[0051] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the support roller body 1 according to the invention in a configuration with a conveyor axle or conveyor shaft 1b, 1c as the base roller body 10 and, by way of example, four annular contact elements 4 spanning the base roller body 10 on its conveying surface 5. The annular contact elements 4 are designed, for example, as a rubber ring, and a double hook molded into the base roller body 10 is provided as the fastening means 7, as shown analogously in Figures 2 and 3a. The fastening type is therefore analogous to that shown in Figure 3a, with a (double) hook 7, which is designed, for example, as undercuts 7a, 7b in the base roller body 10. Advantageously, compared to previously known support roller bodies of the prior art, the contact elements 4 used according to the invention can be replaced individually, and this can be done without the conveyor axles or shafts 1b, 1c having to be dismantled.The contact elements 4 can be aligned axially symmetrically to a reference edge in the frame structure 8 (S) to ensure straight travel of the conveyed material 2. Alternatively, it is possible to position the contact elements 4 obliquely to a reference edge in the frame structure 8 (S), so that this enables or supports transport of the conveyed material 2 transversely or obliquely to this reference edge. The conveyor axes 1b or conveyor shafts 1c are cylindrical (roller-shaped or tubular) and can be rotatably mounted in a frame structure 8 via a rotary axis or axis extensions A. To drive the conveyor shaft 1c, thrust and slip forces, for example from a motor drive, are transmitted to the conveyor shaft 1c. Other options for driving the conveyor axis or shaft 1b, 1c include a drive integrated into the conveyor shaft 1b or a drive via gravity conveying (freewheeling idler roller conveyor).A drive via gravity conveying is particularly advantageous for use on inclined transport levels, such as those found in transport chutes.

[0052] Figure 6a shows a schematic plan view of a support roller body from Figure 3a in an embodiment with an inserted fitting piece 9a. The fitting piece 9a is a separate element, the shape of which is adapted to the hole in the recessed area around the fastening means in the base roller body and can fill it so that it is flush with the further conveying surface 5. This advantageously makes it possible to support the annular contact element 4 over the entire conveying surface. At the same time, in this case, the fitting piece 9a is in turn overlaid and secured by the annular contact element 4 and thus protected from slipping out, without the need for further fastening.The continuous support of the annular contact element 4 contributes to improved concentricity of the support roller body, particularly during a transport process, and improves the durability of the contact element as well as the entire support roller body. Figure 6b shows a schematic plan view of a support roller body from Figure 3a in an embodiment with a supplementary element 9b. The fastening means 7 has a movable flap which, in the closed state shown, is flush with the conveying surface 5 and covers the first contact ring end. The second contact ring end is placed around the fastening point 7b, wherein in an imaginary plan view it is arranged inboard of the first contact ring end. The annular contact element is continuously supported by the supplementary element, which contributes to improved concentricity of the support roller body and extends the durability of the contact element.

[0053] List of reference symbols

[0054] 100 conveyor roller conveyors

[0055] 10 base roll bodies

[0056] 1 support roller body

[0057] 1a Conveyor roller / conveyor roller

[0058] 1 b, 1c conveyor axis / conveyor shaft

[0059] 2 Material to be conveyed (e.g. glass sheet)

[0060] 3 Axis / Shaft

[0061] 4 Contact element

[0062] 5 Conveying surface

[0063] 6 Groove (guide element)

[0064] 7 Fasteners

[0065] 7a Undercut (first attachment point, hook)

[0066] 7b second undercut (second attachment point, hook)

[0067] 7c screw fastening

[0068] 8 Frame of a (conveyor) roller conveyor

[0069] 9a fitting piece

[0070] 9b Supplementary element

[0071] 11 Overlap area

[0072] K Intersection point (area)

[0073] V connection / screw connection

[0074] S side profile (frame scaffolding)

[0075] A Axial process / axis of rotation

Claims

Patent claims 1. Support roller body (1) for a conveyor roller track (100), wherein the support roller body (1) has a base roller body (10) with a conveying surface (5) and at least one annular contact element (4) made of a contact material is arranged on the conveying surface (5) and spans the conveying surface (5) in a longitudinally stretched manner, characterized in that a first and a second contact ring end are formed which overlap in an interlocking manner, wherein the first and the second contact ring end are detachably and reattachably connected to the base roller body (10) by at least one fastening means (7), and the fastening means (7) is formed and / or arranged at least partially submerged in the conveying surface (5) of the base roller body (10).

2. Support roller body (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a conveyor axle (1b), conveyor shaft (1c) or as a conveyor roller (1a).

3. Support roller body (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the annular contact element (4) is designed as a closed or closable ring, with a round or rounded cross-section.

4. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact material of the annular contact element (4) is an elastic material, a plastic, rubber, and / or a textile material.

5. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fastening means (7) is at least one hook, a double hook, a screw connection, a rivet, a pressure fastener, a clip, clamp or Velcro connection and / or an adhesive connection.

6. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base roller body (10) has in or on the conveying surface (5) at least one guide element which partially encompasses and / or receives an annular contact element (4), wherein the annular contact element (4) projects beyond the guide element (7) perpendicular to the conveying surface (5).

7. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support roller body (1) has at least one groove (6) as a guide element for partially receiving the contact element (4), which groove is formed in the base roller body (10) in the conveying surface (5).

8. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in a submerged area to the fastening means below the annular contact element (4) a fitting piece (9a) to the conveying surface (5) is inserted.

9. Support roller body (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means is at least partially designed as a movable, fixable supplementary element (9b) to the conveying surface (5).

10. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the fitting piece (9a) or the supplementary element (9b) is fixed or fastened by means of a clip or clamp connection, by screwing or riveting.

11. Support roller body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base roller body (10) is designed as a two-part conveyor roller (1a) which can be mounted rotatably or non-rotatably on an axis (3) or a shaft of the conveyor roller track (100).

12. Conveyor roller conveyor (100) for conveyed material (2) with a frame structure (8) and at least one support roller body (1) rotatably arranged therein, preferably at least two support roller bodies (1), according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Conveyor roller conveyor (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that the contact elements (4) on the conveying surfaces (5) of the base roller bodies (10) are arranged axially symmetrically or at an angle to a reference edge in the frame structure (8).

14. Conveyor roller conveyor (100) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it is an idle roller conveyor or a roller conveyor with drive. 5

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