Bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel side flexing conveyor chains

Abstract

A bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel side flexing conveyor chains, comprising a body extending in a conveying direction, the body presenting at an upper side thereof a conveying surface that includes a plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a top run of a side flexing conveyor chain in the conveying direction, and presenting at a lower side thereof a return surface that includes a corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a bottom run of the side flexing conveyor chain opposite to the conveying direction, wherein the body further includes a carrier slab that is located between the upper and lower surface, which carrier slab extends in conveying direction along the conveying tracks and transversely to the conveying direction across the conveying tracks, and which carrier slab further includes a plurality of slots for including a stiffening profile, which slots are interspaced in conveying direction and extend transversely to the conveying direction across the conveying tracks.

Description

[0001] P138216PC00

[0002] Title: Bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel side flexing conveyor chains

[0003] The invention relates to a bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel side flexing conveyor chains, in particular a magnetic bend segment. Such bend segments are used in conveying installations to help guide a number of parallel side flexing conveyor chains that together make up an endless conveyor through a bend in a conveying path of the conveying installation. The bend segments are typically used to guide both the top runs of the endless conveying chains that carry the products to be conveyed, as well as the bottom runs that form the empty return part. The bend segments typically curve only in only one direction, with a constant radius, e.g. to guide the conveyor chains through bends of 30°, 45°, 90°, or even 180° in the conveying path. However, the bend segments may also be provided with a varying radius, and may extend to subsequently curve in opposite directions.

[0004] Known bend segments typically comprise a body that extends in a conveying direction and that at an upper surface thereof presents a conveying surface. The conveying surface typically includes a plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a top run of a side flexing conveyor chain in a conveying direction. The known bend segments further typically present at a lower surface of the body a return surface. The return surface typically includes a corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a bottom run of the side flexing conveyor chain opposite to the conveying direction.

[0005] In so called magnetic bend segments, the body of the bend segment is typically provided with cavities configured to hold magnets to attract the chains of the top- and / or bottom run into the tracks.The body of known bend segments typically includes a top plate that includes the conveying surface and a bottom plate that includes the return surface. The top- and bottom plates are typically made of wide, curvedly extending flat plates of plastics material that are relatively thin. The plates are typically provided with conveyor tracks and curved lateral sides using a milling machine.

[0006] The width depends on the number of parallel conveyor chains, and may e.g. range from 0.2 or 0.3 m to 3 or even 4m. Each top- or bottom plate may e.g. form a corner section that corresponds to an arcuate segment, e.g.

[0007] 90 or 180 degrees. To facilitate manufacture, the bend segment may include a number of consecutive top- and bottom plates in conveying direction The top- and bottom plates of the bend segment are mounted to the respective top- and bottom faces of a number of steel cross beams that are interspaced in conveying direction and that extend transversely to the conveying direction. The cross beams form the core of the body of the bend segment, and are used to mount attachments on each lateral side of the body of the bend segment, e.g. mounting brackets, connecting plates, side skirts, support legs, side guides and / or return guides.

[0008] Disadvantageous of the known bend segments is that their construction is relatively complex and costly. A further disadvantage is that, due to the difference in thermal expansion of the plastic top- and bottom plates and the steel cross beams, an expansion gap needs to be included between the attachments, e.g. side skirts, and the conveying and return surfaces.

[0009] The invention aims to ameliorate the above problems. In particular, the invention aims to provide a bend segment having a simplified construction with reduced costs, and / or improved functionality. The invention further aims to dispense with the need for an expansion gap between the side skirts and the conveying and return surfaces. Thereto the invention provides for a bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel sideflexing conveyor chains, comprising a body extending in a conveying direction, the body presenting at an upper side thereof a conveying surface that includes a plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a top run of a side flexing conveyor chain in the conveying direction, and presenting at a lower side thereof a return surface that includes a corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a bottom run of the side flexing conveyor chain opposite to the conveying direction, wherein the body further includes a carrier slab that is located between the upper and lower side, which carrier slab extends in conveying direction along the tracks and transversely to the conveying direction across the tracks, and which carrier slab further includes a plurality of slots for including a stiffening profile, which slots are interspaced in conveying direction and extend transversely to the conveying direction across the tracks.

[0010] By providing the body of the bend segment with a carrier slab with stiffener slots as a core for the bend segment, the construction of the bend segment can be simplified and its costs can be reduced. In particular, the slab can be sandwiched between a top- and bottom plate that includes respectively the conveying surface and the return surface, or can be integrally formed with a top- or bottom plate that includes respectively the conveying surface and the return surface. This way the material provided at the upper side and at the lower side of the bend segment can contribute to the structural integrity. The slots can be used to house stiffening profiles, so as to enhance stiffness of the slab transverse to the conveying direction, e.g. to prevent sag across the bend segment. The slots extend transversely to the conveying direction across the tracks. Preferably, the slots can extend across a plurality of the conveyor tracks, more preferably, the slots extend across all conveyor tracks. Preferably, the slots extend continuously across a plurality of the conveyor tracks. Preferably, the length of the slot extendingtransversely to the conveying direction may be less than or equal to the width of the carrier slab transverse to the conveying direction between lateral sides. The slots preferably leaves lateral sides of the support slab free. The provision of slots allows the stiffener to be provided separately, and to be chosen of another material than the slab, e.g. steel. Preferably a stiffening profile is housed in at least one of the slots, more preferably all.

[0011] Attachments for the bend segment may be mounted to the body of the bend segment, in particular to the carrier slab. Such attachments may e.g. include mounting brackets, connecting plates, side skirts, support legs, side guides, and / or return guides. By mounting such attachments directly or indirectly to the body of the bend segment, the body may act as a chassis or frame for the bend segment. This simplifies construction. Preferably, attachments are mounted to the lateral sides of the body, in particular to the upright lateral edges thereof. More preferably, attachments are mounted to the lateral sides or upright lateral edges of the carrier slab. Advantageously, no expansion gap needs to be included between the attachment, e.g. a side skirt, and the conveying and return surfaces.

[0012] To further simplify construction and assembly, the body, in particular the carrier slab of the body, and more in particular the upright lateral edges thereof may include inserts for receiving fasters for mounting attachments.

[0013] The carrier slab can be made of plastic material, e.g. recycled plastic. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the carrier slab can be chosen to match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material at the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. by using the same type of plastic material. Further, the lateral sides of the carrier slab can be flush with lateral edges of the top- and bottom surfaces.

[0014] The length of the stiffening profile in axial direction may be less than or equal to the width of the carrier slab transverse to the conveying direction between lateral sides. This way, the stiffening profile does notprotrude outward of the body or carrier slab beyond the side surfaces. The stiffening profile preferably extends continuously. The stiffening profile preferably extends across a plurality of the conveyor tracks, more preferably the stiffening profile extends across all conveyor tracks. The stiffening profile preferably leaves lateral sides of the support slab free. Head and tail surfaces of the stiffening profile are preferably at interspace with the lateral side surfaces of the support slab.

[0015] For efficient stiffening, the stiffening profile may be provided with a cross section having a height greater than its width. The height may be at least twice as great than its width. The stiffening profile may have a continuous cross section, e.g. a rectangular cross section or I shaped cross section.

[0016] To further enhance stiffening, the stiffening profile may be received around its cross section in the stiffening slot in a form closing arrangement.

[0017] The stiffening profile may be slidably held in the slot along a longitudinal axis thereof. This way, a difference in thermal expansion coefficient of the material of the stiffening profile and of the slab may be elegantly accounted for.

[0018] The carrier slab may be made of a first type of material, and the stiffening profile may be made of a second type of material. The second type of material may have a higher E Modulus and a different, e.g. lower, coefficient of thermal expansion than the first type of material. The first type of material may e.g. be plastic, and the second type of material may e.g. be another type of other plastic or steel.

[0019] The conveying surface with the plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks and / or the return surface with the corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks may be part of a respective top or bottom body portion that is separate to the carrier slab. The carrier slab and the top- and / or bottombody portion may cooperate sealingly, and are preferably releasably connected, e.g. via screws.

[0020] The body may further include a plurality of cavities arranged under the tracks and that are configured to hold magnets at interspace with each other underneath and along the tracks to attract conveyor modules of the respective top and bottom runs of the side flexing conveyor chains into the tracks. The cavities may be interposed between corresponding tracks of the top and bottom surfaces. Elegantly, the cavities are provided in the carrier slab. As an alternative, cavities may be provided in the top and / or bottom portion. The cavities may e.g. be provided by milling.

[0021] Magnets may be held in the cavities, in particular magnets that are provided as magnet clusters. Such magnet clusters may include a flux conducting closure plate with set of interspaced N-Z oriented permanent magnets. Efficiently, the magnet clusters that are held in the cavities include a flux conducting closure plate with sets of interspaced permanent magnets at both a top surface and a bottom surface thereof for attracting respectively a top run and a bottom run of the side flexing conveyor chain into the respective upward facing and downward facing tracks.

[0022] The slots and optionally the profiles received therein may extend through interspaces between the cavities for holding the magnets along the track. This way a significant reduction in height may be achieved, in particular when magnet clusters are used that attract chains into the respective upward facing and downward facing tracks as set out above. The slots and optionally the profiles received therein may then be are arranged within a height envelope extending between top and bottom surfaces of the cavities facing respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the body. The height of the envelope may be greater than the width of the envelope.

[0023] As discussed above, side skirts may be mounted to respective side surfaces of the body of the bend segment, in particular to the carrier slab. Such side skirts may e.g. be embodied as plates that extend in conveyingdirection along the body, and protrude transverse to the upper and / or lower surface of the body.

[0024] Further components of the bend segment, e.g. support legs, side guides and return guides may be mounted to the body of the bend segment, in particular to the carrier slab. The body, in particular the carrier slab of the body, may be provided with inserts for receiving fasters for mounting side skirts, support legs, side guides, and / or return guides.

[0025] The upward and downward facing tracks may each include a slot for receiving hinge assemblies of consecutive conveyor chain modules, flanked by rail portions with upright guide surfaces for guiding hinge assemblies and transverse guide surfaces for guiding transport blades of conveyor chain modules. The guide surfaces may e.g. be replaceable, and may e.g. be attached to rail portions as a removable strip of material having relatively high wear resistance and low friction compared to the base material of the body.

[0026] The above aspects of the invention individually alleviate disadvantages of mounting brackets, and in combination alleviate disadvantages further. The aspects of the invention together form an invention, but may each individually also be seen as inventions on their own.

[0027] The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment that is represented in drawings. The exemplary embodiment is are given by way of non -limitative illustration of the invention.

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a bend segment in accordance with the invention, and

[0030] Figure 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the support slab of the bend segment of figure 1.It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations that are given by way of non-limited examples. In the figures, the same or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 show a bend segment 1 for guiding side flexing conveyor chains. The bend segment 1 comprises a body 2 extending in a conveying direction P. The body 2 presents at an upper side 3a thereof a conveying surface 4a. The conveying surface 4a includes a plurality of parallel curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks 5. Each upward facing conveyor track is arranged for guiding conveyor modules of a top run 6 of a side flexing conveyor chain in the conveying direction P.

[0032] The body 2 further presents at a lower side 3b thereof a return surface 4b. The return surface 4b includes a plurality of parallel curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks 7, that corresponds to the plurality of parallel curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks 5. Each downward facing return track 7 is arranged for guiding conveyor modules of a bottom run 8 of the side flexing conveyor chain opposite to the conveying direction P.

[0033] The upward and downward facing conveyor tracks 5 each include a curved slot 9 for receiving the hinge assemblies of consecutive conveyor chain modules. The curved slot 9 is flanked by rail portions 10 with upright guide surfaces 11 for guiding the chain hinge assemblies and transverse guide surfaces 12 for guiding transport blades of conveyor chain modules.

[0034] The guide surfaces 11,12 of the upward facing conveyor tracks 5 are replaceable, and are attached to rail portions 10 as a removable strip 13 of material having relatively high wear resistance and low friction compared to the base material of the body 2.

[0035] The body 2 further includes a plurality of cavities 14 arranged under the tracks 5,7 (see Figure 2). The cavities 14 are configured to hold magnets at interspace with each other underneath and along the tracks to attract conveyor modules of the respective top and bottom runs 6,8 of theside flexing conveyor chains into the tracks. In the cavities 14 magnets are housed. The magnets are provided as magnet clusters 15. As shall be discussed further on in more detail, the magnet clusters 15 include a flux conducting closure plate 16 with set of interspaced N-Z oriented permanent magnets 25.

[0036] In accordance with the invention, the body 2 includes a carrier slab 17 that is located between the conveying surface 4a and the return surface 4b. The carrier slab 17 extends in conveying direction P along the upward facing and downward facing tracks 5,7 and transversely to the conveying direction P across the upward facing and downward facing tracks 5,7. In this exemplary embodiment, the conveying surface 4a with the plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks 5 is part of the slab 17. The return surface 4b with the corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks 7 is part of a bottom body portion 18 that is separate to the carrier slab 17. The carrier slab 17 and the bottom body portion 18 cooperate sealingly, and are releasably connected via screws 19 to facilitate re-use of the magnet clusters 15. The magnet clusters 15 are dropped into the cavities 14 without need for further fastening as they are held in pace with the bottom portion 18 that acts as a lid for the cavities 14. The carrier slab 17 includes a plurality of slots 20 for including a stiffening profile 21. In this embodiment, the slots 20 are embodied as straight, radial slots. The slots 20 are interspaced in conveying direction P and extend transversely to the conveying direction P across the upward facing and downward facing tracks. The slots 20 extend continuously across a plurality of the conveyor tracks. The length of the slots 20 extending transversely to the conveying direction P is less than the width of the carrier slab 17 transverse to the conveying direction P between lateral sides 22. The slots 20 leave the lateral sides 22 of the carrier slab 17 free, while extending across a plurality of conveying tracks. In this exemplary embodiment, in all of the slots 20 a stiffening profile 21 is housed.The carrier slab 17 is made of recycled plastic material. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the carrier slab 17 has been chosen to match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the plastic material of the bottom body portion 18. The lateral sides 22 of the carrier slab 17 are arranged to be flush with lateral edges 23 of the top- and bottom surfaces.

[0037] The stiffening profile 21 is in this embodiment made from steel. It extends continuously along its longitudinal axis A. The stiffening profile 21 extends across a plurality of conveying tracks. The stiffening profile 21 has been provided with a continuous rectangular cross section having a height h greater than its width w. The height h is at least twice as great as its width w. The length of the stiffening profile 21 in axial direction has in this embodiment been chosen to be less than the width of the carrier slab 17 transverse to conveying direction P between the lateral sides 22 of the carrier slab 17. The stiffening profile 21 does not protrude outward of the body 2 or carrier slab 17 beyond the side surfaces, and leaves lateral sides 22 of the support slab 17 free. Head- and tail surfaces 24 of the stiffening profile 21 are at interspace with the surfaces of the lateral sides 22 of the support slab 17.

[0038] To optimize stiffening, the stiffening profile 21 is in use received around its cross section in the stiffening slot in a form closing arrangement. To accommodate for the difference in thermal expansion coefficient of the material of the stiffening profile 21 and of the slab 17, the stiffening profile 21 is slidably received in the slot along a longitudinal axis thereof. The stiffening slot 20 extends continuously in the direction transverse to the conveying direction P, across a plurality of conveyor tracks. The length of the stiffening slot 20 extending transversely to the conveying direction P is less than the width of the carrier slab 17 transverse to the conveying direction P between the lateral sides 22 of the carrier slab 17, therebyleaving lateral sides 22 of the carrier slab 17 free. The cross section of the stiffening slot 20 has a height that is greater than its width.

[0039] The cavities 14 provided in the carrier slab 17 are interposed between corresponding tracks 5,7 of the upper and lower surfaces 3a, 3b of the body 2. The corresponding tracks are vertically aligned. The cavities 14 have been provided by milling. The magnet clusters 15 that are housed in the cavities 14 include a flux conducting closure plate 16 with sets of interspaced permanent magnets 25 at both a top surface and a bottom surface thereof for attracting respectively a top run 6 and a bottom run 8 of a the side flexing conveyor chain into the respective upward and downward facing tracks 5,7. In use, this prevents the radially outward edges of the conveyor chain modules of the top run 6 from lifting up away from the track when going through the bend, and prevents the conveyor chain modules of the bottom run 8 from dropping out of the track.

[0040] The slots 20 and the profiles 21 received therein extend through interspaces 26 between the cavities 14 for holding the magnets along the track. The slots 20 and the profiles 21 received therein are arranged within a height envelope extending between top and bottom surfaces of the cavities 14 facing respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the body 2. The height of the envelope is greater than the width of said envelope.

[0041] Attachments for the bend segment 1, e.g. side skirts or mounting brackets for legs and for side guides, can be mounted directly to the body 2 of the bend segment, in particular to upright lateral sides 22 the carrier slab 17 via inserts 27 provided therein. The body 2 can then acts as a chassis or frame for the bend segment 1. Such mounting may be free of an expansion gap, as the attachment jointly moves with the body 2 upon lateral thermal expansion of the body.

[0042] Many variations will be apparent to the skilled person in the art. For example, the support slab may be integrated with the bottom surface of the body, and may be closed off with a top portion of the body that includesthe top surface of the body. Alternatively, the support slab may form a central portion of the body that is sandwiched between a top portion of the body that includes the top surface, and a bottom portion of the body that includes the bottom surface of the body. Such variations are understood to be comprised within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.List of reference signs

[0043] 1. Bend segment

[0044] 2. Body

[0045] 3. Upper side body 3a; Lower side body 3b 4. Conveying surface 4a; Return surface 4b 5. Upward facing conveying tracks

[0046] 6. Top run of side flexing conveyor chain

[0047] 7. Downward facing return tracks

[0048] 8. Bottom run of side flexing conveyor chain 9. Curved slot

[0049] 10. Rail portions

[0050] 11. Upright guide surfaces

[0051] 12. Transverse guide surfaces

[0052] 13. Removable strip

[0053] 14. Cavity

[0054] 15. Magnet clusters

[0055] 16. Closure plate

[0056] 17. Carrier slab

[0057] 18. Bottom body portion

[0058] 19. Screws

[0059] 20. Slots

[0060] 21. Stiffening profile

[0061] 22. Lateral side slab

[0062] 23. Lateral edge top I bottom surface

[0063] 24. Head / tail surface stiffening profile

[0064] 25. Permanent magnets

[0065] 26. Interspace between cavities along the track 27. Inserts

[0066] A. Longitudinal axis stiffening profile P. Conveying directionh. Height stiffening profile w. Width stiffening profile

Claims

Claims1. A bend segment for guiding a plurality of parallel side flexing conveyor chains, comprising a body extending in a conveying direction, the body presenting at an upper side thereof a conveying surface that includes a plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a top run of a side flexing conveyor chain in the conveying direction, and presenting at a lower side thereof a return surface that includes a corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks, each for guiding conveyor modules of a bottom run of the side flexing conveyor chain opposite to the conveying direction, wherein the body further includes a carrier slab that is located between the upper and lower side, which carrier slab extends in conveying direction along the conveying tracks and transversely to the conveying direction across the conveying tracks, and which carrier slab further includes a plurality of slots for including a stiffening profile, which slots are interspaced in conveying direction and extend transversely to the conveying direction across the conveying tracks.

2. The bend segment of claim 1, wherein a stiffening profile is housed in at least one of the slots.

3. The bend segment of claim 1 or 2, wherein lateral sides of the carrier slab are flush with lateral edges of the top- and bottom surfaces.

4. The bend segment of any of claims 1-3, where the length of the stiffening profile in axial direction is less than or equal to the width of the carrier slab transverse to the conveying direction between lateral sides.

5. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the stiffening profile is provided with a cross section having a height greater than its width.

6. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the stiffening profile is slidably held in the slot along a longitudinal axis thereof.

7. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, the stiffening profile is received around its cross section in the slot in a form closing arrangement.

8. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier slab is made of a first type of material, and wherein the stiffening profile is made of a second type of material.

9. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying surface with the plurality of curvedly extending, upward facing conveyor tracks and / or the return surface with the corresponding plurality of curvedly extending, downward facing return tracks are part of a respective top or bottom body portion that is separate to the carrier slab.

10. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further includes a plurality of cavities arranged under the tracks and that are configured to hold magnets at interspace with each other underneath and along the tracks to attract conveyor modules of the respective top and bottom runs of the side flexing conveyor chains into the tracks.

11. The bend segment of claim 10, wherein the cavities are interposed between corresponding tracks of the top and bottom surfaces.

12. The bend segment of claim 9 or 10, wherein the cavities are provided in the carrier slab.

13. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims 9-11, wherein magnets are held in the cavities, in particular magnets that are provided as magnet clusters.

14. The bend segment of claim 13, wherein the magnet clusters that are held in the cavities include a flux conducting closure plate with sets of interspaced permanent magnets at both a top surface and a bottom surface thereof for attracting respectively a top run and a bottom run of the sideflexing conveyor chain into the respective upward facing and downward facing tracks.

15. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the slots and optionally the profiles received therein extend through interspaces between the cavities for holding the magnets along the track.

16. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the slots and optionally the profiles received therein are arranged within a height envelope extending between top and bottom surfaces of the cavities facing respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the body.

17. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein attachments, in particular mounting brackets, connecting plates, side skirts, support legs, side guides, and / or return guides, are mounted to lateral sides of the body of the bend segment, preferably to the carrier slab, and also preferably to the upright lateral edges of the body or carrier slab.

18. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the body, in particular the carrier slab of the body, includes inserts for receiving fasters for mounting attachments, in particular for receiving fasteners for mounting of mounting brackets, connecting plates, side skirts, support legs, side guides, and / or return guides.

19. The bend segment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor tracks each include a slot for receiving hinge assemblies of consecutive conveyor chain modules, flanked by rail portions with upright guide surfaces for guiding hinge assemblies and transverse guide surfaces for guiding transport blades of conveyor chain modules.

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