Conveyor device for transporting goods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9598240-B2
Application number	US-201615132743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Apr 21, 2015
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A conveyor device ( 10 ) for the transport of goods, comprising individual modules ( 12 ) which form in their entirety a conveyor line ( 14 ) and each have a belt ( 20 ) circulating between a start section ( 16 ) of the module ( 12 ) and an end section ( 18 ) of the module ( 12 ), is configured and modified in regard to a reliable conveyance, including that of small objects in particular, such that the modules ( 12 ) are coupled together and able to swivel against each other so that the conveyor line ( 14 ) is adjustable in length by swiveling of the modules ( 12 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Conveyor device ( 10 ) for the transport of goods, comprising individual modules ( 12 ) which form in their entirety a conveyor line ( 14 ) and each have a circulating belt ( 20 ) circulating between a start section ( 16 ) of a respective module ( 12 ) and an end section ( 18 ) of the respective module ( 12 ), characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) are coupled together and able to swivel against each other so that the conveyor line ( 14 ) is adjustable in length by swiveling of the individual modules ( 12 ), wherein the circulating belt ( 20 ) runs around a deflection ( 22 ) in the start section ( 16 ) and a deflection ( 24 ) in the end section ( 18 ), and each individual module ( 12 ) is covered by the circulating belt ( 20 ) in the lengthwise direction so that each individual module ( 12 ) individually forms a belt conveyor, and wherein several of the individual modules ( 12 ) are arranged alongside each other transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor line ( 14 ) and staggered in the lengthwise direction of the conveyor line ( 14 ).

2. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that every end section of a respective module ( 12 ) is coupled in a pivoting manner to a start section of a neighboring module ( 12 ).

3. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the modules ( 12 ) can swivel out from a plane of the conveyor line ( 14 ).

4. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the circulating belt ( 20 ) runs around a deflection ( 22 ) in the start section ( 16 ) and a deflection ( 24 ) in the end section ( 18 ).

5. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the modules ( 12 ) are pivoted together by means of scissor elements ( 26 , 28 ).

6. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the modules ( 12 ) are enclosed at the side by side cheeks ( 32 ).

7. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that several modules ( 12 ) are arranged alongside each other transversely to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor line ( 14 ).

8. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the modules ( 12 ) have at least on one side of one end a bush-shaped receptacle ( 38 ) and have at the other end a barrel-shaped receptacle with an insert element ( 40 ) corresponding to the receptacle ( 38 ).

9. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) can swivel out from a plane of the conveyor line ( 14 ).

10. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) are pivoted together by means of scissor elements ( 26 , 28 ).

11. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) are enclosed at the side by side cheeks ( 32 ).

12. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) have at least one side of one end a bush-shaped receptacle ( 38 ) and have at the other end a barrel-shaped insert element ( 40 ) corresponding to the bush-shaped receptacle ( 38 ).

13. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the individual modules ( 12 ) have two deflecting rollers ( 42 ) each time, around which the circulating belt ( 20 ) is led.

14. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 13 , characterized in that the two deflecting rollers ( 42 ) each have a passageway ( 46 ) through which a shaft ( 48 ) is inserted, engaging the passageway ( 46 ) in a form fitting manner.

15. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that some of the individual modules ( 12 ) can be configured as active modules ( 13 ) for the driving of downstream modules ( 12 , 13 ) in the conveyor line ( 14 ).

16. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that the circulating belt ( 20 ) of active modules ( 13 ) is configured as a toothed belt ( 21 ) and the two deflecting rollers ( 42 ) of the active modules ( 13 ) have teeth ( 50 ) for engaging with the toothed belt ( 21 ).

17. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that a drive motor ( 52 ) is provided, which is coupled to one row of individual modules ( 12 ) having shafts ( 48 ) coupling the individual modules ( 12 ), including where the drive motor ( 52 ) is coupled to one of the shafts ( 48 ).

18. Conveyor device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the conveyor line ( 14 ) can be mounted at a first end ( 54 ) and/or at a second end ( 56 ) by means of movable bearing blocks on a bracket or a frame ( 58 ), including by means of a further shaft ( 60 ) passing through the individual modules ( 12 ).

Assignees

• Schmalz J Gmbh
• Schmalz J Gmbh

Inventors

• Mast Jonas

Classifications

• B65G15/50

  Endless load-carriers consisting of a series of parallel ropes or belt strips · CPC title

• B65G21/14 Primary

  to allow adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier or traction element (varying speed of conveyance by adjusting configuration of load-carrier B65G23/00; {tensioning arrangements for belt or chain B65G23/44}) · CPC title

• B65G37/005

  comprising two or more co-operating conveying elements with parallel longitudinal axes (the conveying elements being endless surfaces B65G15/10) · CPC title

• B65G2207/30

  Modular constructions · CPC title

• B65G15/26 Primary

  extensible, e.g. telescopic {(adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier B65G21/14)} · CPC title