Vibratory conveyor with a conveyor trough which is made of a flexible mat

A vibratory conveyor with a base frame, a vibrating frame mounted on the base frame and is vibrated relative to the base frame by a vibratory drive, and a conveyor trough made of a continuous flexible mat. The flexible mat is alternately connected to the base frame and the vibrating frame at connection points which are mutually spaced when seen in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough. A respective mat portion lies between each pair of connection points adjoining each other in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough. The vibrating frame can be vibrated relative to the base frame by means of the vibratory drive, and mat portions adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough are thus alternately stretched and slackened in a push-pull mode.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the International Application No. PCT/EP2017/054786, filed on Mar. 1, 2017, and of the German patent application No. 10 2016 103 803.2 filed on Mar. 3, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vibratory conveyor having a base frame, having a vibrating frame that can be set into vibratory motion relative to the base frame by a vibratory drive, and having a conveyor trough formed by a flexible continuous mat, the flexible mat forming the conveyor trough being connected alternately to the base frame and to the vibrating frame at connection points that are at a distance from one another, seen in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough, a respective mat segment being situated between each two connection points adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough, the vibrating frame being capable of being set into a vibration relative to the base frame by the vibratory drive such that mat segments adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough are alternately tensioned and relaxed in a push-pull mode, the connection points being situated on traverses that run transverse to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough at a distance from one another, and each first traverse being connected to the base frame and each second traverse being connected to the vibrating frame respectively, in alternating fashion.

First vibratory conveyors of the type named above are known from US 2013/126398 A1 and from US 2005/274653 A1. These vibratory conveyors have a base frame having a vibrating frame that is mounted on the base frame and that can be set into vibratory movement relative to the base frame by a vibratory drive, and having a conveyor trough formed by a flexible mat, the flexible continuous mat forming the conveyor trough being connected alternately to the base frame and to the vibrating frame at connection points that are at a distance from one another, seen in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough, a respective mat segment being situated between each two connection points adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough, and the vibrating frame being capable of being set into a vibratory motion relative to the base frame by the vibratory drive of the vibrating frame such that mat segments adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough are alternately tensioned and relaxed in a push-pull mode.

Another vibratory conveyor is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,046 A. This vibratory conveyor has a continuous flexible conveyor trough that is fixed at its longitudinal edges to the vibrating frame. The vibrating frame is mounted on the base frame by levers and springs, and can be set into vibration by the vibratory drive, whereby the flexible conveyor trough changes its static shape and exerts a conveyor effect on conveyed material situated thereon.

Another vibratory conveyor is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,694 A. This vibratory conveyor has a longitudinally extended membrane as conveyor trough, clamped continuously at its lateral edges in the vibrating frame. The vibrating frame is mounted in the base frame so as to be capable of vibration, and can be set into vibration by the vibratory drive in such a way that standing waves form in the membrane that bring about a conveying of the conveyed material on the membrane.

In practical use of such vibratory conveyors, it has turned out to be a problem that they do not offer the possibility of influencing the distribution of the conveyed material in the conveyor trough. In addition, it is disadvantageous that, depending on the material to be conveyed, a layer of conveyed material forms on the surface of the conveyor trough that is adhesive and that becomes increasingly thicker, which layer increasingly loads the conveyor trough and impairs the conveying effect of the vibratory conveyor. It is therefore necessary to regularly remove the adhering conveyed material layer, which practically can only be done manually, and in each case requires the vibratory conveyor to be shut off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the present invention, an object therefore arises of providing a vibratory conveyor of the type named above in which the possibility exists of influencing the distribution of the conveyed material in the conveyor trough, and in which undesirable adhesions of conveyed material on the conveyor trough surface are prevented, or at least significantly reduced.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a vibratory conveyor of the type named above that is characterized in that at least one of the traverses running in the transverse direction of the conveyor trough has a centric height profile, pronounced in the height direction, which forms, in the mat and in the conveyor trough, a distribution contour that here divides the stream of conveyed material on the mat into two lateral partial streams.

In this way, in the vibratory conveyor according to the present invention the advantageous possibility is created of influencing the distribution and/or guiding of the conveyed material in the conveyor trough in a desired manner Advantageously, in the vibratory conveyor according to the present invention, the alternating tensioning and relaxing of the mat segments moreover produces movements and accelerations that provide a prevention, or at least a significant reduction, of the undesirable adhesion of conveyed material, or portions of conveyed material, on the surface of the conveyor trough. At the same time, the produced movements and accelerations of the mat segments achieve an effective conveying of the material to be conveyed. A cleaning of the conveyor trough is therefore no longer required in the vibratory conveyor according to the present invention, or is required only at significantly longer time intervals, which reduces unproductive shutdown times, and increases the profitability of the operation of the vibratory conveyor. Due to the fact that the connection points lie on traverses running transverse to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough at a distance from one another, each first traverse being connected to the base frame and each second traverse being connected to the vibrating frame respectively in alternating fashion, the vibratory movement of the vibrating frame is also executed by the second traverses connected thereto, so that there results a desired vibratory movement of the second traverses relative to the first traverses connected to the base frame. In addition, the mat forming the conveyor trough is also supported at its lower side by the traverses, which relieves load on the mat and permits a significantly longer useful life of the mat than in the case of a mat held only at its longitudinal edges.

In addition, it is preferably provided that the vibrating frame is mounted so as to be capable of vibratory movement relative to the base frame in such a way that during the vibratory movement of the vibrating frame produced by the vibratory drive, the distance of the first and second traverses from one another changes periodically. In other words, here the direction of vibration runs in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor trough, thus effectively producing the desired alternating tensioning and relaxing of the mat segments.

In addition, the vibrating frame can be mounted so as to be capable of vibration relative to the base frame in such a way that during the vibratory movement of the vibrating frame produced by the vibratory drive, a periodic change in the height position of the first and second traverses relative to one another is superposed on, or can be superposed on, the periodic change in distance of the first and second traverses from one another. In this way, the conveying effect, e.g. a conveying speed, of the vibratory conveyor can be influenced.

The first and second traverses can be fixedly connected to their respectively associated frame in order to create a particularly stable and long-lasting configuration. Alternatively, the traverses can also be attached detachably to their frame in order to easily be able to exchange them for differently dimensioned or shaped traverses as needed, e.g., when there are changes in the conveying job or properties of the conveyed material.

A desired vibratory direction or vibratory plane can be determined through correspondingly fashioned and oriented springy connecting elements between the base frame and the vibrating frame.

In a further embodiment of the vibratory conveyor, it is proposed that the flexible mat forming the conveyor trough is made continuous over a plurality of, or all, connection points. In this way, a conveyor trough is formed that is steadily continuous over a length encompassing a plurality of connection points, or over its full length.

Alternatively, the mat segments of the flexible mat forming the conveyor trough can be mat partial pieces that are separate and tightly abut one another and each extend between two adjacent connection points. This embodiment offers the advantage that, as needed, individual damaged mat partial pieces can easily be exchanged, and the entire conveyor trough does not have to be replaced.

Preferably, one of the traverses connected to the vibrating frame is situated at a supply end of the vibratory conveyor. In this way, adhesions of the conveyed material at the supply end of the vibratory conveyor, where the conveyed material frequently impacts the conveyor trough with a certain falling speed, are particularly effectively counteracted.

In order to prevent losses of conveyed material during conveying operation in a manner that is technologically as advantageous as possible, it is proposed that the flexible mat forming the conveyor trough be bent upward at its longitudinal edges. This bending up of the longitudinal edges of the mat, or of the mat partial pieces, is easily possible due to its flexibility, and also does not impair the alternating tensioning and relaxing of the mat segments.

In order to achieve a conveying effect, in principle it is sufficient for only the vibrating frame to be set into vibratory motion relative to the base frame, which itself does not vibrate. For many cases of use of the vibratory conveyor, however, it can be functionally advantageous if the base frame is configured so as to be capable of vibratory motion relative to an installation surface of the vibratory conveyor, and the base frame can be set into vibratory motion relative to the installation surface by the vibratory drive of the vibrating frame or by a separate vibratory drive. Thus, here two vibratory motions are superposed. Here, the vibratory motions are usefully coupled with one another in a suitable manner, in particular phase-coupled, in order to ensure an effective conveying of conveyed material.

In order to make it possible to adapt the vibratory conveyor to changing conveying tasks and changing properties of the conveyed material, the/each vibratory drive is usefully adjustable with regard to its vibration frequency and/or vibration amplitude and/or vibration direction. Suitable vibratory drives are known, and can, for example, include rotating or oscillating imbalance masses, or can operate electromagnetically or pneumatically or hydraulically.

In order to further contribute to preventing disturbing adhesion of conveyed material on the conveyor trough surface, the flexible mat forming the conveyor trough is preferably made of a plastic or rubber material that has a coating that is non-adhesive or anti-adhesive with regard to the material to be conveyed.

In the following description of the Figures, identical parts in the various Figures are always provided with identical reference characters, so that all reference characters do not have to be explained again for each Figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1of the drawing shows a vibratory conveyor1in a schematic side view. Vibratory conveyor1has a base frame2that is situated on an installation surface6, such as the floor of an operations building. On each of its two longitudinal sides, base frame2has a respective console23extending in the longitudinal direction of base frame2, on which console a plurality of spring elements31are situated at distances from one another.

On spring elements31there is situated a vibrating frame3that is capable of vibratory movement relative to base frame2in direction of vibration S, indicated by a double arrow. A vibratory drive5, situated at the end region of vibrating frame3at the right inFIG. 1, is used to produce the vibratory movement of vibrating frame3.

First traverses20, which run in the transverse direction of base frame2, are connected to base frame2, distributed at regular distances in the longitudinal direction of base frame2. Second traverses30, also distributed at regular distances in the longitudinal direction of vibrating frame3, are connected to vibrating frame3. Second traverses30are each situated approximately centrically between two adjacent first traverses20.

A mat40that runs in the longitudinal direction of vibratory conveyor1and forms a conveyor trough4is connected to first traverses20and second traverses30. Here, connection points14are situated on second traverses30, and connection points14′ are situated on first traverses20. In this way, a mat segment40.1and a mat segment40.2is situated between each two adjacent traverses20,30in respectively alternating fashion.

The end of vibratory conveyor1at right inFIG. 1forms its supply end11, at which material to be conveyed is supplied to conveyor trough4of vibratory conveyor1. At supply end11, mat40can be led further outward and connected to a device that supplies the conveyed material, and can form there a kind of supply chute13for the material that is to be conveyed further on vibratory conveyor1.

The end of vibratory conveyor1at left inFIG. 1forms its delivery end12, where the material conveyed by vibratory conveyor1can be delivered for example to a further conveyor device or to a reservoir or transport container.

During operation of vibratory conveyor1, vibrating frame3is set into a vibrating motion in direction of vibration S relative to base frame2by vibratory drive5. As a result, second traverses30are set into a back-and-forth motion relative to first, unmoved traverses20. This vibrating movement of second traverses30ensures that mat segments40.1,40.2are tensioned and relaxed in alternating fashion and in a push-pull mode. This periodic tensioning and relaxing of mat segments40.1,40.2produces movements and accelerations that provide a conveying of conveyed material along conveyor trough4in the direction of conveying indicated by arrow F, and that prevent undesirable adhesion of conveyed material on the surface of mat40.

In a modification of vibratory conveyor1, in addition its base frame2can be configured so as to be capable of vibratory motion relative to installation surface6, and can then also be set into vibration by a separate vibratory drive5′, in order to amplify the conveying effect of vibratory conveyor1.

Seen in the longitudinal direction and conveying direction F of vibratory conveyor1, first traverses20and second traverses30run transverse thereto, in alternating fashion; for their visibility, here mat40is shown as “transparent.” Respective connection points14′ are situated on first traverses20, and respective connection points14are situated on second traverses30, at which points mat40is connected to the respective traverses20,30, advantageously in detachable fashion.

As indicated by the respective double arrow S, during operation of vibratory conveyor1second traverses30vibrate back and forth in the longitudinal and conveying direction F of vibratory conveyor1, whereby the distance between first traverses20and adjacent second traverses30periodically changes. This has the effect that mat segments40.1,40.2are tensioned and relaxed in alternating fashion and in push-pull mode.

In the region of vibratory conveyor1at left inFIG. 2, adjacent to delivery end12, the traverses20,30situated there are fashioned with a height profile22,32running in the longitudinal direction of traverses20,30. In the depicted example, traverses20and30have a raised part in their center region, seen in the longitudinal direction of the transverses, whereby a distribution contour42is formed in mat40running over traverses20,30, and thus in conveyor trough4.

At top and bottom inFIG. 2, a raised edge41of mat40is visible, forming a conveyor trough4limited at the sides, in order to prevent losses of conveyed material over the lateral edges of mat40.

FIG. 3shows the vibratory conveyor ofFIG. 1in a schematic view of its left end face inFIG. 1. At bottom inFIG. 3, base frame2with its lateral consoles23is visible. On consoles23are seated spring elements31, on which in turn vibrating frame3is placed. Spring elements32are here made such that vibrating frame3essentially has only one degree of freedom, in the longitudinal direction of vibratory conveyor1, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing inFIG. 3.

In addition, inFIG. 3the outermost traverse20, which is situated at the delivery end of vibrating conveyor1and is part of base frame2, is visible. Further traverses20,30are covered inFIG. 3and are therefore not visible. Above traverse20, mat40, which forms conveyor trough4of vibratory conveyor1, is visible. At the left and at the right is a respective raised edge41of mat40. AsFIG. 3illustrates, traverse20, as well as the further traverses20,30, support mat40both on its lower side and also externally at its raised edges41.

Seen in the transverse direction of vibratory conveyor1, traverse20has a height profile22having a centric raised part, which forms a distribution contour42in mat40and in conveyor trough4, which contour here divides the stream of conveyed material on mat40into two lateral partial streams.