CONVEYOR

Abstract: Conveyor of the type in which the transport of materials is provided by reciprocately moving organs (d<u0>u, d<u1>u) in connection with means for the raising and lowering of same, whereby the said organs only during the reciprocating movement or alternatively only during the return movement are in direct contact with the material concerned. The motional organs are consisting of or being activated by channels (a<u0>u, b<u0>u, c<u0>u, a<u1>u, b<u1>u, c<u1>u) of mainly parallel fluid-influenced elastomer profiles jointly with per se known means scheduled for alternating filling and emptying of fluid through the channels. Rotating elements such as cams or cam discs, which involve a number of inconveniences in known conveyors of the said type, are thus avoided.

Description: C O N V E Y O R The present invention relates to a conveyor preferably applicable in places where for reasons of safety it is desirable to avoid the use of rotating elements. Conveyors with gripping devices performing a translation by a reciprocating movement and only brought into contact with the material concerned during one direction of the movement are known from among others cinematographic cameras or straw balers. Common to these conveyors is the use of cams or cam discs to provide the required movements, which involves a number of inconveniences when applied in a technical scale in which rotating elements for reasons of safety, dust prevention or hygiene, or further the existance of electric installatio objects are undesired. Such inconveniences can according the the invention be avoided by activating the reciprocate as well as. up- and downward movements through alternating filling and emptying with fluid of channels, the walls of which in whole or in part are built up of suitable elastomers. Figures 1 and 2 show a cross-section of the channel of two modules during different phases of activation. Figure 3 shows a combination of several conveyor modules. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a channel, in which specific profiles can be activated via two types of " isolated channels. Figure 5 shows a cross-section of a channel, being a variantof the one shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a combination, in which longitudinal girders quantitatively reduce the need of fluid-activating modules. Figure 1 shows 2 cross-sections of modules a», b n , c_, d Q and a, , b.. , c, , d, . The channels a Q , b Q , and c Q as well as a. and b,being in this stage exempted of the load of fluid, whereas channel c- is under pressure with the effect that the motional organ d, is elevated in relation to the motional organ d fi . Figure 2 shows the channels of a Q , a, and c Q under pressure, which brings about that d Q is moved to the left due to the pressure in channel a 0 , simultaneously with d, is moved to the right as a result of the pressure in the channel a, . Further the motional organ d Q appears raised out of level by the motional organ d, due to the pressure in the channel V V∑ ' - -A c:.?ι ' • .. v.-ι:-o - When the pressure is removed from a Q and a, but retained in c Q simultaneously with supply of pressure to b Q and b, , then d Q will perform an activated movement towards the right, while d, will perform a passive movement towards the left. Now " c, is brought under pressure, "while c Q is exempted, and d, is then ready for active movement, and d_ ready for passive movement. Figure 3 shows in principle the interaction between several parallelly situated modules, in which all a Q - anda,-channels are activated in counter phase to all b Q - and b,-channels, simultaneously with all c-.-channels being activated in _ " . counter phase to all c.-channels. Figure- 4--shows- a- cross-section of a.. rof ie with only one elastomer profile a 0 or a. per module for transverse movement, and with the previously mentioned elevated profile c- and c, for the up- and downward movement. The motional organs d n and d. have Y-profiled bottom serving as bracing between the elastomer profiles. All a 0 ~channels are activated syncronously and in counter phase to all a,-channels, just as all c Q -channels are activated syncronously and in counter phase to all c,-channels. Figure 5 shows a profile version, in which adjacent elastomer profiles are joined together via a dovetailing of the base profile of the motional organs. Figure 6 shows a possible version, in which the motional organs d Q and d, via the forks e Q and e, are activating connection rods situated parallel with the transport direction f n and f, . •A -station -like the one. shown with one pair of modules and - the requisite number of forks can at suitable intervals be placed along the transport lane established by the connecting rods. The fluid supplies and the means for programming and regulation of same have for reasons of simplification been omitted, as such functions are presupposing already known techniques. It should eventually be noted that the mentioned two-phase guidance as illustrated in Figure 3 will not necessarily limit the system, as the guidance could well be extended to e.g. ' 3 phases and hereby attain an almost even conveyance velocity. _o r. Y.L

Claims: P A E N. T C L A I M S 1. Conveyor of the type in which the transport of materials is provided by reciprocately moving organs i connection with means for the raising and lowering of same, whereby the said organs only during the reciprocating movement or alternatively only during the return movement are in direct contact with the material concerned, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the motional organs are consisting of or being activated by channels of mainly parallel fluid-influenced elastomer profiles jointly with per se known means scheduled for alternating filling and emptying of fluid through the channels. 2. Same as Claim 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d ' in_ hat the motional organ: in a module being activated by each of two channels for reciprocating movement jointly with one channel for upward going movement. 3. Same as Claim 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that neighbouring motional organs being activated via an interjacent elastomer channel. 4. Same as Claim 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that syncronously moving organs being joined together via connecting rails being oriented parallelly with the direction of transport.

Inventors: OLSSON O
Applicants: OLSSON O
Application year: 1979
Main classification: B65G25
IPC codes: B65G25, B65G35