BELT CONVEYOR

Abstract: When building, particularly private houses, it is problematical to convey goods such as roof tiles up to the roof for instance. Conveyors have been produced which are of fixed shape, heavy and inconvenient to transport. The present invention presents a conveyor which is light and takes up little space when being transported. The conveyor consists of a central unit (I) comprising a telescopic tube which can be collapsed during transportation and pulled out to its full length for operation. The central unit is provided at each end with two transverse units (3L, 1A) over which two parallel belts (1E) are placed, said belts being preferably of nylon and being provided with a number of pushers (3H) arranged one after the other. A synchronization means (3A-D Fig 2) is provided to align the pushers on the two belts at the same transverse level.

Description: Belt conveyor The present invention relates to a belt conveyor as described in the preamble to the accompanying claims. Such a belt conveyor, which is used for numerous purposes in the building branch, for instance, generally has an endless elt of a certain width corresponding to the articles to be conveyed. It runs around a number of rollers journalled in two robust side pieces. Due to this construction the size and weight of the conveyor often does not correspond to the weight of the goods to be conveyed. This is particularly disadvantageous if the conveyor is to be used in several different working sites, as in the building industry, for instance. A considerably lighter construction is achieved according to the present invention since the belt is divided into two parallel belts running one on each side of a central body, as described in the claims. It may thus be assumed that the conveyor will be sufficiently steady if it is capable of carrying the load for which it is intended. The weight of the conveyor can thus be kept so low that it can easily be moved and erected ready for work by one or at most two men. The invention -will be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a conveyor according to the invention seen from the side, whereas Figure 2 shows the conveyor seen from above. Figure 3 shows an axial view of a coupling according to Figure 2. Figure 4 shows an electrical circuit diagram for the conveyor. Figure 5 shows a modification of the support rollers shown in Figure 2. Figure 1 shows the conveyor seen from the side and for the sake of clarity the figure has been cut up and contracted. The Figure thus falls into three sections, namely the ends 1 and 3 and the central part 2. Within these sections the various components have been design by index A, B, C and so on. The conveyor is built up around the centr body I which consists of three parts which can be pushed into each othe telescopically in order to facilitate transportation from one erection site to another. In extended position the three parts are locked to ea other by means of pins or bolts 2B. As can also be seen in Figure 2, the two parallel belts IE pass over guide rollers IF and 3L at the ends of the conveyor. In order to tensi the belts the guide roller IF, which is not driven, is arranged on a br IG located on a tube IB passing into the body I. By means of a spindle with screw-threading which screws into a nut IC in the body, the bracke can be moved in either direction. Other brackets 2C with support rolle 2A for the upper sections of the belts are provided at suitable interva along the body. A number of pushers 3H are also provided on the belt 1 in order to push the load units along. These pushers may be in the for of extremely simple rubber studs or the like. The belts may consist of strong, relatively narrow strips of nylon, for instance, having a width five to ten centimeters. The belts are driven by the guide rollers 3L at the righthand end of Figure 1. These guide rollers are in turn driven by a motor 3G with suitable gear ratio. The guide rollers are located on the driving shaf 3K from the motor but can turn freely on this on ball-bearings 3M. The are driven individually by one of the clutches 3B in a clutch coupling, the other part of which is in a cylindrical core 3A on the guide roller 3L. The principle can be seen more clearly in Figure 3 which shows an axial view of the coupling. As is clear from Figures 2 and 3 the core 3A is cut to form a number of teeth between which the dogs 3B can engage. The dogs are locate on a transverse arm on the drive shaft 3K. Furthermore, the dogs 3B are placed'in relation to each other and in relation to the pitch of th teeth in the core 3A insuch a way that no more than one of the dogs can engage at a time between these teeth, A spring 3J between the dogs presses them apart and in between the teeth. The clutch couplings are controlled by double-action electro-magnet 3C, circular discs 3D being provided at the ends of its armature. When the armature is driven in one direction or the other, one of these discs will actuate nibs on the dogs 3B which are therefore forced out of engagement with the teeth on the core 3A. The magnet 3C is controlled by indicators 3E on the belts IE. These indicators may consist of small permanent magnets fitted at the same distance from the pushers 3H on.the belts. With the help of these indicators it is thus possible to determine whether the pushers on the two belts maintain the same position opposite each other. It is obvious that this can never be so since it is impossible to make the two guide rollers 3L so exactly similar that the two belts always run exactly synchronously. However, by briefly releasing one or other of the clutch couplings 3A,B, however, the corresponding belt can be made to stop briefly so that the other catches up. This Is done by the indicators 3E actuating the magnet contactors 3F located somewhere in the body I so that they are passed by the indicators. The principle of this can be seen in Figure 4 which shows an electrical circuit diagram for the synchronization. Relays Rl and R2 are provided for the two couplings 3A,B for the belts and these are actuated by magnet contactors 3F1 and 3F2. The relays R are provided with contacts for excitation circuits for themselves and to cut out each other as well as for a time relay Tl, the contact of which is included in a mutual excitation circuit for the relays R. These relays are also provided with contacts for both halves of the electro¬ magnet 3C. The function is as follows: The indicator 3E which first passes its magnet contact 3F switches in the corresponding relay R which activates the time relay Tl which, for a certain period thereafter corresponding, for instance, to a turn or so of the guide roller 3L, keeps the relay R connected. The magnet 3C is then connected in over the corresponding .relay contact and a rectifier bridge in one direction or the other so that first one and then the other of the dogs 3B in the corresponding coupling is alternately knocked out of engagement with the teeth on 3A„ Angular displacement between the two parts of the coupling is thus achieved corresponding to two divisions OMPI in the teeth in 3A for each turn of 3L. The excitation time for the r Tl is set so that an angular displacement is achieved in the clutch coupling which corresponds approximately to the displacement between the belts IE occurring during one complete turn thereof. The synchronizing means with clutch coupling should be taken as an exa There is a vast number of different couplings which can be tripped wit the known technique and the one most suitable for a particular conveyo according to the invention is dependent upon cost and dimensions. Sim other types of indicators and synchronisers are also feasible. The essential feature of the invention is that the conveyor is provided wi two parallel belts, the synchronous travel of which is ensured in some way so that the pushers on the belts are kept substantially .opposite e other. Figure 2 shows how the guide roller IF is designed as a hollow tube wi a pair of bushings 1A at the ends. These bushings act as a sort of friction coupling to make the displacement between the belts smoother when the synchronizing means is engaged. It is also clear from Figure 1 how the conveyor is provided with wheel at one end to facilitate transport. Figure 5 shows how the support rollers 2A can be designed as pairs of rollers placed at angles to each other, possibly coated with rubber or some other friction material. With the direction of movement shown, t fore, the belts IE will tend towards the point of the angle between th two rollers in the pair so that the belts are guided on their way betw the guide rollers 3L and IF.

Claims: CLAIMS :- 1. Belt conveyor for roofing tiles, for instance, and similar articles, comprising a solid, elongate body (I), a conveyor belt and guide rollers (IF, 3D therefor arranged at the ends of the solid body, and a drive means (3G) for the conveyor belt, characterised in that the conveyor belt consists of two separate, parallel belts (IE), each of which is pro¬ vided with a pusher (3H) for the articles and is driven via separate couplings (3AB) by drive means (3G) by way of individual guide rollers (3L) and in that a synchronizer (3A-D) is provided to keep the pushers (3H) of the two belts (IE) opposite* each other via said couplings (3AB) 2. Belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterised in that said couplings (3AB) between the drive means (3G) and the guide rollers (3L) consist of electromagnetic couplings controlled by indicators (3E) on the two parallel belts (IE). 3. Belt conveyor according to claim 2, characterised in that said couplings comprise clutch couplings (3AB) controlled by a double-action electro¬ magnet (3C) which is in turn controlled by the indicators (3E) on the belts (IE). 4. Belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterised in that the belts (IE) at one end of the conveyor pass over a common, non-driven guide roller (IF) with friction couplings (1A) between its two ends to moderate the synchronizing movement between the two belts. 5. Belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (I) is telescopic in order to facilitate removal of the conveyor. 6. Belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterised in that brackets (2C) are arranged between the ends of the body (I), with support rollers (2A) to support the upper part of the belts (IE) between the guide rollers (3L, IF). 7. Belt conveyor according to claim 6, characterised in that said support rollers for each belt consist of two rollers (2A') placed at an angle to each other to guide the belts (IE) between the guide rollers (3L, IF).

Inventors: JOHANSSON R
Applicants: JOHANSSON R
Application year: 1980
Main classification: B65G23
IPC codes: B65G15, B65G21, B65G23, B65G43