ROLL CONVEYOR FOR TRANSPORTING DEVICES PROVIDED WITH WHEELS

Abstract: A roll conveyor for transporting devices provided with wheels having their axes of rotation directed parallelly with the transport direction so that the wheels are located transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor, comprises at least two sets (11, 12) of rolls (13, 14) against which the periphery of the wheels located transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor is applied. Each of the roll sets (11, 12), observed in the transport direction, is arranged to supportingly apply against a portion each on the periphery of the wheels, and each of the roll sets (11, 12) has its rolls (13, 14) arranged so that the axes of rotation of the rolls in one roll set are arranged essentially in a line and displaced in the transport direction of the roll conveyor in relation to the axes (18, 19) of rotation of the rolls (13, 14) in other roll set(-s).

Description: Roll conveyor for transporting devices provided with wheels. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE The present invention relates to a roll conveyor for transporting devices provided with wheels having their axis of rotation arranged parallely with the transport direction so that the wheels are located transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor. In distribution of provisions from a central store out to the market one uses today so called roller pallets, which are rolled on and off lorries, which operate between the central store and the market. In storing such empty roll pallets these have, in cont¬ rast to the conventional EUR-pallets which do not have the rolls ' to roll on, not been able to be stored in stacks on each other, so that they have had to stand beside each other. This has caused the draw back that the empty roll pallets take up a much larger area of the expensive store room than what the empty EUR-pallets have been doing. EUR-pallets are today stored on each other on shelves in different store constructions by means of lifting trucks. This way of storing is however not possible with roll pallets since these are,, constructed with such dimen¬ sions that ordinary lifting trucks not can lift a roll pallet from the short side of the "roll pallet. If specia lifting trucks would be used to lift roll pallets from their short side so would the roll pallets stand very instable and staggering^ on the lifting truck. The roll pallets are indeed on one hand designed so that an ordinary lifting truck can lift it from its long side, but on the other hand roll pallets are not movable transversally to their longitudinal direction since the roll pallets have to have a number of firm rolls, the direction of which can not be changed, to be movable also on an inclined surface. The ordinary roll pallets have two firm and two movable rolls. The firm rolls are thus directed along the long side of the roll pallets. This is very important since the areas which are available for transport of roll pallets in the markets are very small and the roll pallets will with this direction of the rolls be most easy to manoeuver. Also cooling containers are available today, which are provided with wheels and which have dimensions similar to the roll pallets, whereby the cooling contai¬ ners show the same problems as the roll pallets when being stored. On transporting the roll pallet or a cooling container on a conventional roll conveyor a very large number of rolls of very small diameter are necessary for an easy and smooth transport since the wheels of the roll pallets and of the cooling containers only are about 4 cm wide. Another problem in transporting roll pallets and coo¬ ling containers on a roll conveyor is that the periphery of the wheels are cambered to provide a roll pallet or a cooling container which are easy to manoeuver on a flat surface since the wheels then are applied against the surface in a dot each. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to achieve a roll conveyor which easily, and smoothly and with a soft run can transport devices provided with firm wheels directed transversally of the transport direc¬ tion of the roll conveyor. According to the present invention this object is ob¬ tained in that the roll conveyor comprises at least two sets of rolls against which the periphery of the wheels located transversally of the transport direction of the roll conveyor is applied, that each of the roll sets, observed in the transport direction, is arranged to supportingly apply against a portion each on the periphery of the wheels, and that each of the roll sets has " its rolls arranged so that the axes of rotatio of the rolls in one roll set are arranged essentially in a line and displaced in the transport direction of the roll conveyor in relation to the axes of rotatio of the rolls in the other roll set(-s). The present invention thereby obtains the advantage that the diameter of the rolls can be increased without jeopardizing a soft run at the same time as the transpo may be performed very easy along the roll conveyor. Further objects and advantages will appear from the following dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will appear closer from the following description with reference to the drawings showing: Fig 1 a side view of a roll pallet arranged with the firm wheel pair on the roll conveyor according to the invention, which is arranged on a carrying structure. Fig 2 a view from above of the roll conveyor accor¬ ding to the invention. Fig 3 a view from the end of the roll conveyor accor¬ ding to the invention, with one roll partly cut. Fig 4 a perspective view of the roll conveyor accor¬ ding to the invention. Fig 5 a view of a store space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In fig 1 a roll conveyor 1 is shown for transport of a device 2 provided with wheels 3 having their axes 4 of rotation directed parallely with the transport direction so that the wheels are located transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor. The roll conveyor is in fig 1 arranged on a carrying structure 5, " which comprises beams 6 directed in a transport direction, which beams are arranged on one hand under the wheels 3 of the device 2 and on the other hand under other wheels 8 of the device 2, which in fig 1 is shown as a roll pallet, and beams 7 direc¬ ted transversally to the transport direction. To get the wheels 8, which, unlike the wheels 3, are movable for positioning in a desired direction and which are not transported on the roll conveyor 1 on the same level as the wheels 3 which are transported on the roll conveyor, an elevation by means of a folded plate 9 is arranged straight under these wheels 8. Thus, these movable wheels 8 roll on a flat portion 10 of the folded plate, and are during transport of the roll pallet along the roll conveyor located in • the transport direction unlike the wheels 3. The roll conveyor comprises two sets 11, 12 of rolls 13, 14 against which the periphery 15 of the wheels 3 directed transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor 1 is arranged to apply. Each of the roll sets 11, 12 are, observed in the transport direction, arranged to supportingly apply against a portion 16, 17 each on the periphery 15 of the wheels 3. The roll sets 11, 12 have each its rolls 13, 14 arrange so that the axes 18 of rotation of the rolls 13 in one roll set 11 are directed essentially in line and displaced in the transport direction of the roll conveyor 1 in relation to the axes 19 of rotation of the rolls 14 in the other roll set 12. The axes 18, 19 of rotation of the rolls 13, 14 in one and the same roll set 11, 12 are parallel, while the axes 18 of rotation of the rolls 13 in one roll set 11 are inclined in relation to the axes 19 of rota¬ tion of the rolls 14 in the other roll set 12 so that an angle α is formed between the axes 18, 19 of rota¬ tion of the rolls 13, 14. The axes 18, 19 of rotation of the rolls 13, 14 form an angle ct in relation to a vertical plane. 2 The rolls 13, 14 are journalled one sided in a carrier 20 formed by a plate, which in cross section is V-shaped with an angle 180°- between the legs 21, 22 of the V. The angle α should lie in the range 40° - 100 and preferably 60° - 70° to obtain an acceptable transpor¬ tability with a roll diameter of 5 cm and a width of the wheels on 4 cm. In the shown embodiment the angle is chosen to 66 . This angle gives the most optimal transportability. If the angle ct is increased one gets an irregular run since the wheels 3, which have a width less than the diameter of the roll and which have a cambered roll surface 15, then get support from the rolls 13, 14 which have larger variations in the transport direction between the highest and the lowest support point. If the angle α is decreased one ■ gets a larger friction resistance between the wheels 3 and the rolls 13, 14. In the shown embodiment with the above mentioned dimen¬ sions the wheels 3 receive a transport movement which can be described as a zigzag movement between the two roll sets 11, 12 during the transport of the wheels 3. This zigzag movement is a condition since the roll surface 15 of the wheels are cambered, in other case a pinching of the wheels 3 may occur between the roll sets 11, 12. In case the wheels are not cambered it is possible to avoid this zigzag movement by forming the diameter of the rolls 13, 14 less than or equal to the width of the wheels 3. " The legs 21, 22 of the embodied carrier 20 are directed downwardly and are firmly connected with guide members 23, which are arranged parallely with and in level with the wheel axes 4 of the transported wheels 3 so that the wheels are prevented from rolling off the rolls 13, 14. The rolls 13, 14 are further inclined against the peri¬ phery 15 of the wheels 3 so that one edge 24 of the rolls 13, 14, which is formed by the intersection bet¬ ween one end surface 25 and the periphery 26 of the ro-lls 13, 14, applies against the periphery 15 of the wheels 3. This edge is- bevelled to suit the periphery 15 of the wheels 3. In fig 3 is shown how the rolls 13, 14, which all have the same diameter, is fastened and journalled to absorb the loads from the roll pallet. The rolls 13, 14 have a recess for receiving a roller bearing 27 from which the axis 18 extends through the carrier 20. Between the rolls 13, 14 and the carrier 20 a slide bearing 29 and a space sleeve 30 are arranged. The rolls 13, 14 are kept in place by means of nuts 31 from the under side of the carrier 20. In fig 2 it is shown how the roll sets 11, 12 are dis¬ placed in relation to each other. The displacement should be equal with the inverted value of the pro¬ duct of the number of roll sets 11, 12 and the roll diameter. As already mentioned the roll sets 11, 12 may be more than two. In the shown embodiment where the number of roll sets are two the displacement is thus equal with half the diameter of the roll. The rolls 13, 14 in each of the roll sets 11, 12 lie in a line immediately adjacent to each other without being in contact with each other. The diameter of the roll should be essentially equal to the product of the width of the wheel and the number of roll sets 11, 12 divided by two. More precisely the roll diameter should, when using a cambered roll surface 15, be a little larger than this value, while the roll diameter should be less than this value when using a not cambered roll surface 15. In fig 5 is shown as an example how roll conveyors according to the invention can be arranged in store constructions 35 so that for instance cooling container can be stored up near the roof in a cooling room. There by the cooling room is more economically used since more cooling containers can be stored per area unit. It is obvious that the invention not only is limited to the above mentioned embodiments but that many modi¬ fications are possible without diverting from the spiri of the invention. As an example extra roll members of less diameter than the rolls 13, 14 comprised in the roll sets 11, 12 can be arranged between the rolls 13, 14 in the roll sets 11, 12 so that they, observerd in the transport direction, supportingly apply against the periphery 15 of the wheels 3 in the same portions 16, 17 as the rolls 13, 14 are doing.

Claims: Claims 1. A roll conveyor for transporting devices (2) pro¬ vided with wheels (3) having their axes (4) of rotation arranged parallelly with the transport direction so that the wheels (3) are located transversally to the transport direction of the roll conveyor, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the roll conveyor comprises at least two sets (11, 12) of rolls (13, 14) against which the periphery (15) of the wheels located trans- versally of the transport direction of the roll conveyo is applied, that each of the roll sets (11, 12), observ in the transport direction, is arranged to supportingly apply against a portion (16, 17) each on the periphery (15) of the wheels (3), and that each of the roll sets (11, 12) has its rolls (13, 14) arranged so that the axes (18, 19) of rotation of the rolls (13, 14) in one roll set (11, 12) are arranged essentially in a line and displaced in the transport direction of the roll conveyor in relation to the axes (18, 19) of rota- tion of the rolls (13, 14) in the other roll set(-s) (11 , 12). 2. A roll conveyor according to claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that an axis (18, 19) of rotation of a roll (13, 14) in a roll set (11, 12) is parallel with the rest of the axes of rotation of the rolls (13, 14) within the roll set (11, 12) in question. 3. A roll conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, c h a¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the axes (18, 19) of rota¬ tion of the rolls (13, 14) in one roll set (11, 12) are inclined in relation to the axes of rotation of the rolls in the other roll set(-s) (11, 12) so that an angle α is formed between the axes (18, 19) of rota¬ tion of the rolls (13, 14) of adjacent roll set(-s) (11, 12). 4. A roll conveyor according to any of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the number of roll sets (11, 12) are two, and that the axes (18, 19) of rotation of the rolls (13, 14) form an angle in relation to a vertical plane. 2 5. A roll conveyor according to any previous claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rolls (13, 14) are journalled one sided in a carrier (20) .formed by a plate, which in cross section is V-shaped with an angle (.180°-o) between the legs (21, 22) of the V. 6. A roll conveyor according to any of the claims 3-5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the angle (α) formed between the axes (18, 19) of rotation of the rolls (13, 14) of adjacent roll sets (11, 12) lies between 40° - 100° and preferably between 60° - 70°. 7. A roll conveyor according to claim 5, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that; the legs (21, 22) of the V-shaped carrier (20) are directed downwardly, and that guiding members (23) firmly connected with the carrier are arranged parallelly with and in level with the wheel axes (4) of the transported wheels (3) so that the transported wheels are prevented from rolling off the rolls (13, 14). 8. A roll conveyor according to any previous clai.rt, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rolls (13, 14) are inclined in relation to the periphery (15.) of the wheels (3) so that one edge (24) of the rolls (13, 14), which is formed by the intersection between one end surface (25) and a periphery (26) of the rolls, applies against the periphery (15) of the wheels (3) and that this edge (24) is bevelled to suit the peri¬ phery (15) of the wheels (3). 9. A roll conveyor according to any previous claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rolls in all sets (11, 12) have the same diameter and that the dis¬ placement of one roll set (11, 12) in relation to an adjacent roll set (11, 12) is essentially equal to the inverted value of the product of the number of roll sets (11, 12) and the roll diameter. 10. A roll conveyor according to any previous claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the diameter of the rolls (13, 14) is essentially equal to the pro¬ duct of the width of the transported wheels and the number of roll sets (11, 12) divided by two.

Inventors: DROSCH KLAUS, DROSCH, KLAUS
Applicants: DROSCH KLAUS, DROSCH, KLAUS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65G35
IPC codes: B65G13