Chute with retarding means

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor provided with an inclined conveyor track (1) having a bearing surface (4) along which objects can move downwards under the action of gravity. At least one means that can move with respect to the bearing surface (4) is provided, which means can be placed in the path of movement of an object moving across the bearing surface (4) so as to slow down said object. For this purpose the installation may, for instance be provided with plates (5), which can move up and down with respect to the bearing surface (4). Another possibility is e.g. that the bearing surface (4) is formed by a load-bearing belt (10) made of a flexible material, which can be pushed up locally by means of said plates (5) which can move up and down.

Description: The invention relates to a conveyor provided with an inclined conveyor track having a bearing surface along which objects can move downwards under the action of gravity. In particular for the internal transport of objects use is e.g. made of more or less complicated conveyors, by means of which randomly supplied objects can each be led to a certain selected discharge station. In many cases a conveyor track, functioning as the end portion of the conveyor, is thereby arranged near each discharge station, said conveyor track having a bearing surface, along which objects can slide downwards under the action of gravity. At the bottom end of said conveyor track the objects are taken off manually or by mechanical means, e.g. so as to be forwarded to users or the like. In many cases there is a possibility of some objects piling up near the bottom end of the conveyor track. Thereby it is often a problem that such objects differ from each other as regards size, weight, strength and the like, with the consequent risk that a heavy object sliding down the conveyor track will bump against a vulnerable object already present near the bottom end of the conveyor track, in such a manner that damage is caused. The object of the invention is to obtain a conveyor, and more in particular a conveyor track of the above kind, wherein the above-described drawback can be simply overcome while maintaining a simple construction of the conveyor track. According to the invention this can be achieved in that said bearing surface has a waved profile, when seen in section, such that the bearing surface has peaks and valleys extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor track, whilst in the valleys means are located which can be moved upwards from a position where said means lie in the valleys into a position in which said means project above said peaks. By using the construction according to the invention the movement of an object along the bearing surface can be controlled by simple means in such a manner that e.g. the occurence of undesirably high velocities of the objects is avoided. It is noted that from DE-A-1,135,365 and US-A-4,130,193 there are known conveyors having means for interrupting the flow of products on the conveyor, said means extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. In Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 10, no. 18 (17-448) (2075) 24-1-1986 there is shown a flow chute having a multiplicity of longitudinal grooves for the measurement and the sorting of granular material. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to an embodiment of the construction according to the invention diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying figures. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the construction according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a larger-scale view of the encircled detail VI of figure 1. Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a conveyor track or chute 1, which may form part of a conveyor and which may be arranged in such a manner thereby, that objects to be displaced can move downwards across the conveyor track 1 under the action of gravity, in the direction according to the arrow A. Of course guide means may be provided at the side of the conveyor track or chute, so as to prevent the objects in question from falling sideways from the conveyor track 1. The conveyor 1 includes a wavy bearing surface 13 of the conveyor track, with peaks and valleys extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor track. Strips 14, which are made of a flexible material and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the load-bearing surface 13, are placed in the valleys of said load-bearing surface. If desired said strips can be moved upwards by lifting means (not shown) at regularly spaced locations, so that the parts 14' and 14'' respectively project above the peaks of the bearing surface 13, so as to be able to slow down arriving objects in this manner.

Claims: A conveyor provided with an inclined conveyor track having a bearing surface along which objects can move downwards under the action of gravity, characterized in that said bearing surface has a waved profile, when seen in section, such that the bearing surface has peaks and valleys extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor track, whilst in the valleys means are located which can be moved upwards from a position where said means lie in the valleys into a position in which said means project above said peaks. A conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that said means are formed by flexible strips located in the valleys and extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor track, which strips can be moved up and down locally.

Inventors: VAN DEN GOOR JAKOBUS MARIE, VAN DEN GOOR, JAKOBUS MARIE
Applicants: VANDERLANDE IND NEDERLAND, VANDERLANDE INDUSTRIES NEDERLAND B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65G11
IPC codes: B65G1, B65G11, B65G47