Patent Abstract:
A conveying installation has least one endless conveyor belt guided via a plurality of rollers along a leading belt run for conveying material or products and a returning belt run, particularly for manufacturing a paper web with a wire belt or felt belt. At least one of the rollers has an adjustable mounting for adjusting and correcting a direction of movement of the conveyor belt. A tensioning unit for detecting and controlling a tension of the conveyor belt has a pressure-measuring apparatus disposed at the adjustable mounting. A movement correction unit for detecting deviations of a direction of movement of the conveyor belt from a correct movement and for correcting the movement includes a sensor that is disposed to monitor a lateral periphery of the conveyor belt. A sensor output of the sensor is used for adjusting the adjustable mounting of the one of the rollers.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of Austrian patent application AT A111/2014, filed Feb. 17, 2014; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an installation for conveying materials, products, and the like, having at least one continuous conveyor belt which is guided via rollers, having a leading belt run for conveying the materials or products, respectively, and having a returning belt run, furthermore having a unit for detecting and controlling the tension of the conveyor belt, and having a unit for detecting deviations of the direction of movement of the conveyor belt from the correct direction of movement and for correcting the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, wherein the unit for detecting and controlling the tension of the conveyor belt displays a pressure-measuring apparatus which is situated at a mounting of a roller, and the unit for detecting deviations of the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt from the correct direction of movement and for correcting the deviations furthermore displays a sensor which is assigned to a lateral periphery of the conveyor belt, the output of the sensor, for the correction of the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt, serving for adjusting one of the mountings of one roller. 
         [0003]    The present invention, in particular, relates to an installation for producing paper, having at least one wire belt or one felt belt, respectively, which is guided via rollers, in particular drying rollers, for producing a paper web, wherein the wire belt and the felt belt, respectively, represent a conveyor belt. 
         [0004]    In the case of installations of this type for conveying materials, products, and the like, there is the requirement for orderly operation that the at least one conveyor belt exhibits a predetermined tension and that the conveyor belt is moved exactly in the conveying direction. 
         [0005]    In the case of installations for producing paper the quality of the paper being produced is influenced by the tension of the wire belt or the felt belt, respectively. Furthermore, if the wire belt or the felt belt does not run in the correct direction of movement, the belt will move out of the directional path, on account of which the production process is disturbed. 
         [0006]    In order to be able to control the tension of the conveyor belt it is known for one of the rollers via which the conveyor belt is guided to be configured with a pressure-measuring apparatus, in order to thereby detect the tension of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is moreover guided via a roller which is adjustable in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, on account of which the tension of the conveyor belt can be controlled so as to be at the required value. 
         [0007]    In order to be able to control the direction of movement of the conveyor belt it is known for a sensor to be assigned to one of the lateral peripheries of the conveyor belt, on account of which deviations from the required direction of movement of the conveyor belt can be identified. As has been narrated above, one of the two mountings of one of the rollers is configured with a pressure-measuring apparatus. Furthermore, the other mounting of this roller is adjustable in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. On account of this adjustment of the mounting of one of the rollers in relation to the conveyor belt, which adjustment is controlled so as to emanate from the sensor, the direction of movement of the conveyor belt can be controlled so that the latter moves exactly in the required direction. 
         [0008]    In the case of known installations for conveying materials, products, and the like, on the one hand, one of the mountings of one of the rollers is thus configured having a pressure-measuring apparatus which serves for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt, and, on the other hand, the other mounting of this roller is adjustable in relation to the conveyor belt, in order to thereby be able to control the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an installation for conveying materials and products with a continuous conveyor belt, which overcomes the above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which simplifies the constructive configuration of such a conveying installation. 
         [0010]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a conveying installation, comprising: 
         [0011]    at least one endless conveyor belt guided via a plurality of rollers, the conveyor belt having a leading belt run for conveying goods and a returning belt run; 
         [0012]    at least one of the rollers having an adjustable mounting or bearing configured for adjusting and correcting a direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt; 
         [0013]    a tensioning unit for detecting and controlling a tension of the conveyor belt, the tensioning unit including a pressure-measuring apparatus disposed at the adjustable mounting of the one of the rollers; 
         [0014]    a movement correction unit for detecting deviations of a direction of movement of the conveyor belt from a correct direction of movement and for correcting the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, the unit for detecting movement deviations including a sensor disposed to monitor a lateral periphery of the conveyor belt and having a sensor output configured for adjusting the adjustable mounting of the one of the rollers. 
         [0015]    The installation is particularly configured as a papermaking installation for manufacturing a paper web, wherein the at least one conveyor belt is at least one wire belt or at least one felt belt. 
         [0016]    In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved according to the invention in that the pressure-measuring apparatus for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt is situated at that mounting of one of the rollers that is adjustable for correcting the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt. The term mounting, as used herein, is substantially synonymous with the term bearing. 
         [0017]    Since thus both the unit for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt and also the unit for controlling the direction of movement of the conveyor belt are assigned to the same mounting of a roller of the installation, the effect is simplification in the construction, the assembly, the maintenance and in the exchange of component parts. This advantageous effect is obtained in particular when an existing conveying installation is retrofitted, since then the assembly works required therefor have to be performed only on one side of one of the rollers. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the mounting of that roller at which the pressure-measuring apparatus is disposed is situated on a carriage which is adjustable in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, wherein the pressure-measuring apparatus is disposed between the mounting and the carriage. 
         [0019]    According to one preferred embodiment, the unit for detecting and controlling the tension of the at least one conveyor belt displays a pressure-measuring apparatus, the output of which is guided to a control unit by way of which the tension of the conveyor belt is detected, wherein the output of the control unit serves for adjusting a further roller in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. The unit for detecting and controlling the tension of the conveyor belt may furthermore display a roller which is wrapped to at least 10° by the conveyor belt and which is adjustable in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. The carriage on which one of the mountings of the roller is situated is adjustable by means of a correcting unit which is actuatable in a hydraulic or pneumatic manner, respectively, and which is controlled by the unit for detecting deviations of the direction of movement from the correct direction of movement of the conveyor belt. 
         [0020]    According to one further preferred embodiment, that mounting for a roller that is adjustable for correcting the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt, in particular adjustable in the direction of movement direction of said conveyor belt, is mechanically coupled for feedback to the sensor for identifying deviations of the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor belt from the correct direction of movement of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, that roller to which the units for detecting and controlling the tension of the conveyor belt and for detecting and correcting the direction of movement of the conveyor belt are assigned is preferably situated in the region of the returning run of the conveyor belt. 
         [0021]    In particular, an installation according to the invention is configured having two continuous conveyor belts, the material to be conveyed being situated between them, wherein each of these two conveyor belts is guided via one roller in which one of the mountings is assigned a unit for detecting and controlling the tension of the conveyor belts, and this mounting furthermore is adjustable in the direction of movement of the assigned conveyor belt. 
         [0022]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0023]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in Installation for conveying materials, products, and the like, having at least one continuous conveyor belt, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0024]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a portion of an installation for producing a paper web, having two continuous felt belts which are movable so as to revolve, the paper web being situated between said felt belts, in a schematic illustration, and 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a roller via which a felt belt is guided, wherein one mounting of this roller is assigned a unit for detecting the tension of the felt belt and a unit for controlling the direction of movement of the felt belt, in an axonometric illustration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a portion of an installation for producing paper with two groups of rollers  21 ,  22  and  21   a ,  22   a , respectively, and deflecting rollers  3  and  3   a , respectively, which are assigned to the former, and two continuous felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, which are movable so as to revolve. The belts are guided via the rollers  21   a ,  22  and  22   a , respectively, and the deflecting rollers  3  and  3   a , respectively. A paper web  4  thereby moved through this portion is situated between the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, and the rollers  22  and  22   a , respectively. 
         [0028]    The rollers  22  and  22   a , respectively, which are heated rollers, represent drying rollers for the paper web  4 . At least some of the rollers  22  and  22   a , respectively, are driven. 
         [0029]    In the left region illustrated in the drawing, the paper web  4  is guided via the roller  21  of the first group of rollers. Consequently, the felt belt  1  bears on the paper web  4 , which felt belt  1  at the same time is guided together with the paper web  4  via the roller  21   a  of the second group of rollers, the felt belt  1  being situated between the paper web  4  and the roller  21   a . Thereafter, the felt belt  1  and the paper web  4  reach the first roller  22  of the first group of the rollers, the paper web  4  being situated between the felt belt  1  and this roller  22 . Continuing therefrom, the felt belt  1  is guided via the first deflecting roller  3  of the deflecting rollers assigned to the first rollers to the following roller  22 , whereas the paper web  4  moves via the first roller  22   a  of the second group of the rollers which are assigned to the second felt belt  1   a . The second felt belt  1   a  is moved via the first deflecting roller  3   a  of the deflecting rollers  3   a  assigned to the second group of rollers and consequently comes to bear on the paper web  4  which is guided via the first roller  22   a , the paper web  4  being situated between the second felt belt  1   a  and the first roller  22   a . Thereafter, the second felt belt  1   a  is guided via a further deflecting roller  3   a  and a further roller  22   a.    
         [0030]    Continuing therefrom the first felt belt  1  is guided via the further deflecting rollers  3  and the further rollers  22 , and the second felt belt  1   a  is guided via the further deflecting rollers  3   a  and via the further rollers  22   a.    
         [0031]    The paper web  4  is guided in an alternating manner via a roller  22  of the first group of the rollers and via a roller  22   a  of the second group of the rollers  22   a , the paper web  4  in the regions of the rollers  22  and  22   a , respectively, always being situated between one of the two felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, and the rollers  22  and  22   a , respectively. 
         [0032]    At the end of this portion of this installation, the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, are guided back to the beginning of this portion via further rollers  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  31   a ,  32   a ,  33   a , respectively, by way of which the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, are deflected. 
         [0033]    In the case of installations for producing a paper web there is, on the one hand, the requirement that the at least one felt belt displays a predetermined tension, since the quality of the produced paper depends on the tension of the felt belt or the felt belts, respectively. It must furthermore be ensured that the felt belt or the felt belts, respectively, moves or move in exactly the correct direction of movement, since a deviation of the felt belt or the felt belts, respectively, from the correct movement path causes functional disruptions in the operation of this installation. 
         [0034]    In order to have the effect of controlling the tension of the at least one felt belt, a unit  5  for detecting and controlling the tension of the felt belt  1  is provided in the region of the returning run of the first felt belt  1 . The unit  5  is also referred to as a tensioning unit. The roller  33  here is assigned a pressure-measuring apparatus  51  by way of which the pressure exerted on the roller  33  by the felt belt  1  is detected. The output signal of the pressure-measuring apparatus  51  is transmitted via a measuring line  52  to a control unit  53  by way of which the tension of the felt belt  1  is detected. The output of the control unit  53  is transmitted via a control line  54  to a correcting unit  55  for the roller  32 , by way of which the roller  32  is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 . The roller  32  is wrapped to 90° by the first felt belt  1 . The wrapping is at least 10° and may also be 180°. On account of this wrapping, the tension of the felt belt  1  can be controlled to be a predetermined value by way of an adjustment of the roller  32 . 
         [0035]    Two end positions of the displaceable roller  32  are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    Furthermore, a unit  6  for detecting deviations of the first felt belt  1  from the correct movement path and for correcting the direction of movement of the felt belt  6  is provided, which unit  6  includes a sensor  61 , which is assigned to a periphery of the felt belt  1 , and a control unit  62 . The unit  6  is also referred to as a movement correction unit. Deviations in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  from the correct direction of movement are detected by the sensor  61 . Correction of the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is performed by way of the control unit  62 . To this end, the roller  33  is configured having a mounting which is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 . By way of an adjustment of this mounting the angular position of the roller  33  in relation to the felt belt  1  is modified, on account of which the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is controllable. 
         [0037]    In an analogous manner, a unit  5   a  (also referred to as a tensioning unit) for detecting and controlling the tension of the felt belt  1   a  is assigned to the roller  33   a , via which the returning run of the second felt belt  1   a  is guided. Here, one of the two mountings of the roller  33   a  is assigned a pressure-measuring apparatus  51   a  by way of which the pressure exerted on the roller  33   a  by the felt belt  1   a  is detected. The output signal of the pressure-measuring apparatus  51   a  is transmitted via a measuring line  52   a  to a control unit  53   a , by way of which the tension of the felt belt  1   a  is detected. The output of the control unit  53   a  is guided via a control line  54   a  to a correcting unit  55   a , by way of which the roller  32   a  which is wrapped by the felt belt  1   a  is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a , on account of which the tension of the felt belt  1   a  is controllable. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, a unit  6   a  (also referred to as a movement correction unit) for detecting deviations of the second felt belt  1   a  from the correct movement path and for correcting the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a  is provided, which unit  6   a  displays a sensor  61   a , which is assigned to a periphery of the felt belt  1   a , and a control unit  62   a . Deviations of the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a  from the correct direction of movement are detected by the sensor  61   a . Correction of the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a  is performed by the control unit  62   a . To this end, the roller  33   a  is configured having a mounting which is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a . By way of an adjustment of this mounting the angular position of this roller  33   a  in relation to the felt belt  1   a  is modified, on account of which the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a  is controllable. 
         [0039]    The functioning of the units for detecting the tension of the two felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, for controlling the tension of the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, for detecting deviations of the direction of movement of the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, from the correct direction of movement, and for correcting the directions of movement of the two felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, are explained by means of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    To this end it is noted here that the felt belts  1  and  1   a  represent the conveyor belts for the paper web  4 . 
         [0041]    An embodiment according to the invention of these units will now be explained below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 2  the roller  33  via which the felt belt  1  is guided and of which one of the mountings is configured having the pressure-measuring apparatus  51  is illustrated. The tension of the felt belt  1  is controllable by means of units  5  assigned to this roller  33 . Furthermore, the mounting of this roller  33  is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 , on account of which the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is controllable. 
         [0043]    The roller  33 , on one of its two ends, is mounted on a bearing mounting  30  which is situated on a carriage  60  which is displaceable in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 . The pressure-measuring apparatus  51  which is preferably configured as a support-pressure measuring apparatus is situated between the bearing mounting  30  and the carriage  60 . The output of the pressure-measuring apparatus  51  is guided via the control line  52  to the control unit  53 . By way of the pressure-measuring apparatus  51  that pressure which is exerted on the roller  33  by the felt belt  1  is detected. The tension of the felt belt  1  is calculated therefrom by means of the control unit  53 . By way of the output signal of the control unit  53 , which is guided via the control line  54  to the correcting unit  55 , the correcting unit  55  is controlled so that the roller  32  is adjusted in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 , on account of which the tension of the felt belt  1  is controlled. 
         [0044]    The unit  6  for controlling and correcting the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is configured having the sensor  61  which is pivotably mounted on a support frame  63 . Since the sensor  61  bears on one of the two lateral peripheries  11  of the felt belt  1 , said sensor  61  is pivoted by a deviation of the felt belt  1  from the correct direction of movement. On account of the sensor  61  being pivoted, a control valve  62  which is situated in a hydraulic or pneumatic control system is activated. Pressure lines  64  which lead to a correcting cylinder  65  having a correcting piston  66  are connected to the control valve  62 . The carriage  60  on which the bearing mounting  30  is situated is adjustable by the correcting piston  66 . By an adjustment of the carriage  60  the bearing mounting  30  is adjusted in the direction of movement of the felt belt  1 , on account of which the angular position of the roller  33  in relation to the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is modified. By way of this modification of the angular position of the roller  33  the direction of movement of the felt belt  1  is controlled. 
         [0045]    Since the bearing mounting  30  is coupled to the support frame  63  by way of a linkage  67 , a mechanical coupling for feedback of this control pertaining to the position of the sensor  61  is performed. 
         [0046]    The adjustment of the carriage  60  by way of the output signal of the sensor  61  may also be electrically controlled. 
         [0047]    Another correcting unit for the carriage  60  may also be provided in place of the correcting cylinder  65  having the correcting piston  66 . 
         [0048]    The units for detecting and for controlling the tension of the felt belt  1   a  and for detecting and controlling the direction of movement of the felt belt  1   a  which are assigned to the second felt belt  1   a  are configured in the same manner. 
         [0049]    In the case of this constructive design it is relevant that the units for detecting the tension of the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, and for controlling the directions of movement of the felt belts  1  and  1   a , respectively, are assigned to only one of the two mountings of a roller via which the felt belt  1  is guided, on account of which simplifications in erecting, converting, operating, and maintaining the installation can be achieved. 
         [0050]    The present invention has been explained above by means of an installation for producing paper, in which the felt belts represent the conveyor belts for the paper web produced in the installation. However, the invention is also applicable to other installations which display at least one movable and continuous conveyor belt for transporting or for processing, respectively, materials or goods, respectively, since in the case of installations of this type controls for the tensions of the conveyor belts and for monitoring and correcting the directions of movement of the conveyor belts are required. 
         [0051]    The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
         1 ,  1   a  Felt belts     11  Periphery of felt belt  1       21 ,  22 ,  21   a ,  22   a  Rollers     3 ,  3   a  Deflecting rollers     31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  Rollers     31   a ,  32   a ,  33   a  Rollers     30  Bearing mounting     4  Paper web     5 ,  5   a  Tensioning units, units for detecting and for controlling tension     51 ,  51   a  Pressure-measuring apparatuses     52 ,  52   a  Measuring lines     53 ,  53   a  Control units     54 ,  54   a  Control lines     55 ,  55   a  Correcting units     6 ,  6   a  Movement correction units, units for detecting and for controlling the direction of movement     60  Carriage     61 ,  61   a  Sensors     62 ,  62   a  Control units     63  Support frame     64  Control lines     65  Correcting cylinders     66  Correcting pistons     67  Linkage

Technology Classification (CPC): 3