Abstract:
A shaft coupling and roller arrangements with a shaft coupling for the coupling a shaft journal having a polygonal cross-section to a drive or a bearing axle. The shaft coupling has a rotatably drivable coupling body, which has a coupling opening for receiving the shaft journal. The coupling body has a as multipart configuration and is openable along a dividing line, which intersects the coupling opening. A clamping apparatus is provided for non-positive holding of the shaft journal in the coupling opening. The coupling opening is formed at least in part by clamping jaws, which in the closed position are pressed onto the shaft journal, preferably areally flush against the shaft journal, via the clamping apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a roller arrangement for the processing of shaped bodies or dough strips to produce baked products such as, for example biscuits and the like, comprising a roller, a machine frame and a shaft coupling for coupling a shaft journal having a polygonal cross-section to a drive or a bearing axle, comprising a rotatably drivable or driven coupling body, which has a coupling opening for receiving the shaft journal. 
     Roller arrangements for the processing of dough strips are generally known. In conventional apparatuses, a dough strip is guided via a conveyor belt into the area of a roller. Between the roller and the conveyor belt, a roller gap is provided at least in part, which is adapted to thin, roll out, cut out or shape the dough. The roller is rotationally driven by means of a drive. At regular intervals, in particular for maintenance or cleaning of the rollers and when changing products with cutting rollers, the rollers must be removed from the roller arrangement. 
     In conventional roller arrangements, the shaft journals of the rollers are clamped in usual mountings. This means that a floating/solid bearing arrangement is provided in which the bearings are screwed tightly by means of a bearing block. Furthermore, in conventional constructions the drive is connected to the roller by means of a screwed flange. In order to remove the rollers, on the one hand the entire mounting, i.e. the bearing block of each individual bearing and the connection to the drive must be separated. This is associated with high expenditure and with long undesired down times of the apparatus. 
     In the case of guide rollers from the paper industry, quick release fasteners are known for guide rollers. In these the roller has shaft journals protruding on both sides, having polygonal cross-sections. These polygonal shaft journals are inserted in complementary recesses of the shaft mountings similar to a spanner. A rotary connection to the drive is given as a result of the polygonal connection. However, in order to enable the shaft journal to be inserted in the polygonal recess, a certain oversize or play must be provided. 
     However this mounting with play cannot be used for the processing of dough strips or shaped bodies since, for example, as a result of variations in density, variations in thickness or variation in the viscosity of the dough and also due to the processing per se, irregular loads and impacts are produced. In the case of longer operating time, this subsequently results in severe wear in the area of the polygonal connection. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is now the object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which on the one hand the maintenance and exchangeability of the rollers is simplified and on the other hand, the lifetime is increased due to a low-wear coupling. 
     The object is solved in particular by the features of the independent claims. 
     In particular, whereby the coupling body is designed as multipart and openable along a dividing line, that the dividing line intersects the coupling opening, that a clamping apparatus is provided for non-positive holding of the shaft journal in the coupling opening, that the coupling opening is formed at least in part by clamping jaws, which in the closed position are pressed onto the shaft journal via the clamping apparatus, preferably flat. 
     Further advantageous features are that the coupling body comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, and that the first coupling part is movable with respect to the second coupling part for non-positive connection of the shaft journal to the coupling body and for release of the connection via the clamping apparatus, that in the closed position and with the shaft journal clamping between the first coupling part and the second coupling part, a gap is kept free, that the first coupling part is connected to the second coupling part on one side in a hinge-like manner and that the clamping apparatus is provided on the other side and/or that the clamping apparatus comprises a screw connection for connecting the first coupling part to the second coupling part. 
     Advantageously, the invention can be configured in such a manner that the clamping apparatus comprises a clamping clip which is connected and/or can be connected to one coupling part on one side in a hinge-like manner and to the other coupling part on the other side, that the clamping clip comprises a first centring flank and a second centring flank, wherein the first centring flank is in operative contact with a centring flank of the first coupling part and the second centring flank is in operative contact with a centring flank of the second coupling part in the closed position, that for centring the shaft journal the clamping jaws are designed to be movable with respect to the coupling body by means of an adjusting thread, that the clamping jaws have contact surfaces for contact against the shaft journal and that the contact surfaces in the closed position are distributed substantially radially symmetrically or rotationally symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the coupling body, and/or that the shaft journal is clamped between the clamping jaws by clamping the clamping apparatus. 
     The roller arrangement according to the invention preferably has the features that the roller is coupled to the machine frame via a shaft coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, that a driven conveyor belt is provided for conveying the dough strip, wherein the speed of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction substantially corresponds to the circumferential speed of the roller and wherein between the conveyor belt and the roller, a roller gap is provided for passage of the dough strip, that the roller can be removed by opening the coupling body and that the drive, the radial bearing for mounting the drive shaft and the drive shaft is connected to the machine frame, that the roller can be removed by opening the coupling body and that the drive, the radial bearing for mounting the bearing axle and the bearing axle is connected to the machine frame and/or that the first coupling part and the bearing axle are connected in one piece to one another and/or that the first coupling part and the drive shaft are connected in one piece to one another. 
     The roller arrangement according to the invention comprises a shaft coupling which enables the rollers to be easily exchanged and furthermore optimizes the lifetimes and therefore the maintenance interval and the maintenance time. 
     For this purpose the shaft coupling comprises a dividable coupling body which is adapted for positive and non-positive mounting of the shaft journal. The coupling body comprises, for example, a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the two coupling parts are separated from one another along a dividing line. A coupling opening for inserting the shaft journal is provided in the coupling body. This coupling opening has an inner contour which substantially corresponds to the outer contour of the shaft journal. However, the contour of the opening is smaller than the outer contour of the shaft journal at least in sections. The parts of the coupling body can be clamped to one another via the clamping apparatus. As a result, the shaft journal is clamped in the coupling opening and connected non-positively. The lifetime is increased by this non-positive play-free coupling. The clamping apparatus according to the invention further enables in a particularly advantageous manner a rapid openability and a rapid exchangeability of the rollers. 
     Clamping jaws are provided along the contour of the coupling opening. These clamping jaws have contact surfaces with which they can be brought into operative contact with the shaft journal. The clamping jaws can be formed in one piece from the coupling body. According to a further embodiment, the clamping jaws can be implemented by separate individual elements connected to the coupling body. 
     Furthermore, the clamping jaws can be provided adjustably or movably in the coupling body for example for centring the shaft journal. This means that by a displacement of the clamping jaws to a small extent, the axis of rotation of the roller can be brought into agreement with the axis of rotation of the coupling body. 
     Preferably the shaft coupling according to the invention is designed to be self-centring. This means that by closing the shaft coupling and by clamping the clamping apparatus, the shaft is automatically moved into a central position and is fixed in this position. For example, this is achieved through a diagonal arrangement of a rectangular cross-section or also through a V-shaped arrangement of the coupling opening and a triangular polygonal cross-section of the shaft journal. 
     A further promotion of self-centring is achieved, for example, by the symmetrical division of the coupling body into the first and the second coupling part. The dividing line in this case runs substantially through the axis of rotation of the shaft journal. 
     The machine frame and the roller arrangement are suitable and adapted for the industrial production of baked products such as, for example biscuits. In particular, this also relates to the control and/or regulation unit which can be connected to the control unit of a baking machine. 
     Designated as polygonal according to the invention are shapes which, for example, have a triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or polygonal cross-section. However, also oval shapes, rounded shapes, star shapes correspond to the definition of a polygonal shape according to the invention. In particular the definition covers shapes of cross-sections which differ from a circular cross-section disposed concentrically with the axis of rotation. 
     The apparatus according to the invention is suitable and/or adapted to be used “in-line” in an industrial production plant for food products. 
     The invention is described further hereinafter with reference to the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows an oblique view of a possible arrangement of the shaft coupling according to the invention and several roller arrangements according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a detail of the roller arrangement according to the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a section through the shaft coupling according to the invention, wherein the plane of intersection substantially runs along a normal plane of the axis of rotation of the roller. 
         FIG. 4  shows a shaft coupling according to the invention in a sectional view. 
         FIG. 5  shows another sectional view of the shaft coupling according to the invention, wherein the sectional planes of  FIGS. 4 and 5  substantially follow the axis of rotation of the roller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a roller arrangement comprising two rollers  21 . A conveyor belt  26  is provided in the immediate vicinity of the rollers  21 . In this embodiment the rollers are designed as cutting and/or follower rollers. In this case, a dough strip is conveyed on the conveyor belt  26  in the direction of the rollers  21 . These have recesses and/or webs for cutting out and shaping biscuit dough shaped bodies. 
     The rollers  21  and the conveyor belt  26  are connected to a machine frame  22 . The rollers  21  are rotationally driven by means of the drive  3 . Rollers  21  are provided for cutting out and/or after-shaping the biscuit dough shaped bodies. The rollers can be exchanged to enable the manufacture of various biscuit dough shaped bodies. To this end the shaft coupling according to the invention is provided. 
     Preferably located underneath the conveyor belt, not visible in the view in  FIG. 1 , are rubberized counter rollers which act against the pressure of the rollers  21 . These are preferably mounted laterally rotatably on the machine frame and roll on the inner side of the conveyor belt. 
     The shaft coupling is suitable for connecting the roller  21  or its shaft journal  1  to a bearing axle  25  or to a drive shaft of a drive  3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an oblique view of a detail of the roller arrangement according to the invention. A roller  21  has shaft journals  1  protruding on both sides. These shaft journals are adapted to be connected to further components via the shaft coupling according to the invention. In particular, a connection between the machine frame  22  not shown here and the rotatable roller  21  can be made by the shaft coupling according to the invention. The roller  21  can be driven rotatably about an axis of rotation  27  by means of a drive  3 . The roller  21  is mounted on both sides on the machine frame  22 . The mounting preferably comprises at least one fixed bearing and two floating bearings, wherein one floating bearing is provided on one side and another floating bearing is provided on the other side of the roller  21 . The rotational bearings are firmly connected to the machine frame  22 . This means that the bearing points are connected substantially rigidly to the machine frame  22 . The movable parts of the mountings are rotatable and/or movable. The roller  21  together with the shaft journal  1  can be coupled via the shaft coupling to the bearing points and in particular to the drive  3  or the bearing axle  25 . To this end, the shaft coupling comprises a coupling body  4  which comprises a coupling opening  5  for receiving the shaft journal  1 . The coupling body further comprises at least one first coupling part  9  and a second coupling part  10 . These two coupling parts can be connected to one another by means of a clamping apparatus  7  or can at least be moved and clamped with respect to one another. 
       FIG. 3  shows a section through the roller arrangement according to the invention in particular through the shaft coupling according to the invention, where the plane of intersection substantially corresponds to a normal plane of the axis of rotation  27 . The plane of intersection runs through the coupling body and the clamping apparatus  7 . 
     The shaft journal  1  having a polygonal cross-section  2  projects into the coupling opening  5  of the coupling body  4 . In the present embodiment the cross-section  2  is designed as a substantially rectangular or square cross-section. 
     The coupling opening  5  substantially corresponds to the cross-section  2  of the shaft journal  1 . For the connection the coupling body has clamping jaws  8 . These clamping jaws  8  each have a contact surface  19  on their side facing the shaft journal  1 . In the closed position the contact surfaces  19  are in direct contact with the shaft journal  1  of the roller  21 . The coupling body  4  according to the present embodiment is divided and comprises a first coupling part  9  and a second coupling part  10 . These two parts  9 ,  10  can be moved relative to one another by means of a clamping apparatus  7 . In particular, the two coupling parts  9 ,  10  can be firmly connected to one another by means of the clamping apparatus  7 . In the present embodiment the two coupling parts  9 ,  10  are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner on one side by means of a rotary joint  28 . The clamping apparatus  7  is provided on the other side of the coupling body  4 . The coupling body  4  is divided along a dividing line  6  into the first coupling part  9  and the second coupling part  10 . The first coupling part  9  can be connected to the second coupling part  10  by means of the clamping apparatus  7 . To this end, the clamping apparatus comprises a screw connection  12  by which means a connection of the first coupling part to the second coupling part can be made directly or indirectly. In the present embodiment of  FIG. 3 , this connection is made indirectly. This means that the clamping apparatus  7  comprises a screw connection  12  and a clamping clip  13 . The clamping clip  13  is connected in a hinge-like manner via a rotary joint  28  to the first coupling part  9 . To this end the screw connection  12  is adapted to connect the clamping clip  13  to the second coupling part  10 . By tightening the screw connection, the two coupling parts  9 ,  10  are firmly connected to one another by means of the clamping clip  13 . 
     In the present embodiment, centring flanks are provided for fastening the two coupling parts. Thus, the clamping clip comprises a first centring flank  14  and a second centring flank  15 . Furthermore, the first coupling part  9  is provided with a centring flank  16  and the second coupling part is provided with a centring flank  17 . By tightening the clamping clip  13 , the first centring flank  14  comes into contact with the centring flank  16  of the first coupling part  9 . 
     Furthermore, by tightening the clamping clip  13 , the second centring flank  15  comes into contact with the centring flank  17  of the second coupling part. The flanks preferably run obliquely to the direction of movement of the clamping clip  13  so that a centring by means of the centring flanks is made possible by tightening the screw connection  12  and/or the clamping clip  13 . Furthermore, the centring flanks are adapted in such a manner that upon tightening the clamping clip  13  and the screw connection  12 , the two coupling parts  9 ,  10  are moved towards one another. Preferably this arrangement of the centring flanks is designed as a wedge-shaped arrangement. Thus, the first and the second centring flank  14 ,  15  form a wedge-shaped section. In the same way, the centring flanks  16 ,  17  of the coupling parts  9 ,  10  together form a wedge-shaped section. According to the present embodiment, one of the wedge-shaped sections is implemented in the form of an extension and the other wedge-shaped section is designed to be groove-shaped. By pressing together the two wedge-shaped sections, the coupling body is centred, closed and/or clamped. Clamping jaws  8  are provided along the coupling opening  5 . These clamping jaws are preferably movable by means of adjusting thread  18 . As a result, the position of the clamping jaws  8  can be varied to a small extent relative to the coupling body  4 . For example, a centring of the shaft journal  1  with respect to the axis of rotation  20  of the roller can be achieved thereby. 
     For changing the roller  21 , in the present embodiment the screw connection can be released or loosened so that the clamping clip  13  of the clamping apparatus  7  can be pivoted away around the rotary joint  28 . As a result, the first and the second centring flank become separated from the separating flanks of the coupling parts  16 ,  17 . Subsequently the locking and connection of the first coupling part  9  to the second coupling part  10  is released. This can then be opened around the rotary joint  28 . The dividing line  6  is disposed in such a manner that the shaft journal  1  can be removed by dividing the coupling body  4 . In the present embodiment the dividing line  6  runs substantially through the axis of rotation  20  and through the axis of symmetry of the cross-section  2  of the shaft journal  1 . 
     When the coupling body  4  is closed, a positive polygonal connection is produced via the clamping apparatus  7  and the clamping jaws  8 . Furthermore, a clamping connection is achieved by means of the special configuration and in particular the size of the cross-section  2  of the shaft journal  1  and the coupling opening  5 . Thus, the coupling opening  5  or the contact surfaces  19  of the clamping jaws  8  are configured in such a manner that when the shaft coupling is closed, the shaft journal  1  is clamped in. Optionally a gap  11  is provided along the dividing line  6  even when the shaft coupling is closed. This enables the shaft journal  1  to be clamped in without the clamping force being reduced by the coupling parts  9 ,  10  contacting one another. 
     Also the pressure exerted by the shaft coupling on the shaft journal  1  or the applied contact pressure can be adjusted by means of the geometry of the centring flanks or via the clamping apparatus  7 . 
       FIG. 4  shows another section of a roller arrangement according to the invention and/or a shaft coupling according to the invention. The roller  21  has a shaft journal  1  which protrudes laterally from the roller  21 . According to the present invention, this shaft journal is designed to be polygonal or the shaft journal has a polygonal cross-section  2 . This shaft journal is adapted to be connected positively and non-positively to the coupling body  4 . The coupling body  4  is designed to be multipart and comprises a first coupling part  9  and a second coupling part  10 . These parts can be connected to one another and clamped with respect to one another by means of a clamping apparatus  7  so that the shaft journal  1  is clamped in the coupling body  4 . In the diagram of  FIG. 4 , the shaft journal  1  is connected to a bearing axle  25 . This arrangement is preferably provided on that side of the roller  21  on which no drive acts. At this point the roller is merely mounted. To this end, two radial bearings  29  are provided in the present embodiment. These radial bearings are held in one bearing block  30  where the bearing block  30  can be designed to be sleeve-shaped or multipart. Furthermore, the bearing block  30  is closed with a bearing cover  31 . The bearing block  30  is preferably rigidly connected to the machine frame  22 . The roller  21  is mounted rotationally with respect to the machine frame  22  by means of the radial bearing  29  and the bearing block  30 . According to one embodiment, one of the two radial bearings  29  can be designed as a fixed bearing. 
     If the shaft coupling is now opened to remove the roller  21 , the bearing axle  25  and the radial bearings  29  remain firmly arranged on the machine frame. This has the advantage according to the invention that the bearing block  30  need not be opened and the bearings need not be pulled away from the shaft journal. On the contrary, the shaft coupling can be opened and the roller removed by means of a simple actuating element. 
       FIG. 5  shows a section through the drive-side shaft coupling and its mounting, where the sectional plane substantially corresponds to the sectional plane from  FIG. 4 . Again a shaft  21  is clamped positively and non-positively in a coupling body  4  by means of a shaft journal  1  having a polygonal cross-section. The coupling body substantially corresponds to the embodiment of the afore-mentioned coupling body comprises a multipart coupling body  4  which is designed to be closed and locked by means of a clamping apparatus  7 , wherein a first coupling part  9  and a second coupling part  10  are pulled towards one another in such a manner that the shaft journal  1  of the roller  21  is clamped in the coupling opening  5  of the coupling body  4 . The coupling body  4  is further connected to the drive shaft  32  of the drive  3 . The drive shaft  32  is mounted rotationally in a bearing block  30  by means of two radial bearings  29 . Preferably one of the two radial bearings  29  is designed as a fixed bearing. In particular, that bearing located closest to the drive  3  is designed as a fixed bearing. The bearing block  30  is adapted to receive the radial bearings  29 . As noted in the descriptions of the previous embodiments, the bearing block  30  is designed, for example, as a sleeve, closable bearing block or similar body which is adapted and suitable to hold the radial bearings in such a manner that a rotational mounting of the drive shaft or the bearing axis is made possible. 
     The drive  3  is connected to the machine frame  22  or the bearing block  30  in a torsionally rigid manner. The bearing block  30  is preferably connected to the machine frame  22  in a torsionally rigid manner. As a result, on the one hand a supporting of the drive  3  with respect to the machine frame  22  is made possible. On the other hand, the roller  21  or the shaft journal thereof  1  is thereby rotationally mounted in the region of the drive  3 . 
     In order to now be able to remove the roller  21  in the region of the drive, merely the clamping apparatus  7  and the coupling body  4  need be opened in order to be able to remove the shaft journal  1 . The drive shaft, the radial bearings  29  of the drive shaft and the drive remain connected to the machine frame  22 . 
     This ease of mounting and dismounting also prevents contamination, for example, by oil. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1  Shaft journal 
           2  Cross-section 
           3  Drive 
           4  Coupling body 
           5  Coupling opening 
           6  Dividing line 
           7  Clamping apparatus 
           8  Clamping jaw 
           9  First coupling part 
           10  Second coupling part 
           11  Gap 
           12  Screw connection 
           13  Clamping clip 
           14  First centring flank 
           15  Second centring flank 
           16  Centring flank of first coupling part 
           17  Centring flank of second coupling part 
           18  Adjusting thread 
           19  Contact surface 
           20  Axis of rotation 
           21  Roller 
           22  Machine frame 
           23  Conveying direction 
           24  Roller gap 
           25  Bearing axle 
           26  Conveyor belt 
           27  Axis of rotation 
           28  Rotary joint 
           29  Radial bearing 
           30  Bearing block 
           31  Bearing cover 
           32  Drive shaft