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EP-4741317-A1 - BELT CURVE

EP4741317A1EP 4741317 A1EP4741317 A1EP 4741317A1EP-4741317-A1

Abstract

Curved conveyor belt (3), the curved belt is in particular suitable for a belt curve (1), in particular the belt curve is adapted to convey an object along a curved conveying direction (C) in a conveying area (11) between a first end (E1) and a second end (E2), wherein the conveying direction (C) is perpendicular to a radial direction (R); in particular the belt curve comprising: - a supporting frame (2); - a conveyor belt (3), which is arranged circumferentially on the support frame (2) and adapted to carry the object; - at least one deflection roller (4) located at each of the first end (E1) and the second end (E2), the conveyor belt (3) is deflected around the deflection roller (4); - a drive motor (4) adapted to provide a drive power for the conveyor belt (3); - a guiding (64), in particular a guide rail, adapted to guide the conveyor belt (3) in the conveying direction (C), thereby providing a guiding force in radial outward characterized by a plurality of receptables (32) within the belt body (31), the receptables (32) are adapted to be engaged by a drive sprocket (44).

Inventors

  • AVELAR, Fabian
  • HARDING, TOM
  • HARRELL, MICHAEL
  • HARRISON, SCOTT

Assignees

  • Interroll Holding AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (12)

  1. Curved conveyor belt (3), the curved belt is in particular suitable for a belt curve (1), in particular the belt curve is adapted to convey an object along a curved conveying direction (C) in a conveying area (11) between a first end (E1) and a second end (E2), wherein the conveying direction (C) is perpendicular to a radial direction (R); in particular the belt curve comprising: - a supporting frame (2); - a conveyor belt (3), which is arranged circumferentially on the support frame (2) and adapted to carry the object; - at least one deflection roller (42) located at each of the first end (E1) and the second end (E2), the conveyor belt (3) is deflected around the deflection roller (42); - a drive (4) adapted to provide a drive power for the conveyor belt (3); - a guiding guide rail (51), adapted to guide the conveyor belt (3) in the conveying direction (C), thereby providing a guiding force in radial outward direction (R); characterized by a plurality of receptables (32) within the belt body (31), the receptables (32) are adapted to be engaged by a drive sprocket (44).
  2. Curved conveyor belt (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the receptables (32) are provided with a reinforcement (33).
  3. Curved conveyor belt (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reinforcement (33) at least providing a contact face, for being contacted by the drive sprocket (44) when providing a drive force to the conveyor belt (3).
  4. Curved conveyor belt (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the reinforcement (33) surrounds the receptable at least partially - when viewed in top view -; in particular the reinforcement (33) is a grommet fully surrounding the receptable (32) - when viewed in top view - at least in a U-shaped manner.
  5. Curved conveyor belt (3) according any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (3) comprises a radial support (34), attached to the belt body, and adapted to interact with a radial guide rail (51).
  6. Curved conveyor belt (3) according to the preceding claim and one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the radial support (34) is made in one piece with the reinforcement (33).
  7. Curved conveyor belt (3) according any of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the radial guide (51) is located radially outside of the receptables (32).
  8. Curved conveyor belt (3) according any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that within an upper run (3U) of the belt, the radial support (34) is located on an upper side of the belt body (31).
  9. Belt curve (1), the belt curve is adapted to convey an object along a curved conveying direction (C) in a conveying area (11) between a first end (E1) and a second end (E2), wherein the conveying direction (C) is perpendicular to a radial direction (R); the belt curve (1) comprising: - a supporting frame (2); - a curved conveyor belt (3) according to any of the preceding claims , which is arranged circumferentially on the support frame (2) and adapted to carry the object and - at least one deflection roller (42) located at each of the first end (E1) and the second end (E2), the conveyor belt (3) is deflected around the deflection roller (42); - a drive (4) adapted to provide a drive power for the conveyor belt (3); - a guide rail (51), adapted to guide the conveyor belt (3) in the conveying direction (C), in particular providing a guiding force in radial outward direction (R).
  10. Belt curve (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a first plurality of deflection rollers (42) located at each of the first end (E1) and a second plurality of deflection rollers (42) located at each of the first end (E1), wherein the rollers of each of said plurality are of cylindrical shape.
  11. Belt curve (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rollers of each of said plurality are of cylindrical shape are supported in a rotating manner independently from the rotation of other rollers within the same plurality of rollers.
  12. Belt curve (1) according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the a drive (4) has a drive sprocket (44) adapted to engage into receptables (312) of the belt body (31).

Description

The invention refers to a belt curve. A belt curve is shown under https://www.voutube.com/watch?v=QokVhGOa!v)fU. This belt curve is in the following referred to as the "conventional belt curve". The belt is mechanically laced. For adapting the tension of the conveyor belt the position of the deflection rollers at a first end and a second end can be amended. By increasing the distance between the rollers the tension is increased which is shown in the video between min 2:00 and min 2:05. The belt curve is used for conveying suitcases. Another belt curve is disclosed in EP 2 276 685 B1 similar to the above conventional belt curve. A deflection roller is suspended in a frame. The deflection roller is displaceable in a direction of movement of the conveyor belt (conveying direction), in order to be able to tension the conveyor belt after it has been mounted (EP 2 276 685 B1, [0053]). In the e-commerce industry also small items and so called soft packs are to be sorted and conveyed automatically. A parcel usually has a defined shape and a rigid surface, which makes it easy for automated handling. A soft pack is used for packaging soft content like clothes. The outer surface is are is made by a plastic sheet, so that the soft pack has a undefined shape and a slippery surface. Gaps between conveyors are the natural enemy of soft packs. To optimize the reliability of conveyors in conveying of softpacks, the size of gaps in the conveying tracks needs to be minimized, in particular a gap to an adjacent conveyor. The topic of small gaps in relation to belt curves is in detail described in DE 20 2021 101 563 U1. In the conventional belt curve, the position of the deflection rollers is amended for tensioning purposes. Consequently there the gap size is a variable value depending of the belt tension. Consequently the optimization capabilities in the conventional belt curve with respect to gaps are limited, since positioning the deflection roller in a manner to support the smallest gap is not possible. There are different possibilities to drive the conveyor belt in a belt curve. Positive drive: here a drive sprocket interacts with a drive chain, wherein the drive chain is fixedly connected to the conveyor belt. The advantage is, that the conveyor belt is driven a high precision, and there is not need for a high tension of the conveyor belt. Drive chain are usually quite noisy. Friction drive: here a deflection roller interacts with the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is held at a certain high tension around the deflection roller, so that a drive force us transmitted from the deflection roller to the conveyor belt. For purpose of uniform speed relation between the belt and the deflection roller, the deflection roller has a conical shape where the radial inward area of the deflection roller has a smaller diameter. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved belt curve, in particular in view of conveying soft packs and small items. In particular the belt curve should operate at a low noise level and the belt curve should drive in a positive manner. This object is solved by a curved conveyor belt and a belt curve according to the main claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description. In particular the belt has a belt body, which is in particular a continuous flexible mat. This is in contrast to so-called modular belts, in which the belt is made of a plurality of rigid polymer parts, which are hinged together. In particular the belt curve, for which the curved conveyor is suitable, comprising: a supporting frame,a conveyor belt, which is arranged circumferentially on the support frame and adapted to carry the object;at least one deflection roller located at each of the first end and the second end, the conveyor belt is deflected around the deflection roller;a drive motor adapted to provide a drive power for the conveyor belt;a guiding, in particular a guide rail, adapted to guide the conveyor belt in the conveying direction, thereby providing a guiding force in the radial outward direction. The belt comprises a plurality of receptables within the belt body; the receptables are adapted to be engaged by a drive sprocket. In particular the drive sprocket in in drive connection with the drive motor. Engaging the belt directly in a positive manner, makes the drive chain of the conventional belt curve obsolete. By omitting the drive chain, a main sources of noise is switched off. The belt curve is in particular adapted and/or is used to convey articles of the soft pack type. A soft pack type has a surrounding made of foil with a non-rigid shape. An example embodiment of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein show fig. 1an inventive belt curve in perspective view;fig. 2a more detailed perspective view of a second end of the belt curve of figure 1;fig. 3a exploded view of main components of the belt curve of figure 1;fig. 4a partial exploded view on an upper run of the be