BUFFER CONVEYOR FOR CONVEYING AND BUFFERING PRODUCTS

• US 20090050445A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Specialty Conveyor B.V.
• Original Assignee: Specialty Conveyor B.V.
• Inventors: Balk, Wouter
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/444
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5131 by relative displacement between conveyors or conveyor parts and bridging means therebetween

Abstract

A buffer conveyor for conveying and buffering products comprises a first elongated conveyor and a second elongated conveyor that can be driven in an opposite direction. The first and the second conveyor extend in a path at least substantially parallel to each other and beside each other. A transfer unit is movable at least substantially parallel to the first and the second conveyor in the aforesaid path and is provided with a transfer device for transferring the products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The transfer unit comprises a drive unit for moving the transfer unit, preferably in dependence on the velocities of the first and the second conveyor.

The drive unit of the transfer unit comprises a drive motor, which follows the movements of the transfer unit at least in part.

Claims

1. A buffer conveyor for conveying and buffering products, comprising

at least one first elongated conveyor, which is driven in a first direction and which has a supply end,

a second elongated conveyor, which is driven in a second, opposite direction and which has a discharge end, which first and second conveyors extend in a path at least substantially parallel to each other and beside each other,

a transfer unit, which is movable at least substantially parallel to the first and the second conveyor in the aforesaid path and which is provided with a transfer device for transferring the products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, which transfer unit comprises a drive unit for moving the transfer unit,

wherein the drive unit of the transfer unit comprises a drive motor, which follows the movements of the transfer unit at least partly.

2. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor is mounted to a mounting element that moves along with the transfer unit.

3. The buffer conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the mounting element is mounted on or to the transfer unit.

4. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a transmission which is in driving engagement with the drive motor on the one hand and with either the frame or the first and/or the second conveyor on the other hand.

5. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveying path winds around a vertical column, to which an arm is connected, which arm is pivotally connected to the column at one end and which is connected to the transfer unit at the other end.

6. The buffer conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the drive motor is mounted on said arm, and drivingly engages the column.

7. The buffer conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor path extends non-concentrically relative to the column, and wherein the arm is configured to adapt a length thereof to the varying distance between the transfer unit and the column.

8. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein said path is curved at least in the horizontal plane also extends at least partially in vertical direction.

9. The buffer conveyor according to claim 7, wherein said path is spirally or helically curved.

10. The buffer conveyor according to claim 8, wherein said path comprises curvatures that vary along the length of the path.

11. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor path extends in vertical direction and wherein the drive motor is connected to the transfer unit in such a manner that it follows the vertical movement of the transfer unit.

12. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conveyor extend in said path with a horizontal gap between them, and wherein the transfer unit is guided on a guide in said gap, in such a manner that the products are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor via said transfer unit.

13. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second conveyor extend in said path substantially without a gap between them, in such a manner that the products are transferred directly from the first conveyor to the second conveyor by the transfer unit.

14. The buffer conveyor according to claim 13, wherein a center guide is provided between or above the transition between the first and the second conveyor, which center guide is linked to the movement of the transfer unit and which terminates at a point some distance away from the transfer device of the transfer unit.

15. The buffer conveyor according to claim 14 wherein a transfer element is mounted to the end of the center guide that faces in the direction of the transfer device of the transfer unit, which transfer element is driven for the purpose of transferring products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

16. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is driven by a drive mounted to the transfer unit.

17. The buffer conveyor according to claim 15, wherein the transfer element and the transfer device are driven by the same drive.

18. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit is driven in dependence on the velocities of the first and the second conveyor, to which end the buffer conveyor is provided with sensors for measuring said velocities and with a control unit for controlling the manner in which the transfer unit is driven on the basis of the velocities as measured.

19. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are mounted to the transfer unit and measure the velocities of the first and the second conveyor in relation to that of the transfer unit.

20. The buffer conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor, which at least partially moves along with the transfer unit, is connected to an energy source that moves along with the transfer unit.