Transferring articles from a moving belt edge onto a normally disposed moving conveyor belt

• US 5,850,902 A
• Filed: 04/08/1997
• Issued: 12/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Original Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Inventors: Bogle, David W., Hicks, Timothy J., Greve, Christopher G., Sirgo, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US08/838,320
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 198/457, 198/599, 198/600, 198/803.01, 198/851, 198/853
• US Class Current: 198/457.05
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/08 the surface being formed by the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/30 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/52 Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00

Abstract

This invention provides improvements in modular links and conveyor belt systems for transferring moving articles from one conveyor belt to another disposed at ninety degrees. Thus a transferring belt has specially constructed links with two integrally formed portions across the width, one for pivotable connection in a moving belt configuration and the other specially constructed with features for more effective transfer of articles from the edge of a transfer belt to a moving belt disposed at ninety degrees which excludes inter-link pivoting structure. Thus with specially formed belt edge transfer modular links, a planar edge transfer platform is formed by the upper surfaces of a series of link end and belt edge planar conveyance surfaces located on the respective belt links. The lower link edge surfaces are tapered to reside in non-contact position over the ramp of the receptacle belt formed typically by a sprocket wheel at a position where the planar conveyance surfaces on the two belts are contiguous and co-planar. The link ends are constructed for encountering the dynamic movement conditions and loading stresses encountered when the belt edge is transversed by moving articles traveling from one belt to the other. The underside surfaces at the link end are contoured typically as a circular chord feathered out at the transfer end, and having a set of ridges parallel with the pivot rods. Interdigitatable fingers extending integrally from the upper planar link end surface mate with leading and trailing links for sharing planar and vertical stresses in the cantilevered integral link end-belt edge structure.

Claims

1. In a conveyor belt system for moving articles in transit off a source belt moving in one direction onto a receptacle belt moving in a different direction, the improvement comprising in combination, a modular link source belt disposed for conveyance of articles in a first movement direction on a belt conveying surface, a modular link receptacle belt disposed for receiving articles conveyed on the source belt to move in said different direction on the receptacle belt which presents an entrance ramp tapered upwardly toward an article conveying surface, said entrance ramp being positioned alongside a transfer edge of the source belt for receiving articles discharged from an edge of the source belt, a guard rail system disposed to engage articles conveyed on the source belt for guiding the movement direction of such articles off the edge of the source belt toward the article conveying surface of the receptacle belt, means constructing the source belt with modular belt edge links having a shaped edge ramp configuration on an under side tapered to a thin web surface at the belt edge, said tapered under side being positionable to move dynamically across the entrance ramp with minimal contact to present a small gap width for conveying articles from the source belt to the receptacle belt, and means forming an edge ramp configuration on each source belt modular link with interlocking structural means to engage adjacent link module leading and trailing edges in the source belt thereby providing distribution of weight of transferred articles in transit among a plurality of links along the source belt length for damping dynamic flexing and fluttering of modular link tips individually along the transfer edge of the source belt.

2. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 wherein the edge ramp interlocking structure further comprises:

interlocking fingers disposed on leading and trailing edges of each modular link for interdigitating with adjacent links of the source belt configuration.

3. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 disposed upon mounting structure further comprising:

wander control means with a set of lateral wander confining members respectively structurally positioned upon source belt links with corresponding mating wander control means positioned on the mounting structure for maintaining the movement of the source belt transfer edge in a confined path while crossing said entrance ramp.

4. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 wherein the edge ramp configuration on modular source belt links further comprises:

a substantially planar flat panel article conveying surface of a plastic material with low surface friction overlapping the entrance ramp for encouraging conveyed articles to slide laterally toward the receptacle belt entrance ramp.

5. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 wherein the source belt and the receptacle belt are disposed with directions of travel oriented respectively to produce a ninety degree change in the travel path of articles moving off the source belt for further travel along the receptacle belt.

6. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 wherein the belt edge configuration on the source belt modular transfer belt links further comprises:

a beveled edge portion having a substantially cylindrical chord shaped contour for mating closely with a cylindrical surface of a sprocket wheel drive at said inclined entrance ramp of the receptacle belt with minimal contact.

7. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 further comprising interlocking means for engaging adjacent source belt link modules along said belt edge comprising a set of interdigitatable fingers disposed parallel to the source belt travel direction for interdigitating with leading and trailing belt link modules to form a load-bearing surface jointly shared between successive link modules disposed along the source belt edge when crossing said entrance ramp.

8. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 wherein the modular links of the source belt further comprise:

an integrally formed modular link of predetermined thickness having interdigitatable link ends defining pivot rod receiving apertures along a pivot axis extending partially across the links extending from an article conveying surface thereby forming trailing and leading ends of the link along a first portion of the link, and a transfer edge portion of the link extending from said first portion comprising cantilevered structure integrally formed with the first portion of the link to provide on an upper link side a substantially flat article conveying surface substantially co-planar with the article conveying surface of the first portion of the link, said transfer edge further comprising on a lower link side at the belt edge a tapered contour sloping from the first portion upwardly to reduce the link thickness toward the edge of the transfer belt and disposing an overlapping substantially contact-free mating surface between the source belt and said entrance ramp of said receptacle belt.

18. A link as defined in claim 7 wherein said transfer edge portion further comprises interdigitating fingers extending parallel to the direction of the moving transfer belt adapted to mutually interlock with edge portions of leading and trailing links, thereby to share loads and dampen flutter and vibration at the conveyor belt edge.

9. A conveyor belt modular link for transferring conveyed articles off a transfer belt edge onto a moving receptacle belt for changing the direction of article travel, comprising in combination:

an integrally formed modular link for the transfer belt having interdigitatable link ends defining pivot rod receiving apertures disposed along opposite pivot axes extending only partially across the link in a first link portion and forming part of a substantially common conveying surface extending between trailing and leading link ends, said first link portion being integrally affixed to a transfer edge portion of the link extending outwardly toward the transfer edge, said transfer edge of the link having on an upper link side a low friction article conveying surface substantially co-planar with the link conveying surface and providing on a lower link side a tapered surface sloping upwardly from said first link portion toward a thin transfer edge thereby permitting the opposite link edge to overlap said moving receptacle belt and move laterally with little contact across a tapered entrance ramp disposed about a sprocket wheel, and said transfer edge further having integrally disposed structure extending laterally from the link edge tapered surface at leading and trailing edges to form an interlocked transfer belt edge thereby jointly sharing the weights of transported articles with leading and trailing links near said planar belt edge surface as they are discharged from the transfer belt edge and damping flutter and vibration of individual link edges of the modular links.

10. A link as defined in claim 9 wherein said integrally disposed structure further comprises:

sets of interdigitatable fingers extending from opposite link ends in said transfer edge portion of the link disposed for interlocking into end to end coupled links of a conveyor belt presenting said belt edge at said entrance ramp.

11. A link as defined in claim 10 wherein said integrally disposed structure further comprises:

limiting means for engaging the fingers in a configuration counteracting independent flutter of the transfer edges of links crossing the entrance ramp.

12. A link as defined in claim 11 wherein the limiting means further comprises a flange extending from a conveying surface in one link to overlap the interdigitatable fingers of an adjacent link thereby to limit flutter and share loading with other limits.

13. A link as defined in claim 9 further comprising integral wander control guide members disposed on the links for presenting smooth confined frictional contact surfaces extending substantially parallel to the direction of travel of articles on the transfer belt for mating with surfaces of corresponding wander control elements disposed external to the link on a separate member oriented substantially parallel to the transfer belt edge.

14. A link as defined in claim 9 wherein the upper surface of the transfer edge portion of the link is substantially an integral flat plate of low friction plastic material.

15. A link as defined in claim 9 wherein the belt edge structure in said transfer edge portion further comprises a set of spaced tapered ridges on the lower link side extending parallel to the pivot axis from the first portion toward the thinner transfer edge.

16. A link as defined in claim 15 wherein said interlocked surface further comprises a set of interdigitatable fingers extending toward link leading and trailing edges respectively integrally affixed to respectively ones of the spaced tapered ridges.

17. A modular link for a conveyor belt adapted to discharge conveyed articles from an edge of a moving transfer belt configuration, comprising in combination:

an integrally formed modular link body having a first portion extending across part of the belt width and a second transfer edge portion, said first portion structured to receive thereinto pivot rods for interlinking the links pivotably end to end into a conveyor belt embodiment, said second transfer edge portion being disposed at one edge of the link presenting an upper article transfer surface constructed to support the movement of conveyed articles in a direction normal to the movement of a belt formed when such modules are connected end-to-end thereby to discharge said conveyed articles off the edge portion of that belt, and tapered transfer edge structure comprising lateral interlocking extensions at leading and trailing positions for interlocking with adjacent edges of adjacent end to end connected link modules to mutually share the loads of articles transferred off said edge and damp individual flutter and vibration of the tapered edge structure of individual links.

19. A link as defined in claim 17 wherein said transfer edge portion further comprises an upper article conveying surface and a lower surface tapered toward a thinner transfer edge and encompassing a plurality of integral tapered ridges disposed parallel to the pivot rods.

20. In a conveyance system for transferring conveyed articles off the edge of the modular link conveyor belt formed of end to end coupled modular links onto a moving transfer belt for conveying the articles in a different direction, the improvements for stabilizing the belt edge to avoid vibration and belt interference in edge transfer regions, comprising in combination:

a tapered belt edge structure on the modular links of the conveyor belt constituting an article transfer station for overlying substantially contact free an entranceway ramp of said transfer belt disposed about a sprocket wheel, said belt edge structure being jointlessly cantilevered to the conveyor belt modular links thereby providing a common upper transfer surface and having an underside tapered edge configuration with at least two tapered fillet ridges disposed perpendicular to the belt edge and integrally affixed to the modular link, and

a set of lateral interdigitation fingers disposed on leading and trailing link positions for interlocking adjacent modular links in said conveyor belt together at said belt edge when overlying entranceway ramp to jointly share the load of articles transferred over said article transfer station with adjacent modular links and to damp fluttering and vibration of the belt edge structure of individual links during dynamic conditions of article transport between two belts.

21. In a conveyor belt system for moving articles in transit off a transfer belt moving in one direction onto a receptacle belt moving in a different direction, the improvement comprising in combination, a modular link transfer belt disposed for conveyance of articles in a first movement direction on a planar conveying surface, a modular link receptacle belt disposed for receiving articles conveyed on the transfer belt in said different direction and having an entrance ramp inclined upwardly toward a planar conveying surface, said entrance ramp being positioned alongside one edge of the transfer belt for receiving articles discharged from an edge of the transfer belt, and a guard rail system disposed to engage articles conveyed on the transfer belt for guiding the movement direction of such articles off the edge of the transfer belt toward the planar conveying surface of the receptacle belt, wherein the transfer belt is formed with modular belt edge links having an edge ramp configuration on an under side and a planar conveying surface on an upper side, said edge being disposed to move across and mate adjacent to and with no more than minimal contact with the entrance ramp to produce coplanar planar conveying surfaces on the transfer and receptacle belts, and wherein the edge ramp configuration comprises integrally formed modular belt link extensions on each transfer belt module having interlocking structural means for interengaging adjacent link modules in the transfer belt to form a continuous planar surface along a transfer edge of the transfer belt.

22. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 wherein the edge ramp interlocking structure further comprises:

interlocking fingers disposed in the edge ramp configuration of each link for mating into adjacent links to share planar and vertical forces within the edge ramp configuration with adjacent leading and trailing links of a belt configuration.

23. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 disposed upon mounting structure further comprising:

wander control means with a set of wander confining members respectively structurally positioned upon transfer belt links and the mounting structure for maintaining the movement of the transfer belt edge in a straight line path across the receptacle belt ramp without significant wander.

24. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 wherein the belt edge configuration of the modular transfer belt links further comprises:

a substantially planar flat panel article conveing surface of a plastic material with low surface friction for encouraging conveyed articles to slide laterally across the panel.

25. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 wherein the transfer belt and the receptacle belt are disposed with directions of travel oriented respectively to produce a ninety degree change in the travel path of articles moving from the transfer belt to travel along the conveyor belt conveying surface.

26. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 wherein the belt edge configuration on the modular transfer belt links further comprises:

a beveled edge portion having a contour for mating closely with said inclined entrance ramp of the receptacle belt without substantial contact.

27. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 further comprising interlocking means for engaging adjacent transfer belt link modules disposed in said belt edge configuration including a set of interdigitatable fingers disposed toward and away from the transfer belt travel direction for interdigitating with adjacent belt link modules structurally to form a joint coplanar surface between successive link modules disposed along the transfer belt edge for limiting vertical deflection.

28. The conveyor belt system of claim 21 wherein the modular links further comprise:

an integrally formed modular link of predetermined thickness having interdigitatable link ends defining pivot rod receiving apertures along a pivot axis extending partially across the link and extending in directions away from a substantially planar conveying surface to form trailing and leading ends of the link along a first portion of the link excluding a link edge portion of the link of different configuration, said link edge portion comprising cantilevered structure integrally formed with the first portion of the link to provide on an upper link side a substantially planar conveying upper surface substantially coplanar with the conveying surface of the first portion of the link and comprising on a lower link side of said edge ramp a tapered contour sloping upwardly toward the planar conveying surface thereby reducing the link thickness toward the edge of the transfer belt for permitting the link edge portions to overlap and move across an entrance ramp of said receptacle belt positioned adjacent said opposite link edge without substantial contact.

29. The conveying belt system of claim 21 wherein said interlocking structural means comprises structure formed in said belt link extensions for retaining a planar relationship with adjacent corresponding link edge portions of leading and trailing links in a conveyor belt under dynamic loading stresses imposed upon a moving belt when conveyed articles are transported across the opposite link edge onto the receptacle belt.

30. A conveyor belt modular link for transferring conveyed articles off a transfer belt edge onto a moving receptacle belt for changing the direction of article travel ninety degrees, comprising in combination:

an integrally formed modular link of predetermined thickness having interdigitatable link ends defining pivot rod receiving apertures disposed along a pivot axis extending only partially across the link and forming part of a substantially planar conveying surface extending between trailing and leading ends, said link ends and pivot axis being integrally affixed to a second portion of the link devoid of pivot rod receiving apertures extending therefrom to one link edge, said second portion of the link forming one link edge integrally extending from the first portion of the link to provide on an upper link side a substantially planar conveying surface co-planar with the conveying surface of the first portion of the link and providing on a lower link side a tapered contour sloping upwardly through the thickness of the link toward the planar conveying surface thereby reducing the link thickness toward said opposite link edge for permitting the opposite link edge to overlap and move without substantial contact across a circular chord path taken by said receptacle belt, and said second portion having integrally disposed structure to form a continuous planar transfer belt edge surface extending over adjacent links for bearing the weight and encouraging the movement of articles across said planar belt edge surface for discharge from the transfer belt edge.

31. A link as defined in claim 30 further comprising:

sets of interdigitatable fingers extending from opposite link ends in said second portion of the link disposed for interlinking two contiuous planar surfaces of the second portion in adjacent end to end coupled links of a conveyor belt to form a common planar load bearing surface disposed on successive links.

32. A link as defined in claim 31 wherein said planar conveying surface of the second portion of the link further comprises:

limiting means for interlocking with the fingers in said second portion of the links adapted to engage adjacent links in a configuration counteracting vertical deflections of the tapered belt edge structure.

33. A link as defined in claim 32 wherein the limiting means further comprises a flange extending from the planar conveying surface in one link to overlap the fingers in an adjacent link.

34. A link as defined in claim 30 further comprising integral wander control guide members disposed on the links presenting smooth linear contact surfaces extending in an end to end direction normal to said pivot axis for mating with surfaces of corresponding wander control elements disposed external to the link on a separate member oriented parallel to the transfer belt edge.

35. A link as defined in claim 30 wherein the upper surface of the second portion of the link is substantially a flat plate.

36. A link as defined in claim 35 wherein the second portion of a link is disposed to intereengage second portions of leading and trailing adjacent links when connected in a belt to present in concert a continuous transfer belt discharge edge.

37. A link as defined in claim 30 wherein the upper surface of the first portion of the link comprises a planar conveying surface defined by link ends attached to a lateral supporting member disposed parallel to the pivot axis.

38. A link as defined in claim 30 having integrally formed thereon in said second portion conveyor belt edge structure for sharing a planar relationship with adjacent corresponding second portions of leading and trailing links of the transfer belt and for maintaining the planar relationship when encountering dynamic loading stresses imposed upon a moving belt as conveyed articles are moved across the second portion onto the receptacle belt.

39. A link as defined in claim 30 wherein the belt edge structure in said second portion further comprises a set of spaced ridges on the lower link side extending parallel to the pivot axis from the first portion toward the opposite link edge.

40. A link as defined in claim 39 further comprising a set of interdigitatable fingers extending toward link leading and trailing edges integrally affixed to respective ones of the spaced ridges in said set.