Speed-variable conveyor

• US 6,065,583 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hoashi, Kazuhiro, Yasukawa, Masao, Wakusawa, Kuniaki
• Primary Examiner(s): VALENZA, JOSEPH E
• Application Number:
  US08/865,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 198/334, 198/792
• US Class Current: 198/334
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 21/12 of variable speed type
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 23/10 Carrying belts
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 23/24 Handrails driving gear therefor B66B23/02; tensioning means therefor B66B23/16; preventing jamming thereof by foreign objects B66B29/04; accessories therefor B66B31/02

Abstract

A speed-variable conveyor includes a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and a width direction, a plurality of rollers mounted on both ends in the width direction of the fibrous body, and a pair of guide rails for movably supporting the rollers and differing in spacing according to the moving speed of the fibrous body. The moving speed of the fibrous body is low where the width of the fibrous body is large, and high where the width is small. A support moving body contacting a lower surface of the fibrous body for driving the fibrous body is provided. This reduces a load applied to the fibrous body.

Claims

1. A speed variable conveyor, comprising:

a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction;

movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said fibrous body;

a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said fibrous body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said fibrous body;

a support moving body provided in contact with a lower surface of said fibrous body;

a drive roller provided in contact with an inner surface of said support moving body;

a motor for driving said drive roller, said motor transmitting output torque directly to said drive roller; and

a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

2. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is provided in a constant-speed section of said fibrous body.

3. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is an endless belt.

4. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support moving body is an endless belt.

5. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of a protrusion and a recess provided in said fibrous body and the other of a protrusion and a recess provided in said support moving body engage with each other for synchronizing said fibrous body with said support moving body.

6. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said support moving body is provided in a constant-speed moving section of said fibrous body, and a synchronization screw is provided in a speed-change section between said support moving bodies, said synchronization screw having a spiral groove which changes in pitch from an end towards the other end and engages said protrusion of said fibrous body.

7. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a roller, and said roller is moved in synchronization with said support moving body.

8. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed-variable conveyor is a speed-variable moving footway, the width of said guide rails is increased at a get-on port and a get-off port of said speed-variable moving footway so that said fibrous body moves at a first speed, the width of said guide rails is narrowed in an intermediate section of said speed-variable moving footway so that said fibrous body moves at a second speed higher than the first speed, the width of the guide rails is gradually decreased in a boundary section from the get-on port to said intermediate section so that the moving speed of said fibrous body is gradually increased, and the width of said guide rails is gradually increased in a boundary section from said intermediate section to the get-off port so that the moving speed of said fibrous body is gradually decreased.

9. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed-variable conveyor is a speed-variable moving footway and a speed-variable handrail provide along said speed-variable moving footway, the width of said guide rails is increased at a get-on port and a get-off port of said speed-variable moving footway and said speed-variable handrail to decrease the moving speed of said fibrous body, the width of the guide rails is decreased in an intermediate section of said speed-variable moving footway and said speed-variable handrail to increase the moving speed of said fibrous body, the width of the guide rails is gradually decreased in a boundary section from the get-on port to said intermediate section to gradually increase the moving speed of said fibrous body, and the width of said guide rails is gradually increased in a boundary section from said intermediate section to the get-off port to gradually decrease the moving speed of said fibrous body, so that said speed-variable moving footway and the speed-variable handrail move in synchronization with each other.

10. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fibrous body is in a form of a mesh.

11. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body sustains load placed on said fibrous body.

12. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said roller is connected to said fibrous body by a rope.

13. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one tire which moves said fibrous body in the moving direction; and

a motor for driving said at least one tire.

15. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a stationary guide member provided in contact with the inner surface of support moving body.

16. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 15, wherein said guide being disposed where said drive roller is not provided.

17. The speed-variable conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support moving body is provided in a form of a horizontal loop, said horizontal loop having an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion,

wherein an upper surface of said drive roller makes contact with the inner surface of the upper horizontal portion and a lower surface of said drive roller makes contact with the inner surface of the lower horizontal portion simultaneously.

14. A speed variable conveyor, comprising:

a belt-formed body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction;

movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said body;

a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said body;

a support moving body provided in contact with an inner surface of said fibrous body;

a drive roller provided in contact with an inner surface of said support moving body;

a motor for driving said drive roller, said motor transmitting output torque directly to said drive roller; and

a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.

18. A speed variable conveyor, comprising:

a belt-formed fibrous body deformable in a moving direction and in a width direction;

movable supporting members for supporting both ends in the width direction of said fibrous body;

a pair of guide rails for movably supporting said supporting members and varying a width of said fibrous body by varying a distance between said rails to change moving speed of said fibrous body;

a support moving body provided in contact with a lower surface of said fibrous body, said support moving body being provided in a form of a horizontal loop having an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion;

a drive roller driven by a motor, an upper surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the upper horizontal portion and a lower surface of said drive roller making contact with the inner surface of the lower horizontal portion simultaneously; and

a pressing roller adapted to urge the lower horizontal portion of said support moving body towards said drive roller.