Transfer device
Transfer device, adapted to take over a conveyed material at a takeover area from an upstream conveying section, convey the conveyed material at least temporarily within a conveying area in a conveying direction and, and selectively transfer the conveyed material in the direction of a transfer area arranged laterally in the conveying direction, the transfer device including a plurality of belt carriages which are arranged circumferentially along a guide in such a way that the belt carriages move at least temporarily, in particular in the conveying area, in the conveying direction, the belt carriage having a transport belt, the transport belt forming at least temporarily a support surface for the conveyed material, and the transport belt being selectively movable in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction for selective lateral transfer of the conveyed material.
1 . A transfer device, configured to receive material from an upstream first conveyor and convey the material along a planar conveying direction until transferring the conveyed material laterally to a transfer area or passing the conveyed material to a downstream second conveyor, the transfer device comprising:
a) a plurality of belt carriages arranged circumferentially along a guide to convey material in a conveying direction along a plane, wherein each belt carriage comprises a transport belt providing an at least temporary support surface for the conveyed material and which is movable transverse to the conveying direction to selectively transfer the conveyed material laterally;
b) a gap between neighboring carriages that is configured to enlarge when the neighboring carriages are deflected away from the plane; and
c) an elastomeric element protruding from one carriage towards the neighboring carriage to at least partially cover the gap.
2 . A transfer device, configured to receive material from an upstream first conveyor and convey the material along a planar conveying direction until transferring the conveyed material laterally to a transfer area or passing the conveyed material to a downstream second conveyor, the transfer device comprising a plurality of belt carriages arranged circumferentially along a guide to convey material in a conveying direction, wherein each belt carriage comprises a transport belt movable transverse to the conveying direction to selectively transfer the conveyed material laterally, further wherein each belt carriage comprises a guide surface arranged adjacent upstream or downstream of the transport belt in the conveying direction, further wherein the guide surface does not move transverse to the conveying direction.
3 . A transfer device, configured to receive material from an upstream first conveyor and convey the material along a planar conveying direction until transferring the conveyed material laterally to a transfer area or passing the conveyed material to a downstream second conveyor, the transfer device comprising a plurality of belt carriages arranged circumferentially along a guide to convey material in a conveying direction, wherein each belt carriage comprises:
a) a transport belt movable transverse to the conveying direction to selectively transfer the conveyed material laterally;
b) a base carrier and a cross carrier, wherein the transport belt is attached to the cross carrier; and
c) a releasable securing mechanism that releases the cross carrier from the base carrier for releasing and securing the transport belt.
4 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is configured to hand over conveyed material that is not transferred to a downstream conveyor line.
5 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the belt carriage extends in the conveying direction no more than 120 mm.
6 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the belt carriage or the transport belt extends in the transverse direction at least 400 mm.
7 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the transport belt has a width in the conveying direction of at most 100 mm.
8 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the belt carriage extends longer in the transverse direction compared to the conveying direction.
9 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential arrangement further comprises a downward circulation path with a deflection radius of no more than 250 mm.
10 . The transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a drive pulley, wherein the transport belt is driven by the drive pulley, further wherein the transport belt is twisted between a bearing surface and the drive pulley.
11 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the gap is sufficiently covered to prevent any penetration of the conveyed material through the gap.
12 . The transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate surface underneath the neighboring carriages, wherein the intermediate surface and the belt carriage partially overlap when conveying along the plane.
13 . The transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element is arranged on a first of the neighboring carriages in such a way that the elastomer element overlaps a guide surface on a second of the neighboring carriages when moving in the conveying direction, wherein the guide surface is adjacent the transport belt and does not move transverse to the conveying direction.
14 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the belt carriages further comprise a guide surface adjacent the transport belt and that does not move transverse to the conveying direction, the transfer device further comprising a concave intermediate surface underneath the neighboring cartridges, so that during conveyance, the guide surface at least temporarily or partly covers the intermediate surface.
15 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport belt moves transverse to the conveying direction at a greater speed than in the conveying direction.
16 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , further comprising a main guide that mounts the belt carriage vertically with respect to a frame and an auxiliary guide that when the belt carriage is overloaded, transitions from a non-load transmitting state to a load-transmitting state.
17 . The transfer device according to claim 16 , wherein the transition from the non-load-transmitting state to the load-transmitting state is caused by means of an elastic deformation within the carriage.
18 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the belt carriage further comprises a downholder arranged to limit upward movement of an upper run of the transport belt.
19 . The transfer device according to claim 18 , wherein the downholder is arranged below the support surface.
20 . The transfer device according to claim 3 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a latch which can be transferred between a locked position and a release position.
21 . A conveyor system, comprising:
a) a first conveyor line;
b) a transfer device that receives conveyed material from the first conveyor line, the transfer device comprising plurality of belt carriages arranged circumferentially along a guide and movable at least temporarily in a planar conveying direction, the at east one of the belt carriages comprising a transport belt forming at least temporarily a support surface for conveyed material, wherein the transport belt is selectively movable in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction for selective lateral transfer of the conveyed material; and
c) a gap bridge, arranged below the conveying plane in a gap between the first conveyor line and the transfer device or between the transfer device and a second conveyor line, wherein the gap bridge provides another support surface for the conveyed material, but without a conveying element.
22 . The conveyor system according to claim 21 , further comprising the second conveyor line, wherein material to be conveyed is provided by the transfer device to the second conveyor line in the conveying direction and in the conveying plane.
23 . The conveyor system according to claim 22 , wherein the gap bridge extends in the conveying direction no more than 60 mm.