Elevator conveyor belt with adjustable slope

1. An elevator conveyor belt ( 10 ) with adjustable slope, suitable for moving semi-finished or finished products on different levels along production lines, comprising:

a supporting and stiffening frame ( 12 ) comprised of at least two adjacent sections defined by i) a horizontal load section ( 14 ) arranged according to a horizontal plane and ii) an elevator section ( 16 ) arranged according to an inclined plane, the horizontal load section ( 14 ) having a free head end and an opposite tail end, the elevator section ( 16 ) having a head end and an opposite free tail end;

a belt ( 28 ) tensioned between the head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the tail end of the elevator section ( 16 );

an electric motor ( 25 ) that slidably actuates the belt ( 28 );

an idle roller ( 26 ) at the free head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ), the idle roller ( 26 ) in contact with the a lower surface of the belt ( 28 );

a hinged connection ( 13 ) placed between the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ) and connecting the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ),

wherein the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) are reciprocally hinged by the hinged connection ( 13 ) and the hinged connection ( 13 ) allows a change of a reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from i) an initial, first reciprocal slope to ii) a different, second reciprocal slope;

said hinge connection ( 13 ) comprising a pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) located between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ), the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) maintaining a constant tensioning of the belt ( 28 ) with the change of the reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from the initial, first reciprocal slope to the different, second reciprocal slope, and

wherein the pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) are transversely arranged to said hinge connection ( 13 ), facing an inner part of the hinge connection ( 13 ) in a direction of the belt ( 28 ) and in contact with a surface of said belt ( 28 ).

2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge connection ( 13 ) comprises i) two opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) fixed in correspondence of the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and ii) two opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) fixed in correspondence of the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ).

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 2 ,

further comprising a coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ), and a support roller ( 34 ),

wherein, the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) are coupled to each other, with the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) arranged internally to the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ), in correspondence of end portions opposite to those of fixing with respect to the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) to define a fulcrum point that accommodates the coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ) supporting idle rotation of the support roller ( 34 ) transversely arranged with respect to, and extending between, said opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ).

4. The conveyor belt according to claim 3 , wherein the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) are transversely arranged to the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) and facing an inner part of the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ).

5. The conveyor belt according to claim 4 , wherein an axis of the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) is arranged parallel and above an axis of the support roller ( 34 ).

6. The conveyor belt according to claim 5 , wherein the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) are in contact with an upper surface of the belt ( 28 ) slidable in an intermediate position between said return rollers ( 38 ) and the support roller ( 34 ).

7. The conveyor belt according to claim 4 , wherein the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) comprise slots ( 36 ) with rectilinear development internally to which the return rollers ( 38 ) are movable along a trajectory with angular amplitude defined by an angle α, calculated with reference to a vertical drawn from a center of the bearing ( 31 ) and equal to a bisector of an angle γ indicative of a slope of the elevator section ( 16 ) with respect to the horizontal load section ( 14 ).

8. The conveyor belt according to claim 3 , wherein the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) comprise further slots ( 40 ) provided with a graduated scale ( 42 ) formed on the outer face of said opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) and internally to which is arranged a retaining element defined by a clamping screw ( 40 ′) suitable for rigidly fixing the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ).

9. The conveyor belt according to claim 1 , wherein the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) define modules suitable for an expansion/reconfiguration of the conveyor belt.

10. A method for adjusting the slope of said elevator conveyor belt according to claim 8 , comprising the steps of:

a. loosening the clamping screws ( 40 ′);

b. adjusting the slope of the elevator section ( 16 ) using the graduated scale ( 42 ) in an angular range γ between 15° and 60°; and

c. tightening the clamping screws ( 40 ′).

11. An elevator conveyor belt ( 10 ) with adjustable slope, suitable for moving semi-finished or finished products on different levels along production lines, comprising:

a supporting and stiffening frame ( 12 ) comprised of i) a horizontal load section ( 14 ) arranged along a horizontal plane and ii) an elevator section ( 16 ) arranged at an inclined plane,

the horizontal load section ( 14 ) having a head end and an opposite tail end,

the elevator section ( 16 ) having a head end and an opposite tail end;

a belt ( 28 ) tensioned between the head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the tail end of the elevator section ( 16 );

an idle roller ( 26 ) at the free head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ), the idle roller ( 26 ) in contact with the a lower surface of the belt ( 28 );

an electric motor ( 25 ) that actuates the belt ( 28 );

a hinged connection ( 13 ) between the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ), the hinged connection ( 13 ) connecting the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ),

wherein the hinge connection ( 13 ) comprises i) two opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) fixed to the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and ii) two opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) fixed to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ),

the two opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) fixed in to the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ), and

the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) fixed to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ),

wherein the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) are reciprocally hinged by the hinged connection ( 13 ) with the hinged connection ( 13 ) allowing a change of a reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from i) an initial, first reciprocal slope to ii) at least a different, second reciprocal slope;

a pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) that maintain a constant tensioning of the belt ( 28 ) with the change of the reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from the initial, first reciprocal slope to the different, second reciprocal slope,

wherein said pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) is located between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) transversely arranged to said hinge connection ( 13 ), facing an inner part of the hinge connection ( 13 ) in a direction of the belt ( 28 ) and in contact with a surface of said belt ( 28 );

a coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ); and

a support roller ( 34 ) transversely arranged with respect to, and extending between, said opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ),

wherein, the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) are coupled to each other, with the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) arranged internally to the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ), in correspondence of end portions opposite to end portions of fixing with respect to the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) to define a fulcrum point that accommodates the coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ) supporting idle rotation of the support roller ( 34 ).

12. The conveyor belt according to claim 11 , wherein the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) are transversely arranged to the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) and facing an inner part of the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ).

13. The conveyor belt according to claim 12 , wherein an axis of the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) is arranged parallel and above an axis of the support roller ( 34 ).

14. The conveyor belt according to claim 13 , wherein the opposed return rollers ( 38 ) are in contact with an upper surface of the belt ( 28 ) slidable in an intermediate position between said return rollers ( 38 ) and the support roller ( 34 ).

15. The conveyor belt according to claim 13 , wherein the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) comprise slots ( 36 ) with rectilinear development internally to which the return rollers ( 38 ) are movable along a trajectory with angular amplitude defined by an angle α, calculated with reference to a vertical drawn from a center of the bearing ( 31 ) and equal to a bisector of an angle α indicative of a slope of the elevator section ( 16 ) with respect to the horizontal load section ( 14 ).

16. The conveyor belt according to claim 11 , wherein the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) comprise further slots ( 40 ) provided with a graduated scale ( 42 ) formed on the outer face of said opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) and internally to which is arranged a retaining element defined by a clamping screw ( 40 ′) suitable for rigidly fixing the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ).

17. The conveyor belt according to claim 11 , wherein the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) define modules suitable for an expansion/reconfiguration of the conveyor belt.

18. A method for adjusting the slope of said elevator conveyor belt according to claim 16 , comprising the steps of:

a. loosening the clamping screws ( 40 ′);

b. adjusting the slope of the elevator section ( 16 ) using the graduated scale ( 42 ) in an angular range α between 15° and 60°; and

c. tightening the clamping screws ( 40 ′).

19. An elevator conveyor belt ( 10 ) with adjustable slope, suitable for moving semi-finished or finished products on different levels along production lines, comprising:

a supporting and stiffening frame ( 12 ) comprised of i) a horizontal load section ( 14 ) arranged along a horizontal plane and ii) an elevator section ( 16 ) arranged at an inclined plane, the horizontal load section ( 14 ) having a free head end and an opposite tail end,

the elevator section ( 16 ) having a head end and an opposite free tail end;

a belt ( 28 ) tensioned between the free head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the free tail end of the elevator section ( 16 );

an idle roller ( 26 ) at the free head end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ), the idle roller ( 26 ) in contact with the a lower surface of the belt ( 28 );

an electric motor ( 25 ) connected to actuate the belt ( 28 ) at the free tail end of the elevator section ( 16 );

a hinged connection ( 13 ) comprising i) two opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) fixed to the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and ii) opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) fixed to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ), the hinged connection ( 13 ) connecting the tail end of the horizontal load section ( 14 ) to the head end of the elevator section ( 16 ) with the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) reciprocally hinged by the hinged connection ( 13 ),

wherein the hinged connection ( 13 ) allows a change of a reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from i) an initial, first reciprocal slope to ii) at least a different, second reciprocal slope;

a pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) that maintain a constant tensioning of the belt ( 28 ) with the change of the reciprocal slope between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) from the initial, first reciprocal slope to the different, second reciprocal slope,

wherein said pair of opposed return rollers ( 38 ) is located between the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) transversely arranged to said hinge connection ( 13 ), facing an inner part of the hinge connection ( 13 ) in a direction of the belt ( 28 ) and in contact with a surface of said belt ( 28 );

a coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ), and

a support roller ( 34 ) transversely extending between i) a first of the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and a first of the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) and ii) a second of the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and a second of the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ),

wherein, the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ) and the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) are coupled to each other, with the opposed elevator plates ( 32 ) arranged internally to the opposed horizontal plates ( 30 ), in correspondence of end portions opposite to end portions of fixing with respect to the horizontal load section ( 14 ) and the elevator section ( 16 ) to define a fulcrum point that accommodates the coaxial pair of opposed bearings ( 31 ) supporting rotation of the support roller ( 34 ).