Endless conveyor device having removable conveyor unit and method

1. An endless conveyor device comprising:

a conveyor unit having:

an endless conveyor, which is configured to convey items;

a drive roller assembly, which is drivable by a drive belt and configured to drive the endless conveyor, the drive roller assembly including a support element, wherein the support element comprises a cam;

a deflecting roller assembly; and

an intermediate body disposed between the drive roller assembly and the deflecting roller assembly, as well as between a conveying strand and a return strand of the endless conveyor; and

a drive unit comprising the drive belt, a motor and a support device, which is configured to engage with the support element, wherein the drive belt is relaxable by pivoting the conveyor unit relative to the drive unit about a rotation axis of the drive roller assembly in a first direction.

2. The endless conveyor device according to claim 1 , wherein the support device has a first bearing surface configured to engage with the cam.

3. The endless conveyor device according to claim 2 , wherein the cam is configured to accept bearing forces in a direction extending substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction of the endless conveyor.

4. The endless conveyor device according to claim 2 , wherein the support device has a second bearing surface configured to engage with the drive roller assembly.

5. The endless conveyor device according to claim 4 , wherein the support element of the drive roller assembly is configured to engage with the second bearing surface to accept bearing forces in a conveying direction of the endless conveyor.

6. The conveyor device according to claim 5 , wherein the support element comprises a shaft appendix that is configured to engage with the second bearing surface.

7. The endless conveyor device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit and/or the conveyor unit are/is connected to a magnet, which is configured to magnetically pull the conveyor unit in a second direction opposite the first direction.

8. The endless conveyor device according to claim 1 , wherein the endless conveyor device further comprises a weighing device configured to determine mass of the items conveyed.

9. The endless conveyor device according to claim 8 , wherein the drive unit or the weighing device has a first positioning element, which is configured to engage with a second positioning element, the latter being provided on the intermediate body.

10. The endless conveyor device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit has a first positioning element, which is configured to engage with a second positioning element provided on the conveyor unit.

11. A method for removing a conveyor unit from an endless conveyor device, wherein the conveyor unit has at least one endless conveyor, a drive roller assembly, a deflecting roller assembly and an intermediate body disposed between the drive roller assembly and the deflecting roller assembly, the method comprising:

pivoting the conveyor device relative to a drive unit about a rotation axis of the drive roller assembly, whereby a drive belt engaging with the drive roller assembly is relaxed; and

moving the conveyor unit in a direction oriented parallel to the rotation axis, whereby the drive belt is stripped off the drive roller assembly.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein pivoting the conveyor device comprises overcoming a holding force.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the holding force is generated by a magnet.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the relaxing of the drive belt during the pivoting is effected by a cam.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the cam is disposed on the drive roller assembly.

16. An endless conveyor device comprising:

a conveyor unit having:

an endless conveyor, which is configured to convey items;

a drive roller assembly, which is drivable by a drive belt and configured to drive the endless conveyor, the drive roller assembly including a support element;

a deflecting roller assembly; and

an intermediate body disposed between the drive roller assembly and the deflecting roller assembly, as well as between a conveying strand and a return strand of the endless conveyor;

a drive unit comprising the drive belt, a motor and a support device, which is configured to engage with the support element, wherein the drive belt is relaxable by pivoting the conveyor unit relative to the drive unit about a rotation axis of the drive roller assembly in a first direction; and

a weighing device configured to determine mass of the items conveyed.

17. The endless conveyor device according to claim 16 , wherein the support element is configured to engage a first bearing surface of the support device to accept bearing forces in a direction extending substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction of the endless conveyor, and the support element is configured to engage a second bearing surface of the support device to accept bearing forces in the conveying direction of the endless conveyor.

18. The endless conveyor according to claim 17 , wherein the support element comprises a cam configured to engage the first bearing surface of the support device, and a shaft appendix configured to engage the second bearing surface of the support device.

19. The endless conveyor device according to claim 16 , wherein the drive unit and/or the conveyor unit are/is connected to a magnet, which is configured to magnetically pull the conveyor unit in a second direction opposite the first direction.

20. The endless conveyor device according to claim 16 , wherein the drive unit or the weighing device has a first positioning element, which is configured to engage with a second positioning element provided on the intermediate body.