Conveyor apparatus
View Patent ↗A conveyor apparatus ( 1 ) can include a control mechanism to permit automatic monitoring of a conveyor belt ( 7 ) and automatically actuate adjustment of the belt ( 7 ). In some embodiments, at least two sensors ( 31 ) can be utilized to detect an operational condition of the belt ( 7 ) indicating an undesirable alignment of the belt as the belt moves to convey material. Upon such a detected operational condition, a control mechanism can automatically actuate adjustment of at least one belt support device to adjust motion of the belt ( 7 ) in response to the detected operational condition.
1. A conveyor apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:
a moveable belt ( 7 ) supported by a frame ( 9 ), the moveable belt ( 7 ) being moveable between a material loading end and material discharge end, the moveable belt ( 7 ) having an upper run ( 7 a ) and a lower run ( 7 b ), the movable belt ( 7 ) having sides ( 4 , 6 ) that overlap to form an overlap portion ( 7 e ) of a middle segment ( 7 d ) of the upper run ( 7 a ) of the movable belt ( 7 ) between the material loading end and the material discharge end;
the frame ( 9 ) comprising:
an upper support beam ( 9 m );
lower support beams ( 9 n );
cross beams ( 9 o ) that extend between the lower support beams ( 9 n );
upper frame segments ( 9 e ) supporting the upper run ( 7 a ) and each being connected to a respective lower frame segment ( 9 f ), each lower frame segment ( 9 f ) being connected to one of the cross beams ( 9 o ) and supporting the lower run ( 7 b );
a plurality of sensors ( 31 ) connected to the frame ( 9 ) adjacent to the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) or to the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) of the frame ( 9 ) to detect a rotation of the overlap portion ( 7 e ) of the movable belt ( 7 ) from a top central position to a second position that is angularly displaced from the top central position;
slideable connection mechanisms ( 17 ) moveably connecting the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) to the lower frame segments ( 9 f ) allowing relative movement between each upper frame segment ( 9 e ) and its respective lower frame segment ( 9 f );
pivotal connection mechanisms ( 19 ) pivotally connecting each of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) to the upper support beam ( 9 m ) of the frame ( 9 ); and
at least one actuator ( 17 a ) configured to move at least one of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) relative to its respective lower frame segment ( 9 f ).
2. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a controller ( 11 ) having non-transitory memory ( 11 b ) communicatively connected to a processor ( 11 a ), the controller ( 11 ) communicatively connected to the sensors ( 31 ) to receive sensor data from the sensors ( 31 ), the controller configured to determine, from the sensor data, that the overlap portion ( 7 e ) of a middle segment ( 7 d ) of the upper run ( 7 a ) of the movable belt ( 7 ) has rotated away from the top central position such that rotation of the overlap portion ( 7 e ) meets a first pre-selected rotational threshold.
3. The conveyor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller ( 11 ) is configured to initiate actuation of the at least one actuator ( 17 a ) in response to determining that the overlap portion ( 7 e ) has rotated such that the first pre-selected rotational threshold is met or exceeded so that the at least one of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) moves relative to its respective lower frame segment ( 9 f ) and the pivotal connection mechanism ( 19 ) to induce the overlap portion ( 7 e ) to rotate back toward the top central position as the movable belt ( 7 ) moves to convey material.
4. The conveyor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-selected rotational threshold comprises the second position being angularly displaced from the top central position by at least 30° from the top central position.
5. The conveyor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-selected rotational threshold comprises the second position being angularly displaced from the top central position by at least 30° from the top central position.
6. A frame ( 9 ) for a conveyor apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:
an upper support beam ( 9 m );
lower support beams ( 9 n );
cross beams ( 9 o ) that extend between the lower support beams ( 9 n );
upper frame segments ( 9 e ) configured to support an upper run ( 7 a ) of a movable belt ( 7 ) in a pipe configuration;
lower frame segments ( 9 f ) configured to support a lower run ( 7 b ) of the movable belt ( 7 ) in a pipe configuration;
each of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) being connected to a respective one of the lower frame segments ( 9 f ),
each of the lower frame segments ( 9 f ) being connected to a respective one of the cross beams ( 9 o );
slideable connection mechanisms ( 17 ) moveably connecting the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) to the lower frame segments ( 9 f ) allowing relative movement between each upper frame segment ( 9 e ) and its respective lower frame segment ( 9 f );
pivotal connection mechanisms ( 19 ) pivotally connecting each of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) to the upper support beam ( 9 m ) of the frame ( 9 ); and
at least one actuator ( 17 a ) configured to move at least one of the upper frame segments ( 9 e ) relative to its respective lower frame segment ( 9 f ).