GB2369338A

GB2369338A - Conveyor belt assembly with apertures

Info

Publication number: GB2369338A
Application number: GB0128191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rankin; Anne Shanks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-24
Filing date: 2001-11-26
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: GB0128191D0; GB0028615D0

Abstract

A conveyor belt assembly comprises two outer endless belt drives 10 arranged around two longitudinally spaced transverse rollers and accommodating a third central endless belt 12 with a series of apertures 14 therein. The outer belts 10 carry a plurality of rods 16 secured to the central belt 12, with the central belt carrying outwardly of the rods 16, a corresponding number of outstanding collector plates 18. At least one of the rollers may be toothed, with corresponding teeth on the reverse of the outer belts 10 to allow the belt assembly to be driven. Each collector plate 18 may be curved in the direction of travel of the belt assembly. Each plate 18 may be vulcanised to the central belt 12 on both sides of each rod 16. The spacing between the rods may determine the size of any articles carried by the belt assembly, with some smaller items falling off, in a direction opposite to the travel of the belt assembly. The conveyor might be suitable for use in the harvesting of items such as root crops, with the belt arranged between a front mounted digger and an article collection point. The apertures 14 may allow unwanted matter, such as soil and stones, to fall therethrough during transportation of articles on the belt assembly.

Description

ENDLESS CONVEYORS FOR ELEVATORS

This invention relates to an endless conveyor for an elevator for handling root crops or other discrete articles where separation of foreign matter, for example, soil from the root crops or articles is required. In a root crop harvester, it is usual to provide an endless conveyor which is arranged behind a front mounted digging device in order to transport the material dug up, rearwardly and upwardly along the harvester. During transport of the material, soil, stones and small particles are separated from the root crops and then transported across the back of the harvester by a cross conveyor and elevated upwards over the side of the harvester. The root crops are then dropped into a trailer or otherwise transported alongside the harvester. The present conveyor is normally assembled from a plurality of rods usually metal which extend parallel to each other and transverse of the direction of intended travel. These rods are fastened to lengths of belting extending in the direction of travel. The spacing between neighbouring rods determines the size of root crop carried up through the harvester to a collection point and allows soil and small potatoes to fall downwardly leaving the larger root crops to be transported relatively free of soil and other debris. A disadvantage of this type of conveyor is that damage is caused to the root crops during transportation.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is an endless conveyor for an elevator comprising two outer endless drive belts arranged around two longitudinally spaced transverse rollers, the outer drive belts being spaced apart transversely a distance to accommodate a third central endless belt provided with a series of apertures therein, the outer drive belts carrying at predetermined intervals a plurality of rods secured to

the central belt with the central belt carrying outwardly of said rods, a corresponding number of outstanding collector plates.

Preferably, at least one roller is toothed and the reverse of the drive belts (10) are each correspondingly toothed.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a conveyor according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view from above of a portion of the conveyor Referring to the drawings, an endless conveyor for an elevator comprises two outer endless drive belts 10 of synthetic rubber or other suitable material arranged around two longitudinally spaced transverse rollers (not shown). The outer drive belts 10 are spaced apart transversely a distance to accommodate a third central endless belt 12 provided with a series of apertures 14 therein. The central belt 12 is about seven times the width of a drive belt 10. The apertures 14 are closely spaced and In a regular pattern across the belt 12. The outer drive belts 10 carry at predetermined Intervals a plurality of rods 16 secured to the central belt 12. The central belt 12 carries outwardly of said rods 16, a corresponding number of outstanding collector plates 18. The plates 18 are curved in the direction of travel and are vulcanise to the central belt on both sides of each rod 16. The rods are secured to the belt 12 and to the drive belts 10 by rivets. The belts 10 and belt 12 are not connected except through the rods 16. Depending on the width of the belt 12, the means of securing may alter and may include the rods 16 and plates 18 being bolted together.

At least one roller is a toothed sprocket wheel and the reverse of the drive belts 10 are each correspondingly toothed as shown at 20 to provide the traction to rotate the belts 10,12 around the rollers.

A series of conveyors may be provided each with a central belt 12 having different sized and shape of apertures 14. The conveyor used is determined by the smallest size of potatoes required with those potatoes under that size being rejected with the soil and debris. The conveyor used is also determined by weather conditions and in wet conditions a conveyor with a central belt, having apertures 14 larger that the smallest required size is used due to the soil adhering to the potatoes.

In use, the apertures of the belt 12 allows soil and debris to fall downwardly therethrough while retaining the potatoes and transporting them to a collection point.

The size of the apertures 14 determines the size of potatoes carried up the elevator.

In a first modification, a third drive belt may be provided mid-way of the elevator and the central belt is provided by two separate portions.

In a second modification, the rods may be provided in narrowly spaced pairs with the plates being bolted between the pairs of rods.

In a third modification, the plates are secured directly to the central belt spaced between the rods.

Apart from the benefit of less damage to the root crops by the use of the above described invention, there is also a benefit that the weight of the conveyor is considerably less that that currently in use.

Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter..

Claims

1. An endless conveyor for an elevator comprising two outer endless drive belts arranged around two longitudinally spaced transverse rollers, the outer drive belts being spaced apart transversely a distance to accommodate a third central endless belt provided with a series of apertures therein, the outer drive belts carrying at predetermined intervals a plurality of rods secured to the central belt with the central belt carrying outwardly of said rods a corresponding number of outstanding collector plates.

2. An endless conveyor as claimed In Claim 1, wherein at least one roller is toothed and the reverse of the drive belts are each correspondingly toothed.

3. An endless conveyor as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each collector plate is curved in the direction of travel.

4. An endless conveyor as claimed in Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein each plate is vulcanise to the central belt on both sides of each rod.

5. An endless conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.