GB2100211A

GB2100211A - Conveyor belt cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2100211A
Application number: GB8117928A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BBA Group Ltd
Current assignee: BBA Group Ltd
Priority date: 1981-06-11
Filing date: 1981-06-11
Publication date: 1982-12-22
Also published as: GB2100211B

Abstract

A cleaning device 24 for a belt- type conveyor system 10 to remove adhering matter from the load carrying surface of the main conveyor belt 12 comprises an endless cleaning member 26 trained around end rollers 28 and 30. In its upper run the cleaning member 26 is held by pressure rollers 42, 44 and 46 in engagement with the lower surface of the main conveyor 12 in the return run 16 thereof to remove adhering matter. The outer surface of the cleaning member 26 has cleaning elements in the form of bars or ribs to dislodge adhering matter. The cleaning member is preferably arranged so as to travel in a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal travel direction of the main conveyor and is driven so as to have a surface speed differential with respect thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning device for conveyors This invention relates to cleaning devices for conveyors and in particular, but not exclusively, to cleaning devices for removing adhering material from the surface of conveyor belts which are used for carrying ores and minerals. The invention also provides an endless cleaning member for use in a cleaning device according to the invention, together with a conveyor and a conveyor system each of which has such a cleaning device for removing adhering material.

In the case of conveyor belts used in carrying ores and minerals, and in particular in the case of conveyor belts used in coal mining, the problem arises that there is a build-up of adhering debris on the load carrying surface of the belt, this debris adhering to the belt and not being discharged at the end of the load-carrying run of the belt. On the return run of the belt the debris is of course on the lower surface of the belt and can interfere with the tracking properties of the belt. Furthermore, the debris, while adhering to the belt, can interfere with the drivability of the belt in so far as it can reduce the coefficient of friction of the surface of the belt to such an extent that slippage occurs.

There is also the disadvantage that the debris can fall off along the whole length of the return run of the conveyor so that the randomly deposited debris creates adverse working conditions.

Many proposals have been made for the provision of apparatus for removing adhering material from conveyors, but none of these has been found to be completely satisfactory. Such proposals include a blade of resilient material which extends wholly or partially across the width of the belt to provide a continuous scraping effect on the surface of the belt and a rotatable brushlike device also extending across the width of the belt. The problems of these prior proposals are that they tend to have a short working life and require considerable maintenance because of the highly abrasive nature of the debris to which they are continuously subjected and they tend to scatter the debris which is removed from the belt somewhat indiscriminately to make even worse the undesirable working conditions in which ore or mineral carrying conveyor belts are generally located.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for conveyors offering improvements in relation to the problems identified above.

According to the invention there is provided a cleaning device for conveyors comprising an endless cleaning member, the cleaning member having a series of cleaning elements provided on its external surface and being mounted for engagement of the cleaning elements with a surface to be cleaned of a main conveyor, the endless cleaning member having drive means to cause circulation of the cleaning member whereby the cleaning elements are caused to move relative to the main conveyor and alternately into and out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned to remove adhering matter therefrom.

The drive means for the endless cleaning member can be provided solely by the frictional engagement of the cleaning elements with the main conveyor but more usually the endless cleaning member will be provided with a motor drive. The endless cleaning member may be mounted for engagement with the underside of the main conveyor in its return run, the direction of travel of the endless cleaning member being parallel to or inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of travel of the main conveyor (so that in the latter instance the cleaning elements traverse the width of the main conveyor).By having the endless cleaning member mounted for engagement with the underside surface of the main conveyor parallel to or inclined with the direction of travel of the main conveyor and ensuring that the cleaning member has a direction of motion (for those of its cleaning elements which are in engagement with the surface of the main conveyor at any instant) with a component thereof which is in the same direction as the surface of the main conveyor with which it engages and that there is a relative speed differential between the movement of the surfaces of the main conveyor and the movement of the cleaning elements, efficient and controlled removal of the debris adhering to the surface of the main conveyor can be effected by the scraping action of the cleaning elements over the main conveyor.To provide a speed differential as aforementioned and which is adequate for cleaning purposes, when the cleaning member and main conveyor are parallel it is desirable that the cleaning member is motor driven.

The cleaning elements of the endless cleaning member are preferably in the form of bars extending laterally (and preferably at an angle) with respect to the longitudinal direction of circulatory motion of the endless cleaning member. The endless cleaning member may be in the form of a belt and said bars may be in the form of ribs of synthetic rubber or other polymeric material moulded in, welded or otherwise fastened to the belt. Alternatively or in addition the aforementioned bars can be of metal. Cleaning elements in the form of an array of studs, bosses or other protrusions upstanding from the endless cleaning member can be provided.The cleaning elements can be disposed to provide a large surface area on the cleaning member for engaging and scraping the main conveyor and furthermore since, by the circulatory movement of the cleaning member, the cleaning elements are not continuously subjected to engagement with the surface of the main conveyor they can provide a relatively long useful working life. Controlled removal of debris scraped from the main conveyor can be effected by carriage of that debris by the endless cleaning member (particularly when the latter is in the form of a belt) to a desired location (such as in a conveyor system where an auxiliary belt conveyor is provided on to which the debris from the endless cleaning member may be deposited for removal from site).

The endless cleaning member is preferably provided with guide means to promote regular tracking during use. When the cleaning member is in the form of an endless conveyor belt the guide means is preferably in the form of a rib or the like provided on the inside surface of that belt.

Preferabiy means is provided to press the endless cleaning member into engagement with the main conveyor. Said means may comprise pressure rollers for example spring-loaded rollers, pressing the cleaning member into engagement with the main conveyor.

The invention also provides an endless cleaning member for use in a cleaning device for conveyors as defined above.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a conveyor system comprising an endless main conveyor in combination with a cleaning device for the main conveyor as defined above. The cleaning device is preferably mounted for engagement with the main conveyor in a return run of the latter. The main conveyor may be provided with support rollers in its load-carrying run whereby it adopts a troughed configuration.

The conveyor system may include an auxiliary endless conveyor on to which debris removed from the main conveyor is deposited by the cleaning device for further removal. Preferably each of the main conveyor, cleaning member and auxiliary conveyor comprises an endless load carrying belt; these belts are conveniently disposed in parallel relationship to each other with the auxiliary conveyor underlying, and the main conveyor overlying, the cleaning member conveyor.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section through a conveyor belt system of a first embodiment comprising a main conveyor having a troughed load-carrying run, and having a cleaning device engaging in inclined manner the untroughed return run of the conveyor; Figure 2 shows a pian view of the return run of the main conveyor, together with the associated cleaning device, of the conveyor system of Figure 1, the direction of viewing being indicated by the arrows Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an endless cleaning member forming part of the cleaning device of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of conveyor system in which the cleaning device engages in parallel manner the return run of the main conveyor and overlies an auxiliary conveyor for clearing debris from site.

As shown in Figure 1, a conveyor system 10 comprises an endless main conveyor 12 arranged in an upper load-carrying run 14 and a lower return run 1 6. Main conveyor 12 extends around end rollers (not shown) at opposite ends of its runs, one or both of which may be driven.

Additional driven rollers may be provided between the ends of the runs of the main conveyor.

In its load-carrying upper run 14, main conveyor 1 2 is supported on a series of troughing rollers 18, 20 and 22 which cause it to adopt the required trough configuration for load carrying purposes.

A cleaning device 24 is provided in conveyor system 10 to remove adhering matter from the load-carrying surface of main conveyor 12 in the return run 1 6 thereof. The cleaning device comprises an endless cleaning member 26 trained around end rollers 28 and 30 in an upper run 32 and a lower run 34. End roller 30 is biased outwards by a screw mounting, hydraulic means or a dead weight shown generally at 36 to tension the endless cleaning member 26.

A pair of rapping rollers 38 and 40 are provided for engagement with the inner surface of cleaning member 26 in its lower run 34. The rapping rollers are eccentrically mounted to vibrate the cleaning member and thereby to dislodge adhering material therefrom -- for a purpose to be described.

In its upper run 32, endless cleaning member 26 passes over three pressure rollers 42, 44 and 46. These rollers are freely rotatable and supported on spring mountings 48 whereby the rollers are biased upwardly so as to press the outer surface of cleaning member 26 into engagement with the lower surface of main conveyor 12 in the return run 16 of the latter for a purpose to be described.

Turning now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, endless cleaning member 26 is in the form of a belt of natural or synthetic rubber, or any other suitable polymeric material, suitably reinforced by means of a textile carcase (not shown). The outer surface 50 of cleaning member 26 is provided with cleaning elements 52 in the form of bars or ribs of appropriate polymeric material welded to or moulded in the surface of the belt 26 itself. The cleaning elements extend laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt 26 and at an angle of approximately 450 with respect to said axis (and with respect to the side edges 54 and 56 of the belt).

Beit 26 is formed by joining the ends of a suitable length of belting in a manner conventional in the belting art. The join 58 is shown in Figure 3.

Guide means is provided to promote correct tracking of endless cleaning member 26. The guide means is provided in the form of a longitudinally extending guide member 60 welded to the inside surface 62 of belt 26. Guide member 60 may be in the form of a length of V-section drive belt, and end rollers 28 and 30 are formed with suitably positioned grooves for the guide member to enter.

Figure 2 shows the positional relationship of main conveyor 12 and endless cleaning member 26. The directions of travel of the lower run 1 6 of the main conveyor and of the upper run 32 of the cleaning device 24 are indicated by arrows D and d.

In use, the motion of main conveyor 1 2 in direction D imparts to endless cleaning member 26, through the cleaning elements 52 secured thereto, a component of movement in direction d, thereby providing drive means to effect circulation of the cleaning member in the direction indicated whereby the cleaning elements 52 move relative to the surface of the main conveyor and scrape off adhering matter. The cleaning elements move in a lateral direction with respect to the main conveyor and thereby have a very effective cleaning action.

Matter which adheres to cleaning member 26 is vibrated free and drops away as the cleaning member passes under the rapping roller 38 and 40.

Among the advantages of the embodiment of the invention disclosed above are its simple and inexpensive structure, the large surface area over which the cleaning of the main conveyor is effected by the elements 52, the discontinuous engagement of the elements 52 with the main conveyor, and the low velocity of movement of the cleaning elements 52 relative to the main conveyor, whereby wear of the cleaning elements during use is reduced and thereby the life of the cleaning member is increased and controlled removal of the adhering matter is effected.

Among modifications which can be made in the above embodiment while remaining within the scope of the invention are changes to the inclination of the endless cleaning member 26 with respect to the main conveyor 12 (as shown in Figure 2), variations in the form, disposition angular inclination and size of the cleaning elements 52, and the provision of a motor drive for circulating the cleaning member 26. In the conveyor system of Figure 4 the belt 26 of the cleaning device 24 is driven for its circulatory motion by an electric motor (not shown) and has its upper end lower runs 32, 34 parallel with the return run 1 6 of the main conveyor.The belt 26 is driven at a linear speed either faster or slower than that of the main conveyor 12 so that a speed differential is provided between the elements 52 and the return run 1 6 to provide a scraping action between the run 1 6 of the main conveyor belt and the elements 52 in engagement therewith.

The cleaning device 24 underlies the main conveyor 12 and overlies an auxiliary endless conveyor 66 having upper and lower runs 67, 68 respectively which are disposed parallel to the main conveyor run 1 6. This system provides an efficient means for providing controlled removal and collection of debris adhering to the return run of the main conveyor. Debris which is scraped by the elements 52 from the main conveyor 12 is deposited on, and carried by, the upper run 32 of the belt 26 from which it is delivered and deposited on the upper run 67 of the auxiliary conveyor. The auxiliary conveyor 66 carries both the material deposited thereon from the main run of conveyor 12 and the debris deposited thereon from belt 26 to an appropriate collection point.

While the parallel relationship between the main and auxiliary conveyors and the cleaning device is a convenient arrangement it will be appreciated that non-parallel arrangements can be provided within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for conveyors comprising an endless cleaning member, the cleaning member having a series of cleaning elements provided on its external surface and being mounted for engagement of the cleaning elements with a surface to be cleaned of a main conveyor, the endless cleaning member having drive means to cause circulation of the cleaning member whereby the cleaning elements are caused to move relative to the main conveyor and alternately into and out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned to remove adhering matter therefrom.

2. A cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein said drive means for the cleaning member is provided solely by frictional engagement of said cleaning elements with a main conveyor and no additional drive means is provided.

3. A cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said cleaning elements are in the form of bars extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of circulatory motion of said endless cleaning member.

4. A cleaning device according to claim 3 wherein said cleaning elements are inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction by less than one right angle.

5. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said endless cleaning member is in the form of a belt and said cleaning elements comprise ribs of synthetic rubber or other polymeric material moulded in or welded or otherwise fastened to the belt.

6. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said cleaning elements are of metal.

7. A cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said cleaning elements comprise an array of studs, bosses or other protrusions upstanding from the endless cleaning member.

8. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with an auxiliary belt conveyor to receive debris removed by the cleaning device from a main conveyor and to convey such debris to a desired discharge location.

9. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein guide means is provided for said endless cleaning member to promote regular tracking thereof during use.

10. A cleaning device according to claim 9 wherein said cleaning member is in the form of an endless conveyor belt and said guide means comprises a rib or the like provided on the inside surface of said endless conveyor belt.

11. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising engagement means capable of pressing said endless cleaning member into engagement with a main conveyor.

12. A cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said engagement means comprises resiliently-loaded rollers engageabie with the cleaning member.

13. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means for vibrating the endless cleaning member to dislodge adhering material therefrom.

14. A cleaning device according to claim 13 in which the endless cleaning member is a or the belt and the vibrating means comprise eccentrically mounted rapping rollers applied to the surface of the belt.

1 5. A cleaning device according to either claim 13 or claim 14 in which the endless cleaning member is a or the belt and the vibrating means is applied to the inner surface of said belt on a return run of the belt.

1 6. A cleaning device for conveyors substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings or Figures 1 to 3 thereof as modified by Figure 4.

1 7. An endless cleaning member for use in a cleaning device for conveyors as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

1 8. A conveyor system comprising an endless main conveyor in combination with a cleaning device for the main conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A conveyor system according to claim 18 wherein said cleaning device is mounted for engagement with the main conveyor in a return run of the main conveyor.

20. A conveyor system according to claim 19 wherein said main conveyor is provided with support rollers in its load-carrying run whereby the main conveyor adopts a troughed configuration in its load-carrying run.

21. A conveyor system according to any one of claims 1 8 to 20 wherein the direction of travel of the endless cleaning member is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of travel of the main conveyor whereby said cleaning elements traverse the width of the main conveyor.

22. A conveyor system according to any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein the drive means for the endless cleaning member is arranged to drive the cleaning member so that there is a relative speed differential between the movement of the surface of the main conveyor and the movement of the cleaning elements.

23. A conveyor system according to claim 22 wherein the drive means for the endless cleaning member comprises a drive motor.

24. A conveyor system according to any one of claims 18 to 23 comprising an auxiliary endless conveyor to receive debris removed from the main conveyor by the cleaning device and to convey the debris to a discharge location.

25. A conveyor system according to claim 24 wherein the main conveyor, the cleaning member and the auxiliary conveyor each comprise an endless belt.

26. A conveyor system according to claim 25 wherein the belts of said main conveyor and said cleaning member and said auxiliary conveyor are disposed in parallel relationship to each other with the auxiliary conveyor underlying the endless cleaning member and the main conveyor overlying the endless cleaning member.

27. A conveyor system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings or Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 4 thereof.