Conveyor

摘要

A conveyor comprises a frame, an endless conveyor belt supported by the frame in a conveying direction along a helical path, a non-helical path and a transfer path. The helical path has an upright center line. The belt includes a plurality of plates movably coupled to each other. The frame comprises at least at the helical path a radial guide, wherein the radial guide supports a plate at a radial guide contact location thereof in radial direction with respect to the center line of the helical path, a bearing guide for upwardly supporting the plates, wherein the bearing guide supports a plate at a bearing guide contact location thereof, and an auxiliary guide for compensating a torque on a plate at the bearing guide contact location about an axis directed in the conveying direction. The auxiliary guide contacts a plate at an auxiliary guide contact location thereof.

主权项

1. A conveyor, comprising a frame, an endless conveyor belt supported by the frame and driven by a drive in a conveying direction along a helical path, a non-helical path and a transfer path extending between the helical path and the non-helical path, wherein the helical path has an upright center line, wherein the conveyor belt includes a plurality of plates which are movably coupled to each other and each plate having an upper transport face and a central axis, wherein the frame comprises at least at the helical path
a radial guide configured to guide the plates along the helical path, wherein the radial guide supports a plate at a radial guide contact location thereof in radial direction with respect to the center line of the helical path, a bearing guide for upwardly supporting the plates, wherein the bearing guide supports the plate at a bearing guide contact location thereof, an auxiliary guide configured to compensate a torque on the plate at the bearing guide contact location about an axis directed in the conveying direction, which auxiliary guide contacts the plate at an auxiliary guide contact location thereof, which is located at a distance from the radial guide contact location and the bearing guide contact location, as seen in a radial cross-section of the helical path, wherein the auxiliary guide contact location is located at least a horizontal distance from the bearing guide contact location in radial direction with respect to the center line, whereas the normal to the surface of the plate at the auxiliary guide contact location has a vertical component, wherein at the transfer path the plates are displaceable relatively to the radial guide, the bearing guide and the auxiliary guide in radial direction with respect to the center line and/or in vertical direction.