TEPZZ_9¥7575B_T

(19)

(11) EP 1 937 575 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: B65G 17/06 (2006.01)
12.12.2012 Bulletin 2012/50
(86) International application number:
(21) Application number: 06808858.2 PCT/IB2006/002589

(22) Date of filing: 20.09.2006 (87) International publication number:

WO 2007/034289 (29.03.2007 Gazette 2007/13)

(54) CONVEYOR BELT WITH OVERLAPPING PLANAR SURFACE PLATES

FÖRDERBAND MIT SICH ÜBERLAPPENDEN PLANAREN OBERFLÄCHENPLATTEN
COURROIE DE TRANSPORTEUR AVEC PLAQUES SUPERFICIELLES PLANES
CHEVAUCHANTES

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: MAGALDI, Mario

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR I-84100 Salerno (IT)
HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI
SK TR (74) Representative: Papa, Elisabetta et al
Società Italiana Brevetti S.p.A
(30) Priority: 21.09.2005 IT MI20051745 Piazza di Pietra, 38-39
00186 Roma (IT)
(43) Date of publication of application:
02.07.2008 Bulletin 2008/27 (56) References cited:
US-A- 3 311 222 US-A- 3 633 737
(73) Proprietor: Magaldi Power S.P.A. US-A- 3 749 228
84135 Salerno (IT)
EP 1 937 575 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 1 937 575 B1
Description
[0001] The present invention is about a metallic con-
veyor belt with overlapping planar surface plates, and a
method of use of such a belt.
[0002] It is common practice, by now, in transporting
difficult material, especially at high temperatures, use of
a kind of metallic belt conveyor comprising a metallic net
traction element supporting a plurality of partially over-
lapping steel plates, such as to form an almost sealed
load bearing channel. Each plate is subsequently indi-
vidually fixed by a plurality of bolts, screws or rivets in-
serted in corresponding bored plaques, each of these
plaques being in turn inserted inside the meshes of the
traction net conveyor belt. The conveyor belt thus com-
prised is operated by a traction drum, it is tensioned by
a transmission drum, ensuring the necessary tension,
and is supported by a plurality of independent transversal
rollers, supporting the conveyor belt on its load bearing
section, and by wheels supporting the belt in its return
section. Examples of conveyor belts of this kind are dis-
closed in United States Patents Nos. 3.633.737 , which
discloses the preamble of claim 1, and 3.749.228, where
material holding means overlap each other to form a con-
tinuous channel in which the material can be held and
carried. However the transport surface is not planar hav-
ing steps corresponding to the overlapping zone of the
material holding means.
[0003] In conveyor belts according to prior art, the over-
lapping of plates generates a non planar surface, caused
by partial imbricated overlapping of the plates in the di-
rection of motion. Such embodiment constitutes a limit
to the increase in thickness of the plates and therefore
to the sturdiness of the assembly, due to the growing
difficulty with the thickness of the plates, to slide on the
return wheels. The presence of small steps causes a
waste of power due to the energy absorbed to raise the
conveyor belt at every passage of the small steps on the
return wheels. This energy waste, besides, produces vi-
brations or noise.
[0004] The non planar surface of the conveyor belt on
the load bearing section causes, in practice, hindrance
to positioning deviators on the conveyor belt to laterally
discharge transported materials, which would get stuck
between the small steps formed by the overlapping of
the plates and the deviator.
[0005] For similar reasons, it is impossible to create
more channels on the same conveyor belt for the possible
choice and separation of the transported material.
[0006] Moreover, an example of conveyor character-
ized by a planar transport surface is disclosed in United
States Patent No. 3.311.222, where load carrying mem-
bers are bracketed to cables at each side of the conveyor
frame, said carrying members having marginal side por-
tions that allow meshing on the driving sprocket drum.
[0007] The above mentioned limits are overcome by
the conveyor belt according to claim 1, whose planar sur-
face, does not create obstacles In applying deviation
2
and/or separation devices and is able to operate as a
mobile work plane, attaining handling reliabilty even in
the presence of extreme mechanical stress, as well as a
method of use of such a waveyor belt as set out in claim 6.
5 [0008] In everyday practice of vertical mould lines, the
cooling of the casting in mould parts, as it requires to be
performed in absence of any vibration, rubber conveyor
belts are used positioned just downstream of the casting
point of the cast iron. During transport of the mould parts,
10 the rubber belt undergoes severe early deterioration
caused by the leakage of the cast iron which spills out in
case of possible damage of the mould parts, with result-
ing production down time. These problems can be totally
eliminated by the conveyor belt object of this invention,
15 whose planar high temperature proof transport surface
and its absence of vibration allow for a safe transport of
the mould parts, without damaging them.
[0009] The absolute stiffness of the plane, the absence
of vibrations and the perfectly flat planar surface make
20 this invention fit to be used as a moving walkways, pos-
sibly even in association with working performed by per-
sonnel transported by the conveyor belt.
[0010] The innovative features, aims and advantages
of the present invention will become apparent from the
25 following description and attached drawings, relating to
non limitative embodiments, in which:
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of the conveyor
belt according to the present invention, including the
30 traction and return drums and load bearing rollers;
Figure 1A is a view in detail of the plates of the con-
veyor belt of Figure 1;
Figure 2 represents a schematic view of the convey-
or belt wrapping on the drum;
35 Figure 2B is a view in detail of the wrapping phase
of Figure 2;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the conveyor
belt according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a front sectional view of the conveyor belt
40 with its support calibrated; and
Figure 5 represents a schematic view of the close
roller pitch.
[0011] In this respect it is hereby noted that identical
45 reference numbers in the various figures indicate identi-
cal or equivalent parts.
[0012] The conveyor belt 1 object of this invention,
compared to a conveyor belt of known construction, pro-
vides a particular construction of the plates 2 such as the
50 relative position between two consecutive plates makes
the transport surface planar and continuous, turning it
into a sturdy and reliable moving plane. This is particularly
evident with reference to Figure 1 of the attached draw-
ings.
55 [0013] The conveyor belt 1 according to the present
invention is able to operate even in the presence of ex-
treme mechanical stress, deriving for example from the
impact of heavy weights on the belt or mechanical stress
2
 3 EP 1 937 575 B1
due to working performed on the belt.
[0014] The conveyor belt 1 comprises a metallic net
belt 8 (Figures 1A and 1B) representing the principal trac-
tion element, to which the plates 2 are fixed by means of
screws 7, bolts or rivets and corresponding bored
plaques 9, each of these bored plaques 9 being thereby
inserted inside a mesh of the traction net 8. The shape
of each plate 2, partially overlapping the following one,
allows to attain a planar and continuous transport sur-
face, keeping it closed to protect the supporting belt 8
even during rotation on the traction drum 5 and the return
drum 12.
[0015] The conveyor belt 1 thus set up is operated by
the traction drum 5, it is tensioned by the return drum 12,
the latter assuring the necessary constant tension, and
is supported by a plurality of transversal independent roll-
ers 13, supporting the belt on the upper section and by
wheels (not shown), supporting the belt on the return
section.
[0016] The planarity of the transport surface allows for
the application of one or more deviators 11 and/or sep-
aration baffles 16, allowing to differentiate the transport-
ed material according to production requirements, avoid-
ing the material to get stuck between the belt and the
deviators 11, with subsequent abrupt stops of the con-
veyor belt.
[0017] An advantage deriving from the planarity of the
transport surface and absence of vibrations is the possi-
bility to transport components, like mould parts of the
vertical moulding line during the cooling phase of cast
iron, without damaging the mould part, nor the conveyor
belt due to accidental spilling of cast iron during transport.
[0018] Additionally, the absolute sturdiness of the
plane, the absence of vibrations and the perfectly planar
surface without protrusions cause the conveyor belt ac-
cording to the invention to be fit to be used as a mobile
walkway, possibly even in association with working per-
formed by personnel transported by the belt.
[0019] One embodiment of the conveyor belt 1 is ob-
tained by coupling two plates 3 and 4 of different shape,
fixing them by couples by means of bolts, screws or rivets
7 to corresponding bored plaques 9 inserted inside the
metal net 8, where the upper plate 3 results partially over-
lapping over the following base plate 4. Plates 3 and 4
thus coupled stay integral and form a single body even
when wrapping on drums 5. The bores on the lower plate
4 are slotted to allow for a differential expansion between
the plates 3 and 4 due to different thermal conditions.
[0020] In case of such realization of plates 2, elements
3 and 4 may be of different thickness and different ma-
terial from each other, allowing for both the ideal choice
for the material in contact with the product to be trans-
ported, and the choice of the total thickness necessary
to convey sturdiness to the conveyor belt according to
transport needs.
[0021] For this reason, the conveyor belt object of this
invention can be considerably sturdier than those accord-
ing to prior art, because this configuration with coupled
4
plates 3 and 4 fixed to the net traction belt 8 allows to
use considerable thickness without any difficulty in sliding
on the return wheels 14. The close pitchof the load bear-
ing rollers 13 gives sturdiness and reliability to the con-
5 veyor belt 1, absorbing possible impacts deriving for ex-
ample by heavy weights hitting the conveyor belt 1.
[0022] The resistance to mechanical stress of the high
thickness overlapping plates 3 and 4 system, with close
load bearing rollers 13, is further increased adopting sup-
10 ports 15 of the load bearing rollers provided with a break-
ing up point 14 with a calibrated resistance. these sup-
ports 15 allow to protect belt 1 from any mechanical
stress, as they brake at the predetermined point when
admitted stress is exceeded.
15 [0023] Since the pitch of the load bearing 13 is close,
the possible break up of one or more supports 15 will be
non influential on the normal running of the conveyor belt
1 and the substitution of supports 15 and relevant rollers
13 can be performed without the necessity to stop the
20 conveyor belt 1.
[0024] Another embodiment of the conveyor belt 1 is
that of making the plates 2 in one single piece, by ma-
chining or moulding, and they can further be made of
plastic material, for example high density polyethylene,
25 when it is necessary to warrant a low friction coefficient
and when the materials to be transported are cold and
not excessively abrasive.
[0025] According to transport needs and kind of mate-
rial, the conveyor belt 1 can provide for lateral tabs 10
30 constituting extensions of the plates 2 which are turned
ether upwards (Figure 4) or downwards (Figure 1). In
particular, the function of tabs 10 turned upwards (Figure
4) is suitable to contain the transported material in case
it is loose or small sized. The configuration with tabs 10
35 turned downwards (Figure 1) is suitable in case a lateral
discharge is required, by applying suitable deviators 11
or by action of the operator, allowing to simply push the
workpieces towards the discharge points without the ne-
cessity to lift them.
40 [0026] It is apparent that to the embodiments described
in this application by way of example and in a non limi-
tative way, many modifications, adaptation, integrations,
changes and substitutions of elements with functionally
equivalent others may be performed, without falling out
45 of the scope as defined by the following claims.
Claims
50 1. A conveyor belt (1), comprising a metallic net belt
(8) operated by at least a traction drum (5), tensioned
by at least a return drum (12) and supported by a
plurality of independent transversal rollers (13), said
belt (1) supporting individually a plurality of plates
55 (2) partially overlapping one another, so as to form
a flat continuous surface as a mobile reliable plane
resistant to extreme mechanical stress, wherein
each of said plates (2) is suitably shaped so that the
3
 5 EP 1 937 575 B1
upper part of one plate overlaps the lower part of the
following plate,
characterised in that each of said plates (2) is made
by an upper element (3) and a base element (4) par-
tially overlapped one to other in a staggered arrange-
ment, of which the upper element (3) is partially over-
lapping the base element of the following plate and
the base element (4) is partially underlying the upper
element of the preceding plate, so as to form a con-
tinuous surface protecting the supporting belt (8)
even when travelling around the drums (5, 12), which
plate (2) is made by a suitably-shaped single piece
or by two distinct elements (3, 4).
2. The conveyor belt (1) according to claim 1, where
the elements (3, 4) are fixed by couple by means of
a plurality of bolts, screws or rivets (7) to a plurality
of plaques (9) inserted inside the metal net (8).
3. The conveyor belt (1) according to claim 1, where
the plates (2) are provided with lateral tabs (10),
turned upwards or downwards according to transport
needs and kind of material transported.
4. The conveyor belt according to claims 1 to 3, where
supports (15) of the load bearing rollers (13) are pro-
vided with a breaking up point (14) with a calibrated
resistance so that said supports (15) break at a pre-
detemined point when admitted stress is exceeded.
5. The conveyor belt according to any of claims 1 to 4,
characterised by the presence of one or more de-
viators (11) and/or separation baffles (16) on the
transport surface.
6. A method of use of the conveyor belt (1) according
to the preceding claims, where the mechanical stress
due to the possible impact on the belt of the material
transported is transferred to the supports (15) of the
load bearing rollers (13) calibrated in such a way to
break without affecting the continuity of motion of the
conveyor belt (1).
7. The method according to claim 6, where the plates
(2) are made of a material which is metallic, synthetic
or organic, and provided with one or more deviators
(11) allowing the lateral discharge of the material
transported and/or channels to achieve the separa-
tion on the conveyor belt (1) of materials or objects
of different nature.
8. The method according to claims 6 and 7, where the
absence of vibration and the presence of plates (2)
partially overlapping to form a flat continuous surface
allow the transport of particular components, like
mould parts, without damaging them during trans-
port.
6
9. The method according to claim 7, where the belt (1)
can be also used for transporting people, which can
possibly perform operation during the motion of the
conveyor belt (1).
5
Patentansprüche
1. Förderband (1), mit einem Metallnetzband (8), wel-
10 ches durch wenigstens eine Traktionstrommel (5)
angetrieben wird, durch wenigstens eine Rückführt-
rommel (12) gespannt wird und durch eine Vielzahl
von unabhängigen transversalen Walzen (13) abge-
stützt wird, wobei das Band (1) eine Vielzahl von
15 Platten (2) individuell trägt, welche einander teilwei-
se überlappen, um so eine ebene, durchgehende
Fläche als eine mobile, zuverlässige Ebene zu bil-
den, welche extreme mechanische Beanspruchung
aushält, wobei jede der Platten (2) geeignet geformt
20 ist, so dass der obere Teil einer Platte den unteren
Teil der folgenden Platte überlappt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede der Platten (2)
aus einem oberen Element (3) und einem Basisele-
ment (4) hergestellt ist, die in einer versetzten An-
25 ordnung einander teilweise überlappen, wobei das
obere Element (3) das Basiselement der folgenden
Platte teilweise überlappt und das Basiselement (4)
dem oberen Element der vorhergehenden Platte teil-
weise unterlagert ist, um so eine durchgehende Flä-
30 che zu bilden, welche das tragende Band (8) schützt,
und zwar selbst dann, wenn es sich um die Trom-
meln (5, 12) bewegt, wobei die Platte (2) aus einem
geeignet geformten einzelnen Teil oder aus zwei ge-
sonderten Elementen (3, 4) hergestellt ist.
35
2. Förderband (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Elemen-
te (3, 4) mithilfe von einer Vielzahl von Bolzen,
Schrauben oder Nieten (7) paarweise mit einer Viel-
zahl von Platten (9) fixiert sind, die in das Metallnetz
40 (8) eingeführt sind.
3. Förderband (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Platten
(2) mit seitlichen Fortsätzen (10) versehen sind, wel-
che entsprechend Transportbedürfnissen und ent-
45 sprechend der Art des transportierten Materials nach
oben oder unten gedreht sind.
4. Förderband nach den Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei Trä-
ger (15) der lastaufnehmenden Walzen (13) mit einer
50 Soll-Bruchstelle (14) mit einem geeichten Wider-
stand versehen sind, so dass die Träger (15) an einer
vorbestimmten Stelle brechen, wenn angenommen
wird, dass die Beanspruchung überschritten wird.
55 5. Förderband nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, ge-
kennzeichnet durch das Vorhandensein von einem
oder mehreren Ablenkern (11) und/oder Trennplat-
ten (16) auf der Transportfläche.
4
 7 EP 1 937 575 B1
6. Verfahren zum Verwenden des Förderbandes (1)
nach den vorhergehenden Ansprüchen, wobei die
mechanische Beanspruchung aufgrund des mögli-
chen Aufpralls des transportierten Materials auf das
Band auf die Träger (15) der lastaufnehmenden Wal-
zen (13) übertragen wird, die so geeicht sind, dass
sie brechen, ohne die Kontinuität der Bewegung des
Förderbandes (1) zu beeinträchtigen.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Platten (2)
aus einem Material hergestellt sind, welches metal-
lisch, synthetisch oder organisch ist, und mit einem
oder mehreren Ablenkern (11) versehen sind, wel-
che das lateralen Abgeben des transportierten Ma-
terials und/oder Kanäle zum Erzielen der Trennung
von Materialien oder Objekten unterschiedlicher Art
auf dem Förderband (1) erlauben.
8. Verfahren nach den Ansprüchen 6 und 7, wobei das
Nichtvorhandensein von Vibration und das Vorhan-
densein der Platten (2), die sich teilweise überlap-
pen, um eine durchgehende ebene Fläche zu bilden,
den Transport von besonderen Bauteilen wie Form-
teilen erlauben, ohne dass diese während des
Transportes beschädigt werden.
9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, wobei das Band (1)
auch benutzt werden kann, um Personen zu trans-
portieren, welche während der Bewegung des För-
derbandes (1) möglicherweise Arbeiten ausführen
können.
Revendications
1. Courroie transporteuse (1) comprenant une courroie
à filet métallique (8) actionnée par au moins un tam-
bour de traction (5), tendue par au moins un tambour
de retour (12) et supportée par une pluralité de rou-
leaux transversaux indépendants (13), ladite cour-
roie (1) supportant individuellement une pluralité de
plaques (2) se chevauchant partiellement entre el-
les, afin de former une surface continue plate sous
la forme d’un plan fiable mobile résistant une con-
trainte mécanique extrême, dans laquelle chacune
desdites plaques (2) est formée de manière appro-
priée de sorte que la partie supérieure d’une plaque
chevauche la partie inférieure de la plaque suivante,
caractérisée en ce que chacune desdites plaques
(2) est composée par un élément supérieur (3) et un
élément de base (4) se chevauchant partiellement
l’un à l’autre selon un agencement en quinconce,
dont l’élément supérieur (3) chevauche partielle-
ment l’élément de base de la plaque suivante et l’élé-
ment de base (4) est partiellement au-dessous de
l’élément supérieur de la plaque précédente, afin de
former une surface continue protégeant la courroie
de support (8) même lorsqu’elle se déplace autour
8
des tambours (5, 12), ladite plaque (2) étant réalisée
par une pièce unique formée de manière appropriée
ou par deux éléments distincts (3, 4).
5 2. Courroie transporteuse (1) selon la revendication 1,
dans laquelle les éléments (3, 4) sont fixés par cou-
plage au moyen d’une pluralité de boulons, de vis
ou de rivets (7) sur une pluralité de plaques (9) in-
sérées à l’intérieur du filet métallique (8).
10
3. Courroie transporteuse (1) selon la revendication 1,
dans laquelle les plaques (2) sont prévues avec des
languettes latérales (10), orientées vers le haut ou
vers le bas selon les besoins de transport et le type
15 de matériau transporté.
4. Courroie transporteuse selon les revendications 1 à
3, dans laquelle les supports (15) des rouleaux de
support de charge (13) sont prévus avec un point de
20 rupture (14) avec une résistance calibrée de sorte
que lesdits supports (15) se cassent à un point dé-
terminé lorsque la contrainte admise est dépassée.
5. Courroie transporteuse selon l’une quelconque des
25 revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée par la présence
d’un ou de plusieurs déviateurs (11) et/ou déflec-
teurs de séparation (16) sur la surface de transport.
6. Procédé d’utilisation de la courroie transporteuse (1)
30 selon les revendications précédentes, dans lequel
la contrainte mécanique due à l’impact possible sur
la courroie du matériau transporté est transférée aux
supports (15) des rouleaux de support de charge
(13) calibrés afin de se casser sans affecter la con-
35 tinuité du mouvement de la courroie transporteuse
(1).
7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les
plaques (2) sont réalisées avec un matériau qui est
40 métallique, synthétique ou organique, et prévues
avec un ou plusieurs déviateurs (11) permettant la
décharge latérale du matériau transporté et/ou des
canaux pour obtenir la séparation sur la courroie
transporteuse (1) des matériaux ou des objets de
45 nature différente.
8. Procédé selon les revendications 6 et 7, dans lequel
l’absence de vibration et la présence des plaques
(2) partiellement chevauchantes afin de former une
50 surface continue plate permet le transport de com-
posants particuliers, comme des parties de moule,
sans les endommager pendant le transport.
9. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la
55 courroie (1) peut également être utilisée pour trans-
porter des gens, qui peuvent éventuellement la com-
mander pendant le mouvement de la courroie trans-
porteuse (1).
5
EP 1 937 575 B1

6
EP 1 937 575 B1

7
EP 1 937 575 B1

8
EP 1 937 575 B1

9
EP 1 937 575 B1

10
EP 1 937 575 B1

11
EP 1 937 575 B1

12
 EP 1 937 575 B1

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 3633737 A [0002] • US 3311222 A [0006]

13