GB2177669A

GB2177669A - Transport system for items of ferromagnetic material

Info

Publication number: GB2177669A
Application number: GB08518139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: G H Williams; S D W Dowling
Original assignee: HANDLING CONSULTANTS Ltd
Current assignee: HANDLING CONSULTANTS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-07-18
Filing date: 1985-07-18
Publication date: 1987-01-28
Also published as: GB2177669B; GB8518139D0

Abstract

A transport system for items of ferromagnetic material comprises a structure upon which is mounted a number of magnets 4, and a number of belts 8 which are carried on and driven by a system of pulleys 12, 13. The item which may be composed wholly or partly of ferromagnetic material is attracted by the magnet into contact with the belt, making no contact with any other part of the system. When the belt is moved the item travels with it until the desired position is reached, when the magnetic attraction may be released, depositing the item in the desired position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport system for items of ferromagnetic material This invention relats to a transport system for the carriage of items of ferromagnetic material (e.g.

iron and steel).

A large proportion of the materials to be handled in industry are ferromagnetic i.e. they may be attracted by either permanent magnets or electromagnets. The commonest examples are iron and steel. Advantage is taken of this property in a wide range of existing magnetic conveyors. In these devices the articles to be conveyed (which must be made in whole or part of a ferromagnetic material) are forced into contact with a transport device (either belt or chain) by magnetic attraction between the articles to be conveyed and the magnets (either permanent or electro-magnets) which are built into the conveyor structure. Such conveyors are capable of carrying articles up or down steep inclines safely, where a simple frictional restraint would be unsafe.

However there also exists a requirement to transport steel sheets or other items from or to shears, guillotines, presses or storage locations by lifting them from above, transporting them to the desired position, and depositing them. It is implicit in this requirement that the conveyor system does not intrude into the space occupied by other machinery or storage locations. The current range of magnetic conveyors cannot achieve all these requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a structure supporting a number of magnets, a number of transport belts, a number of drive pulleys and a number of belt supports, guides and restraints together with pulley bearings and a pulley drive system disposed in such a way that the magnet or magnets may attract an article or articles to be carried into contact with the belt or belts. In a preferred embodiment the belt is of a particular section that co-operates with the supports, guides and restraints in order to maintain the belt on a given path while preventing contact between the conveyed item and any part of the equipment not moving with the belt.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional end view of the system and Figure 2 shows a cross sectional end view of the transport system (for clarity Figure 2 is drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1) and Figure 3 shows a view of the transport system from underneath.

Referring to the drawing the transport system comprises a structural beam 1 of "L" shaped cross section and a cover plate 2, the cover plate being made of a non-magnetic material (e.g. Aluminium Alloy). The cover plate is fixed to the structural beam by screws 3. Fitted inside the structural beam 1 is an electro-magnet 4, consisting of a coil 5 of many turns of electrically conducting wire, a core 6 of a magnetic material (e.g. mild steel) and pole pieces 7 also of a magnetic material (e.g. mild steel).

Situated between the pole pieces is a suitably shaped transport belt 8, which in this instance has a raised portion having a suitably modified surface designed to co-operate frictionally with the sheet to be carried S. The belt may also have a toothed profile on the other surface which co-operates with the drive pulleys to give a positive slip-free drive.

Belts and pulleys having a flat friction drive profile are also possible. The belt is supported on a skid plate 9 (of non magnetic material), and both guided laterally and restrained vertically by dual purpose guide strips 10. These functions could equally well be performed by separate lateral and vertical guide systems. The skid plate and guide strips are fixed adjustably between the pole pieces by screws 11 passing thro' slotted or oversize holes. Thus the path taken by the belt in the end view is completely controlled. The path taken in the side view is controlled by the belt's passage over a number of idler pulleys 12 and one or more drive pulleys 13. The belt may be caused to move longitudinally by the action of the drive shaft 16.

The idler pulleys 12, have fitted within them a number of bearings 14 which permit rotation with respect to a fixed shaft 15. This fixed shaft 15 and the pulleys 12, 13 are made from a non magnetic material in order that the magnetic flux passes thro' the sheet to be carried S.

In.operation the electro magnets may be switched as desired to pick up, carry or deposit a sheet. (Permanent magnets may be used where no such option is required). The drive system may be controlled to drive, stop or vary its speed as required to suit the transport requirements imposed by the surrounding machinery.

The operation of the transport system is normally as follows. The magnet 4 at the front end of the conveyor is energised and picks up a sheet of steel S, from the first stack. The sheet, S, is lifted, by magnetic attraction so that the sheet of steel(S) "sandwiches" the transport belt 8 between the sheet (S) and the skid plate 9. The magnetic flux passes from pole piece, 7, to pole piece, 7, via the sheet S and 2 small air gaps. The belt 8 may then be moved, carrying the sheet S with it, to the desired position. The belt 8 is then stopped and the magnets 4 above the sheet S may be de-energised, permitting the sheet to fall to the desired position.

1. A transport system for items of ferromagnetic material comprising a structure supporting a number of magnets, a number of transport belts, a number of drive pulleys and a number of belt supports, guides and restraints together with pulley bearings and a pulley drive system disposed in such a way that the magnet or magnets may attract an article or articles to be carried into contact with the belt or belts.

2. A transport system for items of ferromag

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Transport system for items of ferromagnetic material This invention relats to a transport system for the carriage of items of ferromagnetic material (e.g. iron and steel). A large proportion of the materials to be handled in industry are ferromagnetic i.e. they may be attracted by either permanent magnets or electromagnets. The commonest examples are iron and steel. Advantage is taken of this property in a wide range of existing magnetic conveyors. In these devices the articles to be conveyed (which must be made in whole or part of a ferromagnetic material) are forced into contact with a transport device (either belt or chain) by magnetic attraction between the articles to be conveyed and the magnets (either permanent or electro-magnets) which are built into the conveyor structure. Such conveyors are capable of carrying articles up or down steep inclines safely, where a simple frictional restraint would be unsafe. However there also exists a requirement to transport steel sheets or other items from or to shears, guillotines, presses or storage locations by lifting them from above, transporting them to the desired position, and depositing them. It is implicit in this requirement that the conveyor system does not intrude into the space occupied by other machinery or storage locations. The current range of magnetic conveyors cannot achieve all these requirements. According to the present invention there is provided a structure supporting a number of magnets, a number of transport belts, a number of drive pulleys and a number of belt supports, guides and restraints together with pulley bearings and a pulley drive system disposed in such a way that the magnet or magnets may attract an article or articles to be carried into contact with the belt or belts. In a preferred embodiment the belt is of a particular section that co-operates with the supports, guides and restraints in order to maintain the belt on a given path while preventing contact between the conveyed item and any part of the equipment not moving with the belt. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a cross sectional end view of the system and Figure 2 shows a cross sectional end view of the transport system (for clarity Figure 2 is drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1) and Figure 3 shows a view of the transport system from underneath. Referring to the drawing the transport system comprises a structural beam 1 of "L" shaped cross section and a cover plate 2, the cover plate being made of a non-magnetic material (e.g. Aluminium Alloy). The cover plate is fixed to the structural beam by screws 3. Fitted inside the structural beam 1 is an electro-magnet 4, consisting of a coil 5 of many turns of electrically conducting wire, a core 6 of a magnetic material (e.g. mild steel) and pole pieces 7 also of a magnetic material (e.g. mild steel). Situated between the pole pieces is a suitably shaped transport belt 8, which in this instance has a raised portion having a suitably modified surface designed to co-operate frictionally with the sheet to be carried S. The belt may also have a toothed profile on the other surface which co-operates with the drive pulleys to give a positive slip-free drive. Belts and pulleys having a flat friction drive profile are also possible. The belt is supported on a skid plate 9 (of non magnetic material), and both guided laterally and restrained vertically by dual purpose guide strips 10. These functions could equally well be performed by separate lateral and vertical guide systems. The skid plate and guide strips are fixed adjustably between the pole pieces by screws 11 passing thro' slotted or oversize holes. Thus the path taken by the belt in the end view is completely controlled. The path taken in the side view is controlled by the belt's passage over a number of idler pulleys 12 and one or more drive pulleys 13. The belt may be caused to move longitudinally by the action of the drive shaft 16. The idler pulleys 12, have fitted within them a number of bearings 14 which permit rotation with respect to a fixed shaft 15. This fixed shaft 15 and the pulleys 12, 13 are made from a non magnetic material in order that the magnetic flux passes thro' the sheet to be carried S. In.operation the electro magnets may be switched as desired to pick up, carry or deposit a sheet. (Permanent magnets may be used where no such option is required). The drive system may be controlled to drive, stop or vary its speed as required to suit the transport requirements imposed by the surrounding machinery. The operation of the transport system is normally as follows. The magnet 4 at the front end of the conveyor is energised and picks up a sheet of steel S, from the first stack. The sheet, S, is lifted, by magnetic attraction so that the sheet of steel(S) "sandwiches" the transport belt 8 between the sheet (S) and the skid plate 9. The magnetic flux passes from pole piece, 7, to pole piece, 7, via the sheet S and 2 small air gaps. The belt 8 may then be moved, carrying the sheet S with it, to the desired position. The belt 8 is then stopped and the magnets 4 above the sheet S may be de-energised, permitting the sheet to fall to the desired position. CLAIMS

2. A transport system for items of ferromag netic material as claimed in claim 1 wherein the belt is of a particular section that co-operates with the supports, guides and restraints in order to maintain the belt on a given path while preventing contact between the conveyed item and any part of the equipment not moving with the belt.

3. A transport system for items of ferromagnetic material as claimed in claim 2 and substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 2 & 3.