TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an arrangement, system, and method for adjustable conveyor supporting in mobile mineral material processing station.

BACKGROUND

This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art.

Side conveyors are used in mobile mineral material processing stations to convey mineral material to a distance from an output of a processing device for further processing or piling. As such, side conveyors typically have such a length that they need to be dissembled and / or folded for transportation of the mineral material processing station. If the side conveyor is dissembled, some lifting equipment is needed for reassembly and also the separated side conveyor needs to be sufficiently aligned to enable reassembling. On the other hand, if the side conveyor is simply foldable without dissembling, a jack or actuator is needed to move the side conveyor for the folding, even if a portion of the side conveyor would remain stable.

Mobile mineral material processing stations in particular have to adapt for varying ground contour and / or different height output requirements. One way to adapt the support is to adjust inclination of a folding end part of the side conveyor. A further adaptation is sometimes needed to adjust inclination of a stem part of the side conveyor. In order to motorise all the adaptations discussed above, typically three sets of actuators are needed, one for each side of the side conveyor, so as to adjust each of the stem part, the end part, and to fold and unfold the side conveyor.

While side conveyors may be particularly suited, this document may also be applied to other conveyors of mobile mineral material processing stations.

WO 0236461 discloses folding mechanism for a two part endless conveyor which is adjustable between an in-line operative position, and a folded transport position. WO 2008107200 discloses foldable framework for auxiliary conveyor. WO 2007093645 discloses a mobile material screening apparatus for separating bulk particulate material into groups of particles of differing sizes. CA 3100939 discloses a system for eliminating the need to reposition a tracked/wheeled radial stacker during stacking operations. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved or alternative adjustable conveyor support. Another object of the present invention is to simplify or remove failure points of the adjustable conveyor support. Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce time or effort required to adapt the conveyor between operation and transport configurations.

SUMMARY

The appended claims define the scope of protection. Any examples and technical descriptions of apparatuses, products and/or methods in the description and/or drawings not covered by the claims are presented not as embodiments of the invention but as background art or examples useful for understanding the invention.

According to a first example aspect there is provided an adjustable conveyor support arrangement for mobile mineral material processing station, comprising a first support configured to maintain a first end of the conveyor, with relation to a body of the mineral material processing station, between a lower limit and an upper limit; wherein at least one of the lower limit and the upper limit is adjustable; a pivot joint between two parts of the conveyor: a stem part, and an end part; and an actuator mechanism configured to: pivot the end part about the pivot joint so that the conveyor is folded from an operation configuration to a folded configuration and the first end of the conveyor moves against the lower limit; and pivot the conveyor from the folded configuration to the operation configuration so that the first end of the conveyor moves against the upper limit.

Advantageously, the conveyor may be adjustably supported to change the height of the first end using the actuator mechanism. Further advantageously, the conveyor may be adjustably supported to change the discharge height using the actuator mechanism. Further advantageously, the conveyor may be adjustably supported to fold or unfold the conveyor using the actuator mechanism. In effect, one actuator mechanism may be operable for three different actions.

The conveyor may be a side conveyor.

The actuator mechanism may comprise only one actuator. In another embodiment, actuator mechanism comprises one actuator at each longitudinal side of the conveyor.

The first support may comprise a range adjustment for one or both of the lower and upper limits, either collectively or individually. The range adjustment may comprise a screw control element. The range adjustment may comprise a wedge control element. The range adjustment may by actuator operated.

At least one of the first support and the first end may comprise a conical element for laterally centering the first with relation to the first support.

The pivot joint may be supported by the body of the mineral material processing station. The actuator may be configured to force the first end towards the upper limit.

The adjustable conveyor support arrangement may be configured to gravitationally maintain the operation configuration.

The adjustable conveyor support arrangement may be configured to gravitationally maintain the folded configuration.

The adjustable conveyor support arrangement may comprise a rocking support that pivotably joins the stem part and the end part to the body. The pivot joint may form the rocking support. Alternatively, the rocking support may be separate from the pivot joint.

The rocking support may reside at a discharge end of the stem part. The rocking support may reside at a receiving end of the end part. The rocking support may reside between the stem part and the end part. The rocking support may reside between a mass centre of the conveyor and the first end of the conveyor, when the conveyor is in the operation configuration. The mass centre of the conveyor may reside between rocking support and the first end of the conveyor, when the conveyor is in the folded configuration.

Advantageously, the adjustable conveyor support arrangement may provide increased maintenance and service space on top of the stem part of the conveyor when the conveyor is in the folded configuration.

The adjustable conveyor support arrangement may further comprise a joint angle limiter configured inhibit pivoting the end part from the folded configured to the operation configuration with relation to the end part beyond a given angle defined by the angle limiter. The angle limiter may comprise a stopper element. The angle limiter may be adjustable. The angle limiter may be adjustable by a screw. The angle limiter may be adjustable by a wedge. The angle limiter may be adjustable by using a stopper element of desired kind and / or by changing orientation of the stopper element. The angle limiter may be configured to relief force from the actuator mechanism. The angle limiter may be integrated with the actuator mechanism. The actuator may be attachable at one or two ends of the actuator to alternative positions so as to adjust the angle limiter. Alternatively, the actuator may be attachable with a transferable pivoting position at one or two ends of the actuator. According to a second example aspect there is provided a method for adjustable conveyor supporting in mobile mineral material processing station, comprising maintaining by a first support a first end of the conveyor, with relation to a body of the mineral material processing station, between a lower limit and an upper limit; adapting at least one of the lower limit and the upper limit; pivotably joining two parts of the conveyor: a stem part, and an end part; using an actuator mechanism to: pivoting the end part about the pivot joint so that the conveyor is folded from an operation configuration to a folded configuration and the first end of the conveyor moves against the lower limit; and pivoting the conveyor from the folded configuration to the operation configuration so that the first end of the conveyor moves against the upper limit.

According to a third example aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing the method of the second example aspect.

According to a fourth example aspect there is provided a system comprising a mobile mineral material processing station and the adjustable conveyor support of the first or third example aspect.

Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in different implementations. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a system according to an example embodiment;

Fig. 2a shows an adjustable conveyor support arrangement according to an example embodiment in a folded configuration;

Fig. 2b shows the adjustable conveyor support arrangement of Fig. 2a in an operation configuration with an adjusted discharge height;

Fig. 2c shows the adjustable conveyor support arrangement of Fig. 2a in the operation configuration with a base discharge height;

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of Fig. 2a around a first support;

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart according to an example embodiment; Fig. 5a shows an adjustable conveyor support arrangement according to an example embodiment in a folded configuration;

Fig. 5b shows the adjustable conveyor support arrangement of Fig. 5a in an operation configuration with an adjusted discharge height; and

Fig. 5c shows the adjustable conveyor support arrangement of Fig. 5a in the operation configuration with a base discharge height.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference signs denote like elements or steps.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a system 100 according to an example embodiment. The system comprises a mobile mineral material processing station 110, a conveyor 120, and an adjustable conveyor support arrangement 130. The system 100 may further comprise one or more screens 140, crushers 150, and / or self-propelling equipment such as a traction base 160.

The conveyor 120 typically has an endless media, support means such as rollers and/or guides, actuation such as one or more motorised drive members, and a conveyor frame. In this document, references to the conveyor can be understood as references to the conveyor frame, unless otherwise explicitly or implicitly defined. In an embodiment, the conveyor is a belt conveyor. In another embodiment, the conveyor is a lamellae conveyor.

Fig. 2a shows an adjustable conveyor support arrangement according to an example embodiment in a folded configuration, together with some parts of the mobile mineral material processing station and of the conveyor. Fig. 2 shows: a portion of a body 230 of the mobile mineral material processing station 110; a stem part 210 of the conveyor 120; a first end 211 of the conveyor 120; an end part 220 of the conveyor 120; a pivot joint 218 pivotably coupling the stem part 110 and the end part 220; a first support 232 formed by or attached to the body 230 and configured to maintain, with relation to a body of the mineral material processing station, at least at a first height and at most at a second height, a first end of the conveyor; a roller 212 of the conveyor 120 for rotating a conveyor belt (not shown); a first fixing assembly 214 attached to or formed by the body 230 below the pivot joint 218; a first actuator pivot 215 supported by the first fixing assembly 214; a second fixing assembly 222 attached to or formed by the end part 220 at a receiving side end thereof; a second actuator pivot 224 supported by the second fixing assembly 222; an actuator mechanism that comprises at least one actuator 240 pivotably coupled to the first actuator pivot 215 and to the second fixing assembly 222; a joint angle limiter 216 such as a stopper configured inhibit pivoting the end part 220 from the folded configured to the operation configuration beyond a given angle defined by the angle limiter 216 with relation to the stem part 210. In an embodiment, the joint angle limiter 216 is adjustable. For example, the joint angle limiter 216 may comprise one or more screw and/or wedges. The joint angle limiter 216 may further comprise an actuator for machine operable setting of the joint angle. The actuator can be manually controlled and / or automatically controlled;

Arrows are drawn in Fig. 2a to indicate some movements that occur on adjusting the conveyor to the adjusted operation configuration shown in Fig. 2b and to the base operation configuration shown in Fig. 2c. In the base operation configuration of Fig. 2c, the stopper shown as the joint angle limiter 216 abuts the end part 220 inhibiting the end part 220 pivoting any further about the pivot joint 218. The actuator 240 may be fully retracted in this configuration. In some embodiments, the actuator 240 further operates as the joint angle limiter 216. For example, the joint angle limiter 216 drawn in Fig. 2a as a stopper may be attached by threads and adjustable by rotating. In an alternative embodiment, the range adjustment is attached to the end part 220.

In this embodiment, in the adjusted operation configuration, the stem part 210 remains at supported against a lower limit of the first support 232, i.e., at the first height. When the end part 220 is further pivoted downwards, the joint angle limiter 216 restricts further mutual pivoting of the end part 220 with relation to the stem part 210 and the stem part 210 begins to pivot about the pivot joint 218 until the stem part 210 is supported upwards against an upper limit of the first support 232, i.e., at the second height.

Advantageously, the actuator 240 can control movement of the stem part and the end part so that uncontrolled decelerations are avoided. This may be particularly advantageous with long conveyors.

Figs. 2a to 2c show one actuator 240. In an embodiment, there are two or more actuators. For example, at least one actuator 240 may be provided on each side of the conveyor 120 and / or two or more actuators may reside closer to a centreline than external sides of the conveyor 120.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of Fig. 2a around the first support 232 that provides a range adjustment 300 that comprises:

310. an auxiliary body (not needed, if the first support is built into the body of the mobile mineral material processing station 110;

320. a bolt, for which the auxiliary body 310 has suitable holes and one of which preferably has a thread or alternatively a nut is used to prevent the nut being forced up;

330. a locking nut for the bolt 320;

340. an upper limiting member at least longitudinally supported to the bolt 320, forming an upper limit of the first support;

350. an elastic bushing or washer plate;

360. an elastic bushing or washer plate at a lower support part of the first support 232, for forming a lower limit of the first support 232; and

370. a range actuator (such as an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or pneumatic motor, or in a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder in which case the threaded system would be replaced by linearly actuated system elements).

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart according to an example embodiment. Fig. 4 illustrates a method for adjustable conveyor supporting in mobile mineral material processing station, comprising various possible steps including some optional steps while also further steps can be included and/or some of the steps can be performed more than once:

400. maintaining by a first support a first end of the conveyor, with relation to a body of the mineral material processing station, between a lower limit and an upper limit;

410. adapting at least one of the lower limit and the upper limit;

420. pivotably joining two parts of the conveyor: a stem part, and an end part; and using an actuator mechanism to:

430. pivoting the end part about the pivot joint so that the conveyor is folded from an operation configuration to a folded configuration and the first end of the conveyor moves against the lower limit; and

440. pivoting the conveyor from the folded configuration to the operation configuration so that the first end of the conveyor moves against the upper limit.

Fig. 5a shows an adjustable conveyor support arrangement according to an example embodiment in a folded configuration. This embodiment differs from that of Fig. 2a in that the actuator 240 is not supported by the body 230. Instead, the actuator 240 is supported by the stem part 210 and the end part 220. In operation, the actuator 240 changes a mutual pivoting of the stem part 210 and the end part 220. When a centre of gravity shifts from one side of the pivot joint 218 to another, both the stem part 210 and the end part 220 pivot about the pivot joint 218 driven by gravity. In this embodiment, the adjusted operation configuration also differs from that of Fig. 2b as shown by Fig. 5b such that now the stem part pivots upwards against the upper limit of the first support 232 already in the adjusted operation configuration.

Fig. 5c further shows two alternative rocking supports 450, 452. Only one pivot is used at the time, but in an embodiment, there may be more than one alternative for use so that an operator may change implementation simply by starting to use another rocking support. If the rocking support resides in downstream direction after the pivot joint 218, then the adjusting of the operation angle and particularly the folding of the conveyor 120 will lower the end of the stem part 210 that is pivotably joined to the end part 220. This may be advantageous for further increasing service space above the stem part 210 in the folded configuration.

Various embodiments have been presented. It should be appreciated that in this document, words comprise; include; and contain are each used as open-ended expressions with no intended exclusivity.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented in the foregoing, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention. For example, the conveyor 120 can be locked in the folded configuration by a locking arrangement, such as a lock pin configured to prevent moving the end part 220 from the folded configuration. The conveyor can also or alternatively be locked in the operation configuration by a locking arrangement, such as a lock pin configured to prevent moving the stem part 210 from the operation configuration.

Furthermore, some of the features of the afore-disclosed example embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.