More specifically, the production facility in which the conveying device according to the invention is used is a facility for making and packaging rolls of paper for personal or household use, such as toilet rolls, kitchen rolls and the like.

Background Art Conveying devices are known which comprise means for moving or transporting the articles. These moving or transporting means may consist of a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of links joined to each other and each comprising means for supporting the articles and means of connection to the other chain links.

Each chain link includes a lower portion which connects the link to the other links and which comprises a block that also serves as an element for engaging the chain drive means. The lower portion also comprises two transversally spaced lateral strips or wings.

The drive means, of known type, consist of a wheel with radial teeth all the way around it. The teeth come into contact with the chain link plate-like portion that supports the articles being transported.

In existing production facilities of the above mentioned type, the paper residue is dispersed in the environment and accumulates especially on the lower section of the conveyor chain link surface that supports the articles where the drive wheel tooth meshes with the corresponding link of the conveyor chain.

In particular, the residue tends to stick to the drive wheel

teeth which exert pressure on it and cause it to be compacted on the underside of the supporting plate of the chain link.

The residue thus forms a thick layer on the chain links, giving rise to problems for conveyor chain drive and requiring thorough cleaning, which means periodically shutting down the production facility for maintenance, with all the costs that such shutdowns involve.

Disclosure of the invention It is therefore advantageously provide a device for conveying articles, especially articles made of paper, such as rolls of toilet paper or of paper for general household use, in a production facility in which process residue is present, particularly in the form of fine-particle residue and especially residue of paper and the like. The device comprises means for conveying the articles and means for driving the conveyor means, characterised in that it includes means for removing the residue.

This prevents the residue or other dirt from accumulating in undesired parts of the conveyor.

According to an especially advantageous embodiment, the removing means comprise means that allow the residue to drop by gravity.

According to another particularly advantageous embodiment, the removing means comprise means for extracting the residue by suction.

According to yet another particularly advantageous embodiment, the removing means comprise means for emitting a fluid under pressure.

According to another advantageous aspect, the invention provides a conveying device in which the drive means present a plurality of teeth extending in such a way that their end edges do not come into contact with the underside of the supporting plates of the chain.

In this way, it is possible to prevent compacting the residue on the underside of the plate that supports the articles.

This stops the residue from accumulating and eliminates the need for periodic maintenance which would mean shutting down the

production facility to remove the residue that would otherwise accumulate in conveyors of this kind.

Other advantageous aspects of the invention are described in the other claims.

Brief description of the drawings The technical characteristics of the invention, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section through line I-I of Figure 2 of a first preferred embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention, and only partially shows the conveyor chain; - Figure 2 is a schematic top view, with some parts cut away, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, partially showing the conveyor chain; - Figure 3 is a schematic cross section, through line III-III of Figure 1, of the first preferred embodiment of the invention; - Figure 4 is a schematic bottom view of one of the links of the conveyor chain; - Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, of a second preferred embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention; - Figure 6 is a schematic top view, with some parts cut away and similar to Figure 2, of the second preferred embodiment of the invention; - Figure 7 is a schematic longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, of a third preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; - Figure 8 is a schematic horizontal longitudinal section of the third preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, showing in particular the drive wheel, the supporting side plates and the blowing means of the third preferred embodiment;

- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the third preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; - Figure 10 is a schematic longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, of a fourth preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; - Figure 11 is a schematic top plan view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, showing in particular the drive wheel, the supporting side plates and the suction means of the fourth preferred embodiment; - Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of a part of the fourth preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; - Figure 13 is a schematic longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, of a fifth preferred embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention; - Figure 14 is a schematic longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, of a sixth preferred embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention; - Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the drive wheel of the sixth preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, a first preferred embodiment 10 of a device according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

The device is designed in particular for conveying articles, especially articles paper such as rolls of toilet paper or of paper for general household use. The device might equally be used for conveying articles of a different kind.

Further, the conveying device according to the invention is especially designed for use in a production facility in which process residue is present, particularly in the form of fine- particle residue and especially residue of paper and the like.

Preferably, the conveying device according to the invention is used in a facility for making and packaging rolls of paper for

personal or household use, such as toilet rolls, kitchen rolls and the like, that is to say, in the"tissue"paper sector.

It should be stressed, however, that the device according to the invention might also be used in production facilities in sectors other than the"tissue"paper sector.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the first embodiment 10 of the conveying device comprises means for supporting the articles to be transported. These means comprise a mounting frame 12 which comprises a first lateral side plate 12a and a second lateral side plate 12b which are in turn supported by a longitudinal profile 14 that forms a first and a second mounting rail 16,18 for the belt 24'on which the articles are conveyed or transported.

As stated above, means are also provided for conveying or transporting the articles, these means consisting of a conveyor chain or belt 24'comprising a plurality of links 24 joined to each other and each comprising a lower portion 26 defining means for supporting the articles and means of connection to the other chain links, and an upper portion 25 on which the articles to be transported rest and are supported.

The lower portion comprises a front central block 28 forming an element for engaging chain drive means, as described in more detail below.

The lower block 28 also presents a transversal through cavity 30 for accommodating a transversal knuckle pin 32 joining it to the chain link before it.

The lower block 28 also presents a rear surface 34 that constitutes means for engaging a respective portion or tooth that engages with the drive means, as described in more detail below.

The lower portion further comprises two transversally spaced lateral strips 36,38 extending backwards from the front block 28; these strips having respective transversal holes 36a and 38a to receive the knuckle pin supporting the back of the next link of the conveyor chain or chain conveyor.

The link 24 of the conveyor chain also comprises an upper portion 25 constituting means for supporting the articles and consisting of a supporting surface 25'.

More specifically, the upper portion consists of a shaped

plate 25 having protrusions 27 and recesses 30 that fit the matching protrusions and recesses of the plates on the links before and after it in such manner as to form a substantially continuous supporting surface for the articles.

The upper portion also presents a lower surface 23 and two tabs 37,39 extending sideways to engage and vertically retain respective protrusions 24a, 24b of the longitudinal profile 24.

Advantageously, the conveying device according to the invention comprises means for removing the residue of the products transported, and consisting, in particular, of means for removing the residue from a defined area of the conveyor, especially the area defined by the conveyor belt and/or by the drive wheel and/or by appropriate means for supporting the conveyor.

More specifically, in this first preferred embodiment, the means for removing the residue consist of means that allows the residue to drop out by gravity.

The means that permit the residue to drop by gravity consist, more specifically, of holes 31 made in the upper supporting portion 25.

As illustrated, the hole is a through hole 31 which allows the residue to fall from the returning section of the conveyor when the endless chain or belt is in the upturned condition, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Advantageously, the hole 31 is made in the central part of the upper plate 25, just downstream of the knuckle block 28. In this way, it is possible to completely clean the drive tooth engagement area.

In practice, the hole 31, as illustrated in the drawings, is circular in shape and relatively large in radius.

The hole 31 has a front edge 33 located in the vicinity of the rear edge 34 of the lower block 28 of the chain link 24, that is to say, in the area where the drive tooth 54 meshes with the respective chain link.

The hole 31 also has a rear edge 39'and two lateral edges 35 and 37'located at or in the vicinity of a corresponding inside face of the lower lateral strips 36,38 of the chain link, as shown in Figure 2.

Means are provided for driving the means that convey or transport the articles, these drive means consisting of a toothed wheel 50 extending vertically in a central position under the forward moving section of the conveying means and rotationally driven by a shaft 52 that is rotatably mounted on the supporting means (as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2).

The toothed wheel 50 has a disc-shaped central body 53 and a plurality of teeth 54 extending laterally from it.

In this preferred embodiment, the teeth 54 have length and thickness such that they engage only with the rear engagement surface of the respective chain link, that is to say, the rear surface of the block 28 between the shaped lateral strips.

More specifically, as illustrated, the length of the teeth 54 is such that their end edge does not come into contact with the underside 23 of the horizontal plate of the chain link.

The wheel 50 is made preferably of metal. It may, however, be made of other suitable materials, such as, for example, plastic.

The wheel 50 makes it possible to prevent compacting the residue on the underside of the plate that supports the articles.

Indeed, since the teeth 54 of the wheel 50 do not touch the underside 23 of the links, no pressure is applied to the residue on the link, which means that it is prevented from caking on the link as it usually does on prior art conveying devices of this kind.

As may be inferred from the drawings, during use, the upper edge 54'of the tooth 54 remains well clear of the underside 23 of the respective conveyor link. More specifically, the clearance is less than a third of the height"h"between the lower edge 28a of the block 28, which is engaged by the circumferential surface 55' of the tooth space 55 between one tooth and the next, and the underside 23 of the article supporting plate of the link.

According to another aspect that may be inferred from the drawings, the upper edges 54'of the teeth 54 are located at substantially the same height as the virtual circle described by the centres"C"of the knuckle pins 32.

It may also be imagined that the upper edges 54'of the

teeth 54 are located below the level of the virtual circle described by the centres"C"of the knuckle pins 32.

Hence, the length of the drive wheel teeth 54 is reduced but without thereby reducing the effectiveness of their driving action.

Further, as may be inferred from the drawings, the thickness "d"of the tooth 54 at the top end is much less than half the length of the spacing"p"of the teeth 54 (in practice, the thickness"d"is less than a third of the tooth spacing"p"), thus forming a rear tooth face 54"which, during use, is positioned at the hole 31, that is to say, perpendicularly aligned within the peripheral surface or edge that defines the hole. The rear tooth surface 54"remains on the same side of an imaginary perpendicular line through the centre of the circular hole 31 as the front section of the link.

As illustrated, the length or thickness"d"of the tooth 54 is much less than half and approximately equal to a quarter of the distance"p'"which, during use, separates the front face 28'of the block 28 of one link and the rear surface 34 of the next link immediately downstream of it. Therefore, the tooth 54 occupies an extremely small amount of space between the blocks 28 that engage the conveyor links to each other.

Thus, the drive wheel has circumferentially"thin"teeth.

Indeed, as shown in the drawings, the thickness"d"at the top of the tooth 54 is less than the tooth spacing"p"and, in practice, this circumferential thickness is much less than the tooth spacing.

This feature is especially effective in preventing the accumulation of residue.

It will be understood, however, that although this type of drive wheel is used preferably with the conveyor belt 24' according to the present invention, it might also be used with other conveyor belts without the holes for the passage of the residue.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention. In Figures 5 and 6, the components similar to those already described

are labelled with the same reference characters as those of the first preferred embodiment and, for brevity and convenience, will not be described again.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment 100 of the invention contemplates the use of a wheel 152 whose circumferential teeth 154 come into contact with the rear engagement face of the block 28 and come close to contact with the underside of the upper plate 25. It may also be imagined, however, that the tooth of the wheel have an outer circumferential surface 154'that comes into substantial contact with the inside surface 23 of the respective link.

In this case, too, the combined action of the holes prevents the residue from accumulating.

The drive wheel teeth 154 push the residue through the holes 31 causing it to fall out through the holes 31.

More specifically, as may be inferred from the drawings, the upper surface 154'of each tooth of the wheel 150 extends for the full length of the hole 31, well past the rear edge 39'of the hole itself.

The device therefore prevents the residue from accumulating in the working area where the tooth of the drive means acts.

Thus, in the returning section, when the conveyor belt or chain is turned upside down, the residue that would otherwise be trapped on its inside face where the conveyor meshes with the drive teeth, falls out freely through the holes.

The holes 31 made in the conveyor means thus overcome the problem caused by accumulated residue hindering smooth drive and eliminate the need to shut down the production facility for maintenance to remove the residue as was required in conveyor systems known up to now.

Furthermore, the use of a drive wheel whose teeth come into contact with the conveyor belt only to the extent strictly necessary for driving the conveyor constitutes an especially preferred way of preventing the residue from caking on the conveyor.

In addition, the residue can be advantageously removed even when the drive wheels used have teeth extending at an angle well

into the area of engagement with the conveyor means and substantially in contact with the underside of the article supporting means.

In this case, the circumferential end surface 154'of the tooth 154 constitutes means for expelling the residue through the hole 31.

A third preferred embodiment 180 of the device according to the present invention for conveying articles is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9.

In the third preferred embodiment 180 of the device, the means for removing the residue from the conveyor means consist of means for eliminating the residue from the conveyor means.

More specifically, the means for eliminating the residue consist of means for emitting a fluid under pressure towards and against a respective part of the conveyor means.

The fluid emitting means comprise a first nozzle 182 and a second nozzle 184, each of which emits a jet of fluid under pressure, consisting more specifically, of a jet of air under pressure, channelled to it through a lateral conduit or fitting 188.

As illustrated in the drawings, the first and second nozzles 182 and 184 are fitted to opposite sides of the device and are mounted on the inside faces of the two side plates 12a, 12b opposite each other in a position under the upper section of the conveyor means.

As illustrated, the first nozzle 182 and the second nozzle 184 preferably direct the respective fluid jet at the drive wheel 190 and, more specifically, at the area in the middle of the wheel.

Preferably, the jet of fluid is supplied continuously. The fluid jet might, however, also be supplied at regular intervals or only when required.

Further, the pressure of the fluid jet might be made to vary from a minimum value to a maximum value. The fluid is supplied at minimum pressure continuously and the pressure is increased to the maximum value at predetermined periodic intervals or on command, when required.

In other terms, the maximum pressure jet provides an extra jet of fluid under pressure which removes the more stubborn residue from the conveyor.

Advantageously, the drive wheel 190 has a central circumferential groove 192 that extends around the lower border of the recess made between the teeth of the drive wheel.

Thus, the body of wheel 190 is defined by a first and a second disc-shaped portion 192a, 192b positioned side by side and transversally spaced in such a way as to form a central groove 192 where the residue can accumulate without being pressed against the underside of the conveying means.

This also means that when the residue removing means are off, the residue accumulates inside the groove and does not interfere with or hinder the action of the drive wheel meshing with the conveyor chain.

As illustrated, the circumferential groove 192 has a bottom surface 196 that extends at substantially the same level as the bottom surface 194 of the recesses between the teeth of the wheel 190.

Although the third embodiment as described above is especially preferred, the means for emitting the jet of fluid under pressure might also be directed at any other suitable part of the conveying device.

In a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the means for removing the residue consist of means for extracting the residue by suction. In Figures 10 to 12, the components similar to those already described are labelled with the same reference characters as those of the other preferred embodiments and, for brevity and convenience, will not be described again.

From these figures, it may be inferred that the suction means extract the residue from the conveyor, in particular from the top of the conveyor and preferably from the product supporting plate 25.

The suction means also extract the residue from the bottom of the conveyor, in particular from the drive wheel 250.

Accordingly, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10, the

suction means are centrally positioned under the conveyor means 24.

The suction means are also positioned close to the drive wheel 250 and upstream of it.

As illustrated, the suction means comprise a first suction inlet 202 and a second suction inlet 204 made in a single body or block 201 and extending in a position in substantially the same plane as the holes in the wheel 250.

According to another advantageous aspect, it may be inferred from the drawings that the suction inlet 202 that extract residue from the plate 25 above it extends to a position close to the underside 23 of the conveyor means and is designed to extract the residue through a hole 31 in the conveyor belt.

According to yet another aspect, at least one hole 1231 is provided in a longitudinal mounting profile 14 close to the drive head. The hole 1231 allows the residue to fall through the profile.

The suction block 201 consists of a tubular element 208 extending transversally and having an end surface 210 and a cylindrical lateral surface 212 from which tubular elements 214, 216, with respective suction inlets 202,204 at the ends of them, extend at right angles.

As illustrated in the drawings, the tubular elements are angularly spaced by an angle of or around 90°.

As illustrated, the tubular element 208 also has a fitting 218 with a pipe connected to suction means which carry the residue to a discharge outlet or into a suitable tank.

In a further embodiment that is not illustrated, the drive wheel is equipped with means for emitting a fluid.

Indeed, nozzles or holes through which a fluid is emitted under pressure may be provided at a respective recess between adjacent teeth on the drive wheel. More specifically, the nozzles may be provided at the bottom of the recess and blow a jet of air in a radial direction.

In a fifth preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figure 13, having components that are the same as those of the other embodiments already described, labelled with the same reference

characters, means for removing the residue are advantageously provided at the teeth of the drive wheel.

Advantageously, the means for removing the residue at the teeth of the drive wheel consist of blowing means in the space between successive teeth on the drive wheel.

For this purpose, there is provided a central manifold 300, extending transversally and connected with suitable means for supplying compressed air at a predetermined desired pressure and presenting a plurality of radial holes 301 distributed circumferentially and from which there extend respective radial blower conduits 303 each having at its opposite end an opening 305 giving onto the circumferential surface 307 of the curved space 309 between two successive teeth 310,310 of the wheel.

This constitutes an even more effective way of preventing the accumulation of residue.

In a sixth preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, having components that are the same as those of the other embodiments already described, labelled with the same reference characters, means for removing the residue are advantageously provided at the teeth of the drive wheel.

Advantageously, the means for removing the residue at the teeth of the drive wheel consist of blowing means in the grooves between pairs of teeth on the drive wheel.

For this purpose, there is provided a central manifold 400, extending transversally and presenting a plurality of radial holes 401 distributed circumferentially and from which there extend respective radial blower conduits 403 each having at its opposite end an opening 405 giving onto the circumferential surface 407 extending transversally between one tooth and the tooth next to it, respectively 410a, 410b, on the drive wheel.

This constitutes an even more effective way of preventing the accumulation of residue.

In yet another preferred embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings but substantially the same as the sixth preferred embodiment except that the teeth on the drive wheel consist of single transversally extending blocks without the circumferential groove between them, unlike the sixth preferred

embodiment, means for removing the residue are, in this case, too, advantageously provided at the teeth of the drive wheel.

Advantageously, the means for removing the residue at the teeth of the drive wheel consist of blowing means on the outer circumferential surface of each tooth on the drive wheel.

For this purpose, there is provided a central manifold 400, extending transversally and presenting a plurality of radial holes 401 distributed circumferentially and from which there extend respective radial blower conduits each having at its opposite end an opening that gives onto the outer circumferential surface of the drive wheel tooth.

This constitutes an even more effective way of preventing the accumulation of residue.

Means might also advantageously be provided for selecting or regulating air delivery into and out of the specific radial conduit so as to blow air only when the part of the wheel to be cleaned is in the required position.

According to another aspect, the conduits inside the wheels might be used to suck air in instead of blowing air out so as to extract the residue by suction and channel it to an appropriate area, preferably outside the building where the conveying device according to the invention is installed.

According to yet another embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, extraction, by suction, of the residue from the upper surface of the conveyor means, especially through the holes in the conveyor chain links may be accomplished using a manifold channel running under the conveyor chain. This manifold channel is substantially sealed since it has an open end only at the top of it where it is sealed by the links of the conveyor belt.

It will be understood that the invention can be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.