Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a conveyor system for use, for instance, in check-out counters in grocery stores or supermarkets, in security control counters in airports and the like.

Background of the invention

Different kinds of counter systems comprising conveyor systems with one or more conveyor belts are used in grocery stores, supermarkets, airports and many other places all over the world.

Although such conveyor systems do not normally require to be serviced very often during the lifetime of the system, it is a well-known problem that service and maintenance work and replacement of parts of such conveyor systems can be rather cumbersome and time-consuming as it is often necessary to disassemble the conveyor system into many parts in order to get access to the parts needing maintenance or replacement.

This means that, when service or maintenance is needed, the counter systems can be out of function for relatively long periods of time causing undue inconvenience for the salespersons and service assistants as well as for the customers and lack of income for the persons or organisations making use of such counter systems.

A further aspect of this problem is that there is an increasing use of conveyor belts carrying advertisements of one kind or the other. This means that the conveyor belts need to be changed more often than just for service and maintenance purposes, as most of such advertisements are frequently replaced by other ones. US Patent No. 7,806,254 (Brayman et al.) discloses a conveyor system aimed at overcoming some of these problems, which conveyor system comprises a number of removable belt modules that can be individually lifted off a supporting framework. In order to make the individual belt modules portable, the maximum weight and, thus, the maximum length of each belt module is limited and a plurality of belt modules must be placed in series if conveyance is needed over a longer distance. A problem of this solution is therefore that there will inevitably be a gap between the conveyor belts of each of the individual belt modules in which smaller goods or, in the worst case, even fingers may be caught and squeezed. Another problem is that service and maintenance work cannot be performed on the belt modules without first removing them from the conveyor system.

Another solution is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,474,288 (Majewski) in which a self- contained conveyor module can be extracted from a check-out counter assembly in its longitudinal direction. Again, in order to get full access to the conveyor module for service and maintenance, the conveyor module needs first to be removed from the check-out counter assembly and placed somewhere else.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor system, which substantially reduces the work load and the time consumption related to service and maintenance work without the disadvantages related to the systems described above.

Brief description of the invention

The present invention relates to a conveyor system comprising a system framework, a covering and a conveyor module comprising a frame, a drive pulley rotatably supported by the frame, an idler pulley rotatably supported by the frame and a continuous conveyor belt mounted around the drive pulley and the idler pulley for being rotated when the drive pulley is rotated, the conveyor module and the covering being mounted on the system framework and, when the conveyor system is in an operational mode, the covering being placed adjacent to the conveyor module covering at least the two sides of the conveyor module parallel to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor module is detachably mounted on two or more substantially parallel bars penetrating the frame in such a way that the conveyor module can be removed as a whole from the bars.

In this way, a conveyor system is provided, wherein one or more parts of a conveyor module, such as conveyor belt, pulleys and drum motor, or even a complete conveyor module can easily and fast be replaced manually or, in case of larger and heavier conveyor modules with longer conveyor belts, by means of some sort of lifting device. Apart from replacements of parts due to ordinary service and maintenance purposes, a conveyor belt carrying an advertisement may need to be replaced by a belt carrying another advertisement, and complete conveyor modules may be switched between different conveyor systems of a larger system, for instance in a supermarket, in order to "distribute" the lifetime of the different components of the larger system equally, although some of the conveyor systems may be used more than others. Also, a system like this facilitates easy and fast cleaning of the conveyor module.

It should be noted that the covering may include one or more tabletops in the form of substantially horizontal and upward facing surfaces next to the conveyor belt on one or more sides thereof.

In an embodiment of the invention, the substantially parallel bars are substantially horizontal.

Using substantially parallel bars enables for the possibility that the conveyor module can be dismounted from or mounted on the bars by simply sliding it in the longitudinal direction of the bars. In an embodiment of the invention, the substantially parallel bars are oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt.

Mounting the conveyor module on bars oriented substantially perpendicular to the conveyor module reduces the distance over which the conveyor module must be moved in order to get the frame of the conveyor module free of the bars.

In an embodiment of the invention, the drive pulley is driven by a drum motor arranged inside the drive pulley.

Using a drum motor for driving the drive pulley means that no drive belts are needed between the drive pulley and an external motor and that the conveyor module needs only to be connected to the rest of the conveyor system through a relatively simple electric cable providing the power for the drum motor. For some applications, a direction signal indicating in which direction the pulley should rotate may also be needed.

In an embodiment of the invention, one end of each of the substantially parallel bars is connected to a first end of a respective lever arm, a second end of which lever arm is connected to the system framework in such a way that, when each of the lever arms is in a first position, the conveyor system is in an operational mode and, when each of the lever arms is in a second position, the conveyor system is in a service mode in which the conveyor module is elevated in relation to the covering, thus opening for sideways access to the conveyor module for maintenance work or for replacement of the conveyor module as a whole, all of the lever arms being positioned to the same side of the conveyor module.

Lifting the conveyor module up from the level of the covering while supporting the conveyor module only from one of its sides is a very fast and easy way of putting the conveyor system in a service mode in which there is free access to the conveyor module for maintenance work or even replacement of the complete conveyor module.

In an embodiment of the invention, the motion of the lever arms between their first and second positions is performed using one or more pneumatic springs and/or linear actuators.

Pneumatic springs and linear actuators are well-known and reliable means for moving lever systems between two or more predefined positions.

In an embodiment of the invention, the frame is provided with one or more individually adjustable supporting legs on both sides of the conveyor belt for enabling vertical alignment of the conveyor belt when the conveyor system is in an operational mode.

Due to production tolerances and the fact that the part of the system framework onto which the conveyor module rests during normal operation may be twisted or displaced slightly during installation and/or operation of the conveyor system, it is advantageous that the conveyor module is provided with a plurality of individually adjustable legs for adjusting and controlling the conveyor module so that a perfectly horizontal upper surface and a correct vertical alignment of the conveyor belt can be obtained.

In an embodiment of the invention, the one or more supporting legs on the side of the frame opposite the lever arms are shortened in order to enable removal of the conveyor belt from the conveyor module without first removing the supporting legs, each of these shortened supporting legs standing, when the conveyor system is in an operational mode, on a respective supporting platform of the system framework arranged in such a way that, by suitable adjustment of the supporting legs, resulting heights of the shortened supporting legs and the respective supporting platforms corresponding to the heights of the non-shortened supporting legs at the other side of the frame can be obtained.

In this way it is assured that the conveyor belt can be removed from the two pulleys without being obstructed by the supporting legs.

In an embodiment of the invention, the supporting platforms are formed by bars being rotationally coupled at one end to the lever arms so that when the lever arms are rotated to their second positions, bringing the conveyor system into a service mode, the supporting platforms are rotated away from the conveyor module, in order not to be in the way for maintenance work or for replacement of the conveyor module as a whole.

Rotating the supporting platforms away from the conveyor module when putting the conveyor system in a service mode increases the access possibilities to the conveyor module for service or maintenance work or replacement of the conveyor module.

In another embodiment of the invention, the conveyor system can be brought to a service mode by lifting the covering off the system framework, thus opening for sideways access to the conveyor module for maintenance work or for replacement of the conveyor module as a whole.

This embodiment represents another simple way of putting the conveyor system in a service mode with free access to the conveyor module for service or maintenance work or replacement of the conveyor module.

In another aspect of the invention, it relates to a counter system comprising a

conveyor system as described above. Figures

A few exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures, of which is a perspective view of a part of a conveyor system according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the conveyor system is in an operational mode, is a perspective view of the same part of a conveyor system as illustrated in fig. l a, wherein the conveyor system is in a service mode, is an end view of the same part of a conveyor system in service mode as illustrated in fig. lb, is a side view of the same part of a conveyor system in service mode as illustrated in figs, lb and 2, is a perspective view from one side of a conveyor module and a lever system of a conveyor system according to the same embodiment of the invention illustrated in figs, l a-3, fig. 4b is a perspective view from another side of the same conveyor module and lever system as illustrated in fig. 4a, fig. 5a is a perspective view of the system framework of a conveyor system according to a second embodiment of the invention, fig. 5b is an end view of the same system framework as illustrated in fig. 5a, fig. 6a is a perspective view of the same system framework as illustrated 5a with a conveyor module mounted thereupon, fig. 6b is an end view of the same system framework and conveyor module as illustrated in fig. 5b, fig. 7a is a perspective view of the same system framework as illustrated in fig.

5a with a conveyor module and a covering mounted thereupon and fig. 7b is an end view of the same conveyor system as illustrated in fig. 7a. Detailed description of the invention

Fig. l a is a perspective view of a part of a conveyor system 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the conveyor system 1 is in an operational mode.

A conveyor module 2 with a conveyor belt 3 is mounted in a system framework 4 of which only a part is shown in the figure. Also mounted on this system framework 4 is a covering 5 including a tabletop 5 on each side of the conveyor belt 3. The direction of conveyance DC of the conveyor belt 3 is indicated with an arrow in this and some of the following figures.

The same part of a conveyor system 1 is shown in fig. lb in a service mode, in which the conveyor module 2 is elevated from the level of the tabletops 5 by means of two lever arms 6. This figure also illustrates how the conveyor belt 3 is mounted around a drive pulley 7 and an idler pulley 8. In this preferred embodiment, the drive pulley 7 is provided with an internal drum motor (not shown) so that no drive belts are needed between the drive pulley 7 and an external motor, and the conveyor module 2 needs only to be connected to the rest of the conveyor system 1 through a relatively simple electric cable (not shown) providing the power for the drum motor and a direction signal indicating in which direction the drive pulley 7 should rotate

Two adjustable supporting legs 9 are mounted on the visible side of the frame 10 of the conveyor module 2. These adjustable supporting legs 9 and other adjustable supporting legs 1 1 (shown in figs. 2, 4b and 4c) on the other side of the conveyor belt 3 are used for obtaining a perfectly horizontal upper surface and a correct vertical alignment of the conveyor module 2, which can be necessary due to production tolerances and the fact that the part of the system framework 4 onto which the conveyor module 2 rests during normal operation may be twisted or displaced slightly during installation and/or operation of the conveyor system 1.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same part of a conveyor system 1 in a service mode as illustrated in fig. lb. In this view is also seen the adjustable supporting legs 1 1 on the side of the conveyor module 2 opposite the lever arms 6 is substantially shorter than the adjustable supporting legs 9 on the other side. This enables for pulling the conveyor belt 3 sideways off the two pulleys 7, 8 without first removing the adjustable supporting legs 1 1 from the side opposite the lever arms 6.

The same part of the conveyor system 1 is shown again in fig. 3, this time in a side view. Apart from the parts already shown in the previous figures, this view also illustrates that the conveyor belt 3 can be tightened or loosened, for instance for replacement, by means of one or more extendable arms 12 arranged between the frame 10 of the conveyor module 2 and the idler pulley 8 and/or the drive pulley 7 for displacement of the pulley(s) in the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt 3.

Fig. 4a is a perspective view from one side of a conveyor module 2 and a lever system 6, 13, 14 of a conveyor system 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention also illustrated in the previous figures. This figure illustrates how the lever arms 6 are mounted on axles 13, which are rotatably supported by the system framework (not shown in this figure). It is also illustrated how the motion of the lever arms 6 between a first (substantially horizontal) position and a second

(substantially vertical) position in which positions the conveyor system 1 is in an operational mode and a service mode, respectively, may be performed using one or more pneumatic springs and/or linear actuators 14. On top of each of the lever arms 6 is seen the one end of the two supporting bars 15, respectively, which penetrate the frame 10 and carry the conveyor module 2.

Fig. 4b shows the same conveyor module 2 and lever system 6, 13, 14, 15 as illustrated in fig. 4a, only seen from the other side. On this side of the conveyor module 2, the other end of each of the supporting bars 15 is visible. Furthermore, it is illustrated how a bar 16 is connected to the end of each of the lever system axles 13 opposite the lever arms 6 (not shown in this figure), respectively, so that these bars 16 rotate with the lever arms 6.

When the lever arms 6 are in a substantially vertical position and the conveyor system 1 is in a service mode, the bars 16 are in a substantially horizontal position, thus being rotated away from the conveyor module 2, leaving the maximum possible room for sideways access to the conveyor module 2 for service and maintenance work or replacement of the complete conveyor module 2.

When, on the other hand, the lever arms 6 are in a substantially horizontal position and the conveyor system 1 is in an operational mode, the bars 16 are in a

substantially vertical position, function as supporting platforms onto which the short adjustable supporting legs 1 1 can rest in order to obtain resulting heights of the short adjustable supporting 1 1 legs and the respective supporting platforms 16

corresponding to the heights of the longer adjustable supporting legs 9 at the other side of the frame 10. Figs. 5a and 5b are a perspective view and an end view, respectively, of the system framework 4 of a conveyor system 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

This conveyor system 1 is provided with an end shelf 17 mounted on a couple of supporting bars 18 penetrating the system framework 4 of the conveyor system 1 in both ends extending through the system framework 4 in its longitudinal direction. On top of the system framework 4 are mounted a couple of U-shaped brackets 19, one at each end of the system framework 4. Each of these brackets 19 is arranged with the two bars forming the straight lines horizontally, the one above the other, and the lower bar mounted to the system framework 4. The upper bar 15 of each of the two brackets 19 are the supporting bars 15 for carrying the conveyor module 2 (not shown in these figures).

At their open ends, each of the brackets 19 are provided with a lock 20 for preventing a conveyor module 2 mounted on the supporting bars 15 from moving. In the illustrated embodiment, each of these locks 20 is provided with a handle 21 for tightening the lock 20.

Figs. 6a and 6b are a perspective view and an end view corresponding to figs. 5a and 5b, respectively, only with a conveyor module 2 mounted on the system framework 4 with the supporting bars 15 extending through the frame 10 of the conveyor module 2 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belt 3.

Finally, figs. 7a and 7b are a perspective view and an end view corresponding to figs. 6a and 6b, respectively, only with a covering 5 mounted on the system framework 4 adjacent to and surrounding the conveyor module 2.

In the shown embodiment, the covering 5 includes a tabletop in the form of a horizontal and upward facing surface surrounding completely the conveyor belt 3. List of reference numbers

1. Conveyor system

2. Conveyor module

3. Conveyor belt

4. System framework

5. Covering

6. Lever arm

7. Drive pulley

8. Idler pulley

9. Long adjustable supporting leg

10. Frame of conveyor module

1 1. Short adjustable supporting leg

12. Extendable arm for displacement of idler pulley

13. Lever system axle

14. Linear actuator for lever system

15. Supporting bar for conveyor module

16. Supporting platform for short adjustable supporting

17. End shelf

18. Supporting bar for end shelf

19. Bracket for conveyor module

20. Lock for conveyor module

21. Tightening handle for lock

DC Direction of conveyance of conveyor belt