The invention relates to a vibrating conveyor.

Vibrating conveyors are usually driven by linear vibrators and convey material on the upper side through the vibrations generated.

Since the vibrating conveyors are usually arranged above the device for further processing of the transported material, they are regularly arranged comparatively high up in the construction in the corresponding systems. Since the vibrating conveyor is often switched on and switched off during regular operation in order to regulate the material flow, the vibrating conveyor undergoes all vibrations below the operating frequency during these processes. Due to the relatively high arrangement within the overall construction, this results in a load on the supporting structure, since at least some of the natural frequencies of the supporting structure are also passed through each time it is switched on or off. This in turn means that the supporting structure must be designed to be sufficiently stable in order to withstand these loads over the long term, which, however, requires comparatively complex and expensive supporting structures.

Sieving systems with vibration exciters arranged in groups are known from DE 10 2017 218 371 B3 and DE 10 2018 205 997 A1. This arrangement in groups enables the operation of the sieving device to be highly adaptable, which is not possible with the classic linear vibrators, elliptical vibrators or circular vibrators. This group of sieving devices thus enables completely new control schemes.

A method for setting and regulating at least one vibration mode of a sieving device is known from DE 10 2019 204 845 B3.

A method for controlling and regulating a sieving device is known from DE 10 2019 214 864 B3.

Various control methods for sieving systems with vibration exciters arranged in groups are known from DE 10 2021 204 377, DE 10 2021 204 388, DE 10 2021 204 390, DE 10 2021 204 391 , DE 10 2021 204 392, DE 10 2021 204 393, DE 10 2021 204 394 and DE 10 2021 204 396, subsequently published.

Further control methods for sieving systems with vibration exciters arranged in groups are known from DE 10 2021 206 530, DE 10 2021 206 531 , DE 10 2021 206 532 and DE 10 2021 206 533, subsequently published.

The object of the invention is to provide a vibrating conveyor which represents a low load for the supporting structure and thus enables a lighter and more economical construction of the supporting structure.

This object is achieved by a vibrating conveyor with the features specified in claim 1 . Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

The vibrating conveyor according to the invention has at least two clusters of imbalance exciter units. Each cluster has at least two imbalance exciter units. Furthermore, each cluster is designed via a coupling point for impinging the vibrating conveyor with vibrations.

The effect is that the at least two imbalance exciter units of a cluster generate a common vibration through superimposition, which is coupled into the vibrating conveyor through the coupling point Through the targeted control of the imbalance exciter units, in particular the phase offset <p between the imbalance exciter units, it is possible to adapt the excitation thus impressed on the vibrating conveyor in a targeted manner.

While this principle is already known for sieves, the solution for a vibrating conveyor, where only a simple transport over a flat surface is to be achieved, seems unnecessary. The advantage, however, is that the transport vector for the material to be conveyed can be set in a targeted manner and the transport speed can thus be regulated. As a result, the amount of transported material can not only be controlled by a binary switching on and switching off. This in turn means that the vibrating conveyor can be operated continuously, and there is no need for constant starting up and shutting down. This reduces the load on the supporting structure, which is why the supporting structure that supports a vibrating conveyor according to the invention can be made significantly simpler and lighter.

In a further embodiment of the invention is a system, wherein the system has at least one vibrating conveyor according to the invention and a bunker. The bunker is located above the vibrating conveyor. This allows material from the bunker to be applied to the vibrating conveyor and transported by means of the vibrating conveyor. The vibrating conveyor has a vibrating conveyor frame. The vibrating conveyor frame is the supporting construction, which is theoretically rigid. The vibrating conveyor frame is rigidly connected to the bunker. Due to this rigid connection, a vibration, which is transmitted from the excitation of the vibrating conveyor to the vibrating conveyor frame, is also influenced by the mass of the bunker. This achieves a reduction in the vibration emitted to a supporting structure.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for operating a vibrating conveyor according to the invention. The method is characterised in that at least two imbalance exciter units of each cluster are operated in opposite directions. The two imbalance exciter units are particularly preferably operated at the same frequency. In particular, all imbalance exciter units of the vibrating conveyor are operated at the same frequency. By operating in opposite directions at the same frequency, a linear vibrator is simulated, wherein the angle of the effective force vector can be set in a targeted manner via the phase offset <p between the imbalance exciter units of a cluster. And by setting this angle, the transport speed of the material over the vibrating conveyor is set. As a result, the material flow can be set in a targeted manner and the vibrating conveyor does not have to be constantly switched on and switched off.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the phase offset <p between the imbalance exciter units within a cluster is controlled such that the resulting force vector has an angle between 0° and 45° relative to the vertical. Positive values of the angle are in the direction of transport of the vibrating conveyor, and thus lead to the material being transported over the vibrating conveyor. At angles greater than 45°, a decrease in transport is to be expected due to the flattening ballistic trajectory. In a further embodiment of the invention, the phase offset <p between the imbalance exciter units is adapted to the quantity of material to be conveyed in such a way that the material is transported continuously and the vibrating conveyor is prevented from being switched off.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the phase offset <p between the imbalance exciter units within a cluster is 0°, as a result of which a force input into the bunker is achieved. The force input is applied via the material flow coming out of the bunker and can be used to loosen blockages, adhesions or the like of the material in the bunker.

The vibrating conveyor according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1 System

Fig. 2 First mode of operation

Fig. 3 Second mode of operation

In Fig. 1 a system consisting of a vibrating conveyor 10 and a bunker 30. The material is applied from the bunker 30 via the material feed 40 to the vibrating conveyor 10 and leaves the vibrating conveyor 10 at the material discharge 50. The vibrating conveyor is made to vibrate by four clusters 60, 70, 80, 90, each consisting of two imbalance exciter units II, and transports the material from the material feed 40 to the material discharge 50.

Fig. 2 shows a first mode of operation based on one of the clusters. The two imbalance exciter units II rotate in opposite directions but have the same frequency. The phase offset <p is 90°. The resulting force vector thus vibrates linearly at an angle of 45°. This first mode of operation can be selected, for example, for fast material transport.

In Fig. 3 a second mode of operation is shown. In this case, the phase offset cp is 0°. The resulting force vector also has an angle of 0°, i.e. it is arranged vertically. This second mode of operation is selected, for example, to introduce energy into the bunker 30 in order to clean it or to stop the material transport. In order to control the material transport in a targeted manner, any angle between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation can be set, so that the material transport can be adapted to the requirement in a targeted manner. Constant switching on and switching off is avoided.

Reference numerals

10 vibrating conveyor

30 bunker

40 material feed

50 material discharge

60 first cluster

70 second cluster

80 third cluster

90 fourth cluster

11 imbalance exciter unit