IT202100005891A1 - CONVEYOR DEVICE IN MACHINE TOOL PROCESSING WASTE EVACUATION SYSTEMS AND EVACUATION SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SAID CONVEYOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: CONVEYOR DEVICE IN MACHINE TOOL PROCESSING WASTE EVACUATION SYSTEMS AND EVACUATION SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SAID CONVEYOR DEVICE

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of systems for evacuating the processing scraps produced by machine tools during their operation. In particular, the present invention relates to systems for filtering said waste and more. in particular to the conveying systems of said rejects in said filtration systems.

STATE OF ART

? known in the operation of machine tools, such as for example grinding machines, lathes, etc., the production of solid waste materials, such as, for example, shavings and/or particles and/or dust removed by corresponding tools (milling cutters, abrasive discs, etc.). Waste material from manufacturing? typically consisting of said solid waste materials and liquids coming directly from processing, such as cooling and/or lubricating liquids/oils (lubricoolant liquids).

At said machine tools, evacuation systems provided with conveyor systems are used to receive said waste material and treat it for its recovery or disposal. To allow the recovery or disposal of the waste material, the systems of the known type provide for a phase of separation of the solid waste material from the liquid one through suitable filtration, possibly through multiple? successive stages of filters for a gradual filtration from coarse to pi? end. In particular, the purpose of this separation? that of recovering the coolant liquid in order to be reused in subsequent processes.

Known evacuation systems comprise an articulated mesh conveyor belt which is received inside a liquid collection tank.

The conveyor belt? typically shaped to receive on its upper surface the processing waste, i.e. the most solid waste? liquid waste, coming from machine tools.

The coarse part of the processing remains on the upper surface of the belt and is conveyed towards a first collection/evacuation point. The remaining part of the waste, i.e. the fine solid waste more? the liquid waste passes through the meshes of the conveyor belt and the fine solid waste is deposited below the conveyor belt at the bottom of the tank.

Known systems are also provided with tank bottom cleaning systems, or dredging systems, in which suitable mobile blades scrape the tank bottom and transport the fine waste towards a corresponding collection/evacuation point.

Suitable pumping systems are also associated with the tank, typically suction pumps, which suck up the liquid waste present in the tank and convey it towards the outside. Before its evacuation the liquid ? made preferably to go through one or more? unit? filter which retain any further solid residues. The liquid what? filtered ? possibly preferably reusable.

The evacuation systems of the known type however have some drawbacks.

A first drawback of known systems? consisting of the difficulty to efficiently clean the bottom of the tank by means of said mobile blades. The cleaning efficiency? in fact closely linked to the ability? to scrape the bottom of the tank using these mobile blades.

Several factors can influence this capacity, such as non-perfect adherence due to the geometry of the blade and/or the bottom, caused for example by construction tolerances and/or by the wear of the elements in contact.

Another drawback of known systems? constituted by the fact that the? inefficient cleaning of the bottom determines the presence of residues inside the liquid which involves the need? of further filtration before its final expulsion, with consequent necessary periodic cleaning and/or maintenance operations of the unit? of filtrations used.

Another drawback of known systems? made up of the complexity construction of the dredging systems that act on the bottom of the tank.

The main purpose of the present invention ? therefore that of solving or at least partially obviating the drawbacks which characterize the solutions known in the state of the art.

? a main object of the present invention is to propose a system which allows a better filtration efficiency with respect to systems of the known type.

? another object of the present invention is to propose a system which allows to simplify maintenance and/or repair interventions with respect to systems of the known type.

? a further object of the present invention is to propose a system which presents a complexity? lower construction than known systems.

? a further object of the present invention is to increase the reliability? of known systems.

EXPOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved thanks to the characteristics of the invention set forth in the independent claims 1 and 14. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

In particular, in a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides a conveyor device for a system for evacuating machine tool processing scraps, said processing scraps comprising first solid parts, second solid parts and a liquid part in which said first parts solids have a larger dimension than said second solid parts, said conveyor device comprising a conveyor belt which winds in a loop between at least one first zone and a second zone, said conveyor belt defining an upper surface movable along a first direction of advance between said first zone and said second zone and a lower surface movable along a second return direction, opposite to said first forward direction, between said second zone and said first zone, said upper surface being suitable for receiving and moving said first solid parts of said scraps of processing towards a first evacuation area, wherein said conveyor device comprises:

- collection means for said second solid parts of said processing scraps which fall from said upper surface of said conveyor belt, said collection means being arranged between said upper surface and said lower surface of said conveyor belt:

- material handling means for handling towards a second evacuation zone said second solid parts collected by said collection means.

Preferably, the conveyor belt ? a conveyor belt shaped to block the passage of the first solid parts of the processing waste and to allow the passage of the liquid part and the second solid parts of the processing waste, in which the conveyor belt is preferably? a mesh conveyor belt.

In a preferred embodiment, the collection means comprise a plate which extends longitudinally in a portion comprised between the first zone and the second zone of the conveyor belt.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plate ? a closed plate and comprises at least one area permeable to the liquid part of the processing waste.

Preferably, the collection means comprise at least one filtering zone able to allow the passage of the liquid part of the processing scraps and to retain the second solid parts of the processing scraps.

In a preferred embodiment, said at least one filtering zone comprises a self-cleaning filter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the material handling means comprise one or more? pallets integral with the conveyor belt that protrude from the conveyor belt towards the collection means.

Preferably, said one or more? pallets extend throughout the space defined between the upper surface of the conveyor belt and the collection means.

In a preferred embodiment, called one or more? pallets slide on the collection means when the conveyor belt is moved.

According to a preferred embodiment, the conveying device also comprises thrust means for the first solid parts of the processing waste, said thrust means being integral with the conveyor belt and protruding externally from the conveyor belt.

Preferably, the pushing means comprise one or more? palettes.

In a preferred embodiment, the conveying device comprises evacuation means for the second solid parts at the second evacuation zone.

According to a preferred embodiment, the discharge means comprise a collection tank for the second solid parts and a screw arranged in the collection tank for moving the second solid parts towards a discharge outlet for the second discharge zone.

In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a system for evacuating machine tool processing scraps, said processing scraps comprising first solid parts, second solid parts and a liquid part in which said first solid parts have a larger size than said second solid parts, said plant comprising:

- a conveyor device;

- a first evacuation zone adapted to receive said first solid parts and a second evacuation zone adapted to receive said second solid parts;

- a compartment adapted to receive said conveyor device and provided with at least one outlet for the evacuation of said liquid part of said processing scraps;

in which said conveyor device ? made as described above.

Preferably, the plant comprises means for conveying the liquid part of the processing waste towards said at least one outlet.

In a preferred embodiment, the conveying means comprise a suction system, preferably comprising suction pumps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the attached tables, of which:

- Figure 1: shows in isometric view a waste evacuation plant equipped with a conveyor device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2: shows the conveyor device of figure 1 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 3: shows an enlarged detail of figure 2; - Figure 4: illustrates the cleaning device of figure 2 with some elements removed;

- Figure 5: shows an enlarged detail of figure 4; - Figure 6: shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning device of figure 2;

- Figure 7: illustrates a first enlarged detail in a central area of the cleaning device of figure 6;

- Figure 8: shows a second detail enlarged in the extremity area? left of the cleaning device of figure 6;

- Figure 9: shows a third detail enlarged in the extremity area? right of figure 6;

- Figure 10: shows a top view of a detail of figure 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 100 indicates as a whole a system for evacuating the processing waste S of machine tools and the reference numeral 10 indicates a conveyor device according to the present invention.

By processing waste S is meant in the context of the present invention, preferably, the result of waste during the operation of machine tools, such as for example grinding machines, lathes, etc., consisting of a solid part Ss, for example shavings and/or particles and/or dust removed by corresponding tools (milling cutters, abrasive discs, etc.), and a liquid part Sl coming directly from machining, such as cooling and/or lubrication liquids/oils.

Pi? in particular, the solid part Ss comprises first solid parts Ss1 and second solid parts Ss2 wherein the first solid parts Ss1 have a larger size than the second solid parts Ss2, as better described below.

The evacuation system 100 according to the invention ? advantageously placed near? of one or more machine tools (not shown in the figures) for receiving said processing waste S. The evacuation plant 100 has the function of separating the liquid part S1 of the processing waste S from the solid ones Ss1 and Ss2.

The evacuation system 100 therefore preferably comprises an inlet area 102 suitable for receiving the processing waste S, a first evacuation zone 104 for the first solid parts Ss1, a second evacuation zone 105 for the second solid parts Ss2 and an outlet 106 for the liquid part Sl of said processing waste S.

The exit 106 for the liquid part Sl ? preferably connected to a hydraulic circuit for disposal or further treatment and/or reuse.

At the bottom of the first evacuation zone 104 and the second evacuation zone 105, respective containers 204, 205 are preferably positioned for receiving the first solid parts Ss1 and the second solid parts Ss2. Alternatively, can a single collection container must be provided for both solid parts Ss1, Ss2.

The evacuation system 100 preferably comprises a compartment 120, or collection tank, which identifies said inlet area 102 for the entry of said processing waste S and said outlet 106 for the evacuation of said liquid part Sl.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the evacuation system 100 preferably comprises said conveyor device 10 which is positioned at least partially inside the tank 120.

The conveyor device 10 according to the present invention represents the part of the plant assigned to separate the solid parts Ss1, Ss2 of the processing scraps S from the liquid part Sl and to transport the solid parts Ss1, Ss2 so? separated towards the respective evacuation zones 104, 105.

The liquid part S1, on the other hand, descends downwards under the conveyor device 10 and is received in the collection tank 120.

To convey the liquid part Sl of the processing waste S from the collection tank 120 to the outlet 106, the plant 100 preferably comprises conveying means 110. These conveying means 110 preferably comprise one or more? suction pumps 112. The suction pumps 112 are preferably positioned at the outlet 106.

In a preferred embodiment, the outlet 106 substantially corresponds with the outlet of said one or more? suction pumps 112. Pu? furthermore, preferably, a further outlet 109 may be provided, for example in the form of a sleeve, which can? be used, for example, as an emergency exit or for maintenance work.

The conveyor device 10 according to the invention preferably comprises a conveyor belt 12 which winds in a loop between at least a first zone 14 and a second zone 16.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the second zone 16 is in a raised position with respect to the first zone 14 and the conveyor belt 12 preferably comprises an end part 18 inclined upwards to define a ramp up to the second raised zone 16.

In preferred embodiments, not shown, the conveyor belt could take on different configurations, for example of the rectilinear type or with several? ramps.

The conveyor device 10 preferably comprises suitable drive means, not shown and per se? known type, for moving the conveyor belt 12.

The conveyor belt 12 defines an upper surface 20 movable along a first direction of advance D1 between the first zone 14 and the second zone 16 and a lower surface 22 movable along a second return direction D2, opposite to the first direction of advance D1, between the second zone 16 and the first zone 14.

The upper surface 20 ? suitable for receiving and moving the first solid parts Ss1 of the processing waste S towards the first evacuation zone 104, as better described hereinafter.

Conveyor 12 ? preferably positioned in such a way that the processing waste S can be discharged from the inlet area 102 of the plant 100 onto the upper surface 20 of the conveyor belt 12.

Conveyor 12 ? preferably shaped to block the passage of the first solid parts Ss1 of the processing waste S and to allow the passage of the liquid part Sl and of the second solid parts Ss2 of the processing waste S.

Pi? preferably, the conveyor belt 12 ? a mesh conveyor belt defined by sections of mesh 12a articulated next to each other to define the loop structure of the belt 12.

The liquid part Sl and the second solid parts Ss2 preferably pass laterally to said stretches of mesh 12a and through the gap present between the articulations of adjacent stretches of mesh 12a.

In preferred embodiments, the conveyor belt could be made in a different way, and as known in the field, for example a rubber belt or the like.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the conveying device 10 comprises means 30 for collecting the second solid parts Ss2 of the processing waste S which fall from the upper surface 20 of the conveyor belt 12. The collecting means 30 are preferably arranged between the upper surface 20 and the lower surface 22 of the conveyor belt 12, as better visible in figures 7, 8 and 9.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the collection means 30 comprise a plate 32 which extends longitudinally between the first zone 14 and the second zone 16 of the conveyor belt 12, as can be seen in particular in figure 4 where the conveyor device 10? shown with conveyor belt 12 removed.

Plate 32 ? preferably a closed plate and comprises at least one permeable zone 34 suitable for allowing the passage of a liquid, preferably the passage of the liquid part Sl of the processing waste S coming from the conveyor belt 12.

Pi? preferably, the permeable zone 34 comprises a filtering zone 34 suitable for allowing the passage of the liquid part Sl of the processing scraps S and to retain the second solid parts Ss2 of the processing scraps.

According to a preferred embodiment, the filtering area 34 comprises a self-cleaning filter. The self-cleaning filter preferably comprises a grate defined by rods placed side by side which create calibrated passages which retain the solid parts of larger particle size than the light between the rods of the grate itself.

In embodiment variants, the plate can be made in a different way and shaped to have at least one permeable area suitable for allowing the passage of the liquid part Sl of the processing waste S and retaining the second solid parts Ss2, such as for example a perforated plate or a mesh grid.

As described above, therefore, when the processing waste S is loaded onto the conveyor belt 12, the first solid parts Ss1 are retained above the conveyor belt 12 itself, the second solid parts Ss2 together with the liquid Sl descend towards the plate 32 which holds the second solid parts Ss2 and finally the liquid part Sl descends into the collection tank 120 passing through the filtering zone 34.

The liquid part Sl fills the tank 120, starting from its bottom 122, to then be conveyed to the outlet 106 through the action of the suction pumps 112.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid part Sl present in the tank 120 is conveyed directly to the outlet 106 through the action of the suction pumps 112, in particular if the liquid part Sl present in the tank 120 has a sufficient consequent degree of cleanliness, advantageously, by the corresponding degree of filtration offered by the filtering area 34, or self-cleaning filter 34.

In preferred embodiments, not shown, upstream and/or downstream of the outlet 106, however, one or more outlets can be provided. unit? filtration systems for further filtration of the liquid part before its final evacuation.

The first solid parts Ss1 retained above the conveyor belt 12 are carried towards the first evacuation area 104 thanks to the movement of the conveyor belt 12 along the first direction of advance D1.

At the first evacuation area 104, the first solid parts Ss1 are finally preferably dropped into the respective container 204.

To facilitate the movement of the first solid parts Ss1 above the conveyor belt 12, the conveyor device 10 preferably comprises thrust means 40 which interact with the first solid parts Ss1. Said thrusting means 40 are preferably integral with the conveyor belt 12 and protrude externally from the conveyor belt 12 itself.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the thrust means 40 comprise a plurality of of pallets 42 arranged, preferably, equally distributed on the outer surface of the conveyor belt 12.

Said pallets 42 preferably have an L shape and advantageously extend substantially over the entire width of the conveyor belt 12, as can be seen in the detail of figure 3, to guarantee a better capacity. of thrust.

The thrust effect of these blades 42 is particularly advantageous in correspondence with the inclined end part 18 (ramp) of the conveyor belt 12 where the first solid parts Ss1 would tend to fall/slide backwards. It should be noted that the inclined end part 18 (ramp) of the conveyor belt 12 favors the dripping of the liquid part Sl from the first solid parts Ss1 of the waste S.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the conveyor device 10 comprises material handling means 50 for handling the second solid parts Ss2 collected by the collection means 30 towards the second evacuation zone 105.

The material handling means 50 comprises one or more? pallets 52 integral with the conveyor belt 12 and which protrude from the conveyor belt 12 towards the collection means 30. These pallets 52 preferably extend throughout the space defined between the upper surface 20 of the conveyor belt 12 and the collection means 30. More? preferably, the blades 52 slide on the collection means 30 when the conveyor belt 12 is moved.

These blades 52 are preferably L-shaped and advantageously extend substantially over the whole width of the conveyor belt 12 to ensure a greater movement area of the second solid parts Ss2 and therefore a greater movement capacity/efficiency.

The vanes 52 also preferably, during their movement, brush and clean the upper surface of the self-cleaning filter 34 on which second solid parts Ss2 accumulate.

At the second evacuation area 105 evacuation means 60 are preferably provided for the second solid parts Ss2, as better illustrated in figures 9 and 10. The evacuation means 60 preferably comprise a collection tank 62 for the second solid parts Ss2 and a screw 64 arranged in the collection tank 62 for moving the second solid parts Ss2 towards an evacuation outlet 66.

From the evacuation outlet 66 the second solid parts Ss2 are preferably made to fall into the respective container 205.

As described above, therefore, when the second solid parts Ss2 are collected by the plate 32, they are transported by the pallets 52 until they fall onto the collection tank 62 to then be deposited in the container 205 through the screw 64.

From what has been described above, it is evident how the conveyor device of the invention allows to improve the filtration efficiency since the means of collection in fact avoid the deposit on the bottom of the tank of processing waste avoiding the need? to use complex dredging systems used in known systems.

The maintenance and/or repair interventions required by dredging systems of the known type are therefore reduced/eliminated, consequently increasing the reliability? of the system.

From what was said? it is clear that the new conveyor device and the new evacuation system allow to achieve the predetermined purposes.

However, it is understood that what described above has an exemplary and non-limiting value, therefore any variants of detail which may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons, are considered from now on to fall within the same protective scope defined by the claims set out below.

Claims (16)

1. Conveyor device (10) for an evacuation system (100) of processing waste (S) of machine tools, said processing waste (S) comprising first solid parts (Ss1), second solid parts (Ss2) and a part liquid (Sl) in which said first solid parts (Ss1) have a size greater than said second solid parts (Ss2), said conveyor device (10) comprising a conveyor belt (12) which winds in a loop between at least one first zone (14 ) and a second area (16), called conveyor belt (12) defining an upper surface (20) movable along a first direction of advance (D1) between said first area (14) and said second area (16) and a lower surface (22) movable along a second return direction (D2), opposite to said first direction of advance (D1), between said second area (16) and said first area (14), said upper surface (20) being able to receive and moving said first solid parts (Ss1) of said processing waste (S) towards a first evacuation area (104), said conveyor device (10) being characterized in that it comprises: - collection means (30) of said second solid parts (Ss2) of said processing waste (S) which fall from said upper surface (20) of said conveyor belt (12), said collection means (30) being arranged between said upper surface (20) and said lower surface (22) of said conveyor belt (12): - material handling means (50) for handling said second solid parts (Ss2) collected by said collection means (30) towards a second evacuation zone (105). 2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveyor belt (12) is a conveyor belt (12) shaped to block the passage of said first solid parts (Ss1) of said processing waste (S) and to allow the passage of said liquid part (Sl) and of said second solid parts (Ss2) of said processing waste (S), wherein preferably said conveyor belt (12) ? a mesh conveyor belt (12). 3. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said collection means (30) comprise a plate (32) which extends longitudinally in a portion comprised between said first zone (14) and said second zone ( 16) of said conveyor belt (12). 4. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that said plate (32) is a closed plate and comprises at least one area (34) permeable to said liquid part (S1) of said processing scraps (S). 5. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said collection means (30) comprise at least one filtering zone (34) able to allow the passage of said liquid part (Sl) of said processing waste ( S) and to retain said second solid parts (Ss2) of said processing scraps (S). 6. Device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least one filtering zone (34) comprises a self-cleaning filter (34). 7. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said material handling means (50) comprise one or more? pallets (52) integral with said conveyor belt (12) which protrude from said conveyor belt (12) towards said collection means (30). 8. Device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that it dictates one or more? pallets (52) extend throughout the space defined between said upper surface (20) of said conveyor belt (12) and said collection means (30). 9. Device (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it dictates one or more? pallets (52) slide on said collection means (30) when said conveyor belt (12) is moved. 10. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises thrust means (40) of said first solid parts (Ss1) of said processing waste (S), said thrust means (40 ) being integral with said conveyor belt (12) and protruding externally from said conveyor belt (12). 11. Device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that said thrust means (40) comprise one or more? palettes (42). 12. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises evacuation means (60) for said second solid parts (Ss2) in correspondence with said second evacuation zone (105). 13. Device (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that said evacuation means (60) comprise a collection tank (62) for said second solid parts (Ss2) and a screw (64) disposed in said collection tank (62) for moving said second solid parts (Ss2) towards an evacuation outlet (66) for said second evacuation zone (105). 14. Evacuation plant (100) for processing waste (S) of machine tools, said processing waste (S) comprising first solid parts (Ss1), second solid parts (Ss2) and a liquid part (Sl) in which said first solid parts (Ss1) have a larger size than said second solid parts (Ss2), said plant (100) comprising: - a conveyor device (10); - a first evacuation zone (104) adapted to receive said first solid parts (Ss1) and a second evacuation zone (105) adapted to receive said second solid parts (Ss2); - a compartment (120) adapted to receive said conveyor device (10) and provided with at least one outlet (106) for the evacuation of said liquid part (S1) of said processing scraps (S); characterized in that said conveyor device (10) ? made according to any one of the preceding claims. 15. Plant (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises means (110) for conveying said liquid part (S1) of said processing waste (S) towards said at least one outlet (106). 16. Plant (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that said conveying means (110) comprise a suction system, preferably comprising suction pumps (112).