Conveyor arrangements with multiple shaftless screws

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vertical conveyor (2) with double spirals (21, 31). The vertical conveyor (2) consists of a casing (20) and two shaftless spirals (21, 31). The spirals (21, 31) are driven each by a motor (24) via a gear and journal unit (25). The motors (24) are placed at the one short end of the vertical conveyor (2). The inlet (22) and outlet (23) of the conveyor (2) are disposed on opposite sides of the casing (20). The spirals (21, 31) are driven in opposite directions in such a manner that the material is “drawn” in at the inlet (22), while being “pressed” out at the outlet (23). This takes place thanks to the material being subjected to force components from the two spirals (21, 31) which act in the directions of the inlet (22) and the outlet (23), respectively. In a number of embodiments, a stationary shaft (33) is disposed within the spirals (21, 31) at least in the region of the inlet (22). Opposite the inlet (22), the casing (20) merges in wedge form (26) between the spirals (21, 31). The casing (20) is normally open between the two spirals (21, 31). The vertical conveyor (31) is often fed by a substantially horizontal conveyor (1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.