# US 6,357,577 B1 · Conveyor arrangements with multiple shaftless screws > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,357,577 B1 - Document ID: US6357577B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/381,732 - Filed: 1999-09-22 - Granted: 2002-03-19 - Earliest claimed: 1997-04-02 - Assignees: Spirac Engineering AB - Inventors: Richard Bruke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6357577B1 ## CPC - B65G 33/18: with multiple screws in parallel arrangements {, e.g. concentric} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## 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). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor device (2), comprising a casing (20) with an outlet (23, 28) at an upper end and an inlet (22) at a lower end, wherein the conveyor device (2) has substantially vertical orientation; and two shaftless spirals (21, 23) are disposed in parallel with one another within the casing (20) of the conveyor device (2), said conveyors being laterally spaced from one another to provide a space therebetween, said casing extending around said conveyors and including wedge-shaped portions projecting into said space between said conveyors to provide friction with the material being conveyed in a region between the conveyors, wherein the spirals (21, 31) rotate in opposite directions and the casing (20) has a polygonal cross-sectional configuration with straight sides and a plurality of corners. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spirals (21, 31) are driven by motors (24) disposed at one of the short sides (29, 30) of the casing (20); and the spirals (21, 31) are journalled in one end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inlet (22) and the outlet (23) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2) are disposed on opposite sides of the casing (20) in such a manner that the infeed discharge, respectively, are supported by the rotation of the spirals (21, 31). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wedge-shaped portion extends at least along a part of the extent of the spirals; the interior of the casing (20) is provided with friction-promoting means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing (20) is open in the region between the spirals (21, 31), at least in an infeed region; a stationary shaft (33) is disposed within each spiral (21, 31), each said shaft being extended at least along a distance corresponding to several thread turns past the inlet (22) of the casing (20); the inlet (22) is disposed to be centered in relation to the spirals (21, 31). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (13) from a first substantially horizontal conveyor (1) is connected to the inlet (22) of the casing (20) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2); the first substantially horizontal conveyor (1) is in the form of a screw conveyor with one or two shaftless spirals (11); the angle (15) between the substantially vertical conveyor (2) and the first substantially horizontal conveyor (1) is between 80° and 110°; and the angle between the substantially vertical conveyor (2) and the horizontal plane is between 75° and 90°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (23) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2) is disposed straight up in the extension of the casing (20). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (28) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2) is disposed laterally through an opening in a wall of the casing; and a special discharge device is provided for discharging material through the outlet (28). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outlet (23) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2) is connected to the inlet (42) of a second, substantially horizontal screw conveyor (3). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The conveyor device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outlet (28) of the substantially vertical conveyor (2) is connected to the inlet (52) of a second, substantially vertical conveyor (4) which has two shaftless spirals (51, 53) disposed in parallel in a casing (50).