Adjustable Conveyor Chain Guide Structure for Thickness Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional guide structures for article conveyors are costly and complex to adapt to chains with different thicknesses, requiring multiple operators and complex machining, limiting their ability to accommodate wide thickness ranges.

Innovation Solution

A guide structure with adjustable accompanying means featuring a contact surface with a rounded profile and rotatable configuration, allowing for angular position adjustment and fixing, which simplifies the adjustment process and reduces machining complexity by using circular holes instead of elongated openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If vertical elongated openings are used to adjust roller position for different chain thicknesses, then adaptability to chains with varying thicknesses is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to complex machining requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to chains with varying thicknessesVSAvoidcomplexity of guide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure employs adjustable accompanying means that can be repositioned along the guide channel to accommodate different chain thicknesses. The accompanying means includes a contact surface with a rounded profile that can be adjusted to different angular positions, allowing dynamic adaptation to various chain dimensions without requiring complex machining of the guide structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If vertical elongated openings are used for adjusting roller position, then adaptability to different chain thicknesses is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to multiple petitioning and complex machining at both side walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to chains with varying thicknessesVSAvoidease of manufacture of guide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is divided into functional segments: the guide channel, the accompanying means with contact surface, and the adjusting means. This segmentation allows the accompanying means to be independently adjusted along the guide channel using simple circular holes in the side walls, avoiding the need for complex machining of elongated openings while maintaining adaptability to different chain thicknesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple operators are used to adjust roller position, then adjustment precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to requiring at least two operators and potentially a third for checking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of roller position adjustmentVSAvoidtime required for adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting means is designed to enable single-operator adjustment of the accompanying means along the guide channel. The mechanism allows one operator to independently position the accompanying means at the correct angular position for different chain thicknesses, eliminating the need for multiple operators and reducing adjustment time while maintaining sufficient precision through the rounded contact surface geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of manufacture

If vertical elongated openings with reduced lengths are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to chains with wide thickness ranges is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufacture of guide structureVSAvoidrange of chain thicknesses that can be accommodated

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adjusting roller position vertically along elongated openings, the invention uses angular adjustment of the accompanying means around the guide channel. The contact surface with its rounded profile can be positioned at different angular locations, effectively adding a rotational dimension to the adjustment mechanism. This allows accommodation of wide chain thickness ranges while using simple circular holes for manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10577185B2Guide structure for chains for an article conveyer

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 REXNORD FLATTOP EURO SRL

AI summary

A guide structure for a chain for an article conveyor is disclosed. The guide structure includes a guide for guiding the chain along a direction of movement of the chain and having at least two rails each delimiting a respective guide channel for at least partly accommodating the chain. An accompanying means for supporting the chain and accompanying it into the guide channel, wherein the accompanying means comprises a contact surface adapted to be in contact with the chain while the chain is accompanied into the guide channel. A fixing means for keeping the accompanying means in fixed position with respect to the guide. And, an adjusting means for adjusting a position of the accompanying means generally orthogonal to the direction of movement of the chain to adjust the angular position of the accompanying means with respect to the guide in at least a first and a second angular positions.