Alternating Blade Cylindrical Roller for Agricultural Conveyor Anti-Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machinery conveyor belts experience significant slippage and clogging due to accumulation of wet organic materials like silage and haylage, leading to premature wear and noise issues, with existing solutions like increased tension and cleaning being only partially effective.
Innovation Solution
The cylindrical roller features two portions with blades distributed over the periphery, alternately arranged to ensure regular rotation and reduce clogging, with angular offset blades providing distributed contact and improved airflow to prevent accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor belt tension is increased to reduce product buildup, then the product accumulation is reduced, but the conveyor belt and rollers experience premature wear and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is segmented into multiple discrete blades arranged around the circumference, creating distinct contact zones that prevent continuous product accumulation while maintaining adequate tension. The blades are spaced to allow product passage without requiring excessive belt tension.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller surface features localized blade elements with specific geometric properties (angle, height, spacing) optimized for product ejection. These localized features create varying contact characteristics around the roller perimeter, improving product release without uniformly increasing tension across the entire belt.
2Reliability
If bars are welded to the roller perimeter to reduce product sticking, then the product's tendency to stick is reduced, but the operation becomes jerky and noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The blades are arranged to create periodic contact zones around the roller circumference, with alternating contact and clearance zones. This periodic structure ensures continuous product ejection while maintaining smooth roller rotation, avoiding the jerky motion caused by welded bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade configuration allows dynamic interaction between the roller and conveyor belt, with blades making contact only when needed for product ejection. This dynamic contact pattern reduces continuous friction and vibration compared to rigid welded bars, lowering operational noise.
3Speed
If the roller uses a smooth surface to reduce friction, then the conveyor belt slippage increases, but product accumulation between roller and belt occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is divided into discrete blade segments rather than a continuous smooth surface. This segmentation creates localized high-friction zones at the blade edges for product ejection while maintaining lower friction in the gaps, preventing both slippage and accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blades have asymmetric geometry with different leading and trailing edge angles, optimized to grip product during rotation and release it at the appropriate position. This asymmetric design creates directional friction characteristics that prevent product buildup without causing belt slippage.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cylindrical roller (1, 7, 8) with a longitudinal axis (AL) comprising at least one support shaft (2) allowing the roller (1, 7, 8) to rotate about a longitudinal axis (AL) and at least one flange (3) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (AL). The invention is characterized in that the roller (1, 7, 8) comprises two portions (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) with a general cylindrical cross-section, each portion (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) comprising a plurality of blades (23) distributed around the periphery of the portion (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) and that two adjacent portions (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) are arranged alternately. The invention also relates to a displacement device (5) and an agricultural machine comprising such a cylindrical roller (1, 7, 8).