Automatic Drive Belt Biasing Device for Live Roller Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Powered roller conveyors face issues with improper drive belt tension, leading to increased wear, decreased driving force, and reduced working life due to inconsistent frictional contact between the drive belt and rollers.
Innovation Solution
An automatic drive belt biasing device that uses a spring and pivot arm assembly to adjust the drive belt tension and position, ensuring consistent frictional contact by elongating or shortening the spring in response to changes in the drive belt's position, thereby maintaining adequate contact with the rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manually adjustable belt tensioners are used, then belt position can be adjusted, but belt tension becomes inconsistent leading to increased wear and decreased driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing device automatically adjusts and maintains drive belt tension through a spring-loaded mechanism with pivot arm and guide wheel, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. The device self-regulates tension by allowing the pivot arm to rotate and the spring to compress or extend based on belt position changes, thereby maintaining consistent frictional contact with the rollers.
2Reliability
If drive belt tension is too high, then frictional contact is improved, but belt wear increases and working life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing device employs a dynamic spring-loaded mechanism that automatically adjusts drive belt tension based on real-time conditions. The spring compression and extension allow the system to maintain optimal frictional contact without applying excessive constant force, thereby preventing belt wear while ensuring consistent driving force transmission to the rollers.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If drive belt tension is too low, then belt wear decreases, but driving force is insufficient and roller drive becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing device incorporates a feedback mechanism where the pivot arm rotates in response to changes in drive belt position or tension. This rotation compresses or extends the spring, which automatically adjusts the biasing force applied to the drive belt, ensuring consistent frictional contact with the rollers and maintaining adequate driving force without excessive tension.
4Reliability
If manual tension adjustment is performed frequently, then belt tension can be maintained, but maintenance time and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic biasing device eliminates the need for frequent manual tension adjustments by continuously self-regulating drive belt tension through its spring-loaded mechanism. The pivot arm and guide wheel assembly automatically compensates for belt stretch, wear, and position changes, thereby maintaining reliable frictional contact without requiring operator intervention and reducing maintenance downtime.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The automatic biasing device reduces wear and fatigue in the drive belt, decreases maintenance needs, and ensures consistent driving force by automatically adjusting tension and position, extending the life of the drive belt and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The spring is operable to actuate the pivot arm, wherein the actuation raises and lowers the drive belt guide wheel toward or away from the path of the drive belt. When the drive belt pushes towards the guide wheel, the spring is elongated and the biasing force increases.
Implementation Method 2
An endless drive element or member, such as a v-belt, a poly-v belt, a round belt, or a double v-belt, is automatically biased into frictional engagement with the rollers to drive the rollers.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic belt biasing device is provided for biasing a drive belt into frictional contact with rollers of a conveyor. The belt biasing device maintains a drive belt in contact with rollers of a live roller conveyor to provide drive for the rollers to propel items or packages along the conveyor. A spring attached to a pivot arm or pair of scissoring pivot arms adjusts a biasing force applied by guide wheels of the belt biasing device to the drive belt due to changes in drive belt tension. The belt biasing device may be selectively adjustable based on required roller pitch distances. The belt biasing device is pivotably coupled to the roller conveyor allowing the guide wheels to apply equal pressure to the drive belt while allowing the pivot arms to actuate and increase or decrease the biasing force provided by the belt biasing device.