Belt Conveyor Drive Segmentation for Quick Belt Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing belt conveyor systems face difficulties in replacing the conveyor belt efficiently due to the need to disassemble and reassemble multiple components, leading to high costs and time consumption.

Innovation Solution

A belt conveyor design where the drive device is mounted separately from the deflection shaft, allowing the conveyor belt to be replaced by disassembling only the deflection shaft, while the drive device remains intact, and a toothed or V-belt system with tension members that can be easily connected and disconnected to the conveyor belt, enabling quick and cost-effective replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the drive device is integrated with the deflection shaft, then the structural compactness is improved, but the conveyor belt replacement becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidconveyor belt replacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The belt conveyor system is divided into separate functional modules: the drive device (with drive roller) and the deflection shaft are independent from each other. This segmentation allows the conveyor belt to be replaced by removing only the deflection shaft while the drive device remains in place, significantly reducing replacement time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If the conveyor belt is made endless, then the continuous operation is improved, but the replacement process becomes more complex requiring disassembly of multiple parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidreplacement process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection shaft is extracted as a separate removable component from the overall system. This allows the endless conveyor belt to remain installed and functional while the deflection shaft is easily removed and reinstalled for belt replacement, avoiding the need to disassemble the entire system or multiple fixed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of repair

If the drive device is mounted separately from the deflection shaft, then the conveyor belt replacement becomes easier, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor belt replacement easeVSAvoiddevice structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While the drive device and deflection shaft are separate, they are combined through the common conveyor belt that wraps around both components. This merging through the belt provides a compact overall structure that is easy to maintain - the belt tensions itself between the two components and can be replaced by simply removing the deflection shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Facilitates quick and cost-effective conveyor belt replacement without disassembling the drive device, reduces assembly time and costs, and compensates for speed differences in the conveyor belt's width direction through independently rotating roller bodies, ensuring smooth operation even with high tolerances.

Implementation Method 1

a deflection shaft (30) having a multiplicity of roller bodies (32) which are arranged next to one another and can be rotated independently of one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIndependent rotation:

Data Source

PatentEP2276685B1Belt conveyor
Publication Date: 2013.12.11 INTERROLL HLDG
  • EP2276685B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2276685B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2276685B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a belt conveyor which comprises a conveyor belt (20) that is guided around at least one return shaft (30), thereby forming an upper strand and a lower strand, and a drive device for moving the conveyor belt (20), characterized in that the drive device is preferably arranged in a separate manner from the return shaft (30) and drives the conveyor belt (20) in the area of a return between upper strand and lower strand. The drive device preferably comprises a toothed belt (40) or V-belt arranged at an edge section of the conveyor belt (20) and a rotationally drivable toothed wheel (60) or a V-belt disk. The toothed belt (40) or V-belt is connected or connectible, preferably in a releasable manner, to the conveyor belt (20).