Belt Drive Roller with Latching Web Element to Prevent Axial Slippage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction mechanisms in kitchen appliances, such as food processors, face issues with reliable guidance and maintenance due to slippage of traction devices, leading to impaired torque transmission and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A roller with a guide disk and a delimiting web element that includes latching mechanisms to securely attach and center the web element on the guide disk, preventing axial slippage and allowing for easy maintenance by facilitating the detachment and replacement of the traction device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional fixed roller design is used, then the structure is simple, but axial slippage of the traction device occurs leading to impaired torque transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is divided into separate components: a guide disk and a delimiting web element that can be attached to it. This segmentation allows the web element to provide axial limitation and prevent slippage while keeping the base guide disk simple. The web element can be independently manufactured and then assembled to the guide disk, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The delimiting web element is designed to be mounted onto the guide disk, with the web element effectively nesting around or against the guide disk structure. The latching elements integrate into the guide disk body, creating a compact nested arrangement that adds functionality without significantly increasing overall complexity.
2Ease of repair
If the delimiting web element is permanently fixed, then axial slippage is prevented, but maintenance and replacement of the traction device become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the delimiting web element and guide disk is made dynamically adjustable through resilient latching elements. These latching elements can be engaged to provide stable axial positioning during operation, but can be disengaged when maintenance is needed. This dynamic capability allows the system to switch between stable operation mode and maintenance mode, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient latching elements are designed to automatically engage and disengage through elastic deformation without requiring additional fastening mechanisms or complex assembly tools. The latching elements can be manually actuated to release, allowing the web element to be easily removed for maintenance, and will self-latch upon reassembly, providing both ease of repair and operational reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple fastening elements are used to attach the web element, then stable attachment is achieved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple latching elements are integrated into a single delimiting web element component rather than being separate parts. The web element incorporates several latching elements along its structure, all of which engage with corresponding counter-latching elements on the guide disk simultaneously. This merging approach provides stable attachment through multiple engagement points while maintaining simple manufacturing, as the latching elements are formed as integral parts of the web element.
Data Source
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AI summary
A roller is described which has a guide disc with a bearing area along its circumference for guiding a traction element. Furthermore, the roller includes a limiting web element that is mounted on a first end face of the guide disc, wherein the limiting web element has a web area that extends radially outwards beyond the radius of the bearing area. At least one locking element is provided on the limiting web element and at least one counter-locking element is provided on the guide disc, wherein the at least one locking element is designed to engage with at least one of the counter-locking elements when the limiting web element is mounted on the first end face of the guide disc.