Chain Link Conveyor Drivers for Small Parts Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems, such as belt conveyors and air conveyors, are inadequate for conveying small parts like bottle caps over steep inclines due to increased energy requirements, abrasion, and lack of hygiene, while clamping jaw conveyors risk damaging sensitive parts. Existing conveyor chains struggle to adjust for different types and sizes of small parts.
Innovation Solution
A chain link conveyor system with a flat support surface and attachable drivers on opposite sides, allowing for adjustable gripping elements to accommodate various sizes and shapes, enabling secure holding without damage and flexibility in conveying orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If air conveyors are used to overcome steep gradients, then conveying capability is improved, but energy requirements increase sharply and abrasion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air conveyors (pneumatic system) with a chain conveyor system that uses mechanical contact through drivers and carriers. This substitution eliminates the need for high air pressures to overcome steep gradients, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining conveying capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drivers as intermediary elements that attach to the chain link and provide gripping force on the small parts. These drivers act as mediators between the chain conveyor and the conveyed material, enabling gentle transport over steep inclines without the high energy consumption and abrasion associated with air conveyors.
2Speed
If clamping jaw conveyors are used to transport upwards, then conveying capability is improved, but the small parts are damaged due to clamping pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing drivers only at specific locations on the chain link where gripping is needed, rather than using continuous clamping jaws. The drivers are designed with specific gripping elements that contact the small parts locally, providing sufficient holding force without the destructive pressure of full clamping jaws.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the conveying system into discrete drivers attached to individual chain links, each providing localized gripping action. This segmentation allows the system to transport small parts upwards without requiring continuous clamping pressure, thereby preventing damage while maintaining conveying capability.
3Reliability
If fixed carriers are provided on the chain link, then gripping capability is improved, but adaptability to different types of small parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drivers detachable and reconfigurable rather than fixed. The drivers can be attached and detached from the chain links as needed, allowing the system to adapt to different types and sizes of small parts by reconfiguring the driver arrangement while maintaining reliable gripping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universality by designing the chain link with standardized attachment means that can accommodate various types of drivers. This universal interface allows the same chain link structure to work with different driver configurations, enabling the system to handle diverse small parts while maintaining reliable gripping capability.
4Reliability
If two circulating flat belts are used to clamp small parts, then conveying capability is improved, but the complexity of maintaining constant distance and contact pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clamping function from a complex two-belt system and consolidates it into individual drivers attached to the chain link. Each driver independently provides the necessary gripping force, eliminating the complexity of maintaining constant distance and contact pressure between two circulating flat belts while preserving conveying capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Chain link (1) for a chain conveyor for conveying small parts (17), in particular bottle closures, having an, in particular planar, bearing surface for small parts, wherein means (3) for plugging on at least one driver (14) are provided on opposite sides of the chain link. This allows the small parts to be conveyed without damage and, on the other hand, the chain link (1) can be adapted in a simple manner to various kinds of small parts which differ for instance in terms of diameter and/or height. Here, at least two drivers (14) are provided which each have a fastening part (15), which can be plugged onto a means (3) for plugging on, and a gripping part (19) which is produced from a softer material than the fastening part (15) and has one or more extensions (16) which, in the plugged-on state of the driver (14), are oriented towards the respective other driver (14).