Modular Conveyor Belt Alignment Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment and assembly of modular conveyor belt components, particularly with flexible links and rods, is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the need for precise alignment of rod receiving apertures, which can be challenging with flexible materials and long rods, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating alignment features such as cylindrical and wedge-shaped protrusions on the links proximate to the rod receiving apertures, which facilitate proper alignment and insertion of connecting rods by providing mating surfaces that can rotate and align apertures, reducing the complexity and time required for assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If modular links are made flexible using plastic material, then ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness are improved, but alignment difficulty and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating alignment features (protrusions and recesses) on the modular links before assembly. These features pre-establish the correct positioning relationship between adjacent links, allowing the rod receiving apertures to align automatically during assembly without requiring manual adjustment or careful positioning of flexible plastic components.
2Area of stationary object
If connecting rods are made longer to span wider belts, then belt width capability is improved, but flexibility and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features (protrusions and recesses) are installed on the modular links before the long connecting rods are inserted. This preliminary positioning ensures that even when long rods are used for wide belts, the rod receiving apertures are pre-aligned, eliminating the alignment difficulties that would otherwise arise from the increased flexibility and length of the connecting rods.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of rod receiving apertures is performed, then assembly precision is improved, but assembly time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing alignment features that automatically guide and position adjacent modular links into correct alignment during assembly. The protrusions on one link fit into recesses on the adjacent link, causing the rod receiving apertures to align automatically without requiring manual measurement or adjustment, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically reducing assembly time and labor requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor belt (10) is provided that includes a first link (200) having a first protrusion (210). The first protrusion includes a first mating surface (442) and is disposed proximate a first rod receiving aperture (206) extending through the first link. The conveyor belt includes a second link (250) having a second protrusion (259) extending a second distance from a surface (446) of the second link. The second protrusion includes a second mating surface (434), wherein the second protrusion is disposed proximate a second rod receiving aperture (258) extending through the second link. The first mating surface of the first protrusion is disposed in a mating relationship with the second mating surface of the second protrusion. Further, the conveyor belt includes a connecting rod (280) extending through the first rod receiving aperture of the first link and the second rod receiving aperture of the second link.