Conveyor Belt Link Offset Rod Holes Flush Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts used in air treatment for food products face challenges in maintaining a smooth load-carrying surface and reliability under high stress exposure, as existing designs either have rigid links that project above the surface or joints that break under stress.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt design featuring links with offset rod receiving holes and recesses on the plate, allowing the links to be flush with the load-carrying surface while distributing tractive forces to a thicker portion, ensuring a smooth surface and enhanced reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid links are used to control simultaneous collapsing and expanding of the belt, then the belt can maintain structural integrity during helical path transfer, but the links project above the load-carrying surface making the surface rough
Solution Approach 1:
The link is nested within the plane defined by the rod receiving holes, with the plate thickness and hole positioning arranged so that the link does not protrude beyond the load-carrying surface. The rod receiving holes are positioned such that their centers define a plane, and the plate thickness is controlled to ensure the link remains flush with or recessed from this plane, creating a smooth surface while maintaining the structural function of controlling belt collapse and expansion during helical path transfer.
2Shape
If joints are made flexible to avoid projecting from the surface, then the load-carrying surface remains smooth, but the joints may break under high stress exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The link plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, creating a thick portion that provides high strength and a thin portion that maintains the smooth surface profile. The thick portion is positioned to receive and distribute tractive forces, while the thin portion remains flush with the load-carrying surface. This local variation in thickness allows the joint to be both smooth and reliable under stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional surface concern to a three-dimensional volumetric solution by utilizing plate thickness variation. The link plate's thickness dimension is strategically varied to create a thick portion for strength and a thin portion for surface smoothness, resolving the contradiction between surface quality and structural reliability.
3Volume of stationary object
If the inner radius of the helical path is reduced to maximize volume utilization, then the stack volume is fully utilized, but the inner side of the belt must collapse substantially reducing the usable area in straight state
Solution Approach 1:
The link design enables dynamic control of the belt's lateral edges during path transitions. The link's geometry and positioning allow the belt to collapse inward during helical path transfer to maximize stack volume, while the controlled mechanism ensures the belt can fully expand back to its original width in straight sections, maximizing usable belt area in both states.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor belt comprising a plurality of successive belt elements (2), each belt element (2) comprising at least one transverse rod (4) and two opposing side members (3) connected to each other by the at least one transverse rod (4), and a link (6) forming a joint intermediate the lateral edges (7a, 7b) of the conveyor belt between the adjoining transverse rods (4) of each pair of adjoining belt elements (2). Each link (6) comprises a plate (11) in which two successive rod receiving holes (12) are formed, wherein the rod receiving holes (12) have an offset (O) towards a first side (13) of said plate (11) and wherein a recess (16) is formed in said first side (13) of the plate (11), between said rod receiving holes (12).