Conveyor Belt Splice With Reverse-Turn Edges for Tool-Free Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor belts require specialized tools and skills for splicing and maintenance due to button head or clinched rod ends, leading to increased downtime and resource challenges in repair and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt design featuring reverse-turn closed edges on outer edge links that pivotally interconnect transverse rods, allowing for tool-free splicing and easy repair by restricting rod movement with a reverse-turn closed edge configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If button head ends or welded ends are used for rod retention, then the conveyor belt can maintain structural integrity, but special tools such as grinder, bolt cutters, and welding equipment are required for splicing and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rod ends from the belt structure during maintenance operations. The removable rod ends can be taken out and discarded, eliminating the need for cutting or grinding operations. This allows technicians to simply remove the rod ends to access and replace rods, significantly simplifying maintenance compared to conventional welded or permanently attached rod ends
Solution Approach 2:
The rod ends are designed to nest within the belt structure during normal operation, providing structural integrity similar to welded ends. However, they can be easily extracted when needed for maintenance, combining the benefits of permanent attachment during operation with easy removal for maintenance
2Ease of repair
If conventional splicing methods with button head ends are used, then the belt can be repaired, but increased downtime and specialized skill requirements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rod retention system into removable rod ends that can be independently accessed and replaced. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to quickly remove rod ends, replace rods, and reassemble the belt without time-consuming welding or cutting operations, significantly reducing maintenance downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The removable rod ends are designed to be easily manipulated by maintenance personnel without requiring specialized welding skills or expensive equipment. The system enables self-service maintenance where technicians can perform repairs with basic hand tools, reducing dependency on highly skilled workers and specialized equipment
3Adaptability or versatility
If threaded connector rods with end nuts are used, then rod replacement can be performed, but special tools and skills are still required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable rod ends that are simple in design and can be easily replaced. Rather than using complex threaded connector rods with nuts that require threading tools and adjustment skills, the simple disposable rod ends can be quickly removed and replaced with basic hand tools, reducing both device complexity and skill requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.