Conveyor Belt Surface Texture for Bloom Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts often experience a phenomenon called bloom, where wax or anti-aging agents migrate to the surface, causing appearance deterioration despite maintaining performance, which is not addressed in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt with a fine ridged/grooved structure on its surface, characterized by specific surface roughness, sharpness, and specular gloss values, which reduces the visibility of bloom and enhances appearance retention during storage and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a smooth surface is used for the conveyor belt, then the appearance is initially good, but bloom becomes highly visible causing appearance deterioration over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a fine ridged/grooved structure only on the surface layer of the conveyor belt where bloom occurs, while maintaining the overall smoothness and functionality of the belt. This localized texturing masks bloom visibility without affecting the underlying rubber quality or belt performance
Solution Approach 2:
The fine ridged/grooved structure creates optical effects that alter how light interacts with the surface, making bloom less visible. The surface roughness and specular gloss control the reflection and scattering of light, effectively camouflaging the bloom phenomenon
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fine ridged/grooved structure is formed on the surface, then bloom visibility is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention defines specific parameter ranges for surface roughness (1 μm to 12 μm) and specular gloss (0.1 to 10 at 60° incidence angle) to achieve bloom masking. By controlling these parameters within optimal ranges, the fine ridged/grooved structure effectively reduces bloom visibility while maintaining manufacturability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the surface roughness is increased to mask bloom, then appearance retention improves, but releaseability during vulcanization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the surface roughness parameter within a specific range (1 μm to 12 μm) that balances two competing requirements: providing enough surface texture to mask bloom visibility while maintaining sufficient smoothness for good releaseability during vulcanization. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between appearance retention and manufacturing ease
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fine ridged/grooved structure diffusely reflects light, making bloom less noticeable, and improves releaseability during vulcanization, maintaining a good appearance and increasing productivity.
Implementation Method 1
the fine ridged/grooved structure formed on the surface of the conveyor belt causes light to diffusely reflect, making it difficult to recognize color differences on the surface of the conveyor belt
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor belt is formed by covering a belt core body with a cover rubber. The cover rubber has a fine ridged/grooved structure formed on at least a portion of a surface thereof, and has a surface roughness of 1 μm or more and 12 μm or less, a degree of sharpness of 2 or more and 9 or less, and a specular gloss at an angle of incidence of 60° of 0.1 or more and 10 or less due to the fine ridged/grooved structure. The surface roughness is preferably 2 μm or more and 5 μm or less, and the degree of sharpness is preferably 3 or more and 5 or less, and the specular gloss at an angle of incidence of 60° is preferably 0.1 or more and 3 or less. Such conveyor belt is less likely to have a poor appearance due to bloom.