Conveyor Chain Modules With Hexagonal Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts with protruding ribs cause excessive vibration and traveling resistance, and reducing the gap between chain modules for a high-density transfer surface leads to contact interference and difficulty in maintaining suitable belt slack.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor chain with nonskid material loaded synthetic resin chain modules featuring semi-circular hinge portions and supporting ribs in a polygonal pattern of hexagon and rhombus shapes, which project from a recessed hollow surface to provide a flush, saw-toothed nonskid surface for reliable traction and reduced back bend radius.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protruding ribs are provided on the conveyor belt surface to prevent slipping, then nonskid function is improved, but traveling resistance and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing protruding ribs only in specific regions (front and rear portions) of the chain module rather than uniformly across the entire surface. The ribs are arranged in predetermined patterns with specific spacing, creating localized friction zones that provide nonskid functionality while leaving other areas smooth to reduce overall traveling resistance and vibration.
2Quantity of substance
If the gap between chain modules is reduced to increase transfer surface density, then transfer surface density is improved, but contact interference occurs between adjacent protrusions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protruding ribs into discrete, spatially separated elements arranged in predetermined patterns. By dividing the contact surface into multiple small rib structures with specific spacing rather than continuous protrusions, the design allows chain modules to be placed closer together without causing contact interference between adjacent modules, thus increasing transfer surface density while avoiding harmful interactions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If intermediate idlers are added to avoid contact interference between protrusions, then contact interference is prevented, but belt slack control becomes difficult and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the intermediate idlers from the conveyor system by redesigning the chain module geometry. The protruding ribs are configured with specific dimensions, spacing, and patterns that inherently prevent contact interference between adjacent modules, eliminating the need for intermediate idlers and simplifying the overall conveyor structure while maintaining the ability to achieve high transfer surface density.
4Length of moving object
If the back bend radius is decreased for miniaturization, then conveyor size is reduced, but contact interference between adjacent protrusions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric design in the arrangement of protruding ribs within the chain module, with different patterns in front and rear portions. This asymmetric configuration, combined with optimized rib spacing and dimensions, allows the chain modules to navigate tighter back bend radii without causing contact interference between adjacent protrusions, enabling conveyor miniaturization while preventing harmful interactions.
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 solution achieves reliable nonskid functionality, reduces vibration and traveling resistance, and allows for miniaturization and simplification of the conveyor system by preventing contact interference between chain modules, ensuring smooth movement and easy transfer of workpieces.
Implementation Method 1
nonskid material loaded upper surface... rubber bottoms of safety shoes worn by an Operator, or the wheels of a work carnage and the like, are pushed into a number of objective ribs... Thus a reliable nonskid function for the Operators and work carriages can be realized
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor chain (100) for a travel way on which an operator (P) and/or a work carriage (C) are reliably moved in a nonskid manner. The conveyor chain (100) has a series of modules (110), each with a nonskid material loaded upper surface with front and rear hinge portions (112) for connecting the modules (110) to each other by connecting pins. The nonskid material loaded upper surface has hollows (110B) with the hollow surfaces recessed below the upper surface. The upper surface includes a number of supporting ribs (114) project upwardly from the hollow surfaces and terminate flush with the upper surface, so that the transfer of the work carriage is easy and a back bend radius is decreased. Miniaturization and simplification of the conveyor are attained.