Conveyor Chain Link Pockets for Hygienic Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor chains with pocket designs for production and cost savings are difficult to clean, especially in applications requiring strict hygiene, as dirt and liquids accumulate and require dismantling or suction for removal.
Innovation Solution
A chain link design with a conveyor plate featuring openings on its underside that allow fluid to flow out, even when the chain is in a lower run, facilitating easy cleaning without additional devices or actions, and incorporating a geometric structure that enhances fluid outflow through gravity and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conveyor plates have flat recesses or pockets on the underside for manufacturing, lightweight construction, or cost reasons, then manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but dirt and liquids accumulate in these pockets making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful accumulation function from the pockets by providing openings that allow liquids and dirt to drain out. The pockets retain their manufacturing and weight benefits while the openings prevent the harmful accumulation effect, effectively separating the useful function from the harmful function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing pockets that prevent accumulation (which would require closed structures), the invention inverts the approach by designing pockets with openings that actively facilitate drainage. The harmful effect of liquid accumulation is converted into a beneficial drainage function through the openings.
2Weight of moving object
If conveyor plates have flat recesses or pockets on the underside, then weight is reduced for lightweight construction, but cleaning requires dismantling or vacuuming of residual fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning complexity by providing openings that enable passive drainage of liquids and dirt from the pockets. This eliminates the need for active cleaning systems like vacuuming or dismantling, reducing the cleaning process complexity while maintaining the weight benefits of the pockets.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings enable the conveyor plate to self-clean through passive drainage during operation. The design allows the system to automatically drain liquids and dirt without requiring external cleaning equipment or manual intervention, making the cleaning process simpler while maintaining lightweight construction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pockets are designed without openings, then structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity are improved, but liquid accumulation occurs requiring vacuuming or blowing out
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful liquid accumulation from the pockets by introducing openings. The pockets maintain their structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity while the openings remove the harmful accumulation effect, allowing liquids and dirt to drain passively during conveyor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings enable the system to discard accumulated liquids and dirt from the pockets during normal operation. Instead of retaining harmful substances in closed pockets, the design allows continuous discarding of fluids through gravity-driven drainage, eliminating the need for separate cleaning operations.
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
Enables effortless cleaning of the conveyor chain and transfer system, reducing cleaning effort and preventing liquid accumulation, making it suitable for hygienically demanding environments.
Implementation Method 1
the outflow capability is ensured even when the chain link is arranged and/or runs in a lower run of the conveyor system or transfer system, i.e. when the underside points upwards against the force of gravity
Implementation Method 2
An edge of this pocket has at least one opening to the outside, which is provided and configured such that a fluid can flow out of the pocket
Data Source
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AI summary
A chain link (1) for a curved conveyor chain (100) or a curved conveyor chain (100) for a transfer system (101) is disclosed, comprising a conveyor plate (4) with a top surface (6) designed and configured, in particular when the chain link (1) is arranged in an upper run of the transfer system (101), to support a conveyed material, wherein at least one pocket (44) is formed on a bottom surface (40) of the conveyor plate (4), particularly for manufacturing, lightweight construction, or cost reasons. A conveyor chain with such chain links and a transfer system with such a conveyor chain are also disclosed.