Conveyor Chain Plug Connection for Element Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems for hanging goods face challenges in efficiently replacing individual conveyor elements, leading to prolonged downtimes and complex maintenance due to the need to open and re-close the conveyor chain, especially when dealing with systems that operate over varying levels and have fixed conveyor element types.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor chain design featuring a plug-in connection between conveyor elements and carriers, allowing for easy detachment and replacement of elements without opening the chain, utilizing a plug-in connection that can be released from a side opposite to the guide connection, enabling modular configuration and reduced downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional conveyor systems use fixed conveyor elements attached to carriers, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of replacement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor element is divided into a modular design with a separate connection part that can be independently attached and detached from the conveyor carrier. This segmentation allows the conveyor element to be replaced without replacing the entire carrier, improving adaptability while maintaining structural stability through the modular connection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the conveyor element and carrier is made dynamic rather than fixed. The connection part can be easily attached and detached, allowing the system to adapt to different conveyor element types and replacement needs while maintaining stable operation during conveying through secure connection during use.
2Manufacturing precision
If conveyor elements are attached with screws accessible only from above, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part is designed to be accessible from the side rather than from above, changing the access dimension for maintenance. This side accessibility allows repair personnel to reach the connection from the side of the conveyor carrier, making replacement much easier while the connection itself maintains precise attachment through the designed connection geometry.
3Ease of repair
If the conveyor chain is opened to replace elements, then ease of repair is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part is extracted as a separate, independently accessible component from the main conveyor chain structure. This allows the connection to be serviced without opening or disrupting the continuous conveyor chain, enabling replacement while the chain remains closed and operational, thus eliminating downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection part acts as an intermediary component that can be accessed and serviced through a designated opening in the guide rail, serving as a mediator between the need for maintenance and the requirement for continuous operation. This intermediary access point allows repair without chain interruption.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conveyor carriers run close to the guide rail for stability, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detachment operation is moved to the side dimension rather than requiring access from above. The connection part is designed to be accessible from the side of the carrier, allowing operation personnel to detach elements by accessing the side opening without needing to work from above the closely-spaced carrier-guide rail configuration, thus maintaining both stability and ease of operation.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~5
Figure 6a~12
AI summary
The present application relates to a conveyor chain (100) for conveying hanging garments, comprising several conveyor carriers (10), each of which is operatively connected to a guide (42) on a first side (0) of the conveyor carriers (10), and at least one conveying element (12, 24, 25, 28, 40) which is detachably attached to at least one of the conveyor carriers (10) by means of a plug connection (20) in order to convey the hanging garments. The plug connection (20) is designed such that it can be detached from a second side (L, U, R) of the conveyor carrier (10), which is different from the first side (0), so that the conveying element (12, 24, 25, 28, 40) can be detached from the conveyor carrier (10) when the conveyor chain (100) is closed. Furthermore, the present application relates to a method for releasing a conveying element (12, 24, 25, 28, 40) from a conveying carrier (10), a conveying carrier (10) and a conveying element (12, 24, 25, 28, 40) for this purpose.