Conveyor Chain Support Sliding Attachment for Hygienic Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems, particularly in the food industry, face challenges in easy cleaning due to the need for partial disassembly and the risk of contamination, with existing solutions requiring removal of chain supports and axles for thorough cleaning, which is time-consuming and increases the risk of lost parts and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor chain support that can be easily moved between a support position and a cleaning position without removal, featuring a single-piece design with cut-outs for enhanced cleaning and low friction material, allowing for regular and thorough cleaning without disassembly, and attachment to transverse axles without clips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor chain support is fixed on the transverse axle with clips or fasteners, then the chain support is securely held in position, but the cleaning process becomes complex and time-consuming requiring disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor chain support is divided into a support body and a separate attachment element that can be independently moved. The attachment element can be detached from the transverse axle without removing the entire chain support structure, enabling simplified cleaning while maintaining secure fixation during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment element is designed to be movable between a fixed attachment state during operation and a detached state during cleaning. This dynamic capability allows the system to switch between secure fixation and easy cleaning modes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and cleaning complexity.
2Reliability
If the conveyor system is enclosed with protective covers, then safety is improved by preventing contact with moving parts, but cleaning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment element is extracted as a separate removable component from the main chain support structure. This allows the attachment element to be removed for cleaning while the protective covers and main support structure remain in place, maintaining safety while improving cleaning accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyor chain is made longer to allow raising for cleaning, then cleaning access is improved, but the return path becomes more complex and requires additional chain supports
Solution Approach 1:
The chain support system is segmented into multiple independent support units, each with its own movable attachment element. This allows cleaning to be performed on individual supports without requiring the entire chain to be raised or removed, simplifying the return path structure while maintaining cleaning accessibility.
4Ease of operation
If the chain supports and axles are disassembled for thorough cleaning, then cleaning completeness is improved, but time consumption and risk of lost parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment element is segmented as a separate removable component that can be independently detached for cleaning. This allows thorough cleaning of the attachment element without requiring disassembly of the entire chain support or axle assembly, reducing cleaning time and eliminating the risk of losing fasteners.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment element is extracted as a standalone component that can be removed and cleaned separately. This extraction enables complete cleaning of the critical attachment interface without time-consuming disassembly of the entire system and without risk of losing small parts.
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
Facilitates efficient and hygienic cleaning of conveyor systems by reducing the need for disassembly, minimizing contamination risks, and simplifying the cleaning process, while maintaining operational safety and reducing wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
The conveyor chain support can easily be moved on the transverse axle from a support position in which the conveyor chain support is attached to the transverse axle to a cleaning position
Implementation Method 2
The conveyor chain glides on sliding surfaces on the conveyor beams in order to reduce the friction and the wear
Data Source
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AI summary
Conveyor chain support for an easy to clean conveyor, where the conveyor chain support comprises an outer peripheral sliding surface adapted to glidingly support a conveyor chain in a return path of the conveyor, where the conveyor chain support is adapted to be attached on a transverse axle of the conveyor in a support position and where the conveyor chain support is a single piece comprising a first jaw and a second jaw joining each other at one end and forming a mouth at the other end, where the conveyor chain support is adapted to be attached on the transverse axle through the mouth. In this way, a conveyor chain support hat allows for an easy cleaning of a conveyor is provided for. Such conveyors are e.g. used in the food industry.