Conveyor Cleaner Blade Mounting Without a Cartridge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor belt cleaning blades are heavy due to the use of cartridges, and they can detach from the mounting tube during rotation, necessitating a design that is lightweight and securely attachable without detaching.
Innovation Solution
The cleaning blades feature an integral aluminum extrusion with indents that fit into machined groove tracks on the mounting tube, allowing for secure attachment and easy removal/replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cartridge assembly is used to hold the cleaning blade, then the blade can be easily removed and replaced, but the weight of the cleaning blade increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blade is segmented into a blade body and a separate connector portion. The connector is integrated into the blade body and contains engagement features (protrusions) that interface with the mounting tube, eliminating the need for a separate cartridge assembly while maintaining easy installation and removal capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is merged with the blade body to form an integrated unit. The connector portion is directly attached to or formed as part of the blade body, combining the functions of the blade and its mounting interface into a single component, thereby reducing overall weight while preserving ease of replacement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cleaning blade is secured to the mounting tube with a stop pin engagement, then the blade can be easily installed, but the blade may detach when the mounting tube rotates
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features (protrusions) on the connector are asymmetrically designed to mate with corresponding features on the mounting tube. This asymmetric configuration provides both easy installation and positive locking that prevents detachment during rotation, as the geometry allows insertion in one direction while preventing removal in the opposite direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is nested within or around the mounting tube structure, with engagement features that interlock the blade assembly with the mounting tube. This nested configuration ensures the blade remains securely attached during rotation while maintaining ease of installation through the same interlocking mechanism.
3Weight of moving object
If the cleaning blade is designed without a cartridge, then the weight is reduced, but the blade may become loose or detach during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into a blade body and an integrated connector portion. The connector contains engagement features (protrusions) that provide secure attachment to the mounting tube without requiring a separate cartridge, thus maintaining low weight while ensuring reliable connection during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement features are asymmetrically designed to provide both easy installation and secure locking. The asymmetric geometry ensures the blade remains firmly attached during rotation and operation while eliminating the need for additional weighting structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor belt primary cleaning blade and device that permits a pair of cleaning blades to be releasably secured to a mounting tube without the need for a separate cartridge. The blade includes an aluminum extrusion that is embedded in the bottom portion of the urethane blade when the blade is formed. The aluminum extrusion is formed of a pair of opposing sidewalls connected at their upper ends by a top wall, so that the lower end of the element is open. Indents are formed in the opposing sidewalls at both ends of the extrusion and are used to engage a groove track in a keeper element secured to a mounting tube. The extrusion is slid over the keeper causing the indents to releasably lock into the grooves.