Conveyor Belt Connection Marking for Fast Inspection Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor belt connections are difficult to visually identify during inspections, leading to increased effort and time in maintenance, as they often resemble the rest of the belt, potentially causing damage and financial losses if not detected promptly.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating marking elements, such as optical or electronic markers, specifically designed to differentiate the belt connection from the rest of the conveyor belt, allowing for easier and more reliable identification, which can be recognized visually or through sensors, reducing the need for extensive measurement and improving inspection efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the conveyor belt connection is made with high technical standard (vulcanization, steel cords), then the stability and reliability of the belt connection is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the belt connection location increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt connection stabilityVSAvoidbelt connection location identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies marking elements with distinct colors or optical properties to the belt connection area. These markings create visual contrast against the conveyor belt body, enabling easy identification of the belt connection location during inspections without compromising the vulcanization quality or steel cord integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If visual inspection is performed manually along the conveyor belt, then the reliability of detecting belt connection abnormalities is improved, but the loss of time and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The marking elements are applied to the belt connection during the manufacturing or assembly process, before the conveyor belt enters service. This preliminary action ensures that the belt connection location is always clearly identifiable, eliminating the need for time-consuming location searches during routine inspections while maintaining inspection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If marking elements are added to the belt connection, then the ease of operation for locating belt connections is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt connection location identificationVSAvoidconveyor belt structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The marking elements are applied locally only to the belt connection area rather than the entire conveyor belt. This localized approach provides clear identification where needed while minimizing the addition of components and maintaining the overall simplicity of the conveyor belt structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4107095B1Conveyor belt having belt connection
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 CONTITECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4107095B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4107095B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a conveyor belt (1) having a conveyor belt body (10) which is closed by means of at least one belt connection (12) to form a continuous element. The conveyor belt (1) is characterised in that precisely the belt connection (12) has at least one marking element (13).