Conveyor Frame Cross Support with Adjustable Attachment Clamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor frame assemblies require frequent length adjustments, which often necessitate reattaching cross supports and adding holes to the side rails, making it impractical in operational environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular conveyor frame assembly with attachment clamps on cross supports that can slide along side rails, allowing secure attachment and adjustment without drilling holes, using angled engagement surfaces and adjustable jaws for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cross supports are reattached to modified side rails, then conveyor length is adjusted, but holes must be added to side rails which is impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The cross support is divided into separate components: the main body and attachment clamps. This segmentation allows the attachment clamps to be independently positioned and secured to the side rails without modifying the side rails themselves, enabling length adjustment through component reconfiguration rather than structural modification.
Solution Approach 2:
Attachment clamps serve as intermediary components between the cross support and side rails. These clamps can be secured to the side rails using existing features (such as slots or ledges) without requiring holes to be added, thereby mediating the connection in a way that preserves side rail integrity while enabling adjustable positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cross supports are moved to new locations, then conveyor configuration is changed, but complete disassembly is required
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable. The attachment clamps can be quickly released and repositioned along the side rails without requiring complete disassembly of the cross support structure. This dynamic design allows for rapid reconfiguration by simply moving the clamps to new positions and re-engaging them.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment clamps are pre-configured with engagement features that allow them to be quickly secured to the side rails at various positions. This preliminary preparation of the attachment mechanism eliminates the need for complex assembly procedures during repositioning, as the clamps are already designed to engage with the side rail features in multiple locations.
3Strength
If attachment clamps are designed for secure connection, then structural integrity is maintained, but adjustment mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment clamp design incorporates self-aligning and self-securing features. The engagement surfaces and locking mechanisms are designed to automatically align and secure when the clamp is positioned against the side rail, eliminating the need for complex adjustment procedures or multiple fastening steps while maintaining strong structural connection.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a conveyor frame assembly that includes a pair of spaced side rails joined by one or more cross supports. Each of the cross supports includes an attachment clamp such that the first and second ends of the cross support can be securely attached to an inner surface of the side rails. The attachment clamp includes a pair of attachment jaws that are joined to each other by an adjustment member. Rotation of the adjustment member causes the attachment jaws to move toward each other. As the attachment jaws move toward each other, an engagement surface formed on each of the attachment jaws causes the side rails and cross support to move toward each other to securely attach the cross support between the side rails to allow for easy and convenient construction and field modification of the conveyor frame assembly.