Conveyor Drive Roller Replaceable Sleeve Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor drive rollers in sanitary environments face challenges with contamination accumulation due to crevices and the need for frequent dismantling for cleaning and sanitization, which increases downtime and costs, especially when conveyor belts with different profiles require entire unit replacements.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor drive roller design featuring a replaceable sleeve that can be easily swapped with different conveyor drive surfaces, reducing the need for entire unit replacements and minimizing downtime by allowing compatibility with various conveyor belt profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the entire conveyor drive roller unit is replaced when conveyor belt profiles change, then compatibility with different belt profiles is achieved, but downtime and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different belt profilesVSAvoiddowntime for replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor drive roller is divided into two main segments: a permanent cylindrical body containing the motor and drive mechanism, and a replaceable sleeve that interfaces with the conveyor belt. This segmentation allows the sleeve to be changed independently to match different belt profiles without replacing the entire unit, thereby reducing downtime while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static, fixed-profile drive roller to a dynamic configuration where the sleeve can be swapped to adapt to different belt profiles. This dynamic adaptability allows the conveyor system to accommodate various belt types without extensive downtime for complete unit replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire conveyor drive roller unit is replaced when conveyor belt profiles change, then compatibility with different belt profiles is achieved, but costs increase due to replacing entire units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different belt profilesVSAvoideconomic cost of replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the drive roller into a permanent body and a replaceable sleeve, the system allows only the sleeve portion to be replaced when belt profiles change. This reduces material consumption and economic cost compared to replacing the entire unit, while still achieving full compatibility with different belt profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The replaceable sleeve can be removed and discarded (or reused on another roller) when it no longer matches the required belt profile, while the expensive permanent body is retained and reused. This approach minimizes waste and reduces the economic burden of adapting to different belt profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If frequent dismantling is performed for cleaning and sanitization, then sanitary conditions are maintained, but downtime increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitary conditionsVSAvoiddowntime for cleaning and sanitization

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The replaceable sleeve is extracted as a separate component that can be easily removed from the permanent body. This extraction allows for rapid removal of the sleeve for cleaning and sanitization without requiring dismantling of the entire drive roller unit, thereby maintaining sanitary conditions while minimizing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If crevices and collection points are present in the drive roller design, then mechanical functionality is achieved, but contamination accumulation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical functionalityVSAvoidcontamination accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The replaceable sleeve design converts the potential harm of crevices into a benefit: the sleeve can be easily removed and replaced, allowing thorough cleaning of crevices and collection points without extensive dismantling. This maintains mechanical functionality while enabling effective contamination removal to prevent accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12157639B2Conveyor drive roller with replaceable conveyor drive surface

Publication Date: 2024.12.03 VAN DER GRAAF INC

AI summary

A conveyor drive roller with a replaceable sleeve defining a conveyor drive surface adapted to operatively engage a conveyor belt. The replaceable sleeve may be replaced with another replaceable sleeve defining another conveyor drive surface adapted to operatively engage another conveyor belt. A method of replacing the conveyor drive surface on the conveyor drive roller is also disclosed.