Conveyor Drive System With Positive Engagement Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belt drive systems for curved sections are difficult to operate and maintain, prone to slippage, and require constant adjustment due to friction-based drive mechanisms, which can be exacerbated by the presence of oils or heavy articles, and often result in significant gaps at the ends of conveyor belts, making smooth transfer between conveyors challenging.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a continuous looped belt featuring direction-reversing members at opposite ends, equipped with regularly spaced followers on both surfaces, and a rotational drive member with teeth that engages with followers to propel the belt, allowing for parallel drive mechanisms above and below the belt surfaces, reducing tension requirements and enabling easy maintenance and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction-based drive wheel mechanism is used, then the conveyor belt can be driven, but slippage occurs under heavy loads or oily conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based drive wheel mechanism with a positive engagement drive chain system. The drive chain with protrusions engages directly with recesses in the conveyor belt, transforming the driving mechanism from friction-dependent to mechanically interlocked, thereby eliminating slippage under heavy loads or oily conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of drive engagement from friction-based contact to positive mechanical engagement. By introducing interlocking protrusions and recesses, the system transitions from relying on friction coefficients to relying on geometric fit, fundamentally altering how force is transmitted to the conveyor belt.
2Ease of operation
If linked drive chain is used, then the conveyor belt can be driven around curved sections, but the system becomes difficult to operate and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a drive chain with a finite length that can be easily removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. The chain is designed to be detachable from the conveyor belt, allowing it to be discarded of accumulated debris and recovered for reuse, significantly simplifying maintenance compared to traditional endless linked drive chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive system is segmented into modular components: the drive chain with discrete protrusions, the conveyor belt with corresponding recesses, and the support structure. This segmentation allows individual components to be easily removed, inspected, and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity and improving operability.
3Shape
If drive gear perpendicular to belt surface is used, then the belt can be driven, but significant gaps form at conveyor ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a perpendicular drive gear arrangement to a parallel drive chain arrangement. By placing the drive chain in the same plane as the conveyor belt surface rather than perpendicular to it, the system eliminates the need for large end rollers, allowing for minimal gap configurations that enable smooth article transfer between conveyors.
4Ease of repair
If friction-based drive is used, then simple mechanism is achieved, but constant adjustment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The drive chain system is designed to be self-aligning through its interlocking protrusions and recesses. The geometric fit automatically positions the chain correctly on the conveyor belt during installation, eliminating the need for manual adjustment during maintenance operations. The system essentially adjusts itself through its mechanical design.
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
This solution provides a reliable, low-tension drive system that minimizes slippage and gap size between conveyor belts, facilitating smooth transfer and reducing maintenance costs by allowing for easy adjustment and replacement of components without the need for excessive belt tension.
Implementation Method 1
Another method of driving a curved conveyor belt, and more specifically a continuous and unbroken type curved conveyor belt, is to have a portion of the conveyor belt pinched between an external drive wheel and an opposed idler wheel that is spring biased against the drive wheel. As the drive wheel turns, frictional forces are used to drive the conveyor belt.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor system, is provided having a continuous looped conveyor belt having first and second conveyor belt portions, first and second opposite ends, and having first and second direction reversing members disposed at the first and second opposite ends. Each of the first and second conveyor belt portions also has an upper surface, and a lower surface. A series of regularly spaced followers are provided on the belt, and these followers are moved by a conveyor belt drive mechanism comprising at least one rotational drive member which is positioned in, and which rotates in, a plane which is parallel to the upper or lower surfaces of the first or second conveyor belt portions. The rotational drive member includes a series of teeth on the drive member. When rotated, the teeth releaseably engage with the followers on the belt to provide a low profile conveyor drive system.