Air Floating Belt Conveyor Dust Removal Header
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air floating belt conveyor apparatuses lack a means to remove dust accumulated in the air supply header, as the small gap between the conveyor belt and trough prevents effective dust entry into the air supply header.
Innovation Solution
The air floating belt conveyor apparatus includes a discharge port in the air supply header that opens to allow air to be supplied, discharging accumulated dust along with the air, and optionally features a cleaner to remove dust from the conveyor belt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a small gap is maintained between the conveyor belt and trough for air floating operation, then the conveyor belt can float smoothly with minimal air consumption, but dust accumulation in the air supply header occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful dust accumulation problem by providing a dedicated discharge port in the air supply header that allows accumulated dust to be removed. The opening/closing device enables selective opening of this discharge port to extract dust particles that have settled in the header chamber, thereby resolving the dust accumulation issue while maintaining the small gap configuration for reliable conveyor operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by using the existing air supply mechanism to also perform dust removal. When the opening/closing device opens the discharge port, the air supply automatically flushes out accumulated dust through the discharge port, allowing the system to clean itself without external intervention while maintaining continuous operational reliability
2Use of energy by moving object
If the air supply header is sealed to maintain air pressure for belt floating, then floating efficiency is improved, but dust accumulates inside the header chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the discharge port configurable between sealed and open states through the opening/closing device. The system dynamically switches the discharge port state based on operational needs - sealed during normal floating operation to maintain air pressure efficiency, and opened periodically to remove accumulated dust, thus balancing energy efficiency with maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements discarding by removing accumulated dust through the discharge port when the opening/closing device opens it. The dust that accumulates in the header chamber is periodically discarded through this controlled opening, allowing the system to recover its cleaning function without compromising the sealed structure needed for air pressure efficiency during operation
3Device complexity
If no dust removal means is provided in the air supply header, then the structure remains simple, but dust accumulates and may cause operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply header is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both the air supply function and the dust removal function into a single structure. The discharge port and opening/closing device enable the header to serve dual purposes: maintaining air pressure for belt floating and periodically removing accumulated dust, thereby achieving reliability improvement without proportionally increasing structural complexity
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 configuration enables the removal of dust accumulated in the air supply header, preventing contamination and ensuring regular cleaning of the dust collected.
Implementation Method 1
Air pressure-fed to the air supply headers flows out through the air outlets to between the conveyor belt and each trough to make the conveyor belt float
Implementation Method 2
air for making the conveyor belt float flows out to between an upper surface of the carrier route belt supporting body and a non-conveyance surface of the conveyor belt
Implementation Method 3
by opening the discharge port of the air supply header and supplying the air from the air supply port to the header chamber, the dust accumulated in the header chamber is discharged from the discharge port together with the air
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An air floating belt conveyor apparatus includes: a conveyor main body; a carrier route belt supporting body including a plurality of air outlets through which air for making a conveyor belt float flows out to between an upper surface of the carrier route belt supporting body and a non-conveyance surface of the conveyor belt; at least one air supply header including a header chamber communicating with the plurality of air outlets, the at least one air supply header being provided at a lower portion of the carrier route belt supporting body; and a blower configured to supply the air to the air supply header. The air supply header includes: an air supply port through which the air supplied from the blower is introduced to the header chamber; a discharge port provided at one or each of both longitudinal direction end portions of the air supply header, dust accumulated in the header chamber being discharged through the discharge port together with the air; and an opening/closing device configured to open and close the discharge port.