Modular Conveyor Belt Link Cutouts for Spiral Drive Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spiral conveyors face challenges in achieving a firm connection between the drive means and the conveyor belt to efficiently transfer rotational forces, particularly when handling high loads.
Innovation Solution
A modular conveyor belt link design with offset eye parts and cutouts on the sides allows for positive engagement with the drive tower, enabling effective force transfer through inter-fitting and hinge-like connections, enhancing the conveyor's ability to flex and adapt to the conveying path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional conveyor belt design without cutouts is used, then the belt structure remains continuous and simple, but the drive tower cannot achieve firm engagement and reliable force transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into modular links with cutouts that create discrete engagement zones. Each modular link contains a cutout forming an engagement zone that interfaces with the drive tower, allowing segmented force transfer while maintaining overall belt continuity through interlocking eye parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Material is removed from the belt structure in the form of cutouts that span partially through the belt thickness. These cutouts extract unnecessary material while creating the engagement zones needed for drive tower interaction, transforming the continuous belt into a structure with functional openings.
2Force
If the conveyor belt is made rigid to ensure firm connection with drive means, then force transfer is improved, but the belt cannot flex to adapt to the spiral conveying path
Solution Approach 1:
The belt structure incorporates dynamic flexibility through the cutout design that allows lateral flexing while maintaining engagement. The cutouts enable the belt to bend and adapt to the spiral path through elastic deformation in the engagement zones, while the interlocking eye parts maintain structural integrity during force transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the belt have different mechanical properties: the engagement zones (around cutouts) provide rigid force transfer interfaces, while the regions connecting the eye parts maintain flexibility for lateral flexing. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of force transfer efficiency and path adaptation.
3Power
If engagement members are added to the drive tower to achieve positive engagement, then force transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutouts in the belt structure serve multiple functions: they create engagement zones for drive tower interaction, provide structural weakening points for flexibility, and define the lateral boundaries of the belt. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate engagement mechanisms on the drive tower.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout engagement zones act as intermediaries between the drive tower and the belt. These zones provide the necessary mechanical interface for force transfer without requiring complex engagement members on the drive tower, simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective power transmission.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4a
AI summary
Modular conveyor belt link, of the type used in endless conveyor belts assembled from a plurality of such modular conveyor belt links, where the modular conveyor belt link has a main body extending in the modular belt link's width direction, and where a plurality of eye parts extend forwards and rearwards from said main body, said eye parts being spaced in the width direction of the modular belt link, where forwards ex- tending eye parts are offset relative to rearwards extending eye parts, such that when two modular conveyor belt links are pushed together the eye parts on one link will inter-fit between eye parts on the other modular belt link, characterized in that the modular belt link laterally is limited by two sides, and that the outermost eye parts on either side are provided with a cutout, such that the width of the modular conveyor belt link is smaller in the cutout than outside the cutout.