Conveyor Return Roller Servicing via Single-Side Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belt systems face challenges in maintaining and replacing return rollers due to hostile environments and limited access, requiring costly and time-consuming safety measures to access the far side for servicing.
Innovation Solution
A mounting apparatus that allows for the disengagement and removal of return rollers from one side of the conveyor system, using a mandrel and rotatable member to facilitate easy servicing without accessing the far side, maintaining rigid support while enabling easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional roller mounting brackets are used on both sides of the conveyor, then roller support stability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase due to requiring dual catwalks for access
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the roller mounting function from requiring bilateral symmetry. By providing mounting brackets only on the near side of the conveyor and using a rotatable member that extends through the conveyor frame, the system achieves roller support stability without duplicating the catwalk infrastructure on both sides, thereby reducing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable member serves multiple functions: it acts as a support axis for the roller, provides a mounting interface for the rotatable member itself, and enables both installation and removal of rollers from a single side. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mounting mechanisms on both sides of the conveyor
2Reliability
If safety equipment and procedures are implemented for accessing the far side of elevated conveyors, then worker safety is improved, but maintenance time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the requirement for maintenance personnel to access the far side of elevated conveyors by providing all mounting and removal functions from the near side only. This extraction of the far-side access requirement eliminates the need for complex safety procedures and equipment while maintaining worker safety
Solution Approach 2:
The roller support system is designed to be serviced from one side only, making the system self-sufficient regarding maintenance access. The rotatable member and mounting brackets are configured so that rollers can be installed and removed without requiring personnel to position themselves on both sides of the conveyor, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining safety
3Ease of operation
If rotatable member is made loosely mounted for easy removal, then roller removal ease is improved, but roller support rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable member is designed with a pivot connection to the conveyor frame that provides dynamic adaptability. The pivot allows the rotatable member to be easily inserted and removed while maintaining rigid support when the roller is installed. The rotational capability enables easy removal without compromising the structural rigidity during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is segmented into distinct components: the fixed mounting bracket on the conveyor frame, the rotatable member that pivots on the bracket, and the roller supported by the rotatable member. This segmentation allows the rotatable member to provide easy removal capability while the fixed bracket maintains overall structural rigidity
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting apparatus for a return roller is provided. The mounting apparatus is positioned beneath a return side of a conveyor belt, the return side of the conveyor belt having a near side along one edge of the return side of the conveyor belt and a far side along an opposite edge of the return side of the conveyor belt. The mounting apparatus has a return roller support structure and a return roller supported on the return roller support structure. The return roller support structure is slidable from the mounting apparatus in a direction towards the near side of the return side of the conveyor belt.