Conveyor Belt Support Attachment Without Fasteners or Drill Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems for elongated products, such as sausages, face issues with fasteners protruding from the belt, causing guidance disturbances and creating gaps that can trap moisture, leading to hygiene concerns, especially in the food industry.
Innovation Solution
A conveying system with a gripping groove and rib attachment mechanism that secures supports to the conveyor belt without drilling, allowing for tool-free assembly and disassembly, ensuring hygiene and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bolts are used to fasten supports to conveyor belts, then the supports are securely attached to the belts, but the bolts can protrude from the inner guide surface causing guidance disturbances and create gaps where moisture can be trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful fastening elements (bolts) from the system and replaces them with a groove-rib attachment mechanism. The support has a groove that receives a rib integral to the conveyor belt, eliminating protruding fasteners that cause guidance disturbances and gaps that trap moisture, while maintaining secure attachment through the interlocking groove-rib geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The groove-rib interface acts as an intermediary attachment mechanism between the support and conveyor belt. Instead of using bolts that create harmful protrusions and gaps, the rib (integral to the belt) inserts into the groove to provide secure attachment without the harmful effects of traditional fasteners
2Ease of manufacture
If drilling is performed on conveyor belts to install fasteners, then supports can be attached to the belts, but gaps are created at the drilling points where moisture can be trapped and promote pathogen growth
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the drilling operation and associated fasteners from the attachment process. The groove-rib mechanism allows attachment without creating holes or gaps in the conveyor belt, eliminating the moisture retention zones that would otherwise promote pathogen growth in food processing environments
Solution Approach 2:
The rib is described as integral to the conveyor belt, meaning it is permanently attached and cannot be separated without damaging the belt. This ensures consistent, gap-free attachment while maintaining hygiene
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional fastening devices are used, then supports are secured to conveyor belts, but the fasteners require proper installation to avoid protruding and causing guidance disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The groove-rib attachment mechanism is self-aligning and self-securing. The rib inserts into the groove and the geometry of the interface automatically ensures proper positioning without requiring precise installation procedures or skilled operators, eliminating the reliability issues associated with improper bolt installation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~5
AI summary
Conveying system for elongated products, such as sausages, comprising a first conveyor having: - at least one conveyor belt (2) having an inner face and an outer face, and guide wheels for said at least one conveyor belt configured to engage with the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt, - at least one support (4), comprising a housing extending lengthwise configured for receiving an elongated product, - means for fixing said at least one support (4) to said at least one conveyor belt (2), ensuring the fixing of said at least one support, locally, in a direction transverse to said conveyor belt comprising grip groove and grip rib pairs (Na).